Love/Hate Relationship

Compass Box Hedonism. It's the whisky that started my love of grain, but some days I just don't get it. Annoyingly the first post on my blog was shortly after I first tried it at home and had decided I didn't like it. It was also the first post that I had to go back and update after I tried it again...

All Bourbon for me. Depending on mood, I either think it's nice, or it's actually caramel colored paint thinner.

The younger Laphroaigs do that to me sometimes. I actually find that I like them a lot more during the day rather than during the evening.

I have a Longmorn 16 that on any given day I will either love or hate.

I reckon it has a lot to do with what you ate before hand. I've taken to having a few glasses of water before i drink any whisky just to flush the palate.

Odd you mention Forty Creek, as I also had a love/hate relationship with their Barrel Select. I do think recently consumed foods and drink may have an impact. Also having a love/hate relationship may indicate the expression is out of balance some how.

I've often thought that a whisky bottle should be lightly agitated before pouring. I think that certain compounds may settle to the bottom and as a whisky is consumed, more odd notes may accumulate in the last half of a bottle. I know shaking a bottle of whisky like it were salad dressing or ketchup might seem odd but perhaps it might alleviate unusual notes in an expression.

@JeffC. Interesting theory. It makes a certain amount of sense. But then maybe that's the worst thing you can do. Anybody know what the experts say about agitation?

@BlueNote: I've seen old Whisky makers shake bottles and none too gently either! I saw one vigorously shake a unlabeled bottle from under the tasting counter and declare, "That's the one". When I asked the girl what that was all about, she said that it was how you tell the age of Whisky and the Whisky Maker had been looking for an old sample that had been drawn off for him to look at. Apparently, the higher the froth and the longer it takes to settle the older the Whisky.

Of course, I had to try this routine and can state that 15yo. Malt froths up more than 10yo. and the froth takes longer to settle. H/P 18 carries a fine froth high and long lasting: I imagined that shaking Whisky might in some way bruise or change the Whisky. I have been assured by several people in the Industry that such is not the case.

@A'bunadhman. Thanks for that. That's why I love this forum, somebody always has an answer. Cheers.

I think the Love/Hate can be dependent upon not only the actual taste of the whisky, but the conditions under which the whisky is sampled - i.e. mood, weather conditions, a meal recently consumed, any number of factors. As much as I consider myself to be Islay-biased, there are times when they just sit heavy on my stomach and don't fit what I'm looking for at all. Those times are reserved for a lighter Speyside or Lowland. It's not just the whisky that I may have the Love or Hate for, but the time and place as well.

Some good points as always. @marcus may well be right that it may be as much time and place than the Whisky. Will continue to see how it progresses and if Love or Hate wins out!

Currently experiencing Love/Hate with Auchentoshan Classic. Actually like the taste once it's in my mouth, but has a nose and an aftertaste like paint thinner. I love the fact that I was able to pick it up for $28.99, but hate that it has this paint thinner scent.

I have this kind of a relationship with the Vintage 21 y.o. Rye. Sometimes I sip on it and it is so complex and delicious and spicy and oaky. Sometimes I sip it and it is like whiskey soaked wood chips… can't explain it.

Having had a generous dram of Bowmore Tempest 10 (Batch 2) recently, I have found my reaction to it to be varying at the best of times. After some experimentation, this one seems to have the best chance to thrive (at least for me) when a nice dose of water (say a 1/2 teaspoon to a 1 1/2 oz serving as a very general, and inexact, reference) is added. The bottle has been open about five months now.