Anyone have experience with cask strength single malt scotch?

[Rivguy]

A few years ago I received a partial bottle of Macallan cask strength single malt from a friend who is not a scotch drinker. I would not call my experience with it to be very enjoyable. I am not sure what the bottle was exposed to prior to my receiving it but I could not get the right cut for my tastes. I have had cask strength prior to that and since and it was more enjoyable.

I would be interested in what others have experienced with cask strength scotch or bourbons for that matter.

Cheers,

Doug

 

[RF1963]

I've had several cask strength bottles. I've always enjoyed them, though when served to friends I've emphasised the strength of what they're about to drink.

 

[singlemalts]

I've had several cask strength bottles. I've always enjoyed them, though when served to friends I've emphasised the strength of what they're about to drink.

I also enjoy them and tell friends the same thing. If the cask strength is the only scotch I am drinking that night then I normally do not add water. However because this kills the taste buds if i am drinking something else i will bring it down to around 35-45%

 

[Rivguy]

Do you cut it with water or take it neat?

 

[beachape]

I think its a good start to add some water. If you're not enjoying it the addition of water will certainly help you out. Just don't overdo it. Another strategy is to start with a weaker and light scotch, then move up to the cask strength. That way it will seem less overpowering.

 

[bigfoot83]

YMMV, but for me, I find the flavor blossoms more with the addition of a small amount of water, but not ice!

Dave

 

[DE Shaver]

Do you cut it with water or take it neat?

I drink them neat and do not cut them with water. For me, what's the point of drinking cask strength if you water it down? However, if you want add water, go a head as some people find water can "open" up a whisky.

 

[RF1963]

Do you cut it with water or take it neat?

Neat. I figure the distillery normally add water to bring the cask strength down to 42% ABV or thereabouts. I'm buying cask strength to get that "out of the barrel" taste and experience.

Obviously if I'm drinking cask strength I'll be drinking less over the evening than I would a 'normal' whisky.

 

[Rivguy]

I have enjoyed single malts for years and always drink them neat. I have a several that I enjoy over others and find that letting some breathe a bit enhances the nose and the taste. Most cask strengths that I have had needed a drop or two of water to take the fire out of the finish for my taste. I am a regular Macallan drinker so I do not know what happened to the bottle of cask strength that I was given but it was not pleasant. On the other hand, the dram that I had at a friends the other evening was a 25yo and was very nice. He served it cut with what he called a drop or two of water. I do not recall the name but it was very good...in fact quite excellent. He is very much a scotch connoisseur, so I trust his judgement, but then this type of thing is always very subjective.

Cheers,

Doug

 

[Ru4scuba?]

I've had several cask strength bottles. I've always enjoyed them, though when served to friends I've emphasised the strength of what they're about to drink.

Well said. I'm particularly fond of the cask strength Balvenie. I'm also waiting for my local store to get some of the Laphroaig in

Haven't had the new batches in yet!!

 

[DE Shaver]

Well said. I'm particularly fond of the cask strength Balvenie. I'm also waiting for my local store to get some of the Laphroaig in

Haven't had the new batches in yet!!

Fortunately, we've had the Laphroaig Quarter Cask in Canada for a while. However, the standard Laphroaig hasn't been on the shelf, well, for a long time and has been completely delisted.

 

[galopede]

I've tried Craggenmore single malt straight from the still! Smooth but strong.

Many years ago the wife and I were going around the Speyside Whisky Trail and as we were travelling from one to the next through Ballindalloch we saw a sign saying Craggenmore Distillery, Whisky Trail. Wasn't on the official map but we turned off and went in.

The place didn't appear to have the usual visitor centre the others had so we knocked on the door and went in. We were met by the manager who said they weren't quite ready for tours yet and that the sign shouldn't have been up!

As we were there, he said he'd take us around. We then proceeded to have the very best tour we'd had on the trail! We saw everything as there was no official planned tour with a guide and a load of other people. He just wandered around explaining things as we went.

We ended up in his office where we had several samples of various aged whiskies he had and also a sample of that day's product in a sample jar straight from the still that the stillman had just brought in!

It was clear and smooth and VERY strong, a lot stronger than cask strength. You wouldn't drink it like that but a quick sip was amazing! Not much like whisky at that point, more like a tasty vodka.

After his generosity, that was the end of out whisky trail for that day!

Gareth

 

[RF1963]

I've tried Craggenmore single malt straight from the still! Smooth but strong.
Not much like whisky at that point, more like a tasty vodka.

Yes, the magic worked by the cask plays a huge part in imparting flavour and depth to the liquid out of the still.

 

[csf1964]

I enjoy cask strength Scotch with a drop or 2 of water to open up the nose.

I bet your bottle of Macallan cask strength single malt is corked. It is very rare because of the alcohol strength but can happen like a bottle of wine.

 

[plexibass]

A few years ago I received a partial bottle of Macallan cask strength single malt from a friend who is not a scotch drinker. I would not call my experience with it to be very enjoyable. I am not sure what the bottle was exposed to prior to my receiving it but I could not get the right cut for my tastes. I have had cask strength prior to that and since and it was more enjoyable.

I would be interested in what others have experienced with cask strength scotch or bourbons for that matter.

Cheers,

Doug

that is my #1 choise for scotch. Brand and style.

 

[Rivguy]

Having had cask strength since my less than satisfying experience, I think that the bottle was bad. I passed the bottle on to another friend and out of curiosity, I called him this afternoon. He compared it to another bottle of Macallan cask strength that he had and said that it was bad and tossed it quite some time ago. I was glad to hear that because Macallan is one of my favorite single malts. I always have some on hand. Macallan 18 is my favorite at the moment. I have an unopened bottle of The Glenlivet 21 that I am saving for a special occasion although my will power is weakening so I expect a special occasion will present itself any day now...like the grand opening of my garage door.

Cheers,

Doug

 

[Dude123]

Fortunately, we've had the Laphroaig Quarter Cask in Canada for a while. However, the standard Laphroaig hasn't been on the shelf, well, for a long time and has been completely delisted.

+1. I've been wanting to try this stuff for a while, but was afraid to buy a bottle because I haven't tried any smokey scotch Went out for dinner downtown tonight and the place had a great drink list including Laphroaig. Decided to try some and man this stuff is awesome!

I tried it neat, with a few drops of water and a bit of ice, and I think neat was best, though I don't know how it compares to full cask strength scotch.

 

[RF1963]

I have an unopened bottle of The Glenlivet 21 that I am saving for a special occasion although my will power is weakening so I expect a special occasion will present itself any day now...like the grand opening of my garage door.

Cheers,

Doug

I think opening your eyes every morning and making it through the day is occasion to celebrate

That 21 yr. old The Glenlivet would have gone long ago, I admire your willpower!

 

[stobes21]

I took a tour of the woodford reserve distillery a while back. The guide took us through the bottling area which had been shut down for the day. There was still a barrel of bourbon there that hadn't been fully emptied. The guide poured some of the whiskey straight from the barrel into a glass and passed it around so we could see some of the sediment and smell it. I, of course, sipped a bit of it too. Quite a difference from the regular stuff. Obviously the alcohol itself was much more overpowering, but the drink was much more "woody" (I suspect because the sediment hadn't been filtered yet) and complex than the final product. I've always found woodford to be one of the smoother bourbons out there but not as complex on the palette. That raw stuff was a different story entirely.

 

[Catalin]

Having had cask strength since my less than satisfying experience, I think that the bottle was bad. I passed the bottle on to another friend and out of curiosity, I called him this afternoon. He compared it to another bottle of Macallan cask strength that he had and said that it was bad and tossed it quite some time ago. I was glad to hear that because Macallan is one of my favorite single malts. I always have some on hand. Macallan 18 is my favorite at the moment. I have an unopened bottle of The Glenlivet 21 that I am saving for a special occasion although my will power is weakening so I expect a special occasion will present itself any day now...like the grand opening of my garage door.

Cheers,

Doug

I also bought a bottle of cask strength MacAllan from Heathrow airport last year and tried everything: neat, cutting it with various amounts of water, etc. It just didn't measure up to the MacAllan I enjoyed in the past. So, I concur with your cask strength experience....