Being absolutely objective, I believe that Ralfy has influenced the opinion of whisky fans more than anyone else (at least that I know of). And without a doubt, the OSWAs are setting a trend, they are showing that the public wants bottlings with integrity and some distilleries are paying attention.
Dear Ralfy, I think you and other online reviews and if I may, friends have developed a significant level of trust with us. It is the basis of any positive relationship. I think meeting whisky makers and people is very important. One can almost taste their sincerity in their whisky 🥃. Thanks and kindest regards, S.
The tools are out there for us to use for our advantage. Recommendations, and reviews are helpful guides, but as we try more varieties of whisky we begin to learn what we like and what to look for based on what we like, be that it might be the abv, or the cask maturation or even a particular distillery that has more than a few bottles that we enjoyed. It's a matter of what we like, but you never know what you like until you try it. And with the tools out there, you can try it neat, or add water or add another whiskey as a blend. So many different ways. It's always a great journey.
Not particularly relevant to this video and I know you don’t tend towards mixed drinks, but I wanted to send my thanks for introducing me to Smith and Cross rum. I’ve just been drinking hot chocolate. 50g of good chocolate melted into a mug full of milk in a saucepan over heat and whisked. Just before it comes to a boil pour into a mug containing a good measure of the rum. IMHO delicious especially when the weather outside is cold . Thanks again
The second bottle of whisky I ever bought was a Glenallachie 10 cask strength. Admittedly, I sort of bought it by mistake, but I’m a fan of strong flavours so I grew to love it fairly quickly. Probably wasn’t the best thing to do in hindsight, but it certainly helped sped up the learning process.
thank you for all your lessons sir. im a bourbon drinker but my journet started with scotch whiskey and you have taught me a WHOLE lot. you are the one who taught me how to refine my own taste buds and really understand what im drinking. thru this education, i found that bourbon is where my home is at. nothing against other whiskeys/cognacs, which i can drink and enjoy from time to time, but i found that my home is with high proof bourbons. with that, i thank you for doing a great job of teaching us all sir.
That's funny because while I enjoy bourbon, Im a single malt guy and I started with scotch. I just finished shelving and organizing my liquor closet. Scotch has 3 shelves, bourbon 1. Bourbon is my easy go too, scotch is for enjoyment and contemplation or said differently, bourbon is for tailgating, scotch for a good book or a moment of silence. Anyway cheers.
Hi, Ralfy. I have brewed beers and ales since 1979. I have grown my own barley and malted it. I have grown many varieties of hops over the years. I encountered your channel early in my whisky adventure. Your reviews have always been straightforward without flannel...unlike the big whisky books. You and I differ when it comes to peated whiskies, but I have bought several like Springbank and Ardnamurchan which I enjoy. My favorite styles come from Bunnahabhain, Glencadam, Bruichladdich and Edradour...all whiskies you described so well and have become standards in my bothy. You have saved me a lot of money that I feel would have been wasted on distilleries that do not give a damn about customers. Your whisky opinions are valued by my wife and myself. Thank you!
And I suggest to everybody: use your senses to fill your liberary of references! Eat a variety of food. I can distinct at least over a dozen of citrusfruits for example. But its not only food. I know how warm asphalt smells in the hot summer, for me its distinctly different, than the pure bitumen, we used to use to fix the roof, when I was a child. I found both notes separately in different peated whiskys.
There are many subjects which are based only on what can be proven to be true. However, taste isn't one of them since it is one of the most subjective senses we possess. I liken it to the Marmite test, e.g. love or hate it, or a graded scale, such as 0-10. Whisky is all of the above or none of the above. I like the recommendations, but I'm mainly drawn to certain whiskies instinctively. Seen in this light, I don't need any of the events, the advertising, or mythology regarding whisky, but I do appreciate listening to what you have to say about what I regard as the greatest alcoholic beverage ever created.:)
As for "bad purchasing decisions" I agree with Buckminster Fuller when he says "there is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes."
Well said Ralfy. The whisky groupthink is definitely a thing and something I've been commenting on for some time. Those who pay attention can actually observe it in real time. As you correctly say, everyone's palate is different, and yet without doubt the groupthink phenomenon skews many drinkers towards a very small, in relative terms, selection of distilleries while disregarding the majority.
Nice explain, I like bitter and sour not much sweet, some nuts, vegies, fruits, cocoa, coffee, meat, eggs ... but my lord this is for a food not for a drink mainly :)
There have indeed been quite a number of times I've smelled or tasted a whiskey and noticed something that I couldn't quite articulate. Frustrating but party of the journey I suppose. I've always felt that single malts have smelled and tasted a bit like honey. I'm definitely more the salty/savory snacks than sweet, although I like a decent chocolate bar from time to time. One of my favorite all-time snack are cheese sandwich crackers with orange juice or tea, and the OJ lends the right amount of sweetness (and acidity) to the salt and savory of the crackers. Also chips (crisps) and deluxe mixed nuts are pretty common with me. I suppose it's my age but I'm just now delving into fresh fruits, which I suppose is in the sweet category but obviously not the same as chocolates, ice creams, candies, etc. Thanks again Ralfy for your educational approach to whisk(e)y. Wish more reviewers were more like you.
Learning from top critics and researching for oneself is important, although there's no substitute for your own palate. Whether wine, whisky or cigars - it is a subjective thing.
Insightful as always. I know in my life I’ve even had quite a bit of shifting. As a younger man different Scotches appealed to me than the Linkwood & Irish I prefer now.
Well put, as always. My whisky "notebook" is a Microsoft Access database. Detailed notes of 430 tastings of 180 different bottles. It is fun to compare the notes. I am a data nerd as well as a whisky nerd.
Your videos are a good guide i know i can rely on but also just buy something i like the look of to see what its like. Work gives me alot of insight as to what i might be good seeing as i work in a vat room. Some whisky guys on TH-cam videos arnt worth listening too cos they are selling something with their hot air or havent got enough knowledge to coment. Eg people trying to tell me the smokeyness in scotch can come from other places than peat , a guy from a whisky society tryed to tell the distillery manager of glen cadam that glen cadam was smokey 😂😂😂😂I think you might know what i mean.
My opinion is mine alone, formed in the process of tasting, gradually. Ralfy reviews are a very helpful shortcut. I don't have time and budget to try all the bottles, so I need to prioritize. Have yet to regret a Ralfy-recommended bottle. Not that I buy them all. That's not to say that I only buy bottles he's reviewed. I've even occasionally bought bottles that Ralfy reviewed soon after. I learn from Ralfy rather than trying to follow blindly or idolize him, as so many people are apt to do. Beware of personality cultism.
Well i bought a lot of whisky during the black friday period. Deanston12, ledaig rioja, kilhoman sanaig and kilkerrran peated. At least partly influneced by youself and i have tasted all 3. Very happy with all them.
I know an YT influencer who is still my no.1 source for hints to new Whiskies I haven't tried yet. Btw, Lidl used to have Glen Moray on the shelves for a good price, yummy.
For me, i just enjoy whiskey. I dont drink ANY other alcohol. Just 2 glasses of whiskey in the weekend and thats it. I am still enjoying my Chivas 13xtra andmy Gold Label. Yes its overbraned. But i like it. There, i said it. I am buying myself the 18 yo Johnnie Walker for this christmas. Im sure there are better. But the curiousity draws me. And i did enjoyed black and gold label in a good way!
Perhaps the most useful of the Extras, second overall only to the first few reviews that kicked this whole thing off. Taste is highly individual, explains how such a variety of whiskies remain in production and selling to whatever degree, this is a refreshing divergence from more recent emphasis on divisions between anoraks and lessers. There is enough "us vs. them" elsewhere in life.
OK I am not going to be swayed by your review on this Glen Moray. But the 77 malt mark did not sound like a buy. Maybe a good $ per malt mark purchase for some.
Do you think the distilleries hand pick better batches for the bottles in their own shops than they generally sell in outside shops though…? Why wouldn’t they?
![[#SHORTS CLIP] ใช้ของของตัวเองไปเลยสิคะ l ซานิเบาได้เบา l One Playground](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ea_mTywx2p4/mqdefault.jpg)
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Being absolutely objective, I believe that Ralfy has influenced the opinion of whisky fans more than anyone else (at least that I know of). And without a doubt, the OSWAs are setting a trend, they are showing that the public wants bottlings with integrity and some distilleries are paying attention.
Two things. My money and my palate. That’s why only my opinion matters to me about whisky. Until the day someone else pays for it that is!
Ralfy reviews = constant bliss for my soul. 🎉🎉🎉
Dear Ralfy, I think you and other online reviews and if I may, friends have developed a significant level of trust with us. It is the basis of any positive relationship. I think meeting whisky makers and people is very important. One can almost taste their sincerity in their whisky 🥃. Thanks and kindest regards, S.
The tools are out there for us to use for our advantage. Recommendations, and reviews are helpful guides, but as we try more varieties of whisky we begin to learn what we like and what to look for based on what we like, be that it might be the abv, or the cask maturation or even a particular distillery that has more than a few bottles that we enjoyed. It's a matter of what we like, but you never know what you like until you try it. And with the tools out there, you can try it neat, or add water or add another whiskey as a blend. So many different ways. It's always a great journey.
Not particularly relevant to this video and I know you don’t tend towards mixed drinks, but I wanted to send my thanks for introducing me to Smith and Cross rum. I’ve just been drinking hot chocolate. 50g of good chocolate melted into a mug full of milk in a saucepan over heat and whisked. Just before it comes to a boil pour into a mug containing a good measure of the rum. IMHO delicious especially when the weather outside is cold . Thanks again
It’s all about the passion. Blind tastings brings out so many surprises. It’s all about the experience no matter the name. Greetings sir.
The second bottle of whisky I ever bought was a Glenallachie 10 cask strength. Admittedly, I sort of bought it by mistake, but I’m a fan of strong flavours so I grew to love it fairly quickly. Probably wasn’t the best thing to do in hindsight, but it certainly helped sped up the learning process.
thank you for all your lessons sir. im a bourbon drinker but my journet started with scotch whiskey and you have taught me a WHOLE lot. you are the one who taught me how to refine my own taste buds and really understand what im drinking. thru this education, i found that bourbon is where my home is at. nothing against other whiskeys/cognacs, which i can drink and enjoy from time to time, but i found that my home is with high proof bourbons. with that, i thank you for doing a great job of teaching us all sir.
That's funny because while I enjoy bourbon, Im a single malt guy and I started with scotch. I just finished shelving and organizing my liquor closet. Scotch has 3 shelves, bourbon 1. Bourbon is my easy go too, scotch is for enjoyment and contemplation or said differently, bourbon is for tailgating, scotch for a good book or a moment of silence. Anyway cheers.
Scotch whisky.There is no Whiskey that is Scottish.
Hi, Ralfy. I have brewed beers and ales since 1979. I have grown my own barley and malted it. I have grown many varieties of hops over the years. I encountered your channel early in my whisky adventure. Your reviews have always been straightforward without flannel...unlike the big whisky books. You and I differ when it comes to peated whiskies, but I have bought several like Springbank and Ardnamurchan which I enjoy. My favorite styles come from Bunnahabhain, Glencadam, Bruichladdich and Edradour...all whiskies you described so well and have become standards in my bothy. You have saved me a lot of money that I feel would have been wasted on distilleries that do not give a damn about customers. Your whisky opinions are valued by my wife and myself. Thank you!
And I suggest to everybody: use your senses to fill your liberary of references!
Eat a variety of food. I can distinct at least over a dozen of citrusfruits for example.
But its not only food. I know how warm asphalt smells in the hot summer, for me its distinctly different, than the pure bitumen, we used to use to fix the roof, when I was a child. I found both notes separately in different peated whiskys.
There are many subjects which are based only on what can be proven to be true. However, taste isn't one of them since it is one of the most subjective senses we possess. I liken it to the Marmite test, e.g. love or hate it, or a graded scale, such as 0-10. Whisky is all of the above or none of the above. I like the recommendations, but I'm mainly drawn to certain whiskies instinctively. Seen in this light, I don't need any of the events, the advertising, or mythology regarding whisky, but I do appreciate listening to what you have to say about what I regard as the greatest alcoholic beverage ever created.:)
As for "bad purchasing decisions" I agree with Buckminster Fuller when he says "there is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes."
A nice explanation as always. I really love the extras videos.
Hello Ralfy, I begun with a few notes and now I share them in my blog. The journey is long and interesting. Thank you for your videos and advice. 😉🥃👍🏻
Well said Ralfy. The whisky groupthink is definitely a thing and something I've been commenting on for some time. Those who pay attention can actually observe it in real time. As you correctly say, everyone's palate is different, and yet without doubt the groupthink phenomenon skews many drinkers towards a very small, in relative terms, selection of distilleries while disregarding the majority.
Nice explain, I like bitter and sour not much sweet, some nuts, vegies, fruits, cocoa, coffee, meat, eggs ... but my lord this is for a food not for a drink mainly :)
There have indeed been quite a number of times I've smelled or tasted a whiskey and noticed something that I couldn't quite articulate. Frustrating but party of the journey I suppose. I've always felt that single malts have smelled and tasted a bit like honey.
I'm definitely more the salty/savory snacks than sweet, although I like a decent chocolate bar from time to time. One of my favorite all-time snack are cheese sandwich crackers with orange juice or tea, and the OJ lends the right amount of sweetness (and acidity) to the salt and savory of the crackers. Also chips (crisps) and deluxe mixed nuts are pretty common with me. I suppose it's my age but I'm just now delving into fresh fruits, which I suppose is in the sweet category but obviously not the same as chocolates, ice creams, candies, etc.
Thanks again Ralfy for your educational approach to whisk(e)y. Wish more reviewers were more like you.
I only watch your reviews. And you have lead me in the right direction. Not just in Whisky. But a life coach. Just to enjoy life. Cheers.
Hi Ralfy,Many thanks once again for a very informative and educational video.
Kindest regards
David
Learning from top critics and researching for oneself is important, although there's no substitute for your own palate. Whether wine, whisky or cigars - it is a subjective thing.
Your opinion does,
in Ralfy we trust!
Insightful as always. I know in my life I’ve even had quite a bit of shifting. As a younger man different Scotches appealed to me than the Linkwood & Irish I prefer now.
Well put, as always. My whisky "notebook" is a Microsoft Access database. Detailed notes of 430 tastings of 180 different bottles. It is fun to compare the notes. I am a data nerd as well as a whisky nerd.
This is a great idea, but I need to learn Access.
@@whompbiscuits8930 I used Access because I am a data nerd and I wanted a relational database. Excel could also be used for the job.
And if you go back to those notes when tasting the same whisky again, have you found your tastes have changed?
@@raymondporter2094 Looking over my tasting notes, what I see is that the same scotch out of the same bottle tastes different at different times.
Your videos are a good guide i know i can rely on but also just buy something i like the look of to see what its like. Work gives me alot of insight as to what i might be good seeing as i work in a vat room. Some whisky guys on TH-cam videos arnt worth listening too cos they are selling something with their hot air or havent got enough knowledge to coment. Eg people trying to tell me the smokeyness in scotch can come from other places than peat , a guy from a whisky society tryed to tell the distillery manager of glen cadam that glen cadam was smokey 😂😂😂😂I think you might know what i mean.
My opinion is mine alone, formed in the process of tasting, gradually. Ralfy reviews are a very helpful shortcut. I don't have time and budget to try all the bottles, so I need to prioritize. Have yet to regret a Ralfy-recommended bottle. Not that I buy them all. That's not to say that I only buy bottles he's reviewed. I've even occasionally bought bottles that Ralfy reviewed soon after. I learn from Ralfy rather than trying to follow blindly or idolize him, as so many people are apt to do. Beware of personality cultism.
Well i bought a lot of whisky during the black friday period. Deanston12, ledaig rioja, kilhoman sanaig and kilkerrran peated. At least partly influneced by youself and i have tasted all 3. Very happy with all them.
I know an YT influencer who is still my no.1 source for hints to new Whiskies I haven't tried yet.
Btw, Lidl used to have Glen Moray on the shelves for a good price, yummy.
For me, i just enjoy whiskey. I dont drink ANY other alcohol. Just 2 glasses of whiskey in the weekend and thats it. I am still enjoying my Chivas 13xtra andmy Gold Label. Yes its overbraned. But i like it. There, i said it. I am buying myself the 18 yo Johnnie Walker for this christmas. Im sure there are better. But the curiousity draws me. And i did enjoyed black and gold label in a good way!
Perhaps the most useful of the Extras, second overall only to the first few reviews that kicked this whole thing off. Taste is highly individual, explains how such a variety of whiskies remain in production and selling to whatever degree, this is a refreshing divergence from more recent emphasis on divisions between anoraks and lessers. There is enough "us vs. them" elsewhere in life.
Maybe there is a 'tutelary deity' of whisky, who tells us when a certain kind of whisky's time for our experience has come...
I definitely have had a sweet tooth for most of my life, but i enjoy whisky for the exact opposite tastes/ sensations.
I do wonder if Ralfy's Extras are a product of his cups. I mean it's lovely to hear, but it does remind me of a pished uncle ranting at 1am.
Whose. Who's is "who is."
Ralfy, I find that I agree with most of your opinions. Should I worry about that?
Wise, words as usual, my friend.
I'm influenced only by Ralfy 😉
Ralfy is my primary, eric waite is up there too. So many one can reference but Ralfy really is the OG.
OK I am not going to be swayed by your review on this Glen Moray. But the 77 malt mark did not sound like a buy. Maybe a good $ per malt mark purchase for some.
The RIGHT ONE
Do you think the distilleries hand pick better batches for the bottles in their own shops than they generally sell in outside shops though…? Why wouldn’t they?
*whose
My notebook:
-peat.
The end.
Whose opinion… 🙂
🎉❤🎉