ralfy review 817 Extras - 40% first before going cask strength. 

I just realized how much I appreciate (besides everything else) that you do not put any unnecessarily loud and/or annoying intro and outro music to your videos

My buying habits have changed since I discovered your channel Ralphy. I’ve learnt so much from you, but not only learnt, I’ve grown, as I’m not imitating, I’ve found that I agree with and appreciate the info and advice given. I now have a fantastic specialist on line Whisky supplier of quality Scotch here in Australia who I’ve found many of the bottles that you’ve recommended. (Not Dan Murphy) I’ve only been buying Non Chil Filtered and Non Coloured Scotch, and now, seek only bottles above 43% and up to 62% Cask strength Single Malts which I always add water to as per your advice. It’s made a world of difference, and my friends have loved the experience and education/fun of the new Scotches’ . Thank you so much mate. Best wishes from Tassie! P.S, geez it looks bloody cold in your shed!

Ralfy, 100% spot on about the whisky shops in the airport terminals looking like jewelry stores and perfume shops. I understand why (like you said) the distilleries are packing their products with all the bling. I suppose they are catering to the younger population. I'll do my research and keep listening to you for my whisky shopping. Thanks and cheers!

That leaning bottle gave me agita. Once i watched the bottle to the end and it didn't fall over I was able to watch it again and enjoy the great content.

With some at-home time building up, it's good to have a little collection. Glad to see you're still rocking, ralfy!

These just keep getting better & better. I always come away knowing stuff I never would’ve found out any other way. Good job, sir! 👍🏻

Ralf, I know this is off topic but would you be prepared to make a video about the story behind your Bonneville world record breaking Bonneville? Like how you acquired the bike, what you did to prepare it for the trip, what's original and what's modified etc.? I understand if it's not appropriate for this channel (or FF) but I, for one, would love to hear about it! Either way, thank you for the great videos, here's to many more.

Through the years, I learned so much about the 'insider' selling of casks from you! I attest that the Cadenhead's staff had spoken with the same breath as you when it comes to how distillers would sell the 'low potentiality' casks to independent bottlers. However, "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone..." It's an intriguing experience to have came across 'inferior casks' that were given the additional space and time to become a better product for its value. Simply say, a 100-120 proof whisky always has more to give!

Should have called the Talisker indy 'Tallywhacker' :P

Hope you are fine with this coronavirus craze. Stay home, review and dust your stash of whisky. And pick some good ones for the malt moments to come.

Most enjoyable as usual had to smile at the chickens in the background.

I'm very sad about the cancelation of the TT 2020

​Happy belated St. Patrick's Day, Ralfy! I went to Ireland to be there for St. Patrick's day...was depressing to walk through Temple Bar and see it empty. However, Dublin and the rest of Ireland were still beautiful. The Cliffs of Moher were truly an awesome thing to see...and my family and I pretty much had it all to ourselves. Make the most of it, malt mates.

I had an older bottle of HP 18 y.o in a little gift set with a water pitcher... it was (for me) one of the best whiskys I have ever had! I imagine that would be a pretty expensive bottle now if I had kept it.

Ralfy what you said about our nosing and tasting of whiskies and how it overflows into other parts of our life is so true, I've noticed lately that when I go out for a coffee or to a food market I am paying more attention to the aromas of various products that we eat and drink, all this is due to your teaching of Whisky smells and tastes, I actually have a deeper appreciation for things like coffee and what notes I can pick out when it is freshly brewed, and of course my whisky's also. Slainte'

I’ve always been confused by the term independent bottlers. And now I know a little bit more thank you Ralfy.

That's a great idea, please make an app Ralfy! I find myself searching your reviews while I'm in the shop looking at a whisky and if you haven't reviewed it I won't buy it!

Helllo Ralfy. I thought I'd let you know that I've been keeping a text document of all your tasting notes and malt marks from your first video right up to the present ones. It took me a couple years of watching your videos a few at a time on my "Whisky Wednesdays" while enjoying a dram or a whisky cocktail to get it done. It's been most helpful in choosing my bottles for me and very educational. Also got your book, though I haven't gotten around to reading it yet because I'm on a book about rum now. Anyway, I hope this qualifies me to suggest a Malt Mention. Here it is: Hello all you Marxist Militant Materialist Maniacs! Thanks for the videos & malt moments!

Going out to buy a bottle of standard Highland Park.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 🍀

I don't know about an app, Ralfy, but I've pulled out my phone and watched one of your reviews while shopping for whisky here in South Korea. Highland Park is the most affordable single malt available in my local supermarket. I agree that their packaging looks silly, but it no doubt helps sales with the uninformed public in these parts. And when people drink it, they start to like it. My ancestor founded The Orcadian newspaper in 1798, the same year that Highland Park started making its whisky. I'd like to imagine he enjoyed a dram or two back at its beginnings.

Thank you Ralfy another really interesting vlog- just purchased your book and started reading by the way.

Great review. Just what I needed

That's the truth on waiting to try high end whisky. I bought a bottle of JP Wiser's 35 year old for my 35th bday. Still haven't cracked it 2 years later. Don't feel I'm ready just yet. Cheers Ralfy

Thank you for all your amazing videos, Ralfie!

Hi Ralfy. Thank you for the video. I saw some Highland Park has their name on independent bottling recently, especially in Cadenhead bottling. I agree with you that the forbidden names of the bottles is stupid and ridiculous. I had a bottle of unnamed Orkney and it was too young and vibrant. I put an oak stick in it to infuse more oak flavor.

I feel the same Ralfy. In the US, and especially in Tennessee, I have access to a lot of high quality bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys at fairly low prices. It’s hard to want to pay for scotch and Irish whiskey when most of it is 40%, chill filtered, color added, and about double the cost of equivalent American spirits. If I’m going to pay $$$ for imported malt it’s gotta be an integrity malt and it’s not snooty to expect more than the bare minimum

Interesting ralfy. I've seen you make similar comments about indie CS bottlings in the past. My experience has been very different. I actually started my whisky journey with CS indie bottlings almost exclusively. I got into whisky via Mark Davidson's monthly Cadenhead's tastings in Edinburgh about 15 years ago. For at least 2 or 3 years I only really tasted Cadenheads, SWMS, Gordan and Mcphail etc at cask strength and just thought that was what whisky was. I got acclimatized to it very quickly. When I did try official bottlings I tended to find them a bit dull. It was until about 3 or 4 years in when I tasted Laguvilin 16 that I realized what I missing. Over time I came to see the merits of 'produced' official bottlings over against the 'raw' one-offs of the indie sector. These days I mainly drink officials - on the basis of reliability and a changing palate. I also used add very little water in the early days. These days, as my palette changes, I find myself adding a lot more, most of the time. Both of these things have surprised me over time. I still love a good indie (I have a bottle of BBR 'Orkney' bought at RMW a couple of months back) but am much more choosy about them these days. Anyway, I just thought I'd share my, very different, slightly contradictory, experience. Horses for courses.

Go on you can say it the new highland park bottling is “ all fur coat and nae knickers”

Would be good to see your collection and how stored/displayed. I am going to buy your book off amazon soon too!

Ha. The ancient ( martial ) art of whisky-do... A philosophy and strategy for life!!

My basement maltdrinking friend from across the pond.

I've always enjoyed independent bottlings these days. Over here in the states Bourbon just isn't the same anymore and independent scotch bottlings have added a great new spark.

Dear Ralfy, you are completely right. Yours, Leopold

Not going to lie- from being an avid rum sipper for many years, I saw the Highland viking honour in Sainsburies today, and as we are all in isolation- I thought... sod it, lets give whiskey a go- people seem to think this is a good starter- and this video tells me the same which is great. I wouldnt go telling new rum drinkers to go and try out a zacapa XO or the single cask el dorado, or the diplimatico ambassador- Id start them on something that, if they didnt like it- it A) wouldnt wast too much of their money B) is such a neish profile that the average consumer wouldnt have anything to do with it. Lloniannau Ralf!

Might be one for me to try, i cant stand peaty whisky but Speyside i love, sounds like a perfect in betweener. 👌

I can remember reading some flannel about an independent Talisker once and the Bottler described it as 'Distilled at a secret distillery on the Isle of Skye' . Not hard to work out is it?!!

stay healthy, all you other malt mates.

Ralfy. Highland Park OBs are all natural colour.

It be good if you had a room temp guage showing the room temperature it helps viewers relate to environmental drinking, sitting in a room drinking an reviewing is only one thing.

Delamain Pale and Dry XO is excellent cognac.

Marvelous mavericks of malt

Would love to see you review a High Coast whisky. Would recommend any of the Origins series Timmer, Berg, Älv... Speaking of integrity, thats their entire image. Plus its a Swedish whisky that i think is far superior to Mackmyra.

Your name is close enough to my surname. Also thank whisk(e)y tribe for the subscription

WHAT?! i dont know anything about whisky or why im here or why i even subscribed to your channel but i found you from your bro's site(ironically, not the youtubes)

Thanks again for "educationalizm", Ralfy (I really don't if there's such a word-just invented it myself) It must've been freezing cold in the bothie judging by the steam.

"New" Highland Park is actually natural color.

Enjoyed the chat. Can't tell if that's chickens in the background or Clive and the Manx Beard Club doing a livestream. 😉 How are the bees by the way?

Great content, Ralfy.

Tullamore Dew-Jitsu. The ancient martial art of whisky discernment.

14:24 ... listen to the rooster!! (Other times too.)

Damnit I wish I’d kept a bottle or two of the GOOD HP12. This new Vikings Honour is bullshit.

I had two bottles of G&M Highland Park 1999 15 yo cask strength (bottled 2014) and it was outstanding. When you put a spoon of water in, it turned as opaque as milk. Amazing. There are some great independent bottlings out there.

Hey Ralfy,,haven't talked with you for a long while,,hope all is going well.Can you possibly do a review on the Old Perth 23yr Scotch @ 55.1%Vol.

I can’t get enough ardbeg. Why is it so good?

Ralfy, any thoughts on how the Coronavirus will effect the world spirits industry and scotch in general? You've been saying for years, essentially, that what goes up must come down. And it looks like that moment may be upon us. The bars in California are all closed, and I've been going to the liquor stores around here to see what prices are doing. So far everything is holding steady. It's hard to say thought what might happen. Are they still distilling in Scotland? I did see that the visitor-services are pretty much shut down (tours, shops, etc).

Ralfy have you heard of Filey Bay Yorkshire single malt? 46% natural colour non chill filtered? No age statement that I could see but sounds interesting. I haven't tried it yet but just curious if it's crossed your path?

Hello Malty Meticulous Maverick Master Marksmen.

Hi Ralfy, what do you think about dailuaine whisky ?. Specifically from James Eadie ? . Good day from germany

Mister ralfydotcomdotblogspot...dot...please (from your hilarious Glenfarclas 21 review :) ) Why have't you reviewed the Glendronach 18 yet? It seems like you have been through most of the Glendronach family, but not the 18. Is it just a coincidence, or do you have any particular reason why you refrain from reviewing it ? Always a pleasure to see your vlogs, stay safe during these challenging times.

Tarty and jig time now in the vocabulary for my hoi polloi friends simply for the purpose of confoundment.

I know the label's the 'contract', and it is not to be found on the latter, but it is common knowledge within the whisky 'community' that Highland Park was and is natural colour.

Ralfy, will you be reviewing Tobermory 12?

That leaning bottle bothers me.

Say my name...

I hear roosters !!

Ralfy, here is a vid about a hard hat making the journey from Belle Chasse, Louisiana (a few miles south of New Orleans) to a beach on Ireland's west coast. Quite interesting. Richard ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-znq-T_IRaQc.html&feature=emb_logo

Ralfy...I do not understand this business of chill filtered or non. Is it a money or cost saving process or what? What is the noticeable difference in taste ?

Old HP12 was much better

I agree, that silver label looks as trashy as the cars coming out of Japan these days with fake chrome (silver-painted plastic) trim everywhere. Awful. No class.

No corny St. Paddy's Day episode?

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY ANY MORE THAN A “NO TRESPASSING” WARNING.PROTECTS ONE’S TITLE TO THE PROPERTY AGAINST ADVERSE POSSESSION.

Specialised and focused is the antithesis of diversity. Specialised and focused on what? If you want specialised focus on what you call integrity then expect prices to rise across the board. Higher abv resulting in less supply and more tax per bottle, no cask re use means demand for casks increases etc, you end up appealing only to a smaller segment of the market ie ralphy and his ilk which may appease his pathelogical hatred of marketing, but is more likely to push whisky out of reach for a lot of people due to premium prices. If you want diversity, expect that distillers will create a spectrum of malts to cover the range of demand in the market, some appealing to the less sophisticated and some higher range appealing to the more demanding. ie pretty much exactly what they do now.

First?