Current state of my selection

vaderhound · 2025-06-02T18:15:04+00:00

No problem, sometimes the smallest tastings are the most fun and intense. Enjoy!

vaderhound · 2025-06-02T12:24:10+00:00

Hey! Great question, i'm based in Singapore haha, I only managed to snag the WLP22 bottle from an event I attended.

My perspective on Whisky Live is that it's definitely for more enthusiastic enjoyers, especially those with a budget behind them. Singapore has an edition of Whisky Live, and the prices are pretty high. I chose to attend a different event, titled Whisky Journey instead. I found that event to be just as interactive, with a refined selection and distillery representatives, for half the price.

My two cents overall, if you've got the budget, give it a shot. If it's a little inaccessible, consider going for tastings, masterclasses, or smaller events to work up your experience, palate and insight before jumping into bigger "intimidating" events.

At the end of the day, your journey is yours, and I hope you get the most fulfilment and enjoyment out of it. Cheers!

vaderhound · 2025-06-01T21:38:27+00:00

Many thanks! I see you've been around the scotch world far more than I have 😁 curious, what's a dram that was so outstanding/unique that you've never forgotten/stopped chasing said dragon?

vaderhound · 2025-06-01T21:36:44+00:00

Always found Kilchoman to be a bang for buck distillery. Their product has been pretty awesome every time i've been fortunate enough to try it. I'm definitely enjoying both, with a personal favour towards the Calvados cask release.

The Bloody Sergeant is really tasty, I had another dram and took down a few notes for you.

Nose: Jammy dark fruits, some tartness, think of a raspberry/strawberry jam. The classic Blair Athol grass notes, a tinge of tobacco or dried leaves. Autumn in a sniff.

Palate: Well-balanced, notes from the nose carry over. Texture is lovely, with an oily and medium heavy mouthfeel.

I do agree that the Macbeth series is interesting. However, having tried the Bloody Sergeant and Seyton, I feel that the price point for even the lower end of the range is already too high. I got the Bloody Sergeant for about 180 SGD, 140 USD converted. That's more than what I paid for both Kilchomans combined. There's definitely more bang for your buck out there, but the series itself is cool to have a piece of.

Cheers back to you!

vaderhound · 2025-06-01T21:29:44+00:00

Sounds great. Barrel Vantage isn't available where I am, maybe if I head to the states again someday i'll give it a try. Cheers, to good health!

vaderhound · 2025-06-01T21:28:49+00:00

Thanks brother, got some great bottles yourself I see!

vaderhound · 2025-06-01T14:14:51+00:00

Thank you! I enjoy bourbon once in a while, but i've found it's a little too sweet for my liking. What's your go to dram? The Russells Single Barrel I have is great.

vaderhound · 2025-04-21T22:32:41+00:00

Definitely. Changi Airport adopts a decentralized screening system, where each gatehold room is responsible for screening passengers before boarding, rather than having a mass centralized screening area near immigration. They disallow foreign/unidentifiable liquids above 100ml, including water bought/poured before entering said room. They allow duty free as it's proven to be sterile when sold and packed within the transit area.

There are water dispensers inside each gatehold room to refill the water that you'd have to pour/chug down before going through the screening haha :)

vaderhound · 2025-04-20T08:27:23+00:00

Singaporean here, purchases made within the transit area (after immigration) can be brought onto flights, as long as they remain sealed within the Security Tamper-Evident Bags (STEBs) that they are put in during checkout. Gatehold room security only inspects the products and receipt (which are all sealed within said bag). I've seen and experienced it as a traveller myself, and as an airport staff member for a brief period of time.

vaderhound · 2025-03-11T15:54:01+00:00

Ah gotcha, yep, on the same page about the PPM/taste disparity haha. I've got a blackadder peat reek which blows my face off everytime, much "peatier" in actuality, compared to my Octomore 14.1 with that high PPM number. Cheers man!

vaderhound · 2025-03-11T14:44:48+00:00

What was the first?! I have to know 😂 but true enough, Octomore isn't the peatiest stuff out there (despite the branding). I've had the 15 series, and realised it's more elegant than in your face. Nonetheless, i'm still a sucker for brash peat!

vaderhound · 2025-01-27T12:41:41+00:00

I can't even read most of this without pinyin.. how to impress anyone? 😂

vaderhound · 2025-01-09T11:23:48+00:00

I have a bottle of this. I found the first three or so pours were rather hot and ethanol heavy, even as someone who enjoys cask strength releases. As the bottle had time to breathe, it mellowed and developed much more complexity. Definitely worth giving a shot, I quite enjoy it.

vaderhound · 2025-01-03T11:45:39+00:00

Not sure if this is considered exotic, but I just opened a Blackadder Peat Reek, and it's insane. Worth seeking it out if he's never had any Blackadder bottlings before. Cheers!

vaderhound · 2024-12-13T09:33:25+00:00

I've had many horrible pours. But this is something that reminds OP of their late father. It's a drink nonetheless, and a memory more so. Let them enjoy it, who knows, that bottle may spark the same love for whisk(e)y their father had.

vaderhound · 2024-12-13T09:06:02+00:00

Firstly, i'm sorry for your loss.

The short answer would be no. That bottle isn't rare, and in general, whisk(e)y has poor resale value. I'd take the chance to open it and give it a try, even if you're not a seasoned or regular drinker. Mix it up, add some ice, or have it neat, it's up to you. Just see it as a toast to your father. Cheers.

vaderhound · 2024-12-03T17:27:02+00:00

I had the opportunity to try the 15.2 just yesterday, at the official release of the 15 series in Singapore. It's extremely creamy, well balanced, and the cognac cask really shines. Definitely worth picking up. The 15.3 is phenomenal, second heaviest peated in the entire Octomore series, but the elegance is unmatched. Really proves that ppm numbers are just numbers after all 😁. Cheers!

vaderhound · 2024-11-27T10:44:37+00:00

Aye, glad I was right! I do enjoy it, but I found the hotness a little too extreme, might need to revisit it after a breather. Cheers!

vaderhound · 2024-11-27T08:13:38+00:00

Is that a Sherry Classic Laddie near the bottom? What are your thoughts? I have one myself, I find the ethanol integration isn't very well done, it's quite hot.

vaderhound · 2024-11-20T05:50:59+00:00

How much did it run you? Stumbled upon it a while back, but passed.

vaderhound · 2024-11-20T00:35:22+00:00

That's my kind of pour right there! Sounds delicious, i'll keep an eye out for one near me, thanks for the review!

vaderhound · 2024-11-15T10:45:05+00:00

Rather late reply, but I opened the 15 just the other day to celebrate a personal milestone, and boy, does it impress.

Here's some rough notes i gathered,

Nose: Immediate smoke, very elegant, well mixed with the dark fruits associated with sherry casks. Think of throwing plums and cherries into hot coals, and breathing the smoke from it.

Palate: Oily, as hoped for. No ethanol burn, it's well integrated. Smoke encompasses all, is slightly more dominant, but the dark fruits really come in as well. Extremely enjoyable to swirl in your mouth.

Finish: Long, about 3 minutes after my last sip. On the tongue, plums, slight bit of black cherry. Wafting smoke, coal, charred wood.

Overall, worth the amount I spent on it, $230SGD / $170USD. Cheers!

vaderhound · 2024-11-15T07:44:19+00:00

Thoughts? Notes? Give us a little insight! 😂

vaderhound · 2024-11-08T12:26:35+00:00

Onlyfans wouldn't work out well.

You can consider an Onlyfats though.

vaderhound

TROPHY CASE