Today Daniel taste and reviews Kirkland 12 year Blended Scotch and compares it to Johnnie Walker Black and Dewar's White Label. Magnificent Bastard: Ron Liebman
I've done this with a few restaurants that have a decent whiskey selection behind their bar, my father bought one such place four Glencairns to serve their whiskey in. I've slowly started to whisper in peoples ears about it at places I enjoy going and even went to one with my own glass having given them a heads up that I would bring one in to show them. I only did that because it was a chain restaurant and they would have to jump through hoops to change anything unfortunately. If nothing else chatting with bar tenders and telling them about this channel is a great way to spread the love and knowledge of whiskey and the ideal glassware. ;)
Been enjoying Dewars for about a few years now. Glad you through that in for a comparison to the drink you were reviewing. I personally like Dewars over even a Johnny Black just because I find it's a smoother drink. And I can enjoy it more through the night. A three shot glass with about half of natural orange and half lemon juice each drink. I like Dewars because the sweetness is low and I can add my own with a orange. The Lemon just adds that little bite at the end of a swig. 😁👍. Just my opinion. Thanks again. I'll have to try the one you reviewed. Just hope it's not to sweet. Hitting 40 this summer. I try and avoid the heavy sweet drinks these days. ☺🍺.
Can't go wrong with Kirkland's. Best budget liquor I've had. Recent subscriber however I appreciate all the little tidbits of information you throw in. A lot of cool stuff.
No Rex means no bickering, which I kinda miss. You guys should pick up a bottle of Tyrconnell. It seems to be a nice entry for scotch drinking and they now operate under Kilbeggan. I tried it recently and think it's pretty good value for the price
I've brought glencairns in if I know I'm getting a glorious whisky like HP18. But I transfer it to the glencairn myself. But if it's standard bar offerings that are more budget friendly, a standard rocks glass works just fine.
I often consider bringing my glass, but would still order first and hope deep down inside that the bartender who doesn't quite know what they're pouring and accidentally pour a full 8 oz. tumbler(or a pint) of whiskey. So far, no luck. Also, I'm a sushi-snob, so I also sometimes bring my own condiments(shiso, that I grow myself) to sushi restaurants. I don't think it gets much snobbier than that.
I had to watch this episode twice. Once to listen to Daniel and the second time to ignore him and say "Yeah" or "Uh-huh" when he was talking. It made things feel right. :)
Hey, I enjoyed your video. I’m not a big fan of the Johnny Walker Black although it is nice, it’s my sisters favourite so every time I go to New Brunswick, I take her a large bottle the last time I went to see her I took her Johnny Walker blue she was so happy. I am in Costco quite a lot, but in Canada the selection is so limited I don’t buy very much from Costco because they offer so little with their buying power and what they sell in the USA they should be giving us more here in Calgary.
Just wanted to shout out to you guys and say thanks for helping my wife decide on which whisky to buy me for my birthday this past weekend. She went with Bruichladdich, and it is de-licious. Glad you enjoyed my spreadsheet too, haha!
All hail to Donn's Depot! One of first places I went to when I turned 21 in Austin in late 80s. Donn's, Hole in the Wall, the original Antone's on Guadalupe to see SRV and BB King, and Dallas nightclub on Burnett for 25 cent shot nights. Ah, I miss the late 80s/early 90s. And portions of my liver.
Next time setup 2 iPads in the Vault, go in the other room or something. Record an episode via FaceTime or something. The banter between you two, in my opinion, is 50% of the reason this channel is a success!
I just heard a story from a guy who learned everything he knew about whiskey from one regular customer that would go to the bar/restaurant. He brought his own glencairn glasses for him and his wife, and one time they even brought in a bottle of a 25 year old Macallan to share with the bar. Would that still be considered snobbish and/or in poor taste to even bring your own whiskey to a bar? Also, as another side story - I finally found a whiskey bar around me that serves in glencairns. They're around here but they're rare. This one was a "ladder bar" (all the whiskey is narrow but tall, so they've a library style rolling ladder), and I was already impressed that they had glencairns, especially since it's in a shady area (like, the neighboring bowling alley gets shot up levels of shady), but it fell a little flat when the bartender, who was pretty knowledgeable about whiskey suddenly recommended his favorite "izlay" whiskey because it was "sooooo smooth" (but really, it was just the by far the most expensive thing on the menu, but at least it was an islay).
Hey Rex & Daniel. Missing the mooch for this video, but still great content. Here's a question... well more of a dilemma. Over the last 3'ish years I have started to develop a modest collection of whiskeys. A few exceptional bottles(in my opinion), some nice and decent bottles, and obviously some budget every day bottles. Some of the bottles though not super expensive are difficult to replace in my area. I find that having a decent selection allows me to get the most out of each bottle, and not needing to replace them often as i will take a 1 to 2 oz pour from a different one from time to time. When the bottle gets down to being about an 1/8th full, i'll have my friends over so we can bottle down. I have no problem sharing my collection with anyone, and pretty much everyone is respectful when partaking in a taste from any bottle I have. Even hosting a few whiskey tastings with some of by friends. My father-in-law is also a whiskey drinker. Which is something we would bond over, however the two of us tend to enjoy whiskey a tad bit differently. This is where my dilemma comes in. Every time he comes over to visit, the first thing he does upon walking into the house is grab a tumbler, and fill it to the top with whiskey and ice. This will be the first of many for the day. I don't think I can picture him without a glass of whiskey in his hand. Aside from the health concerns, my issue is that in a typical weekend visit, he will just hone in on a bottle and practically finish it. I tried for a few visits going out and picking up a bottle of something I know he likes for him to focus on, so that way it wont really effect the rest of my collection. However that really only worked once. I have asked him once or twice that if he is going to be reaching for something other than my budget bottles that he be a little less heavy handed on the pour, as to leave some for the rest of us... He will usually bring a bottle of something, (sadly not usually my taste) but then never really drink what he brought. Though the gesture is always appreciated. As someone who tries to be generous this does make me feel like a bit of a prick, but I also want to preserve the collection that I have put not just money but a lot of thought in putting together. My wife says I'm just being too anal about my whiskey (,which maybe I am.) That if we have it, its fare game to whomever is over, to however they like. I hope once I'm able to build a nicer liquor cabinet, where I can separate my bottles and possibly lock some of them. However now they are all just out on a dry sink with high walls. I've thought about putting specific bottles up in the bedroom or in the basement for when they visit, but I'm not sure if that the right solution. Is trying to talk with the person the right move, but i also don't want to make anyone feel unwelcome. Is it wrong to be a bit protective of some of my collection? What would be the most magnificent way of handling this?
That's a tough cookie to crack sounds like you have a stage 5 mooch on your hands. And an in-law to boot. Can't offer too much advice but you are not wrong to feel that way. I think unfortunately you might just have to grin and bear it.
I just bought a bottle today because I saw your video. Your description is dead on. For the price, its a great sipper to enjoy scotch on a budget. I might always have a bottle in the house now just to have something cheap, right next to my Mellow Corn.
I like the idea of gifting them glencairns, if they’re ok with it, that’s a way better approach! I was at a chain steak house here in west Texas that I frequent and they usually have whatever Bookers has been released, Lagavulin16 , and Longmorn 16 on occasion. Thanks for the advice Daniel!!
Funny you brought up Johnnie Walker Black and Dewar's White Label. Had a tasting with 2 friends this weekend who don't drink scotch and those were 2 of the reviews e did. Also had Aberlour 12 and Balveinie Double wood. I also showed the difference the glassware makes. Amazing the difference Aberlour has when going from Glencairn to Low ball glass. The low ball glass made me feel like I was faking the Aberlour with the loss of flavor.
its really not explosive with out rex, but I enjoy Daniel's calmness when talking about whiskey. Tho it was rather weird not hearing rex go OH! or such in the middle of every one of Daniel's sentences. And I missed it the same way you miss the noise of traffic outside your window the moment you go on holiday to the country from the city
The Kirkland 12 yo blended is good enough that for my unsophisticated palette I can sip it neat or use it in Rusty Nails. The Kirkland NAS seems to have a little bit of an off taste and I would only use it in Rusty Nails. (Any other recommended Scotch cocktails? There don't seem to be that many compared to Bourbon and Rye.) IMHO, the Kirkland 1792 Bottled in Bond Bourbon (1 L) is good, and so is the Kirkland Islay Single Malt (750 ml). To me they both seem like excellent buys for the price.
The arrival brings complete sentences and insightful commentary, mid pallet has a distinct lack of drama, no interrupting and the train of thought completed it's interesting journey, the finish however seemed to fall just a little flat. Hard to put a finger on it but this version just seemed to lack a little of the good natured charm, just a little, and dare I say it, humor true Whisky Tribesmen need. What mark shall I give it? 89 out of 100 and that's a Malt Mark. Overall an excellent offering but it could be something sublime with the addition of that little added something.
I know this was quite some time ago, but I just happened to stumble across this video today after visiting the local Costco. This slots in between JW Black and Dewars White in terms of price. Dewars White was on sale for $17 for a 1.75 L bottle, the cheapest whiskey just got cheaper. I saw a guy leaving with 10 bottles in his cart. Yep, 17.5 L of whiskey. I hope it wasn't for personal use.
So I rushed out and bought the 20 yo single malt Kirkland you reviewed after you said you liked it better than the McCallen. But was totally underwhelmed by it and totally prefer both my 10 yo Glenmorangie and my 12 yo Glenfiddich. This after kind of giving someone else in the comment section a bit of a hard time about not being open minded to the Kirkland brand. I will not be trying this product though.
Idk if it's just location... but in NC, I can get a 1.75L Dewars 12 ($47) for roughly the same price of a .75L Johnnie Walker black ($43)... hence why I'm a bigger fan of the Dewars 12 and dont reach for the White label 😅
🤔💡 Funny idea (maybe)...if your schedule is early-only & Rex’s is late-only, it would be interesting if you BOTH did a separate video individually! Huh? Huh?
If I'm in a whiskey bar or a nicer restaurant I ask for a glencairn glass. Most are accommodating once they understand what a glencairn glass is. One restaurant served me a Taliskers Distiller's Edition in what looked like a glencairn glass with a stem.
Hi Daniel, I been watching Whiskey Vault channel for a couple months now, and always wondered where you got your glasses from, since half of the video is talking about your whiskey glasses, I didn't want to ask about it on any random video, and you said you got them from Amazon I been looking through amazon for Glencairn glasses for quite a while now and reading through reviews, how do I know I'm getting a authentic crystal Glencairn glass and not a knockoff? Could you post the same link where you get yours from if possible?
If I go to a whisky bar and they don't have Glencairns, when they give me a rocks glass I ask them, "May I have a straw?" Seriously, I only use Glencairns for analyzing whiskey and not informal consumption.
The Mooch is busy? Conflicting schedules? I think the Mooch is preparing for something...like resurrecting the Boneglass Glencairn. I have a feeling we will be going bulb deep into some dolphin smooth shananigans pretty soon!
Whiskey Smurf without Budget Lebowski man it feels weird, interesting stuff seeing a Kirkland Whiskey. Isn't Kirkland like Costco brand or something? Totally curious and I am not trying to insult a Whiskey or the Maker. I mean my tastes kind of run on the less expensive side of Scotch, Irish and Bourbons. With my usual sips being Monkey Shoulder for Scotch, Knob Creek for Bourbon, and as much as I hate to admit to being basic Jameson's Irish Whiskey for the Irish category. So it is safe to say I am trying to learn more and broaden my horizons. Plus he keeps saying Budget which makes me think Costco store brand. I would actually be really impressed because of how favorable Daniel was about this bottle. Also maybe it is where I live but I have never seen this brand on the shelf, but we also have Sam's Club stores not Costco if it is that brand.
Okay, now, if you guys were to do an episode, I don't know how, with the Double Toasted film review crew; drinking and watching movies. That would be great! I know they're in the Austin area.
I once went to a bar with my own glass and it was kinda awkward but oh well it's their fault that they have a decent whiskey selection, and that I want to try something I've never had before.
I tried to watch but without The Mouche its just not the same. Bring back REX. Bring back REX. He would of propositioned the qualities of the discounts and floral notes with a second serving to justify....JAJAJAJA You tried your best...but you are the High priced connoisseur. I look forward to learning more from your high priced bottles. You got me from the 30$ bottles to the 65-110$ range. With your videos your slowly pushing me into the 150$ range and I'm finding 18 to 23 yr old Scotch for that price in So Cal. Take Care Brother Man...I'm just busting your chops and I always look froward to drinking a glass with you guys via online. May I Cheat, Fight, Steal and drink with ya guys!!!!
I would love to see you guys do a review of Whitehorse scotch! I found a bottle in my grandfather's basement and decided to give it a try and was pleaseanly surprised by how mellow it was. My only other scotch experience is purely Chivas and I was overwhelmed and sad. Perhaps my inexperienced pallet is to blame but I whole heartedly enjoyed that first taste of scotch and decided to try a more recent bottle (the first was pretty much antique) by which I was made very happy indeed. This newer vintage was quite similar however the slightly bourbon like character of my first was much more understated but I was able to detect more smokey earthy flavors. I have accepted Whitehorse (new or vintage) as my #comfortwhiskey.