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.
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Balvenie 12yo Doublewood Single Malt Scotch
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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 plus whatever else I can squeeze in on Fridays. 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)     RSS feed
Review Link» Wine & Whiskey14-MAY-2012
Concannon is a California winery and this is their Irish whiskey. Confused? Concannon winery partnered with Cooley distillery, using wine barrels to finish this 4 year old spirit. Its an interesting Partnership, and whatever its unusual the history the proof is in the glass.
#501  Concannon NAS Blended Irish
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$4000Bottle Image. Image is © Practical Whisky. Bottle, logo and other trademarked imagery are © their respective owners.
00-09:Horrid
10-19:Awful
20-29:Unpleasant
30-39:Poor
40-49:Below Average
50-59:Average
60-69:Recommendable
70-79:Very Good
80-89:Excellent
90-99:Fantastic
Taste Score
              70       
The whisky's score as weighed against the cost of a bottle. Adj. Score
            62         
ABV40%
AwardsTaste Award: BronzeGold Bottle Award: +70 points at $40
Tasting # 578
1st
Impression		The bottle is stylish but I would have loved some originality given the unique makeup.
SmellVery floral. Clean. There's gin and white grapes, rosewater, linen and grapefruit. Very little grain or wood.
TasteVery unusual for an Irish! The front is light and sweet, that grapefruit note is clear among flowery lemon soda and a slightly tart metallic flavor. The whiskey finally appears in the top with some toasty grain. Fades through those sweet flavors and finishes a bit blendy. Its certainly unusual, the sweet and citrus notes are rare in Irish whiskies. I wish there was a bit more malt or wood or even smoke to balance it out though. Its just too light and airy, it tastes too much like the wine that finished it than whiskey. Still, an interesting and flavorful experience and one worth recommending. 70
Tasting Score70


Review Link» >> Five Hundred <<11-MAY-2012
That's right, 500 whiskies. Five double zero. Half a ... half ton. And who better to take me there than an indie (love em) version of my wonderous Springbank? It has been a long, strange trip and by the whisky gods I would do it again in a heartbeat.
#500  Douglas Laing's Springbank Premier Barrel 12 YO Single Malt Scotch (Campbeltown)
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$20000Bottle Image. Image is © Practical Whisky. Bottle, logo and other trademarked imagery are © their respective owners.
BottlerDouglas Laing's
00-09:Horrid
10-19:Awful
20-29:Unpleasant
30-39:Poor
40-49:Below Average
50-59:Average
60-69:Recommendable
70-79:Very Good
80-89:Excellent
90-99:Fantastic
Taste Score
                   95  
The whisky's score as weighed against the cost of a bottle. Adj. Score
        42             
ABV43%
AwardsTaste Award: Gold
Tasting # 577
1st
Impression		This is a bizarre bottle, the endless alliteration, the ceramic and boxed presentation, the massive showmanship of it. I hope it can live up.
SmellSweet, creamy butter. Dark honey. Port. Sweet and sour sauce. Its a wonderful, sweet and savoury joy.
TasteIntense sweetness, deep caramel, rose water, toffee, caramel apple over a base of cedar and pinot gris. Possibly the sweetest scotch I have ever tasted. The top is butter cookies and muscato and just a little oak. The end is crisp, smooth and comes close to lemon lime soda. Its an amazing whisky, there's just barely enough wood to hold up this juggernaut of sweetness. Amazing, smooth and expansive. Not the best ever... but not far from it.
Tasting Score95


Review Link» Four ninety nine07-MAY-2012
So one south of the half kilo point I've selected an American craft whiskey. I've heard great things about Corsair and have seen their product at my favorite stores, so while I didn't give them the five double they do get to open the show.
#499  Corsair Triple Smoke NAS Single Grain American (No Region)
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$4500Bottle Image. Image is © Practical Whisky. Bottle, logo and other trademarked imagery are © their respective owners.
BottlerOfficial Bottling
00-09:Horrid
10-19:Awful
20-29:Unpleasant
30-39:Poor
40-49:Below Average
50-59:Average
60-69:Recommendable
70-79:Very Good
80-89:Excellent
90-99:Fantastic
Taste Score
                83     
The whisky's score as weighed against the cost of a bottle. Adj. Score
               79      
ABV40%
Misc:Barrel 27 bottle 18 of 40
AwardsTaste Award: Silver
Tasting # 576
1st
Impression		Like the bottle but their line of moonshine and pumpkin fluff had me worried.
SmellVery smokey. No peat, but a solid cherry and charcoal note over a corn base. Smells like a very odd Bourbon.
TasteWow. That was a solid choice! The cherry smoke is primary but certainly not the solo act. Buttery build, peat appearing at the top with pepper and anise. A very solid fade that reminds me of grilled veggies and charred meat. This is unusual, delicious, exciting and extremely drinkable. Bravo gentlemen, bravo. 80s.
Tasting Score83


Review Link» Hello Major Grant04-MAY-2012
Its always nice to meet yet another glen o' whatnot. If for no other reason than to pad out my glen count. Will the Major distinguish himself among his peers or be lost in the shuffle?

Review Link» Yeah so this exists.30-APR-2012
So I guess Red Stag is now expanding into teas. Given my fondness for Wild Turkey's American Honey and my general dislike of tea flavored drinks I don't have high hopes.

Review Link» The Other Mac 1827-APR-2012
The difference between the Mac 18 Oak, which I had at a bar during a wedding rehearsal and the Mac 18 Sherry, which I had at a bar on Valentines Day, is night and day. The oak is smooth and dry and lightly sweet. The sherry is huge sweet and impossibly smooth. I just wish I had the cash to make these kinds of choices more often.

Review Link» A return visit to Mr. Collins23-APR-2012
The existing Michael Collins drinks are the oddly tall duo of a NAS single malt and the Link to another review precursor to this blend. Neither scored out of the lower 60s and the only interesting thing about them was the independent nature of the distillery (Cooley)and their ludicrous bottle choices.

Review Link» The only single grain Irish Whisky20-APR-2012
Greenore is from Cooley and represents the only single grain whisky I know of from Ireland. There are a few varieties, I spotted this on the top shelf of a nice Irish Pub!



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) 5% of the list and the tops of each style. 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.