Who is your daddy and what does he do?

@Onibubba Man you sound like you have similar beer tastes to me and some of the same vices hahaha. I'm a big dark beer geek, Belgian strong ales, imperial stouts and porters, etc and just like you I'm a hoarder. If it's a beer that is a pain to get into the country I'll stock up, especially since the big beers tend to be good for years. Just picked over 20 quads, stouts and Belgian strong ales that no longer are available over here so that I can cellar them.

That hoarding nature started to take hold in my whisky collection until my wife pretty much said I could buy bottle after bottle to hoard, or I could continue to try new whiskies. However I could not do both. So now I'll only hoard limited releases that I absolutely love and want to experience 10,15 years down the road. Sometimes though I feel that little hoarder start to rise up when I'm picking up some bottles hahaha.

That whisky experience btw sounds nothing short of EPIC!

@PMessinger Hahaha don't worry about excitement my friend, most of us don't lead very exciting lives, that's how life works :D However growing up I always thought I'd lead an exciting, interesting life, alas that was not to be :D But thanks for sharing the story!

@Frank1 Interesting my friend! Is there anything in particular that pulls you to the English bitter? American pale ales are pretty enjoyable. As I've already said in this discussion, Give me the BIG DARK BEERS! :D

@BlissInABarrel Awesome story! Persistence always pays off in my experience! We'll eventually be reading Blissinabarrels whisky encyclopedia/bible! Just remember to give me some whiskies when you hit complete epicness!

@BlissInABarrel Your journey is almost movie worthy. Way to go!

@Frank1 Good point. I guess I see the reviews a lot of people write and just say I will never write a review if it is like that. I think it may be interesting to try writing a review that is shorter and in a way to which others can relate.

@michaelschout and @sguidgyash....Thanks for the kind words! :D I'm still trying to work on my confidence to speak to people. Yeah, my adventure to the distilleries were pretty epic. I couldn't believe that the Brand Ambassador at Highland Park gave me $500 worth of whiskies for free and at Laphroaig I got to stay at the stillman's house and everyone at Laphroaig pretty much took care of me. :D I was really worried about revealing to you guys that I'm now a part time sales rep because I was afraid you guys will think, "Ah. We can trust this broad! She's pimpin out her products." I hope all of you know that I will not lie and say my products is the next best thing to Jesus. I don't feel good about lying. So, I hope that if I review something that you will not think that I'm lying but i'm speaking straight from the heart (Dammit! I sound so cheesy!). I'll be honest and tell you if something sucks. Okee, well..um..yeah..that's it. Thank you, Connosr pals, for being so nice and sweet. You guys are amazing.

i meant i was afraid you will think, "You can't trust my reviews because I work in the whisky industry." Next time, I'll proofread.

@SquidgyAsh @CanadianNinja Yeah we should have a Connosr Japan event. C-Ninja is moving north soon too, so it should be doable.

@Bliss Slightly misquoted but if it works for you that's good. I'll ask for royalties when you use my lines in your future whisky bible publications tho.

@BlissInABarrel Hahha no worries my friend. As I've said before I see quite a few people paranoid that if someone works with a product/receives samples,etc then they're going to be biased. I personally don't see why that would be the case. I mean all it takes is for one person to buy said product and then say "wait a minute this is awful!" at which point they spread the word and pretty soon no one trusts your reviews. If you work in the industry/receive samples/blog,etc in all honesty it's more in your/our self interest to be completely honest because that's what makes people read the reviews.

good man for starting the discussion! and good man for quoting Arnie?

My name is Alex Volkerling, in life im a student in sydney i study neuroscience and anatomy in a research degree (as opposed to medicine, but med is a possibility). As far as whisky goes im a big sweet tooth generally so big sherry speysiders are for me like Abundah, Farclas 21 or Sherry Macallans. I can do a big peat monster but dont find them massivley complex so prefer slightly older peated malts. What got me into scotch and single malts? ahhhhh to be honest Denny Crane and Alan Shore from Boston Legal, i loved the idea of scotch and cigar on a clear night so i was always curious. Now i just love the range of flavours, ive got 15 ish bottles from 12 different brands or distillers and they are all so different its just great.

Why connosr? I think its a great site i always found myself before being a member browsing through tasting notes and seeing good honest opinions. Occasionally i couldnt find a bottle which i ended up buying anyway so i thought, hey, why not share it with people who may want to know

@Volks Hahaha thanks! Can't wait for the new Arnie movie to come out!! What can I say I'm an Arnie geek? I'm glad that I'm getting to read and hear more about members that I always see talking and posting, but knew nothing about! A belated welcome to everyone who hasn't been formally welcomed!!

I didn't have the patience or possibly was not creative enough to come up with a witty nick name. So I used my first name and last name initial. Apparently, another user also has that name, so I added a number at the end. I suppose that could be considered creative.

I should preface this post by saying I have a very, very understanding wife when it comes to me and buying single malts. Although, she can't wrap her head around why 95% of them are unopened. Let me explain.

I have 2 passions. One is golf and the other is collecting single malts and lately I've started collecting American Whisky.

Collecting single malts seems to be a good hobby. I live in Ottawa and since Ottawa is covered in snow 6 months of the year, what else is there to do until the golf season opens.

I found this site by accident. I was surfing the net a couple of weeks ago and came across a post on Glen Flagler 1973. The person who wrote the post had a bottle and since I also have one, I read the post. The post was from this site. I followed the link and signed up.

Now, my very understanding wife can't wrap her head around why I spend a couple of hours a week on this site. Simple, its interesting and has a whack if information.

So, if any of you would like an understanding wife who allows you to pursue your favourite hobby be it golf, single malt, cars, etc. let me know. I have "understanding wife pixie dust" that I'll gladly sprinkle on my computer screen. Who knows, what magic it can perform once it's released into cyber space.

Cheers, Peter

Right, first things first, my nick (handle for all of you malty maltifficionados) is MuckRum as in the 2 islands that lie between Tobermory and Skye (looked them up here and thought what great names for islands).

Secondly, I'm here because of a couple of friends who started drinking whisky of late and offered me a sip of a glass of Highland Park 12yo I had bought for them as a gift for their hospitality (they invited me for an evening of games and pizza, 2 things I seem unable to refuse).

Now, I've always been weary of spirits. I have always been kept from any sort of alcohol as I was born and raised in a keenly religious environment and alcohol was always a no-go danger zone. Forbidden, straight-to-hell kind of stuff.

The shift came with studying at university away from home, with time to think for myself and investigate religion further than what I'd been taught at sunday school. So I did that and, to cut the story short, came away sure that I no longer need or want religion in my life.

From there I did not go into a spiral of bohemian decadence. In fact, the brain washing was so effective in me I don't think I can ever get drunk just for the sake of getting drunk. I can however, and I do this as a conscious lifestyle choice, try and find the pleasurable things in life, and if at all possible, share them with friends.

Hence I started, with friends, by drinking beer and wine. I tried most beer styles and most grape varieties always interested in the flavours and balance (this should be a hint on what I liked about the HP12...) of the cereal and hops in beers or the sweetness and tannins in wine. If you care to know I favour IPAs, Weisse, Trappist and some Pilseners as with wine I tend to go for whatever suits what I'm having foodwise. I'm the cook at home, so I get to choose.

Back to my friends: They offer me a sip of HP12 and I try to dodge the offer. At that exact moment I was sure Whisky was not something I could appreciate or even understand. Just a sip they say. I have a sip and it's actually quite nice and smooth. No this must be wrong. I can't be enjoying whisky. Back to my coke zero.

I get home but something in the back of my mind is wriggling and niggling. That really tasted nice. Unlike previous experiences - and let me open a parenthesis here to say that if you never drank whiskey and you are in Edinburgh, going to the Whisky Experience is not a good way to start. 2 shot glasses of the vilest stuff were given to us (my wife was there) as if we could actually distinguish any aromas or flavours... anyway I digress - which were blatant failures.

As I was saying, this thing keeps bothering me in my mind and I suddenly decide to try something. Since whisky is definitely something I want to indulge in I'll have Rum as that what's in Mojitos and I tried that once at a restaurant and was blown away.

White (or pale) Rum is ok for cocktails, I find after a sip of 3yo Havana Club. So what do I do now? On t'internets to find other spirits and what people say about them - let me interrupt here again just to quickly say that no matter hom many hundred of reviews you read/watch online (quick wink in Ralfy's direction - excellent stuff) none of that will come even near than you/me actually sampling the stuff. First hand research is vital here. - and I get more than I'd bargained for. So I go on Amazon and decide to order a few miniatures. While they are being dispatched I decide to purchase a bottle of Armagnac as I'm doing a Cassoulet for dinner on friday and it's on discount at the supermarket.

So, Armagnac and Cognac experiences are so-so. Try Metaxa 7 star and really dislike it. Disaronno Amaretto is sickly sweet. and I give Rum 2 final chances to convince me: Sailor Jerry does not do it for me (I later find out it's actually delicious with apple juice) so it's up to El Dorado 12 yo. Now this was another revelation. Superb stuff. I want more of this.

What about the whisky? you ask. Well, I found Ralfy, and Serge, and Connosr, and literally here I am, on the verge of hosting a Whisky tasting with my friends and already in the know of Speyside and Highlands malts. Looking forward to buying an Islay malt to try and compare.

I'm very much starting now. So wish me luck.

Muck / Rum: I looked them up here: www.maltmadness.com/whisky/map/Scotland/

Hi There!

So I've been reading all your stories, discussions and tasting notes for almost a year now. And I just want to thank each and every one of you for teaching me everything you are sharing about Whisky. It is very educational.

Now I thought it was time to properly introduce myself, instead of being this fly on the wall listening in. Just because I would love to join in on some discussions. Or even share some of my own notes in the future. Still, I consider myself a rookie, so keep that in mind when you see me hanging around here :)

So my daddy gave me a first name, I also got his last name. And when you leave out the vowels, you get my nick. I'm 32 years, which is pretty mature if I was a whisky... I work for a direct marketing company as a production manager.

I live in the center of Holland, together with my girlfriend and our 19 months old daughter. Such a nice country to live in. Whisky is getting more popular over here and we have quite some specialist whiskey stores. Luckily most of them are also online so I am able to keep comparing prices before going out and purchase a bottle. I don't have to tell you that prices can vary a lot. Prices in Holland do not differ that much from the UK, if you now which store to buy it.

Now I do not have an unlimited budget, so my whishlist is far bigger than my cabinet. But over the last year I was still able to buy one or maybe two bottles a month. Besides this I also received some as gifts from friends, family and my beautiful girlfriend and daughter. None of them are infected by the Whiskyvirus, so most of the times I hint them at wich bottle to get. Together with some samples and drinks in Whisky bars, I think I got to taste almost 50 whisky's over the last 12 months.

There are three whisky's that started it for me. Before that, if I had an occasional Whisky on the rocks, the only reason to drink it was to get drunk. Something I would never do with the whisky I drink nowadays. Two years ago, for my birthday I recieved some sample bottles of blended scotch and bourbon. There was one I liked best, so I desided to buy a bottle of it. This was Ballentines 12y. But blends are not the same as single malts, so I asked my local shop what I should get. After I finished this nice but not spectacular bottle of Glenlivet 15y French Oak I needed a new one. I searched online to read about which bottles were good. 'For Peat Sake' and 'Connosr' made me choose Laphroaigh 10y. Man was I in for a surprise! I was aware that this Whisky would be smokey, but I didn't expect this. I could still taste the peat the next morning and for the next 3 day's I could specifically remember the taste and smell. I didn't know what to think of it really. But now I can say the Laphroaigh sealed it for me.

I really enjoy the big peaty flavors. Same goes for big sherry flavors. But a nice crisp Whisky is also very nice. It's like they say: There's a Whisky for every minute of the day and every season in the year.

Normally I drink a dram on max two evenings during the workweek. Plus one or two on Saturday and Sunday. My go to glass is a Glencairn, a tulip glass is second choice. I hate it when I get my Whisky served in a tumbler. I like my Whisky with a drop of water, but always start neat for the first taste. But not after a good nosing of course. What I like best about Whisky is that it's not just a beverage you can enjoy while actually drinking it. But the complete experience of using all senses during the nosing, tasting and finish.

That's it I think. Maybe a long story, but I had some catching up to do.

Proost! wtrstrnghlt

Welcome to Connosr @wtrstrnghlt! Great to have you on the team ; )

@CanadianNinja thank you for your warm welcome.

I've read that you live in Japan. And since I'm planning to buy my first Japanese Whisky soon, maybe you can advise me in my choice.

I want to start with a blend and are in doubt between Nikka From The Barrel and the Hibiki 12y. Did you taste them, what is the difference and what would you advice.

My handle is my three initials (AKG) and the name of my production company Candle Fish Pictures (candlefish). The story behind the "Candle Fish" itself is kind of long, but the short version is that my tenth grade English teacher is the first person who encouraged me to pursue creative writing as a vocation. For teacher appreciation day, the school gave all the teachers these terrible gift baskets, and her's had this very tacky fish candle that I loved for its kitschy charm. I hatched a pretty ridiculous heist scheme to steal it from her (she didn't mind), and it has always sat in my office ever since to remind me to believe in myself even when I start to doubt.

In real life I'm a screenwriter/filmmaker and teach screenwriting/filmmaking at the second largest university in the U.S. (anyone know which one that is?). I started drinking scotch on my 21st birthday. Friends were buying me drinks, mostly crap like Jagermeister and Goldschlager that I hated, but someone bought me a scotch and soda that I thought was ok. So I bought a bottle of Ballentines and drank it like that for a while. Shortly thereafter, I discovered my dad had been secretly drinking single malts for years, though nothing too exotic. For the next several years I survived on Glenlivet and Glenfiddich 12 (always on the rocks) until a couple of years ago I finally started to branch out, first with Macallan, Highland Park, and Oban, then finally with Laphroaig, which changed everything. Scotch went from being the liquor I preferred to a true obsession (and now I always drink it neat).

I was thrilled to find this site because of all the great user generated reviews. I rarely buy a bottle without consulting the many opinions available here.

@wtrstrnghlt, glad to hear you're looking to try some Japanese whiskies! There are more than a few wonderful Japanese bottles out there. I highly recommend both the Nikka from the Barrel and the Hibiki 12.

The difference between them? There are more than a few differences but for starters Nikka from the Barrel is one of the best 'bang for your buck' whiskies you can find. The high ABV of this whisky really does wonders for the intensity of the flavours. The Hibiki 12 is an excellent blend but would do well to be bottled at a slightly higher ABV in my opinion. Personally, if you are able to, I strongly recommend the Hibiki 17 yo and especially the 21 yo. Age does a lot for the Hibiki range. Both whiskies have similar characteristics, fruits, nuts and cereal can be found in both drams but I think the Nikka from the Barrel packs more spice on the palate which I really enjoy.

If I had to choose I would definitely go with the Nikka from the Barrel. A very high quality whisky at an incredibly reasonable price ; )

@CanadianNinja @wrtglhrstrb (sorry, it's difficult) Have you tried the NEW Black Nikka, Ninja? I was more than positively surprised. It's got way more bite and complexity than what the price tag suggests. Don't know if you can find it outside Japan, but if you do I recommend it.

@NilsG haha, and I thought it would make it easier without the vowels! Haven't tried any yet, but I think I will go for the Nikka from the barrel first. But I'll be on the lookout for your suggestion. It's not the Nikka pure malt black right?

What @NilsG is referring to is not the Nikka Pure Malt Black @wtrstrnghlt. It's an entirely different whisky and one that I am very, very reluctant to try due to how truly awful the previous Nikka Black was! Should I give the new one a shot?... Well, I guess when you consider the price it's at least worth a try : )

@wtrstrnghlt Yeah, it's a different one, not pure malt. And it's also different from the original Nikka Black, which is tame and not very interesting. The new Nikka Black has the text "Rich Blend" added. It was aparently made because the Japnese's taste for whisky has matured and they needed to improve one of their best sellers. Suntory is also throwing out a lot of 10yo and NAS single malt, which I assume is to grab a growing "on-the-rocks" market. But neither Yamazaki nor Hakushu are ready at such a you age and don't taste good. I wish they invested more of their volumes on older expression and make them cheaper (yeah, that's probably gonna happen).

@AKGcandlefish Love the story! Welcome to Connosr my friend! The worst part of being a member of this site is that all of a sudden whiskies that you would never have thought of trying, you see the reviews and all of a sudden you're buying them and now your whisky budget has EXPLODED!

@wtrstrnghlt Welcome to Connosr and welcome to moving from the shadows to the light :D

@NilsG What are your thoughts of the Hakushu 12 year old? It's one of my favorite easily available Japanese whisky.

I totally agree with you @NilsG, I'm not a fan of the recent low price, low quality NAS bottlings.

@CanadianNinja Ah I've yet to see any of those ones over here, however I've seen quite a few cheap Japanese whiskies at my sister store, but from everything I've read on line, most of them are pretty crappy so I haven't bothered picking any of them up.

However I will say my biggest Japanese whisky disappointment was the Hakushu 18 year old. Bland and lackluster is what it was for my wife and myself. Not sure if it was just a bad bottle or what.

@SquidgyAsh thank you sir!

@CanadianNinja @NilsG Generally I've heard only good things about Japanese Whisky. It's a shame and ridiculous to put the good reputation at stake I think. They should be building the rep based on quality to gain in on Scottish Whisky. If I wanted cheap Whisky with ice I'd buy a cheap unbranded scottish blend for €10,-

@SquidgyAsh my first couple bottles of Oban were gifts. I remember the first time I bought it myself, I couldn't believe I was spending (then) $60 on a bottle of scotch. Funny thing about that is that every time I up the budget threshold, it no longer seems like a big deal, which is very dangerous on a teacher's salary! I just bought my first behind-the-glass bottle this week (Balvenie DoubleWood 17), and already I'm thinking it would be such a bad thing to splurge on the Glenmorangie Signet I've been wanting for a year. :)