I'm a Certified Specialist of Spirits that has also been certified by the Tequila Regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador Del Tequila) or CRT - Mexico’s governing body of the tequila industry. I've been actively collecting and reviewing all types of spirits for two decades. My collection is is now at over 2,500 bottles and started back in 1994 with a goal of having a small 10 bottle home bar. Well that "small home bar" started me on a path of collecting, tasting and educating myself on some of the world's rarest spirits. Here I'm able to share my knowledge and my opinions on them with you.
If you enjoy my reviews but want more, join me at my LiquorHound Patreon channel (link in the barrel picture on my homepage or www.patreon.com/LiquorHound). There you'll get an additional 30-40 videos per year to go with the standard 10-12 that I've always released here. Either way I'm glad you found me! Thank you and cheers!
Barrel #14624 (Barreled on 2-12-13) that I picked up in Houston, Texas in July, 2024. Thank you for reminding me to put that info in the description! Cheers!
Loved HM10 at $30-35, when it won the Whiskey of the year Award at SF, I searched out a few extra bottles, crazy its now double the price, but so is Bookers
Cool video, thanks for doing this. I've only tried Ardbeg from 2021 onwards so I don't know what I'm missing out on with the old ones, but I'm a fan of Ardbeg.
I don't think the Suerte is additive free. I haven't had the XA, but I have a bottle of the regular Anejo. The anejo reeks of additives on the nose, with predominant artificial cherry flavor. The palate tastes like a confused jumble of added flavorings. It is frankly disgusting--especially in comparison to a real anejo like El Tesoro, for example. Suerte is not certified additive free by Tequila Matchmaker, either.
Specs has McKenna for 50-55 if you pay cash. They’re sitting on the shelf at TW because they’re asking an outrageous price. Just find a bottle at specs if you really want one. I grabbed one this year and last year and they were both not as good as ones from previous years.
I’ve seen a lot of Gregarious Grump Cognac being heavily discounted. I’m curious if the brand has gone under? I’m not a cognac fan but for the price I couldn’t refuse but to grab a few bottles.
Uhh, I got to try it through a friend, and I won't be buying a bottle. To me it tasted young and wasn't my cup of tea (or preferably bourbon lol). Cheers!
I bought a 21 year in 2013 it was the best whiskey I've had to date, I saved 2 measures and drank them with a friend 1 year ago, it was just as amazing as I remembered. I got to taste the 21 year that's currently on sale 6 months ago and it was not the same and really disappointed me (not worth the price tag which has doubled in that time). Could you give me your feedback on how (if you know) the flavour has changed over the past decade?
I remember the days of paying 26 or 27 dollars for the McKenna. Hard to lay down 60 dollars for the bottle but I did recently and I got a good one. Always a gamble but when it pays off it's a great deal.
My local TW just slashed the prices on those two G&Ms, was able to pick them up for the low 70s each. The 14 was a favorite of mine in the past. Still had a bottle. But on that special, I re-loaded the backups up and got one Hermitage to try. The ArdnAmerican is on the wait list. My eyes are open and searching for It.. Thanks for the great reviews!
All This Is Good Yet When I Drink I Also Seek Out a Vodka That Doesn’t F@%# Me Up The Next Day Or How I Feel The Next Day and That’s How I Gage Vodka Oddly Enough Smirnoff Silver Label Is 100 Proof and No ill Effect The Next Day With Bourbon and Gin Whiskey and Rum The Next Day Am Still Feeling It….!
Weird, but Stoli is the ONLY vodka that gave me a fairly consistent headache later in the day. No other vodka has ever done that. Anyone else had that same result? Not what I wanted to have happen but it did.
Chopin brand vodka is the most incredibly-smooth, potato vodka from Poland that I have ever tasted. I had a bartender friend pour some other vodkas, side-by-side for me for a taste test. Wow!
Yes, vodka at room temperature is basically rubbing alcohol. No wonder drinking it “chilled” is always recommended. And I love vodka… very cold with vermouth or orange or tomato juice.
A couple quick questions ... You're absolutely certain argon gas has no effect on the flavor of a spirit? And I know you've talked about giving whiskeys some air time before gassing them but what about other spirits? Specifically I'm wondering about rum, vodka, tequila, and Cognac. Any of these that you gas right away after the first crack? Or do any of them benefit from time letting the air in the bottle work on them a bit before gassing?
No noticeable effect that I’ve witnessed. I have bottles that are 20-30 years old that still taste amazing. I do gas other spirits like some high end vodkas and gins, but especially rums, single malts, and brandies. Lesser clear spirits I don’t usually hang on to too long. Cheers!
Interestingly enough I have had all three of these whiskies. The Talisker 8 was not the 2016 Anniversary edition (though I do have one still unopeded). The Port Askaig was tasted as part of a 14 member zoom tasting and it was handily overtaken by a Talisker 10. As for the Kirkland I happened upon it last year when I had an hour to kill and visited a nearby Costco, which is not something I do very often. What caught my eye was that it was bottled at 50% abv. and though $60 Canadian I bought one to try. That evening, after dinner, I cracked it open and found it to be quite engaging, a certain oilyness, clarity, and body. I have to say that, from memory mind you, I preferred the Kirkland to the Port Askaig. The Lagavulin 8, again from memory, was markedly different and in a class of its own, more distillate driven, clean, and austere in a good way. I liked the Kirkland Islay well enough to go out and buy another two bottles.
Doesn't really seem like a 1:1 rye comparison (vs against say Pikesville), and a little less helpful to compare to a store pick from a consumer perspective... regardless, always love to hear your thoughts! Would enjoy getting your take on the full Grain to Glass collection.
Great video Chris! I too hate cilantro and it tastes like soap to me bleh. Love your videos. Drinking the 10 year old overholt rye barrel proof while watching this and eating some bbq. Cheers
Thank you for the 4k props! As for the obscure finds, I’d say that it helps that I run in several whisky/ey groups. Sharing with my friends sometimes helps me identify bottles I’d like to add to my collection/review - while they’re still around. That said, these Caol Ilas are still on the big chain’s shelves in Texas. The ArdnAmerica was more of a lucky find when I was traveling out of state (in the NE). Thank you for being here and cheers!
This GM Caol Ila 14 is indeed very nice. Glad I have a backup. Need to pick one of the Ardnamerican bottles up. You are the second person that sings its praises. Great reviews as always!
