whisky review 311 - Your Solera Bottle

[@PhatTrumpet2]

"Blend out the problems." I'm definitely using that in my professional life.

[@neandrewthal]

I started my own Solera the day after seeing this video. 8oz of Aberlour 12 (don`t like it, too bitter) and 8oz of Glenfiddich 12 (nice and sweet but not particularly exciting). I thought they would cancel out and give the best of both worlds. They didn`t. The Aberlour was utterly dominating. Added 4oz of Teacher`s Highland Cream and still not doing it for me. I started to wonder if I made a big mistake and I was just letting the Aberlour ruin all my whisky. Then I added 2oz each of Glenlivet 12 and 18, let them marry for a couple days and wow! It`s fantastic. If I tasted this blind and you told me it was an 18 year old blend I`d probably believe you. It seems that the Glenlivet 18 has added a taste of maturity to the palate and finish far more than proportional to the amount I put it. I was planning all along to top it up with Ninety 20 year old Canadian Rye (actually all corn) to add some age once I fixed the balancing issue but now I want to keep it as is!

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . congratulations, you are now a Blender.

[@whoijacket]

My favorite part is the casual way he listed off Brora, Port Ellen and Rosebank in the solera list.

[@alaack47]

personally, ive found that peaty islay whiskys go well with older bourbons, as the scotch can stand up to the bold bourbon, enhancing the spiciness, smoke (barrel char in bourbon), and creamy sweetness for an islay. ive found if the blend doesnt seem to work i add a bit of crown royal to balance it out

[@DanMowry]

Thanks, Ralfy! You've inspired me to begin my own solera bottle! I just created it with the 8 bottles my wife and I love most in our collection. They're listed with little notes about the "history" of our choices of spirit inside. Wonderful idea - cheers!

[@colinabz]

Wonderful idea. I have many favourite bottles with a dram or two left. May they now live forever.

[@23alnstreet]

Thanks for this one Ralfy! I was given a bottle of the old-style Tobermory 10yo a while back which I found REALLY boring (and so was never going to drink it), so decided to use some of it as the base for my own Solera bottle. A decent splash of 5 good malts went in with it, and just one month later it's shaping up very nicely indeed. I'd never have had the balls to do it until I watched this; so thanks for giving us all the encouragement to just get on with it!

[@gibblegabble4986]

RALFY!!!! I bought a standard Black Bottle and I am just adding Islay malts of different ages and strengths to,,, finlaggen, ardbeg, bowmore ect. Islay Solera and its a smasher! Thanks Ralfy

[@Resynchronise]

Keep up the great work! Your words of wisdom are highly applicable even outside the world of malt.

[@glytch5]

So I've been doing this for a while now. My base of the solera was an older bottling of HP 18yo, hp 12yo and tomatin 18yo. I've been removing drams and adding drams of other malts like old pulteney and a few other sherried whiskys. NOTHING PEATY. I must say my solera bottle has turned out FANTASTIC! This really is a brilliant idea. As your bottle of whisky starts getting low use a bit in the solera. GREAT idea ralfy. My solera remains a 12 Y.O. Great to have a dram of every once in a while.

[@ouwezeeman1]

My solera bottle is getting a bit to the woody spectrum, nothing to worry about yet, but it might get too much. So I'm careful about what to top it up with... I have little options left (I want to use something that's not in the bottle yet) Jack Daniels single barrel is a big nono when it comes to woodyness. The other option is Glenfarclas 105, but I'm afraid it will turn out to be woody as well when the thick sherry coat dissolves in the rest of the bottle. Just wait with topping it? Cheers.

[@PeatSmokey]

Hi Ralfy! Hey maltmates, do you want to enjoy your Single Malts or Blends without that perverbial hangover? water is real good, but Gatoraide will not only prevent the dehydrative effects of hangover but will give you that added boost via electrolytes necessary to rise and shine to a productive brand new day! It works maltmates and doesnt interfere with those terrific tastes of your favorite spirit. Enjoy!! Thanks Ralfy.

[@BeholdZeus]

This video has inspired me to make a solera from Irish whiskies (mostly blends). It has been - and continues to be - a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Try it! Thanks ralfy!

[@RuncaBoody]

It din't occur to me that this would work at home- I just figured mixing scotches would result in "mud." The addition of the step of testing before adding- Brilliant! Thanks Ralfy!

[@falcon048]

Rum typically uses Solera frequently. They not only refill mature casks with younger spirits but they also add in very old and much more mature spirits. They sometimes change casks and move them to another location to mature. I can see how whiskey would benefit from this system. It's as complicated a technique as the creation of the distillate itself!

[@StrappingOldLad]

Wow! I actually have a solera bottle. Started this 3 years ago mixing a rather dull Clynelish 14 with Rittenhouse Rye. The result was good and I got the idea to put the last dram from all my bottles into this blend. I have had quite a few strange drams from this, but none have been bad. I also put peated whiskies in it, but smaller measures, and only when I feel the peat won't become too dominating. I may go for your idea of a peated version. I definitely recommend having a solera bottle!!

[@michaelfranciotti3900]

I love it when I click on a video about something as simple as whiskey, and I get some life philosophy out of it.

[@funwithpeatandsherry]

Hi Ralfy, I've been doing the same thing for a while now, oddly enough. I drink my solera flask down to two thirds, then add another whisky. I keep rcords of each mix, because they are never quite what I expect. (Wasmund's and Ardbeg taste like bubblegum when mixed.)

[@Ivo--]

I like this concept, it reminds me of a Hungarian (I think, might be mistaken) custom which is to keep a spoonful of the day's supper and add it to the supper the next day, then keeping a spoonful of that and adding it to the next supper and so forth and so on.

[@Wayfarer8]

Cheers, Ralfy. Not many distilleries are using the solera system, but also you could find a Speybutn 25 solera. And also, drikn, which You got it's not a solera whisky, it's a malt blended whisky. And there's a big difference in it. Solera is mixing of an alcohol from the one production.

[@gregcruickshank]

I began mine in my whiskey decanter. I supposed perhaps I aught to use a sealable bottle instead. Thank you for posting this, I love the concept of a personal solera that can be passed onto perpetuity.

[@knarfzxc]

Any old Whisky bottle will do, preferably a shape you like. Wash it out or not and away you go. Often saving empty bottles and stoppers is a good idea until the storage cupboard under the stairs is full, then have a wee clean-out.

[@ravishingrosscoe]

I've been doing this with bourbons. Haven't had the heart to risk sullying any of my malts yet. But it has worked fairly well with my American swill.

[@joshzollweg5940]

Home blends/vatting is always good fun. Education manages to sneak in too!

[@zaphodbeeblebrox9109]

i love you ralfy. youre everything i want in a whisky guy.

[@pete37038]

Awesome stuff, I've kicked one off tonight, had 3/4 of a bottle of Balblair 10 I wouldn't drink on the shelf, Ive added Singleton of Dufftown, Cask Strength Sherry Cask Edradour,, a '97 Dufftown, Dalmore 12, and a small measure of Benromach Peat Smoke.... it has transformed it into a great drop of malt, intend to add more sherried malt as time goes on, a great idea and a continual developing project, Slainte!! ps apologies for repeating myself 300 times while meeting you at Glasgow Fest 2011!

[@miserablerhurensohn]

I made an odd solera bottle today. Laddie 10, Glenmorangie Astar, Macmyra 1stEd, Lagavulin 16, Knob Creek Rye, Jefferson's Rye, and Wiser's Canadien whisky. My freak solera bottle is like a Canadien whisky with giant ovaries in a Winter storm. I think I've fallen for her and I can't get up.

[@ROBBOTUREBLUE]

Great idea I am going to start 2 bottles off !!!! And see where they go over time thanks again.

[@danielbrown9346]

A little late, but I finally set mine up today. Thanks for the idea, Ralfy!

[@MNHygge]

What a...wonderful idea. I'm totally doing this.

[@helmutb1426]

Wonderful idea. I also started my own Solera Bourbon bottle and published the first results on my blog.I'm combining Bourbon and Scotch (but not overly peaty-smokey ones), and Rye. Probably later on some Korn from Germany as well. A drop or two of rum might also be in order.

[@jadebishop3849]

+Helmut B (schlimmerdurst) I was just about to ask if this could be done with bourbon, as I have a few bottles close to empty and have thought about bunging them all together. How's it going?

[@helmutb1426]

+Rian Creamer Wonderful! I've already exchanged some drams from the bottle by fresh bourbon and rye. It still has the main taste of the Four Roses that I used to kickstart the Solera bottle, but I think I'm starting to taste interesting sidenotes now...

[@rocknrollwhisky6210]

Superb vlog Ralfy!! Starting two bottles imidiately. My Thor will be full again. Thx again

[@acemech777]

Thank you. I will do this with a half bottle of stuff I have. This will be fun thanks.

[@anthonylambert4523]

I seem to be reading/watching videos about Solera/Infinity whisky bottles a lot at the moment.I've been doing this myself for a few years now and didn't even know it was a "thing" !! Nice to see you recommend having such a bottle Ralfy.Keep the reviews coming mate,you've helped me select a good malt several times..

[@dumluk1984]

Same here. I have a decanter with a constantly mutating blend as other bottles approach emptiness, but it's always one of the most interesting bottles in my collection.

[@jesseregenauer630]

This inspired me to start my own (currently 4 part) malt scotch mix living bottle. It has two well known speysides (one 12 years old), a nice robust dual cask maturation NAS highland at 43%, and a nice sherry & bourbon cask influenced NAS smoky Islay. I keep a list on my bottle and this list is subject to change as I continue to live..... The shades of flavor change so much and are so intriguing------GREAT VID from a wee bit back in time Ralfy..... THANK YOU FOR THE IDEA!!!!! Slainte!!!

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . good luck with the journey !

[@FacultyFan]

Thanks for sharing the whisky wisdom! I never considered building my own blend. :)

[@MrSupplementScene]

Loved it a year or so ago, thought it wasn't quite as good with the bottle I bought this month, or maybe it was and it's my memory playing tricks, it's still very good stuff

[@camoflux9277]

You just changed my life Ralfy!

[@trinityzaku]

I did this with gin starting last year around this time. The problem I have run into however is that I have now come to a combination of unknown proportions that is amazing and I am terrified to add something to it.

[@Fanta....]

Keep it, start a new bottle with some of that bottle. Or take a small 100ml sample and store it away.

[@trinityzaku]

I ended up starting a new one with a bottle of roku and added 100ml of the mixed bottle into it when it got time to. The original mix is no longer around but it lives on in a trace ammount in my newest bottle

[@CaptTerrific]

12:40 and onward seems so self-evident, and yet so many whisky drinkers don't seem to get it

[@thillio]

I actually did a blend of a few leftovers and was happy with the result. I guess that can be used for this kind of project instead of finishing it :)

[@PoppaJayJohnson]

Great Idea & vision !

[@kubr1ck36]

"..600 pounds for 35 year old Brora. Which is a ridiculous amount of money.." Those were the good ol' days

[@ion1984]

best whisky vlog is best.

[@ion1984]

Speyburn 10 is DOMINATING my solera bottle. I am going with (more or less) a Speyside, sweet, young, chill filtered theme. I imagine that will blend the best. So far it is: Glenfiddich 15 Solera, Balvenie 12 Doublewood, Speyburn 10, MonkeyShoulder #27, Highland Park 12, Glenmorangie Original ... in that order. This bottle is just over a year old. Speyburn 10 is still dominating this whisky pure malt blend. And I'm loving it!

[@timejiff]

I Wish you would review Whyte and Mackays 30 year old. Top notch reviews across the board on this spirit. Interestingly their master blenders nose is now insured for 1.2 million. Kind of an expensive whiskey but it could be worth any penny.

[@PYRO200055412]

How goes it Ralfy? I was curious. I'm in America and the water quality here in non wealthy neighborhoods, ie under $80k a year, is absolutely terrible. Fluoridated and contaminated by pharmaceuticals and worse etc. I would like to add water to my whisky but typical bottled water is fluoridated, even the likes of San Pellegrino and such. I was curious if you've had Fiji water and would recommend it as an alternative. It is quite strongly flavored for water but it is all natural and clean.

[@Tylervrooman]

i did this..!!!. my bottle ended up having Fiddich 15 Chivas 12 Crown Royal Bowmore legend Silverseal 8 Bushmills Fiddich 12 and Buffalo Trace... the result was great !!!

[@MrSupplementScene]

I've only tried this in my glass, so it probably didn't fully marry but the tastes were all there still.Iit does seem like something that could go wrong. Wouldn't the gentler flavours get overwhelmed? I had a nice result mixing a young rougher peated malt and a smoother sherry aberlour

[@garrafeiradodinis6765]

very nice idea

[@cstorvold]

One of my favorites. When I did the connoisseur tour of the distillery I got to dip my finger right into the Solera vat! Yummy.

[@funwithpeatandsherry]

Talisker and Caol Ila. All props to Ralfy for suggesting that mix!

[@tucker21222]

I definitely like to do this myself because you never know what you're going to get but sometimes you can get something truly special but definitely be mindful of your proportions remember less is more and never be afraid to go on the whiskey Adventure a blending you can even make your own label that way it's truly individual and a Priceless work of whiskey art well good luck my malt mates

[@jackasswhiskyandpintobeans9344]

I use my decanters for this. Have a rum blend, bourbon blend, Speyside blend, Islay blend and Cognac blend. Like you when I get a bit left in the bottle I just add it to the decanter. Am a bit more adventurous, I don't test it.

[@jackasswhiskyandpintobeans9344]

The Cognac blend is the one that is really better than its parts. Just some basic Henessy, Courvoiser and a 45% abv Pierre Ferrand.

[@jdoliver3]

Not sure how "solarization" differs from a blend, except that you create it yourself. Other concern - suspect it can never be reproduced, although that might be part of the enjoyment! Jim in Charlotte

[@terrypk1]

hahaha. very interesting idea!!! but then i will have to keep a book for my solera.

[@eltejano]

This is a great idea- plus I'd bet some of my whisk(e)y loving friends would love the idea, and another group would hate the idea, so it'd make for great and lively group discussions. Ooh, I should say spirited discussion ;)

[@athrack]

Capital! I´m off to start my smoke and peat solera bottle right now!

[@crys_o]

Be careful when storing old whisky bottles with organic cork caps (I'm talking about the original real wood cork ones, not the new synthetic/plastic ones) because the cork can deteriorate over time and the whisky can start evaporating. Even worse, bits of cork will start breaking off and contaminating the whisky. Keep in mind this only becomes an issue for bottles that have been in storage for many years.

[@ilandruet9386]

Started mine yesterday too, finally. Such a good idea.

[@Hogibaer]

Hi Ralfy, I wonder if with old bottles that have lost a substantial portion of their alcohol one could add some pure ethanol as well? Any thoughts or experience?

[@MrSupplementScene]

I've started 1 bottle of mixed malts. It started quite Speyside heavy, I added some Aberlour Abundah, really got interesting then. Then a big mistake not heeding Ralphy's advice, a hint of Laphroig (well a good dose) took over the whole blend, really disapointing. Tonight I added a good dose of Aberlour 10 and it's corrected it a little. But what other correction can I use? It really is a much better drink than the cheaper malts in it and as interesting a taste as I've come across. Cheers Ralphy

[@PQK]

Wow, this is a great idea.Still a bit of an whisky amatuer, but something I will keep in mind for the future.

[@notme123123]

Ralfy, I would like to suggest a theme for a future vlog. I think it would be interesting if you looked at some popular malts and explore how the flavor profiles have changed, over the years. You did this, earlier, with JW Red. I'd love to see this with some others, particularly ones you have warned us may be getting worse in quality, as popularity increases.

[@MinerOfHeart]

Are you sure you don't live down the street? You have a bottle of Chocolate Shop wine which is made here in Seattle and you also have the same exact grey and black pen that I have. What a small world.

[@eldoking]

Awesome vlog, ralfy! It would be very cool if you'd share with me the malts you've used in your peat and smoke solera, or maybe just the distiller components. I've been trying this for the last year or so, and I'd gladly share my results with you...

[@deirae]

I noticed you added Lagavulin to yournon peat and smoke Solera. Does it not dominate to much?

[@themaltbar]

Hi Ralfy! As usual "greatstuff" We'v got tons to tell ya regarding the Solera sytem & maltbar experiments but in the meantime, do u know how, why & in what year did America become an integral part of quality single malt scotch whisk(e)ys?? Are u familiar w/the genesis of these unique procedures?!! Thanks Ralfy. R.J.

[@koreyfyep]

This is exciting. I'm gonna start my own bottle.

[@jammadamma]

You're an openminded guy. Good to see.

[@MrSupplementScene]

I don't know if you've noticed this Ralphy, but I taste different whiskies with different mouthfuls. Perhaps different flavours have different weights, so some float to the top, maybe it's just not mixing or maybe it's just touching different areas of my mouth. I have been trying to correct my blend from the Laphroig addition, it's coming back around although not quite as enjoyable now I've used cheaper malts or some bourbons. For a new bottle would you recommend blend plus islay malts?

[@jeffcameron3192]

This is a Great idea. As a younger man my father gave me a glass of whiskey neat, I coughed and thought yuk. Now at 50 I can finally appreciate a good whiskey neat. I just had a similar conversation with my own son. I will be starting a Solera bottle that I hope my son will carry on when I'm gone. Cheers.

[@deirae]

A fantastic idea with the Solera. Say I want to start one. I just go through my shelves, pick out bottles with a bit in them, and mix them up, to get started, and then just go from there?

[@johndeveau9359]

Exactly! Can't really mess it up. Put in what you like and in any proportion. I've even put some whisky that is not great into the bottle. The other whiskers can hide or change the flavor profile of the bad ones when they blend... Have fun!

[@NiallBenzie]

You going to do a review of your review of your Glenglassaugh octave? Noticed it last week when I was up there. Guess it wont be ready for a while yet :)

[@samlala5628]

Hey Rafly, thanks for the advice and all the other recommendations in all of your other videos, have tried a ton of your recommendations and loved them. I even started my own whiskey collection. I was just wondering what your FAVORITE whiskey of all time is.

[@macdumpy]

Thanks for the idea Ralfy. Show idea: What Ralfy likes to eat

[@coreymartin-bigpoppa1377]

Brilliant!!!

[@BennettIsAmazing]

Inspiring stuff Ralfy!

[@gibblegabble4986]

RALFLY!! I have added so far just ardbeg and laphroaig to my blackbottle solera, and already there is an amazing waft of burnt heather an butterscotch to it :-) Im going to do a speyside solera next an a highland solera ;-)

[@bouchardolivier]

5 years ago, I started my own Solera bottle, inspired by this video. I've added 16 different whiskies over the years that I thought would blend well. Tonight, with a bunch of friends, I am going to taste it. I have no idea how it will turn out. I am at least hoping for something interesting, if not good! I haven't tasted a single drop yet. I can't wait to try it! Will it be a success or will I fail miserably? I'll let you know soon! By the way, the plan is not to drink the whole thing, of course. I will keep on adding whiskies over the next years.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . good luck with the journey !

[@alexnoon8042]

Comment c'était Olivier ? We are curious !!!

[@MrDsmyl]

great idea, I'll have to try this!

[@SteefuitHeerlen]

Ralfy, what would you say is the time a newly added whisky should marry in the bottle before a dram is poured out of the bottle? I've started my own Solera bottle a week ago now, and I frankly can't keep up the patience much longer.

[@markusrayan]

You Sir are the John Peel of whisky.

[@Stealthmachin3]

This is a great idea and a great video. Do you think these should stick to only one type of spirit in each bottle or would a blend of some bourbons and scotches work out well?

[@MrJoris0123]

Interesting , I've never thaught of this. I do consider it now. Greetings :-)

[@jkaygo]

doesn't that make the Solera bottling sort making your own blend?

[@cato451]

That's a lot of peated Islays in your Solera bottle ralfy. I wonder what you've been adding to your peat & smoke bottle!?!?!?

[@vigil12348]

Hi Ralfy, in the Peat & smoke solera, I'm curious, do the Ardbegs dominate the flavour and taste, do they suffocate the old and more delicate Port Ellen and the Bruichladdich? What's happening there?

[@user-qk6jc9ld5x]

Interesting! Question: from my experience , peated whisky losses its flavour during time , how it is effect the infinity bottle?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . fine, because it has integrated with other flavours.

[@Abraxas514]

Ironic how it's "A measure out and a measure in" but involves very little measuring :) Seems like the kind of thing you would do to challenge your friends in the identification of the contents.

[@DonBarker707]

Yes! awesome I'm doing this starting one today

[@Bluelight176]

Do you keep the bottle after it is done.....to have a whisky bottle collection? Thanks for sharing:)

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . I keep very few bottles once they are finished. Most are smashed in a recycling bin.

[@Bluelight176]

@@thewhiskybothy The bottles you keep must be very well made bottles or of rare vintage.... You'r video is very interesting......thanks:)

[@BrandonJoeReich]

I may be confused (probably the case) but I think I remember watching a vlog of yours where you said that adding more and more to blends made it more difficult to discern the different tastes. How is this "solera" idea different? After a certain number have been added in, will I not be making it more difficult to taste the different flavors and smell the different scents?

[@jwc-in4vp]

any thoughts on using a swing top bottle for a solera?

[@adamhunter1223]

Thank you.

[@rares_21]

❤

[@eb966]

what do you thing about about teacher's cream and ardbeg 10 they got that smokey taste?

[@plasticine1999]

Great idea: would love to try doing this myself. Can't find that url or anything like a "solera bottle" advertised for purchase. Would it be called something else, or is there a substitute?

[@deinfluencing]

Wonder if this would help out with my Ardmore Traditional Cask which is starting to disappoint...

[@psyctor]

So if I understand this correctly - (1) If I start with a Blended whisky, I should continue adding only other blended whiskies and if starting with a Malt, keep adding only malts right? (2) At a later stage (say many years), can we come back and revisit/add the same whisky which we started with?

[@BallisticWrenchGarage]

in your professional opinion what whiskey gives you the most absolute bang for the buck as far as taste?