Practical Whisky?
Practical (prak-ti-kuhl) Adjective: Having the virtue of being realistic and useful, a decision based in pragmatism.

Whisky (hwis-kee) Noun: A liquor distilled from a fermented mash of grain (barley, rye, or corn) containing at least 40% ethyl alcohol. Also: Whiskey, Rye, Scotch, Bourbon. From: Uisge Beatha, Aqua Vitae, Eau de Vie.
  Whiskies Reviewed
  Tastings
Random Dram
Completely Random:
Springbank 21 YO
                   95  
Random + Practical:
Austin Nichols Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
               79      
Taste Events
Winter of Desolation
From 18 February to 12 March it was the Winter of Desolation.
Visit the Event Page to see all previous taste events.
On Deck
Coming soon to a history blurb near you!
First Time Visitors
→ If you're under the legal age to drink, move along.
→ You can click on a number of things to take you to detailed reviews. For example:
Balvenie 12yo Doublewood Single Malt Scotch
Each of the above colors will take you to a different set of reviews. One (Balvenie) takes you to all the Balvenies (including the 12yo) The second second link takes you directly to the 12yo review. The type of whisky, Single Malt, will take you to a list of Single's and Scotland will take you to every whisky from that country.
[ Version 4.5 ]
Welcome!

There are dozens of excellent web sites out there that extol the virtues of fantastic whisky. Fantastic in taste, fantastic in character and sadly, often fantastic in price. I have no lack of respect for the whisky aficionados who can dedicate the time, energy and money to tasting all the whiskies that I can't afford, and I salute them with glass held high. That salute will just have to employ a dram of practical whisky.

Practical Whisky, this site, contains my reviews of whiskies that I've sampled, from Scotches , Irishes and Canadians to Single Malts, Bourbons and Blends and how “practical” I think they are. I make recommendations like those found in the Random Dram widget to the left, check the lower review for whiskies that score well in both the taste and cost departments. There will also be news and updates on the goings on in the practical whisky market as I become aware of them. Look for new whiskies every Monday and Wednesday plus retastings and news updates on Fridays. So be sure and come back and see what's new.

I hope the site is entertaining and useful, or at least one of the two.

Salude!
-- Brian --



Recent Updates (last 30 days)
Review Link» 400 years of Bushmills14-MAY-2008
Bushmills has released an Anniversary Expression to mark 400 years since their 1608 charter to distill whisky and I review it as the first Irish of 2008. Wait... that can't be right... Bloody heck, it is the first Irish of 2008. Anyway, the 400 years doesn't apply directly to Bushmills the company, it refers to a grant to distill in the town of Bushmills. So congrats to the town, I suppose.
#239 Bushmills 1608 Anniversary Edition Irish Blended whiskeyBottle Image. Image is © Practical Whisky. Bottle, logo and other trademarked imagery are © their respective owners.
This cost is what I found the likely shelf price for a 750ml bottle to be, based on an average of costs throughout the USA. Your price may differ significantly. This is not an advertisement of sale, this bottle is likely empty by now anyway Cost$7000
00-09:Horrid
10-19:Awful
20-29:Unpleasant
30-39:Poor
40-49:Not Recommended
50-59:Acceptable
60-69:Recommendable
70-79:Highly Recommendable
80-89:Excellent
90-99:Fantastic
Taste Score
                 88    
The whisky's score as weighed against the cost of a bottle. Adj. Score
               79      
ABV46%
AwardsTaste Award: SilverPractical Award: SilverPremium Silver Award: +70 points at $70
Tasting 14-MAY-2008 (T-275)
1st
Impression		Now THIS is a box. Seriously, it's a satin lined box with a book and slipcase and everything. Woot.
SmellVery clean: light green malt, cloves, seems rather tight though. Ah, 46ABV, I didn't note that. So, water releases some of the flavors, but this is still very reserved, very low key. I get grains.. heavy, but not oats or barley (there's plenty of barley elsewhere) almost heather, but lacking the earthiness. Hrm. Mild gin scent. There's also a faint fruit sweetness. It's just so mild and laced with green and dry barley that I'm not pulling much out.
TasteVery very clean, in fact. Super slippery on the tongue but not oily. The malt is very nice, light and tight. Prickly in the build, I think this is just about ready for some water. So, after water things get interesting. The prickle is still here in spirit, which makes the nose even more perplexing. The malt is now a beast: stretching and roaring at the top then slowly circling and resting again in the fade and finish. Exceptionally smooth, just with a massive flavor punch. There's a little wood up front, but none of that fruit flavor came out to play, instead I get candy bar: caramel and milk chocolate at the very tip top that hides in your sinuses while the malt beast rampages around. Exceptional. A bit more water is a bit too much. The malt dies and sours, the sweetness becomes murky and it becomes a pale shadow of its glory. Now I have to pour another glass to make up for it. Such sacrifice. High 80s, lacking only slightly in complexity.
NotesSnagged the last bottle of this at a favorite deli/liquor store and it has taunted me for weeks on the shelf.
Tasting Score88


Review Link» The madness of King George12-MAY-2008
Technically that title refered to KG the III, not the IV, which is the subject of today's review. I'll sum it up to say that madness would have been at least interesting. Instead we get something that is fighting for pure middle of the road blend status served in a bottle that is nearly as boring.

Review Link» Long awaited return to Springbank07-MAY-2008
Should you care to meander back in time, the very first whisky tasting I ever tracked, and the highest ranked tasting of all time, was the 21YO Springbank of yore. Now, 236 tastings later I finally return to Campbeltown to try the 10 Year Old 100 Proof. It's like coming home.

Review Link» Canadian Club 6 10005-MAY-2008
As of today's 10YO 100 Proof tasting, I have completed everything in Canadian Club's lineup. The only option would be to further explore the cask varieties in their Sherry Cask series, but don't count on it.

» 2 New Whiskies and Other News02-MAY-2008
  • Balvenie has announced a new whisky: 12 Year Old Signature. It should be less than $60 if it comes to the USA.
  • Forty Creek is releasing Double Barrel, a limited (but worldwide) release. No clue on cost.
  • Glenmoranige gets this year's award for worst website. The opening is nice, but then you get a black screen that says ">Skip" and links to another black screen. That's it. Way to go on that whole new image, guys.
Review LinkReview LinkReview Link

Review Link» JM&R Peaty Smokey One30-APR-2008
I was underwhelmed by JM&R's last attempt. It was underflavored and simplistic in my opinion, so when I spied the peaty version, I thought it would be a good chance for the trio to make some good with some meatier flavors. Did they do it? Click and see.

Review Link» Blind D = My second Laddie.28-APR-2008
Bruichladdich has been a solo act on my list since the earliest, pre Practical Whisky days, which is a shame that is rectified here with Full Strength. This is no mild lad, either. This is a roaring hellion!

» General Friday News25-APR-2008
Rather than comment on the row over new names for blends/vattings and such, I'll stick to other items of interest this week. A Danish company (the country, not the breakfast pastry) called Scaent has purchased Glenglassaugh distillery in the Highlands and is planning to start up production. The distillery has a checkered past of openings and closings, so here's to hoping things work out. Highland Park has announced a 40 year old, and at $1000+ that's pretty much all you'll hear about from me.
Review Link

Review Link» Blind B= BenRiach 1623-APR-2008
Long on my "to-do" list, BenRaich finally appears thanks to the blind taste test. The BR 16YO is a nice ride through an unusual flavorset for a Speysider.

Review Link» Blind A = G&M's Imperial Apple Juice21-APR-2008
Whiskies from Imperial are a bit tough to come by, mostly because the distillery releases no official bottlings. This G&M creation was finished in calvados (apple brandy) casks, which imparts a distinct flavor that I wasn't very fond of. It was memorable, though!

Review Link» Blind C = Littlemill16-APR-2008
Littlemill is a recently closed distillery in the already deprived Lowland region and only a handful are still available, so it was great to get the 12YO in a blind tasting. Good stuff and sorely missed. Oh, and if you're wondering, I'm posting reviews in the bottler order (1→4), not the tasting order (A→D).

» Four Blind Whiskies16-APR-2008
If your memory serves, a year ago I attended a private Bourbon tasting where I got to try 4 new (and fantastic) Bourbons. My friend managed to pull together the contents of a PREVIOUS tasting that was focused on Scotch. How awesome is that?

Now, I lack the bottles and have instead been given 4 small tasting bottles and a booklet detailing what's inside, so no original pictures of bottles to enjoy. However, I can't let an opportunity for a blind tasting to by unseizedupon, so I'll taste and score blind. All I know so far is that there are 4 (out of an original 5) and that they are from various regions of Scotland.



Site Layout
  • Index: The page you are on. Right now. Presently even.
  • Reviews: The raison d'etre of the site where the reviews go to congregate and establish pecking orders. This is important, get moving
  • » Brand Listing: A breakdown of brands for ease of location or general interest
  • » Events: A subsection of reviews, with a ranked list of whiskies for each taste event.
  • About
  • » About Whisky: Start your education here.
  • » About PW: Info about how this site works and what some things mean.
  • » Stats: Lies, damn lies and statistics.
  • Tops: The top (and bottom) 10% of the list, broken into interesting categories. If you want to know the best of the best, go here.
  • History: Will eventually contain everything I've ever done. Ever. For now it's just the history of this site. Sanitized for your protection.
  • My 2¢: Rants and raves about ... well, whisky related topics mostly. Gripping stuff.
  • Links: Places to go when you're tired of being here. I refuse to make this one a link because I don't want you to leave. See how much I care?


Whisky Cred
  • Member of the Ardbeg Committee
    One of the finest Islays, and the 10YO is legendary.
  • Ambassador of Maker's Mark
    Don't be put off by the hype as I was. MM is a fine bourbon and a perfectly Practical Whisky.
  • Companion of Aberlour
    Speysiders that will warm your heart without draining your wallet.
  • Balvenie Club Member
    One of my first, and I've yet to find a Balvenie I haven't liked.
  • Compass Box Hedonists Society
    Master mixers and Lords of variety. Expand your horizons here.
  • Striding Man Society
    If all you know is the Red Label, you don't know Johnnie.
  • Glenmorangie Kindred Spirits
    They once made the perfect 10YO, I still love them despite changing her.
  • Member of the Springbank Society
    My first true Scotch and the bar by which all others have been measured.
  • Jim Beam Brotherhood of Bourbon
    Beam Black is nearly the definition of Practical Whisky in Bourbon.
  • Glenfarclas Friend of the Family
    Glenfarclas is a wonder and impossible to find locally outside the 10 and 12. Luckily a buddy loves the 21 and so I get a taste reminder once in a while.


Boring Notices
  • This site is not offering anything for sale. Should I ever decide to offer anything for sale it will not include anything produced or trademarked by a whisky company.
  • I receive no compensation for doing reviews, linking to manufacturers web sites or for doing anything else in relation to this page.
  • The images on this site are eiter:
    • Original works created by me
    • Photographs of bottles taken by me for purposes of review
    • Images taken from official sources for identification under Fair Use provision of the Copyright Act for purposes of Review and Criticism.
  • The links on the links page and distillery data pages lead to the companies that produce the whiskies and are provided explicitly without agreeing to any "Linking Policy" presented by the company in question. The proliferation of these unenforceable policies is ridiculous and I refuse to be a party to it. The company web pages are public information, I am presenting them clearly as addresses to be visited for further information, I am linking only to the top level entry page of the site with no framing and I offer no option to deep link. Should the company in question complain, I'll just add a link to a Google search for their name and let Google's lawyers fight it out. The content of those pages is outside of my control, such links do not represent any endorsement by myself or the linked company and should you choose to follow those links, I am no longer in control of your internet destiny.
  • The images of bottles clearly include copyrighted works, and are presented under the Fair Use Statute of the Copyright Act for purposes of review and criticism. All trademarks and copyrights are held by the companies represented.
  • It sucks that I should have to even consider posting this legaleese here, but that's the world we live in.
  • Isn't this text TINY! Man, you could get a migrane reading this.