Any Scotch drinkers in the house?

[driveway]

One of the many, many excellent parts of living in Taiwan is the staggering amount of great scotch they have here at low, low prices.

Every 7-11 in the country sells at least a couple bottles: Johnny Green, McCallan 12, Glenfiddich 12, and Glenmorangie 12 are the most common, and they cost between $23 CAD for the 'fiddich and $30 CAD for the Johnny Green and McCallan.

There are also loads of Scotch stores around. The last bottle I picked up was the Bunnahabhain 18. Cost about $80 CAD which is 40 bucks cheaper than it is at Kensington Wine Market.

They do piles and piles of idiotic things here in the Far East, but Scotch prices are not one of them!

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by driveway

One of the many, many excellent parts of living in Taiwan is the staggering amount of great scotch they have here at low, low prices.

Every 7-11 in the country sells at least a couple bottles: Johnny Green, McCallan 12, Glenfiddich 12, and Glenmorangie 12 are the most common, and they cost between $23 CAD for the 'fiddich and $30 CAD for the Johnny Green and McCallan.

There are also loads of Scotch stores around. The last bottle I picked up was the Bunnahabhain 18. Cost about $80 CAD which is 40 bucks cheaper than it is at Kensington Wine Market.

They do piles and piles of idiotic things here in the Far East, but Scotch prices are not one of them!

How confident are you of the authenticity of it all? Here in Shanghai there is loads of Scotch available too, but over 80% of it is not the genuine article. That includes the bottles available in retail as well as in good restaurants.

[kermitology]

Just finished my highland park 12 year this evening, and I was mistaken, my other highland park isn't a 25 year, it's a 30 year. It comes in a wood case. So spectacular.

[dammage79]

How much was the thirty year old? I kind of want!

[kermitology]

I believe it was $400, the best gift a groom can receive from his groomsmen.

[dammage79]

Lucky son of a gun!

[driveway]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

How confident are you of the authenticity of it all? Here in Shanghai there is loads of Scotch available too, but over 80% of it is not the genuine article. That includes the bottles available in retail as well as in good restaurants.

I've never doubted the authenticity of the scotch. I've had probably thirty or forty different bottles since I've been here and there hasn't been anything about them; either quality of the drink, or packaging, or anything else that's made me question whether I'm drinking the real thing or not.

Given the political situation between the ROC and the PRC it seems as though importing counterfeit goods from the mainland is challenging. There also doesn't appear to be a great deal of counterfeiting that goes on here, at least that's available in Taipei. I hear down south it's a little more like the wild-west, but here pretty much all the fake stuff is hard-goods and restricted to the night-markets.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by driveway

I've never doubted the authenticity of the scotch. I've had probably thirty or forty different bottles since I've been here and there hasn't been anything about them; either quality of the drink, or packaging, or anything else that's made me question whether I'm drinking the real thing or not.

Given the political situation between the ROC and the PRC it seems as though importing counterfeit goods from the mainland is challenging. There also doesn't appear to be a great deal of counterfeiting that goes on here, at least that's available in Taipei. I hear down south it's a little more like the wild-west, but here pretty much all the fake stuff is hard-goods and restricted to the night-markets.

That fits what I remember of Taiwan from when I used to live there. Taipei was always fairly reliable. Same with Hong Kong. The fake drink market is huge on the mainland though.

There is literally more bottles of 82 Margaux in China than was ever produced in France and for pretty much any type of import alcohol the estimates on fakes in the market are upwards of 70 percent.

Thing is, most people can't tell the difference.

[hurtin_albertan]

I'm just getting into scotch myself, after going to a Willow Park wine tasting and coming away from it with a nose for scotch after a bonus tasting of the newly released JW Platinum.

Some friends of mine went through a big scotch phase a few years ago (they mostly drank Glenlivet, not sure of what age), but I never liked it when pushed on me, neat or otherwise. I decided to have a go at the previously mentioned tasting and surprisingly just LOVED the JW Platinum. Again I'm new at this, but I found it smoky more than anything else, and really, REALLY enjoyed it.

Following that I went out with a friend for a few drinks and suggested we go for scotch; regrettably I don't recall exactly what we had but I know I enjoyed an Oban the most. It was $25 an ounce.

Went to a store to pick up a bottle of Platinum, but couldn't bring myself to part with $150 so settled for JW Black instead, and I do enjoy it. I find it quite smoky as well, but possibly as a rookie that's all I'm able to recognize. Received a bottle of JW Green for Christmas and I don't necessarily find it more enjoyable or "better" than the black label, but I will say it is smoother to drink.

I'm looking forward to going to tastings and buying different bottles to see which profiles I really enjoy. I know with wine I didn't really start to be able to appreciate different tasting notes until I started going on winery tours, and tasting with experienced wine-o's. I think it will be much the same with "the good stuff".

[Sr. Mints]

I spent about 10 minutes digging around Willow Park's website for the scotch festival mentioned in the first post, before I realized it was written in 2008.

As soon as I convince someone to go, Crowfoot liquor's event it is!

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

As soon as I convince someone to go, Crowfoot liquor's event it is!

Details? Does 'someone to go' include some random schlub from CP?

[lazypucker]

Sorry if this question had been asked before - anyone with any experiences using the Whiskey Stones? Yay or nay for $25?

http://www.amazon.ca/Teroforma-1220-...7600817&sr=8-2

[DownhillGoat]

They're nice if you absolutely can't stand watering down your scotch, but they don't get them as cold as ice.

[cavalera403]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Sorry if this question had been asked before - anyone with any experiences using the Whiskey Stones? Yay or nay for $25?

http://www.amazon.ca/Teroforma-1220-...7600817&sr=8-2

I have them but I use them more for my sipping rum and tequila.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Details? Does 'someone to go' include some random schlub from CP?

Yes, of course!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

No, not at all!

Wow, that seems harsh! I would go with you and other random CPers. I'm hesitant based on it being Crowfoot, but I do love scotch!

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by Slava

Wow, that seems harsh! I would go with you and other random CPers. I'm hesitant based on it being Crowfoot, but I do love scotch!

Ooops, I thought he asked if that excluded some random schlub..

I've edited.

Crowfoot might as well be Cochrane, but it's right on the train which means I wouldn't have to take a cab should I choose not to drive. Bonus points.

[polak]

Like I said earlier, I don't like straight scotch but even I was dumbfounded when yesterday, I saw someone pour a Scotch and Coke with Blue Label...

[Komskies]

I don't have a lot of experience drinking Scotch, but I am a big fan of Maker's Mark Bourbon.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by polak

Like I said earlier, I don't like straight scotch but even I was dumbfounded when yesterday, I saw someone pour a Scotch and Coke with Blue Label...

Did you stab them with their glass? Holy moly..