Blending whiskies

[Hobbit]

Bit of a different slant to the previous single malt whisky thread. Has anyone tried blending their own whiskies from their stock of single malts?

Its a dangerous pastime but I've been having great fun lately mixing some of my malts. Some have been a disaster, and some have been intriguing. With some of them it's about getting the ratio right. A 50/50 might not work but a 75/25 can be fantastic.

Perhaps the best bit is the tasting sessions but you have to be careful not to add a big dollop to a big dollop. 1) it makes a very big dollop and, 2) it's an expensive waste if you get it wrong.

But if you are a whisky man, I'd recommend giving it a try.

 

[GreiginFife]

When I was a drinker I used to mess about with this of a weekend. Used to keep a fairly large stock of whisky in the cupboard.
Best blend I made was a 10yo Edradour (about 20%) with a Sherry Reserve Glenfiddich (20%) and the rest 18yo Highland Park. Was lovely and round with a nice burn to it.
Like you say though, expensive when getting it wrong which happened more often than the ones I got right.

Long past days though.

 

[SocketRocket]

Drink one, drink another, jump about a bit

 

[Bunkermagnet]

What......mix......single.....malts......?

 

[Hobbit]

What......mix......single.....malts......?

OMG! And he doesn't follow the 'rule' of only red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat.... burn him!!

 

[Bunkermagnet]

OMG! And he doesn't follow the 'rule' of only red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat.... burn him!!

Want some matches?

 

[IanM]

this has made me laugh out loud in a quiet office!

 

[patricks148]

No Whisky expert, but i do know a couple of guys heavily involved with the Industry. one is a senior Distillery Manager and Consultant for one of the Diageo brands and the other Runs a tasting class and bar.

i think the do the blending before it goes into a cask, but i can ask them next time i see them for ant tips?

 

[Hobbit]

this has made me laugh out loud in a quiet office!

I'm glad to say I have my own office, all though the door is open, and no one heard my laugh. They did complain about the screams and smoke though...

 

[jdpjamesp]

No Whisky expert, but i do know a couple of guys heavily involved with the Industry. one is a senior Distillery Manager and Consultant for one of the Diageo brands and the other Runs a tasting class and bar.

i think the do the blending before it goes into a cask, but i can ask them next time i see them for ant tips?

Indeed, professional blenders will blend and then let the liquid 'marry' in a cask for a period of time before bottling it. But there's nothing wrong with making your own blend and drinking it. I'd recommend getting a kit from somewhere like master of malt so you can measure small relative quantities. Then you can scale it up if you like what you made. And if you don't like it you only wasted a bit.

Edit: this sort of thing https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-home-whisky-blending-kit/?srh=1

 

[Tashyboy]

Might seem an odd question, but at one time I would of sooner lost an eye than drink whisky. But over the last few months, when we have reached the tenth Trev gets out his medicinal flask. Today it was Beckhams Haig whiskey, and nice it was indeed. So does ones palate change over the years re whiskey.

 

[jdpjamesp]

I think the palate does change. At the same time, Haig Club has been especially made to suit the non-whisky drinker. It's very smooth. Sadly that means it's not very complex at all, which is why whisky snobs frown on it. It's a great stepping stone into whisky though. I think a lot of people have been put off in the past by the harsh ethanol of cheap blends and so don't drink the stuff at all. Haig helps to show whisky can be different. Use it as an opportunity to start discovering what you do and don't like!

 

[Tashyboy]

I think the palate does change. At the same time, Haig Club has been especially made to suit the non-whisky drinker. It's very smooth. Sadly that means it's not very complex at all, which is why whisky snobs frown on it. It's a great stepping stone into whisky though. I think a lot of people have been put off in the past by the harsh ethanol of cheap blends and so don't drink the stuff at all. Haig helps to show whisky can be different. Use it as an opportunity to start discovering what you do and don't like!

Them whisky snobs will be those that don't eat pot noodle. 😁

Twenty odd years ago I was on me jols in Pitlochry ( tummel bridge to be precise) Anyway me mum said " bring me back a bottle". So I popped into a shop in Pitlochry, the guy in there said there are thousands of whisky and there is one for your palate, but it is finding the right one. Unfortunately you could spend a fortune on the wrong ones which will eventually put you off. For the record the whisky he helped choose for me mum was excellent because it was close to other drinks she liked. Ie drambuie.

 

[patricks148]

I asked they guy i know who runs a whisky tasting classes, what would be the best to start on as a non whisky drinker.

Glenfiddich 12 YO was his recommendation. not tried it myself, but will do once i have secured the free bottle of the stuff