How do you explore whiskies?

Interesting question. I guess there are a lot of ways to expand one's experience. Online reading is probably the best way to find things that you might like. I started by reading the globe and mail' swine critic. I didn't always like what he did, but knowing how he described wines and spirits compared to my own tastes helped me develop a point of reference.

Browsing the shelves helps. When I go to Calgary I visit a few good shops. If I see something interesting I look it up online.

Some stores have knowledgeable salespeople. Tell them the profile you like and they can recommend something new. If they know you well, they can let you know when something "interesting" comes in. I think that's how an online commentator on a different site gets a lot of leads.

I turned to Connosr when I was interested in trying a bourbon, and received very good advice, so posting a discussion like this one is helpful. Also asking privately can be helpful.

I hope this helps.

@vanPelt, really interesting question. My answer is that it depends on the spirit, cost, and preference. Some things that I get that might be considered obscure are samples from friends/trades, a really great way to expand the tasting library and experience. In those cases, rarely do I request anything, and we all just have an understanding of similar 'value' or 'quality' so that we try to ply others with something new to them.

Other times, I'll find a shop that sells samples and will just go hog-wild on as many different things that I can try, just to see what they're all like. Other than trades, I rely on word-of-mouth from a few friends, people whose perspectives I can gauge. For one or two people, we have almost completely the same preferences, so if they fall in love with something, I know that I will. Other people will have very different preferences, and their recommendations fall flat with me. In a few instances, a bottle from a producer will really blow me away, and then the next one will still impress me, and then I try to hunt down more from that producer, trying and stocking up, expecting that the general output is good enough that I'll be a-ok with it.

I like to read blogs, and so do a lot of other people. And, so, when they review a rare bottle, it becomes that much tougher to find, often far too costly (hello, Mr van Winkle). For blogs, as with friends, you've got to know the relative palate. Some bloggers like much more oak in their spirits than I do; others go in for bombs of all varieties. When it comes to buying, if I am looking into something, I'll check bloggers/reviewers with whom my palate aligns, and also reach out to friends with the same view. What's your approach?

I like to do my homework before adding to my collection. Read reviews (expert and amateur)usually through blogs, websites, and books. I also go to distillery websites for their of course slightly biased reviews. Most of my buys are based on expanding my collection of a particular distillerys bottlings that I enjoy. I rarely buy random bottles.

Working in a bar with 60 different whiskies helped me a lot. On lonely sunday evenings I tasted them all without knowing much about them. There I got a sense of difference between Bourbon, Single Malt and blended whiskies. But it all really started when a friend introduced me to Laphroaig and told me how to drink it and why. I wanted to know where that crazy taste came from so I started to investigate online and there I met Ralphy:) I tried a couple of his recommendations, listened to his inside knowledge and was immediately in love with this different way of drinking. I think working in a bar, visiting small village shops, attending tastings, scrutinizing the internet, comparing and sharing your own opinions with others all help in developing your own taste. Especially tastings help, because most of the times they put something in front of you that you wouldnt have bought yourself, it turns out to be wonderful and/or interesting. This is how I got over my Sherry-fear

@vanPelt said, "It seems most obvious to me to explore official bottlings of better-known distilleries."

Why? As @numen asked, "What's your approach?"

Perhaps if you'll share your reasoning I might have a better idea on how to answer your myriad questions in a way that could be of some interest.

Here's my answer to one of your questions: There is no "best way to explore whiskies." It's each person to her or his own, and woe be the critic who says any of us are doing it wrong.

@two-bit-cowboy , I really intend one question, which is: What is a suggested approach to explore, in order to optimize the discovery process (finding whiskies best aligned with one's taste). This can well be subjective. About the approach that "seems obvious"....I'm not implying it's a good way(!), just that I understand it, because it is straightforward. Popular distilleries are more available, so it is easier; and exploring within a favorite distillery is reasonable, assuming the products are the result of skill rather than luck.

BTW, you mentioned finding an independent bottling of Dalmore but seemed not to care for other Dalmores. So, in relation to my main question: How did you find/choose the IB, then?

I started exploring whiskies just by buying a bunch of bottles. That works much better, though, with bourbons in the US, because the whiskeys are so inexpensive. Where I live you can literally buy 750 ml bottles of very drinkable bourbons for the price of a shot of the same bourbon at an upscale bar or restaurant. Of course when you discover the scarce premium products the price scale changes quite a bit even with American whiskeys.

Yes, it is very useful to find recommendations from people whose taste you trust, or whose taste has strong resonance with your own...but, how do you find such people? Like it or not we are forced to evaluate the evaluators, and that can come only come from one place: tasting the whiskies for yourself and reaching your own conclusions, with a very large amount of trial and error.

Who do I read? I always read Jim Murray, but my resonance with his taste in whisky is no more than say, 6 on a 10 scale. What I especially like about Mr. Murray is that he has broad taste in the world of whisky, and he is completely frank about industry matters which the industry hacks and naive enthusiasts would like to bury from public view, like the wholesale degradation of Scottish malt through wretched sherry casks. I always value what he thinks, but I know I will find a lot of whiskies different to my taste than he does.

As far as individual reviewers go, I resonate much more closely with Connosr members @hunggar, @CanadianNinja, @tabarakRazvi, and @talexander. While my taste and descriptors may vary a lot, I also always want to read what @Nock, @dbk, and @WhiskyBee have to say about anything. I wish my buddies @thecyclingyogi and @cpstecroix would write some reviews, because if they like something, I am also likely to like it too. Also, though I am unlikely to ever be as enthusiastic as he is about Canadian whiskies, I greatly admire the hearty spirit and broad taste of my friend @paddockjudge, who has in the last year plunged headlong into being a big-time malt guy in addition to his previous Canadian and US whiskey focus. @paddockjudge does everything with huge gusto and great enthusiasm. I much prefer the taste of all of these Connosr members to that of Jim Murray or to that of anybody over at Whisky Advocate. And I almost never go anywhere near Malts Only or Bourbons Only websites. Narrow taste is just not for me.

Other than that, I like the Vox Populi as represented by the Connosr Top 50 Rated Whiskies. @Jean-Luc, isn't it time to expand that list to Top 100 Top-Rated Whiskies? Now that many additional whiskies are making the gradings cut, many great whiskies are being nosed out of the Top 50.

Finally, my big sister has exposed me to many weird and conventional whiskies and other spirits which I would never have pursued by myself. This has resulted in many fine experiences and expansions of my taste, some very surprising to me. I say, taste everything you can, unless you just watched your buddy pee into the glass....

I would like to just buy every Whisky I can put my hands on, but unfortunately I don't have that kind of money. Therefor I have to do quite some research before I buy a bottle.

Part one is selecting the good from the bad. Connosr is a big resource of information for me. Especially frequent reviewers like @Victor or the others he mentioned are a big help, because after more reviews from the same person you can relate better. Whiskyfun, Whiskynotes, Ralfy and Whiskybitch are also very helpful. And the there is Whiskybase. I dislike a lot about that website (f.i. Why ban blended Whisky) but their database is huge and it's easy to look up if a Whisky is NFC, CS or NC.

Part two is getting the good Whisky for the right price. As I don't buy Whisky by the dozen, I don't buy online to avoid shipping cost. Holland isn't to big and gas is paid by my girlfriends work, so I don't mind to drive to get my Whisky. Speaking of a Whisky journey hey! By now I know what stores have sharp prices. One of them discount a selection of about 10 whisky's each month. Usually the are several on my wishlist. Some shops sell 6cl samples, which for me is a fantastic way to be able to taste Whisky like Octomore or Balvenie 21y. It would be an exception for me to buy a full bottle of that.

Last year for my birthday I was spoiled by family and friends. Getting some indie bottles, 3x20cl packs and my first A'Bunadh.

I did a few tastings, which is a great way to broaden your horizon. I would like to do more of those. Also, when I get the chance to drink Whisky in a restaurant after dinner, I always will. Even if it's Whisky I already know, I get to compare it.

The one thing I am missing is some local community. I would like to sample swap with friends, family, colleagues or other people nearby. I am on the lookout for this opportunity. Maybe I'll have to start converting people to Whisky myself.

Oh and yes sometimes I do act crazy and just walk in a store to see what they have. And if the price isn't ridiculous, I buy a random bottle.

@vanPelt I think I understand and do appreciate what you mean by your approach that "seems obvious... because it is straightforward." You say you've sampled more than 100 whiskies so clearly you've found something that works for you. Not to pick on but using the Glenfiddich Distillery as an example and applying your philosophy I could see how you'd go from the 12 to the 15 to the 18 and so on.

I'm unsure, though, how you assess whether "...the products are the result of skill rather than luck."

Again using Glenfiddich to make a point, it's the number one selling whisky in the world, but does that mean its products are to be considered the best? To me it says their whisky comes from huge production, is one of the most widely available, is one of the most heavily marketed, and all of those things relate to skill but have nothing to do with the quality of the whisky. Generally speaking Glenfiddich bottles its whiskies at low abv, they don't tell us their whiskies are not chillfiltered, and they don't say they're natural color. That leads me to believe the whiskies are chillfiltered and the distillery uses e150a caramel coloring. The low abvs, the chillfiltration, and adding the legally allowed coloring are detractors for me.

Dalmore is another distillery that bottles at low abvs, chillfilters, and adds coloring--well I guess that because they don't tell us otherwise. How did I find the IB? Ears to the ground. Nose to the grindstone. Sorry, I can't divulge my source.

I don't intend this as the answer to your question, but the following words are something I remember seeing on a trivet many decades ago:

"Know many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe."

I know I'm just repeating what has already been said, but I don't think there is a 'right way' or 'wrong way' when it comes to exploring whiskies. Buying various bottles on a shelf, picking up a recently reviewed whisky by Ralfy or Serge, making your way through lists posted on Connosr, it's all up to the individual!

Personally, for me it has been incredibly helpful and rewarding to use the knowledge possessed by so many of the wonderful members we have here on Connosr. I have been extremely lucky to have formed many relationships with people who consistently take the time to answer my questions and share their experiences. This has been by far the greatest help along my 'whisky journey'.

This site is home to some of the best reviewers on the internet in my opinion. As well as some of the most knowledgeable and gracious whisky enthusiasts. I couldn't even begin to accurately express my gratitude to all of my friends on this site who help me make informed purchases.

I started out by just trying a few bottles, but that was price/quality wise not the best decision, so I started browsing the internet. My main guide has been the maltmadness website: www.maltmadness.com. So if I want to try a new dram or distillery I always consult his data first and verify them with other internet sources.

Thanks for the useful perspectives and leads! I was not aware of some of them. It seems I could most benefit from good, equally interested friends (if not industry connections!). At least it's great to have this Connosr community-- I feel as grateful as @CanadianNinja expressed.

I would never ask for (or presume there's) a "right way". But per @two-bit-cowboy's example, there could be suboptimal ways. There must a be a shorter path to finding personal favorites-- while minimizing personal duds. Thanks for some good answers.

What I still don't get is how the independent bottlers come in. Their releases are sometimes so limited that you probably could not find a good review before deciding to buy. Which means IB malts are bought based on tastings, friends, or industry connections? (or reputation of a bottler?) @two-bit-cowboy, I'm not asking you to divulge your source, but can you say whether it was review/ friend/ store/ tasting/ hunch? Or how you got into IBs in the first place? Then I will take my own canoe from here :)

@vanPelt the source is an importer, and my desire to try the IB Dalmore came from an interest in trying a Dalmore that hadn't been fiddled with (i.e., cask strength so no dilution, unchillfiltered, & no coloring).

Have you listened to Mark Gillespie's WhiskyCast? If not, Mark posts a broadcast once a week that deals with all things whisky from around the world. In today's broadcast Mark interviews two guys about this year's Malt Maniac Awards, and they talk in some depth about IBs. Here's the link:

whiskycast.com/episode-455-december-8-2013/

How did I get interested in IBs? I don't remember specifically, but I'm sure it was simply a part of my evolution as a whisky drinker. I attend several whisky events each year that I must travel to. Each year I would have the opportunity to sample some IBs. The more I tried the more I realized that they were 1) generally better than their OB counterpart and 2) less expensive too (that's not always the case).

So as I began to experiment. In general I found that I liked most bottlings from Signatory, Gordon & MacPhail, A.D. Rattray, Chieftain's, and most recently the Exclusive Malts released by the Creative Whisky Company. There are scads more IBs than these, and I'll continue experimenting with more of them in the future. I haven't had a bad one yet, but I must add that I haven't had very many bad single malt Scotch whiskies at all.

OBs are easy to categorize, especially the ones that are readily available, and as you noted it's easy to find information about them. Some of them are such mass production products as to be boring. Glenlivet releases only one cask strength whisky (the 16 year old Nadurra) that's released in Batches and generally highly regarded; it's not boring. You also noted that IBs are often difficult to find information on. That's exactly what makes them interesting to me. If you found two 19 year old Glencadams bottled by Signatory and Gordon & MacPhail they'd likely be nothing alike. I love that part about IBs. I should think each would be stunning, but they'd also each have an individual profile completely unlike the other.

Some who find the Holy Grail of a whisky want to save it away for a special occasion. I don't. If there's one I think is absolutely superior I enjoy it till it's gone. Another will come along at some point that will WOW me just as much as that one.

Sampling new whiskies is a journey that has no destination. You truly can't shorten the path, but rather you can slow down and enjoy all the twists and turns you encounter. Along the way you'll find today's favorite, and then tomorrow's, and then next week's, and .... As the years go by you might occasionally go back to a whisky you once thought highly of only to wonder, "Gosh, did I really like that back then?"

My favorite saying in the world comes from Bernard Berenson, an art critic: "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." It boils down to this for me: if I wanted my Glenwhatever 12 yo to taste the same every time I poured a glass I'd drink blends. That's not me bashing blends. There are several I enjoy, but blends are produced to offer that perennial consistency.

@two-bit-cowboy I found this post really useful and full of interesting perspective. No waste of space. Pure Connosr. Thanks so much.

@vanPelt Sláinte!

@vanPelt Here's another way station on the whisky journey (Ralfy is a brilliant malt miner, and this might be one of his best-ever reviews):

whiskyreviews.blogspot.com/2013/12/…

I look forward to independent bottlings in the future. For now, I guess I'm uncomfortable skiing off-piste until I've seen the major trails. Despite a hundred-whatever tastings, as of today I have yet to try anything from some popular distilleries (Aberfeldy, Tobermory), or common favorites (Springbank 12), or indeed anything from Campletown, or certain suggestions from distilleries I do like (Bowmore 25 as an example). (And that's to say nothing about official bottlings of lesser-known distilleries.) With all these unknowns still in front of me, should I really move to independent bottlings? It feels like skipping a step, without "background" for proper appreciation...

@vanPelt said, "It feels like skipping a step...."

There's no road map (i.e., point A to point B ... to point Z). You can mix it up however you like. I don't subscribe to the theory that you must follow a specific regional route such as Lowlands, Speyside, Highlands, Islands, Campbeltown, Islay.

I once poured an Ardbeg 10 for a first-time taster, and she loved it.

I'll grant that there might be some ability to better appreciate certain whiskies after you've had more experience. But who in the world can tell you when you've had enough experience to know that? Proceed along the path, taking all its forks, in whichever direction feels right to you. As good as it is, experiencing Aberfeldy 12, for example, won't give you much of a basis for appreciating Springbank 12.

Yogi Berra offered this: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Wow, @two-bit-cowboy 's video link above is very topical, and was created/posted while this discussion was going on.... Quite coincidental and convincing!