tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post3864209134256003619..comments2024-03-12T21:47:25.783-07:00Comments on Chemistry of the Cocktail: Win Some, Lose Some: Thoughts on the Shift Towards Higher Proof, Non-Chill Filtered WhiskiesJordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-81536945529303923492012-08-01T15:42:31.282-07:002012-08-01T15:42:31.282-07:00Sadly decent value brandies are harder to find ove...Sadly decent value brandies are harder to find over here in OR. I've picked up a few, but it's still not a category I have a good grasp of. Additionally, the low bottling proof has always been a pet peeve of mine, especially for making cocktails.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-3831946886924981182012-07-31T11:02:14.215-07:002012-07-31T11:02:14.215-07:00I will say that cost is one of the reason's th...I will say that cost is one of the reason's that I don't buy scotch. I'll buy cognacs and Armagnacs til the cows come home, but it's pretty easy to find a decent VSOP for under $30 if you have a good liquor store around.Wilhelmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01296745240824636336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-42718558387512207842012-07-27T14:55:58.557-07:002012-07-27T14:55:58.557-07:00Ryan, I'll give Springbank a little big more w...Ryan, I'll give Springbank a little big more wiggle room. They have much higher costs, given that everything is done in house, and the quality makes me willing to pay a little bit more. But even there, the 12 year old cask strength release is only ~$10 more than the 46% 10 year old. Where's the sense in that? Even worse, I've figured out that I can probably get a lot of Springbank/Hazelburn/Longrow whiskies cheaper by ordering from the UK. That makes no sense whatsoever when the shipping is $10-15 *per bottle*. Something is seriously wrong with their U.S. importer is the markup is that great.<br /><br />Given this post and the comments from you and Michael, I think I'll move up my reviews of some of the decent blends in my cabinet. Isle of Skye 8 and Pig's Ear are both right around $30, which isn't nothing, but at least puts them in the same range as better bourbons and ryes. It's always good to show that you can drink well without spending too much money.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-42714959435793862432012-07-27T14:41:19.755-07:002012-07-27T14:41:19.755-07:00Jordan, I'm with you and Michael too. I want ...Jordan, I'm with you and Michael too. I want to be drinking 46%, NCF malts, but I just can't afford to go drop $61 on a Springbank 10, $57 on The Laddie Ten, etc. Actually, I'm even getting priced out of the decent lower-ABV malts. $45 for Glenlivet 12 around here! I recently made the decision to forget about malt-obsession for a while (some of the time - still going to drink some malts) and drink some blends (and of course bourbon). Still haven't tried any rums, maybe I should. I would rather be drinking malts, but there any many nights when I want the taste of scotch but I'm not doing the whole flavor-analysis thing, just having a drink while reading or watching TV. The much cheaper blends do the trick there.Ryanhttp://valuewhisky.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-18203769541372892232012-07-27T12:21:17.120-07:002012-07-27T12:21:17.120-07:00We'll soon see how a steadier paycheck flavors...We'll soon see how a steadier paycheck flavors my gripes.<br /><br />I agree that the companies are testing (successfully) what the market will bear. I wonder how long will it bear? And will some bottlers play up whisky scarcity over the next couple of years to further buoy the pricing?<br /><br />That Ron Matusalem 15 was looking pretty good when I was at Hi Time on Tuesday: all of $20.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-26499825112325813522012-07-27T11:51:50.446-07:002012-07-27T11:51:50.446-07:00All good. They're definitely tied together. WI...All good. They're definitely tied together. WIthout the rising tide of whisky prices, the distilleries wouldn't have felt like they could get away with raising the prices on their own whiskies quite so much.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-91347249768606085852012-07-27T11:51:05.413-07:002012-07-27T11:51:05.413-07:00Thanks, Michael.
Admittedly, I have a rathe privi...Thanks, Michael.<br /><br />Admittedly, I have a rathe privileged position: I live in a city with a fairly low cost of living, no dependents, and get a very steady paycheck. So I have plenty of disposable income. But even under the circumstances, there is a point where I'm going to balk at prices when I feel like they're not justified. I enjoy trying new spirits and you're right that when I could easily pick up two bottles of something good for the price of one bottle of whisky, I have to ask myself if the whisky is really that good. Sometimes it is and I've paid $70+ for a bottle on a number of occasions. But even then, it's usually because I've had one of the cheaper expressions from that distillery and liked it. Going into something expensive completely blind is... unlikely...<br /><br />So while I think the companies can charge whatever they think the market will bear, I have no obligation to buy their products at those prices. And when their lowest priced offerings are $50 and above, I wonder how many other people are going to feel the same way.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-29153995585525250752012-07-27T11:44:44.099-07:002012-07-27T11:44:44.099-07:00Sorry, I just realized I went slightly off-topic b...Sorry, I just realized I went slightly off-topic b*tching about whisky prices in general. Great post! :)Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-34330492480064192682012-07-27T11:13:48.155-07:002012-07-27T11:13:48.155-07:00I've been enjoying whisky for 10-12 years and ...I've been enjoying whisky for 10-12 years and I am balking at the prices. That was the real motivation behind my (sad) month of checking out the sub-$20 blends.<br /><br />If one is responsible about one's expenditures, then comparisons start being made in order to justify the rising expense. The 11.6oz of alcohol content in a 46%ABV whisky bottle equals that of three and half bottles of wine. So one can pretend that a $52 bottle is like buying four $13 bottles of wine. Though whisky is better. :)<br /><br />But $50-60 can be a week's worth of groceries or one month of electricity. So if a budget is tight and there's tasty aged bourbon and rum at half that price, then eventually scotch whisky will lose.<br /><br />Thanks for this post. I know some folks will defend the companies for practicing occasional near-predatory capitalism, but personally I'll side with the drinkers.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.com