"It's very few folk that come to watch these ralfy vlogs with only one bottle of whiskey in the shelf." *looks at the first two bottles of scotch I've ever bought sitting on my living room table*
@Chirag KC I'd bet he has no wife. If I paid 300 dollars for a bottle of whiskey, I'd have to listen over the next year to an enumeration of a thousand ways the money could have been better spent.
@@pepperco100 I'm with wifey on this. If you spend more than 60$ on a bottle, you are being had. Booze is incredibly cheap to produce in a large scale setup.
Rafly, I take exception to your statement at the beginning of the video that people don't start watching your videos if they have only one bottle of whisky. On the contrary, when I discovered you a few months ago, I had only a bottle of Laphroaig 10 in the cupboard. NOW I have a sizable -- and ever growing -- collection! Cheers, mate!
I'm a little bit slow. I'm still working on purchasing my first bottle. Maybe my true nature is procrastination, lol. However, I do enjoy watching these UA-cam videos and I am learning a lot. Soon I will be jumping into the blends and malts. Cheers!
I went a bit overboard in the whisky buying department the last few months of the year, so I decided that in 2015, I would buy 2 bottles per month -- 1 for current consumption, and 1 to put away for later. So far in January, I've purchased 8 bottles. Oops!
gaaarp1 there is a danger with collections you should be aware of. dont open them all at once. i know youre curious as everybody is, once they start collecting. but i would recommend you have no more than 3-5 open bottles. i usually drink one bottle until its emtpy. that way i get to know the Whisky better with constant tasting, and i reduce my number of opened bottles. when i was a beginner few years go, i made the mistake of opening every one i buy on the very same day. at one point i had 30 opened bottles, some of them i still have in my cupboard.
Same here. I was looking for bourbon reviews (I had one or two bottles of it) and found Ralfy's video. I am much more experienced with whiskies of all kinds now, but I never really have a "collection". I'll have 2-3 bottles at most and never bought the same scotch twice yet. I am a lot into tiki cocktail crafting so I can't afford to have a sizable whisky collection at the same time too lol.
I've yet to have a single bottle of whisky or bourbon or scotch collected yet, Ralfy. Full time single father of three, so that commandeers the budget for now. However, I watch these for my hopeful future investment and delight in whisky in its various forms. So you see, not everyone who watches your videos has a collection...
Actually, I AM the guy who watches with one bottle. I love the videos, and find the subject matter of whisky in all it's variations to be fascinating, even though I rarely drink it myself. Keep going strong Ralfy!
Every time I watch these videos I end up with a smile on my face. You're a wealth of great information and you seem like such a genuinely awesome person.
Thank you for posting about this topic, I have quite a few bottles that I want to move to the basement, right now is in a few glass cabinets in the living room. I want to move it all into basement as per my wife, now I feel more comfortable about doing so after watching this video.
Not really a collector, have 30 odd bottles, but majority open, just like to have different pours depending my mood & flavour profile on the day, have 5 or 6 which are the main go to whiskies, like Redbreast 12yo Cask Strength, Glendronach 15 yo Revival, Glenfarclas 15, Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton, Nikka Barrel & Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel. The rest I rotate. You’ve also gotten me stuck into Mount Gay XO rum. Keep up the great reviews!
Ralfy you are a poet and a scholar. I've discovered my mid life crisis through your reviews. The wife says Whisk(e)y appreciation is cheaper than a Ferrari so I'm aloud to carry on. Dinnit ge up the gid werk!!
Ralfy Great videos!, i've bought my first whisky bottle,the Glendronach 21yo 1993 cask#39 im slowly trying to start a collection of whisky bottles. Keep up the great work you i really appreciate your whisky education im learning alot about it from you, thanks to you and youtube for making it happen, self knowledge is the best.
Great video as usual Ralfy! You really did inspire me to stop buying a single bottle, enjoy it and buy another one when it's empty and start stashing a few bottles, forgetting them for a while and coming back to them to discover that they have changed, often for the best. Many very-oaky single malts now appear too oaky to me when I first open them, then they settle down, and they often run out of breath when approaching the end of the bottle. Also am 100% with you on the memories conclusion you did. Big part of the fun of scotch whiskies is not only tasting them but sharing them with friends on special occasions. Relating back to it will also relate back to pleasant times.
Firstly, Hello from Canada! Thank you for the brilliant videos Ralfy. I am enjoying learning about, collecting and drinking Scotch whiskey. Your videos are a joy to watch!
I'm definitely going to get myself a Malt-Ted! Nice video again, Ralfy. My few bottle collection is getting a bit embarrassed, but that's okay... I'm working on it!
Ha Ha , you just made my day ralfy i enjoy your videos very much i have only had a few whisky's in Australia like johnny walker and Haig Have you tried KWV brandy from South Africa?
A wonderful, thoughtful and comprehensive episode, Ralfy. As I write this, you are at Bonneville (Good Luck!). On a question with regard to WHISKEY corks; I occasionally, gently tip my corked bottles for a few seconds with the intention of keeping the cork moist. As I consider you an expert in this field, I was wondering if you think this is a good idea, a bad idea or that it doesn't make any difference at all. Thanks for all of your great videos and your wonderful personality. I feel like we have become friends. Cheers, Rich
I'm a new subscriber of yours over the past month or two and I'd like to say that I thoroughly enjoy your videos. They're both informative and entertaining. I'm happy to have discovered your channel.
Hi Ralfy! A couple more tips for anyone reading this.... Don't place whisky sideways like wine, the alcohol will destroy the cork and the cork parts can spoil the whiskey or even worse deteriorate to where the cork is no longer keeping the whiskey in and the bottle leaks. Also, don't put your whiskey on any unstable shelving or at least make sure the shelf can bear the weight of the amount of whiskey you may intend to place it on. I've heard stories of shelves with rum collections fall apart and lots of bottles lost - very unfortunate. I also have a queston for you Ralfy - I live in a tropical country with no central air conditioning. I store the bottles in a bar cabinet close to ground level. Do you think it could get too hot or too moist to damage the whiskey? I have found that I can't keep the bottles in tins as mold gets on the bottle but have ceased to do that. If I store longer than 5-10 years could temperature or moisture do damage? Its always dark and between 24-28 Celsius in temperature generally.
Thanks for the little bit of philosophy right at the end. Thoroughly agree. And thanks for the tips. I've been building up a nice collection since coming back from Scotland and wondering if I'm treating them right. Best news, my wife has started enjoying a dram. She has quite a discriminating nose and palate, and she enjoys the complexity of the flavours. Glenmorangie is her favorite so far - nothing too peaty.
9:56 "Buy your local bottles..." We don't have any local whiskey in HongKong, but regionally i had the chance to try a Taiwanese whiskey (about 1hr flight away), wasn't that impressed, under 10yrs, cask strength kavalan. But it's priced more then a 12yr Glenmorangie! But i realised your point is valid, if they are going for that value in the local Taiwan market, maybe it;'s a good idea to grab a bottle for the collection for the future? Cheers Ralfy! Gonna pick up some of their bourbon or sherry cask matured version. :)
I was just getting into malts Christmas time 3 years ago and Laphroaig QC was on special offer, it not having an age statement and me knowing only the basics of whisky, previously only really being into famous grouse and black label, I had no idea if it was worth a buy, so I put the name of the whisky into youtube, and found your old review of it you gave it a positive review so I bought it. At the time i think I only had 2 open bottles of malt. I didn't have a collection then but I certainly have one now. I think you turn people with an interest in whisky into full blown geeks with collections.
I only ever have one bottle, ive been "collecting" whisky this way for a very long time. I buy a bottle and then it takes about week to finish "collecting" it, then i move onto the next bottle. Im not sure if this is normal or not but having kept the odd bottle for a few months i find that it is never as good as in that first week. Currently have a bottle of Ledaig 1998 Gordon and MacPhail 16yr old at a perfect 46% wonderful stuff, not coloured of filtered, best nose i've sampled for a long time and, on my palate, it could give the Springbank 15 a run for its money. much much better than the earlier bottlings of this (which were 43%) highly recommended for anyone bothering to read this comment.. Sláinte
Great as always. Sadly i cant help but open any bottle of whisky i buy and taste it. Curiosity gets the better of me. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Its amazing how delicate these can he i have a greenore 6y old which is very rare to find and although never opened the paper sealis worn which gives impression it was
Building my collection, however the only room I have to store them has a nice big window that gets plenty of sun. They are all in the boxes but is it worth getting some sort of cabinet doors to add to my shelves for the extra darkness and colder temperatures?
One day I will have a collection like this. Currently my collection grows and shrinks like budget allows. Always have some very cheap blends in the rack, like Vat 69, J&B and Three Ships (it being local works well for me). I also try to keep some medium-priced whiskies in my collection, like Glen Grant Major's Reserve or Glenfiddich 12YO (or one of those classic Speyside whiskies), and then finally I like to keep a bottle of "expensive" whisky, like Dalwhinnie 15YO. I don't have so much space, so right now it's only between 5 and 10 bottles at a time, but one day it'll increase, I'm sure... I'm jealous!
Squirrelled away 5 bottles of Yamazaki Limited Edition 2014 for future consumption (or resale, if the price is right). This information is priceless! Thanks for the guide Ralfy!
+Ted Barrera Each to their own. It's a young Yamazaki spirit, not too different to their 'distillers reserve' which is around 5-7 years old when bottled. They also bottled about a million of them, making the 'limited' moniker a bit false. And lastly, $80 to $400 increase in this Japanese whisky bubble we're in is a pretty poor investment when compared to most Ichiro, Karuizawa and Kawasaki releases that were recently $170 now selling for $6,000-8,000 easily. I've had the 2014 and 2015 LE ones now and while it's a nice easy drinker, it's not going to blow anyone anyway or win any awards kinda malt. Best consumed, not 'collected'.
Might want to do your research. While the youngest whiskey in this expression aged in bourbon, the other 2 parts of this come from 20 year olds. And where'd you get your "a million" bottled figure? Last I checked, ONLY 10,800 bottles were released in two stages. As for the price rocketing of the Karuizawas... Supply and demand. The Karuizawa Distillery closed in 2011, which is why anything from that distillery will only increase in value. "Each to their own"... Agreed.
+Ted Barrera Ok so a "million" was a turn of phrase, but jeez 10,800 is bloody heaps! And I don't know their breakdown of casks, but 2 parts (of 100 parts?) are from two 20yr barrels? Completely soaked out from younger bourbon-casked spirit either way. I had this in a line up with some Eigashima's and Karuizawas when I tried it: no one wanted to take the rest of the bottle home with them! It's a supermarket single malt (which is where I bought one in Japan) where there were thousands (not millions, my bad) of the stuff made for mostly export and cashing in on the name. I'll stick with single casks and whisky that says it's age and provenance cheers.
A classic Ralfy vid with tons of great Ralfyisms. Can’t justify the storage locker yet...though if I can’t store my wee collection safely and soundly I may have to find a place. Cheers Ralfy!🥃🥃🥃🥃
Hey Ralfy - I live in Costa Rica and finding a good single malt is almost impossible. So my collection consist of blends. Scotch down here is pretty expensive but there are some "dust hunter" finds out there in the blended world. My best find is a 3 bottles of 1998 JW Swing. Passport, Something Special and some others are down here. I would love to find a bottle of Ardbeg anything. I am hooked on that smoke flavor. Keep up the great work, I love your reviews and you have helped a new whisky collector.
"Malt minions"? Great video Ralphy...I was worried that I might have been mistreating my growing collection...I WAS! Downstairs they go where there's a bit more humidity. Cheers!
Just want you to know Ralfy...you've created a peathead here, I am in love with the Islay malts. I was given a bottle of Glenmorangie Original for Christmas along with a Talisker Storm. I had always drank JW Black, but asI say I got these as a gift...then I ran across your reviews. Well...a bottle of Lagavulin 16, Ardbeg Ulgeadail, and Laphroaig Quarter Cask later here I am wanting more. Thanks for what you do maltmate...:).
I’m that person with only 1 bottle on the shelf! After being teetotal until it hit the age of 56, I’ve discovered the world of single malt! So far, my one bottle (aside from a few dozen now-empty samples) is. GlenAllachie 10yo cask strength batch 6… but it won’t be on its own for long!
Hello Ralfy, I have one question. I store my whiskies in a cabinet in my living room. No sunlight can reach them and it's rather dry there. Usually the room temperature during the year is not very high (I would say around 20-22 degrees Celsius). However in summer (like now) it can be high (sometimes even around 28 degrees). Can such conditions cause damage to whisky, if it's exposed to such heat for only few weeks or is this amount of time too short? Normally I have around 5 open bottles and I empty a bottle within few months, so we are not talking here about a big collection. Thank you in advance for your answer. And thank you of course for your UA-cam channel and all the reviews! They are a wonderful companion on my whisky journey.
. . . temperature fluctuations will oxidise a whisky quickly over time so best not to store too long once opened. Some collectors keep whisky bottles in a cabinet chiller to ensure stability !
I've been doing this for over a year now even with bottles I open every few months. My bottles are staying very fresh, no oxidation that I was having before, but I also began using private preserve argon gas and decanting into smaller bottles around the same time I started using para film. It's very cheap, and it certainly isn't going to hurt. For long term storage I would say this is a very good idea.
This might be a pretty stupid question but ive bought 3 bottles now of port charlottle islay single malt 10 year aged heavily peated whiskey and I absolutely love it....ive recently bought numerous other bottles of whiskey (most being much more expensive over 100 dollars a bottle Canadian) and still none compare to the port charlotte 10 year heavily peated Now my question is what does Islay single malt mean? More importantly what even is Islay? And what would be some other medium end whiskeys that are high in peat. I have no problem spending a few hundred dollars on a good peat whiskey....
I have only two bottles at all times. Lagavulin 16 for me and Chivas Regal 12 for guests. Though I would enjoy having an Ardberg 10, brings back good memories.
Hi Ralfyboy, thanks for sharing your experience, I've got a miniatures collection of whiskies, rums,tequilas,cognacs,brandies,ouzos,piscos,raki,etc.. I wondering if what is the best way to sealed properly on the top without damaging the quality and aesthetic of the bottles? If you have a good idea or suggestion..also I very welcome any viewers advice and experiences ..cheers
Malt mention: Malty Misty Moo (my cat). I'm going to call my next dog Ralfy in your honour. Informative as ever, keep up the good work from a malty Mancunian.
If a cork is contaminated be it a Whisky stopper-cork, sparkling wine, or a vintage Port cork, it will taint the contents. Granted tainted Whisky corks are rare it does happen. The most common chemical compound is Trichloroanisole (TCA) occasionally found embedded in the cork/bark although unpalatable it's harmless.
Whisky has a much higher alcohol content than wine, which is stored on its side to keep the cork from drying out, so if it was stored on its side the cork would deteriorate. You should turn your bottles over every few weeks just to get a splash on them to keep from drying out though
Hi Ralfy Thanks for another great vlog I collect whiskey for my grandchildren I have about 200 bottles and it's growing every week, but of course every now and then I have to check the quality, its great fun and like yourself the research is tuff but someone has to do it. Thanks for your inspiration Regards Kevin
I collect whiskies and scotches to drink, not to wait around while they appreciate in value (if they in fact do). Still, some good points in this one. Ralfy is first and foremost a whisky lover, and I love the boy for that. Taking good care of something you love... we can all learn from that, eh?
haha I only have 1 bottle at a time, I drink it too quickly then I say im not getting whisky again for a while.. then I get another and do the same thing
Hi Ralfy... When can we have the pleasure of seeing your breathtakingly beautiful Undertaker's Stash ?? 🎊😊 Hope the day comes soon.... Fingers crossed 🤞
Hi Ralfy, great work, I've been watching for just a few months. I have a bottle of Glenmorangie Signet which is boxed but also cellophane wrapped. Should I remove the plastic? It must not be a frequent presentation.
Ralfy I don't know I ever remember seeing Age statements on the std. Ballantines or Grand Mcnish that I've past by many times but today I noticed specials on Ballantines 4yo and GM3yo. Now I'm sure they're not great even good Scotchs but the fact that an AS is now part of the title is rather refreshing to say the least. The wheels of progress may turn slowly but they do turn. cheers Ralfy
Granted for where I am in life, I have a descent selection, about 12 bottles, but I hope to get to a point where I can invest a bit more time and money into a real collection :) I save all of my bottles and boxes however, and theyre all lined up all nice and pretty.
Hi Ralfy! I have a storage question. I live in a house which does not have air conditioning. We have a cool basement, but it houses a wood stove and a dog and sometimes (heaven forbid) perfumy plug-ins, along with odorous food stuffs at times. I have my whisky and rum bottles upstairs in a dark wicker chest covered by a blanket so no light gets in. But I'm wondering if, with temperatures reaching 26 C in summer (and hotter), and a lot of humidity, should I move them to the basement instead? I'm concerned the various smells will taint the whisky, but so might the hot temps. I only drink them, I don't collect them, so am most concerned with the quality of smell and taste - and I have some great bottles, and don't want them to go off. Thanks, cheers!
@@thewhiskybothy Thanks Ralfy! A quick follow-up - are you thinking it's better for the whisky to endure some heat rather than the various smells? I just moved it all (just 12 or 14 bottles, but still a lot in my mind) to the basement. Unfortunately, here in downstate New York (about an hour or so north of the city) these summer temperatures are only just starting. It's already in the 80s F here, and looks like it's going to be a long and hot, humid season. Thanks again!
Hey Ralfy - Quick question for you and hope you can help. How sensitive is Single Malt Scotch to vibrations or being dropped. I just picked up a new bottle of Jura 16 and dropped it onto the floor.... lucky there was a think layer of carpet between the bottle and concrete floor so the bottle did not break. But it did have a fair bit of bubbles inside. I have not opened the bottle yet but do you think could impact the whiskey inside?
Ralfy, I am creating a blend and wanting your advice. So far this is what I'm thinking: Start w/ a 1.75 bottle of Dewar's White label. Add just a bit of Ardbeg Corryvreckan, a bit less of Ardbeg Uigeadail, and a bit of Black Bush. I was thinking of adding a "cask element" largely based off your lesson in review 386 (& a half) where you talked about toasting, seasoning, & slightly charring a bit of wood. Some thoughts entertained were also adding a full fifth of Speyburn 10 yr and I even have a bit of store-bought moonshine (corn liquor) that is sweet and bottled at 50.35% (I'm reluctant to do that last part since everything else is Scottish except the Black Bush, which isn't that far away from Scotland) I have been very fond lately of the higher strength, Islay, heavily peated single malts.. but man...they're expensive! I'm looking for a way to get more bang for my buck, have a good dose of smoke... higher than 40% ABV.... any advise from you is much appreciated (even as if as simple as saying "don't use the moonshine"...) Thank you much
store-bought "moonshine" is, in most all cases, unimpressive. As I distill my own spirits, as well as age/mature my own Whisky and Rum, I have a pretty good reference as to what good-quality "moonshine" truly is. Personally, I haven't found any, save for maybe Popcorn Sutton's or my own, that I would add to the blend you mention. A little tip on blending. Get a graduated cylinder and mix small test batches first, making notes on how much of each spirit is added. That way you have reference for portions once you develop a blend you like. And remember, the flavor profile will change somewhat after the spirits have some time to "marry", so you may find it has changed over time from what you first tasted after blending. I like to give my blends a month or more in a 3-gallon oak barrel. The barrel I use for blending has essentially been "used up" in regards to aging new-make spirits. But it works wonderfully for marrying blends. If you don't have a barrel, half-gallon Mason jars work well also.
Shine Runnah thanks. will post once I have the finished (& well married) blend. I'm looking for a good blast of Islay peat smoke in it. I won't use the Firefly White Lightnin. I want know where to find a nice piece of American White Oak (in Southern Cali)
I currently have zero bottles of whiskey at my disposal (they ran out). Have gone through Glenfiddich 12 and 15, Glendronach 12, Laphroaig 10, a couple of blends, Macallan 10 and recently a Highland Park 12. Any suggestions on what the next bottle / adventure should be?
Hey Ralfy , from February in Italy, we will have our first italian whisky. If you happen to go in South Tyrol , try it out and let us know if in addition to wine, we do also whisky. Puni is the name of the company that produces it
Hi Ralfy, would you consider doing another video of recommended single malt scotch whiskies (Perhaps under £40) for those of us relatively new to the wonderful world of Whisky and looking for affordable, quality experiences??
Hello Ralfy, I have a question. I keep my bottles on a shelf in the kitchen. There is no direct sunlight. I also have a tiny boxroom where I keep the vacuum, a ladder and some cleaning stuff on shelves. This room has no window and is probably the coolest room in my Appartement. However when I open it I get hit with all the smells of the cleaning liquids from the washing machine stuff to the window cleaning liquid and it’s quite intense. Does it even make sense to relocate my bottles to the boxroom or would that be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire? I can’t put the cleaning liquids anywhere else since my Appartement is rather small...thankful for any opinion
This may seem like a silly question, but what about cardboard cylinders, with metal caps. Most Laphroaigs and many others come in these. Are these okay for long term storage? Is it just all metal tins that are problematic?
hi woukd u recommend cardbord boxes rathen tinnns? also, i have some unopened whiskeys that are about 5 years old, can i still drink them or do they spoil or something other after years not opened? thanks
Do I see a bottle of Glenfarclas on your shelf????Very good whiskey .Had some !Good climate control information .I have a wine cellar on the north side of the house ,stays cool and damp all year round .winter is quite cold
"It's very few folk that come to watch these ralfy vlogs with only one bottle of whiskey in the shelf."
*looks at the first two bottles of scotch I've ever bought sitting on my living room table*
That is how it all starts... First two bottles, then five, then twenty.....
Everybody starts somewhere and don’t feel ashamed about actually drinking your whiskey that is what it’s for after all
One more than me!! 😆
so how did you end up?
he's both crazy and blissfully wise at the same time.. i love him
We all are , if lucky
@Chirag KC I'd bet he has no wife. If I paid 300 dollars for a bottle of whiskey, I'd have to listen over the next year to an enumeration of a thousand ways the money could have been better spent.
@@pepperco100 I'm with wifey on this. If you spend more than 60$ on a bottle, you are being had. Booze is incredibly cheap to produce in a large scale setup.
@@lenuvian You should take into account that this is his job.
every two years I watch this video and I love more each time! great stuff, I wonder if you'll every make a similar video again. Cheers Ralfy!
Rafly, I take exception to your statement at the beginning of the video that people don't start watching your videos if they have only one bottle of whisky. On the contrary, when I discovered you a few months ago, I had only a bottle of Laphroaig 10 in the cupboard. NOW I have a sizable -- and ever growing -- collection! Cheers, mate!
I'm a little bit slow. I'm still working on purchasing my first bottle. Maybe my true nature is procrastination, lol. However, I do enjoy watching these UA-cam videos and I am learning a lot. Soon I will be jumping into the blends and malts. Cheers!
Same thing here, down to the whisky even.
I'm glad I was able to get on board while you're still actively posting videos. Excellent material!
I went a bit overboard in the whisky buying department the last few months of the year, so I decided that in 2015, I would buy 2 bottles per month -- 1 for current consumption, and 1 to put away for later.
So far in January, I've purchased 8 bottles. Oops!
gaaarp1 there is a danger with collections you should be aware of. dont open them all at once. i know youre curious as everybody is, once they start collecting. but i would recommend you have no more than 3-5 open bottles. i usually drink one bottle until its emtpy. that way i get to know the Whisky better with constant tasting, and i reduce my number of opened bottles. when i was a beginner few years go, i made the mistake of opening every one i buy on the very same day. at one point i had 30 opened bottles, some of them i still have in my cupboard.
Same here. I was looking for bourbon reviews (I had one or two bottles of it) and found Ralfy's video. I am much more experienced with whiskies of all kinds now, but I never really have a "collection". I'll have 2-3 bottles at most and never bought the same scotch twice yet. I am a lot into tiki cocktail crafting so I can't afford to have a sizable whisky collection at the same time too lol.
That was a very good video: advice, humour and wisdom perfectly blended.
Or a perfectly balanced single malt...
I've yet to have a single bottle of whisky or bourbon or scotch collected yet, Ralfy.
Full time single father of three, so that commandeers the budget for now.
However, I watch these for my hopeful future investment and delight in whisky in its various forms.
So you see, not everyone who watches your videos has a collection...
@Herbert Moon All thee are
You guys are awesome, keep up the great dadding!!
Hope you have a few bottles now.
From 19:10 on to the malt ted, words of wisdom for sure! Cheers Ralfy! Thanks for launching my whisky exploration!
Actually, I AM the guy who watches with one bottle. I love the videos, and find the subject matter of whisky in all it's variations to be fascinating, even though I rarely drink it myself. Keep going strong Ralfy!
Every time I watch these videos I end up with a smile on my face. You're a wealth of great information and you seem like such a genuinely awesome person.
There is always so much to learn from this genius. Thank you, Ralfy. Much appreciated!!
Thank you for posting about this topic, I have quite a few bottles that I want to move to the basement, right now is in a few glass cabinets in the living room. I want to move it all into basement as per my wife, now I feel more comfortable about doing so after watching this video.
Not really a collector, have 30 odd bottles, but majority open, just like to have different pours depending my mood & flavour profile on the day, have 5 or 6 which are the main go to whiskies, like Redbreast 12yo Cask Strength, Glendronach 15 yo Revival, Glenfarclas 15, Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton, Nikka Barrel & Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel. The rest I rotate. You’ve also gotten me stuck into Mount Gay XO rum. Keep up the great reviews!
I have no whisky ....but just ordered a bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruben using my frequent flyer points! yay!
His voice reminds me of my grandad reading me stories before a sleep. It’s nice to fall asleep to
Ralfy you are a poet and a scholar. I've discovered my mid life crisis through your reviews. The wife says Whisk(e)y appreciation is cheaper than a Ferrari so I'm aloud to carry on. Dinnit ge up the gid werk!!
Ralfy Great videos!, i've bought my first whisky bottle,the Glendronach 21yo 1993 cask#39 im slowly trying to start a collection of whisky bottles. Keep up the great work you i really appreciate your whisky education im learning alot about it from you, thanks to you and youtube for making it happen, self knowledge is the best.
Great video as usual Ralfy!
You really did inspire me to stop buying a single bottle, enjoy it and buy another one when it's empty and start stashing a few bottles, forgetting them for a while and coming back to them to discover that they have changed, often for the best.
Many very-oaky single malts now appear too oaky to me when I first open them, then they settle down, and they often run out of breath when approaching the end of the bottle.
Also am 100% with you on the memories conclusion you did. Big part of the fun of scotch whiskies is not only tasting them but sharing them with friends on special occasions. Relating back to it will also relate back to pleasant times.
Firstly, Hello from Canada!
Thank you for the brilliant videos Ralfy. I am enjoying learning about, collecting and drinking Scotch whiskey. Your videos are a joy to watch!
I'm definitely going to get myself a Malt-Ted!
Nice video again, Ralfy. My few bottle collection is getting a bit embarrassed, but that's okay... I'm working on it!
Every time you leaned on that shelf my heart was in my mouth.
Absolutely love these type of reviews. Learn something every time.
I dont own a single bottle of whiskey whatssoever but i consider myself a single malt fan. And i enjoy ralfys videos even though i am not a collector
Absolutely love your last point. Great stuff 👍🏻
Thanks Ralfy, nice collection you have there.
As for me, i only collect what i actually will drink one day, well if i'll live that long.
Cheers.
ralfy,
when you lean on that flimsy shelf....i get nervous
. . . so do I ! better remove a few bottles for drinking.
Ha Ha , you just made my day ralfy
i enjoy your videos very much
i have only had a few whisky's in Australia like johnny walker and Haig
Have you tried KWV brandy from South Africa?
. . . not yet, there is such a lot out there to discover !
So very true. Great presentation Ralfy!
A wonderful, thoughtful and comprehensive episode, Ralfy. As I write this, you are at Bonneville (Good Luck!). On a question with regard to WHISKEY corks; I occasionally, gently tip my corked bottles for a few seconds with the intention of keeping the cork moist. As I consider you an expert in this field, I was wondering if you think this is a good idea, a bad idea or that it doesn't make any difference at all.
Thanks for all of your great videos and your wonderful personality. I feel like we have become friends.
Cheers,
Rich
I'm a new subscriber of yours over the past month or two and I'd like to say that I thoroughly enjoy your videos. They're both informative and entertaining. I'm happy to have discovered your channel.
Hi Ralfy! A couple more tips for anyone reading this.... Don't place whisky sideways
like wine, the alcohol will destroy the cork and the cork parts can spoil the whiskey or even worse deteriorate to where the cork is no longer keeping the whiskey in and the bottle leaks. Also, don't put your whiskey on any unstable shelving or at least make sure the shelf can bear the weight of the amount of whiskey you may intend to place it on. I've heard stories of shelves with rum collections fall apart and lots of bottles lost - very unfortunate.
I also have a queston for you Ralfy - I live in a tropical country with no central air conditioning. I store the bottles in a bar cabinet close to ground level. Do you think it could get too hot or too moist to damage the whiskey? I have found that I can't keep the bottles in tins as mold gets on the bottle but have ceased to do that. If I store longer than 5-10 years could temperature or moisture do damage? Its always dark and between 24-28 Celsius in temperature generally.
Thanks for the little bit of philosophy right at the end. Thoroughly agree.
And thanks for the tips. I've been building up a nice collection since coming back from Scotland and wondering if I'm treating them right.
Best news, my wife has started enjoying a dram. She has quite a discriminating nose and palate, and she enjoys the complexity of the flavours. Glenmorangie is her favorite so far - nothing too peaty.
the best closing remarks Sir.. much respect
9:56
"Buy your local bottles..."
We don't have any local whiskey in HongKong, but regionally i had the chance to try a Taiwanese whiskey (about 1hr flight away), wasn't that impressed, under 10yrs, cask strength kavalan.
But it's priced more then a 12yr Glenmorangie! But i realised your point is valid, if they are going for that value in the local Taiwan market, maybe it;'s a good idea to grab a bottle for the collection for the future?
Cheers Ralfy! Gonna pick up some of their bourbon or sherry cask matured version. :)
I was just getting into malts Christmas time 3 years ago and Laphroaig QC was on special offer, it not having an age statement and me knowing only the basics of whisky, previously only really being into famous grouse and black label, I had no idea if it was worth a buy, so I put the name of the whisky into youtube, and found your old review of it you gave it a positive review so I bought it. At the time i think I only had 2 open bottles of malt. I didn't have a collection then but I certainly have one now. I think you turn people with an interest in whisky into full blown geeks with collections.
I see your bottle of Forty Creek on the shelf. I've got an identical one next to me right now. Really neat place to visit and look around.
I only ever have one bottle, ive been "collecting" whisky this way for a very long time. I buy a bottle and then it takes about week to finish "collecting" it, then i move onto the next bottle. Im not sure if this is normal or not but having kept the odd bottle for a few months i find that it is never as good as in that first week. Currently have a bottle of Ledaig 1998 Gordon and MacPhail 16yr old at a perfect 46% wonderful stuff, not coloured of filtered, best nose i've sampled for a long time and, on my palate, it could give the Springbank 15 a run for its money. much much better than the earlier bottlings of this (which were 43%) highly recommended for anyone bothering to read this comment.. Sláinte
Great as always. Sadly i cant help but open any bottle of whisky i buy and taste it. Curiosity gets the better of me. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Ralfy,
What temperature and humidity range would you recommend for storing whisky?
Thanks,
Curtis
Its amazing how delicate these can he i have a greenore 6y old which is very rare to find and although never opened the paper sealis worn which gives impression it was
LOL! On your picture you just look like Captain Mainwaring off duty!
By the way; nice collection!
Building my collection, however the only room I have to store them has a nice big window that gets plenty of sun. They are all in the boxes but is it worth getting some sort of cabinet doors to add to my shelves for the extra darkness and colder temperatures?
cheers, ralfy, another bit of wisdom from the expert at the end!
One day I will have a collection like this. Currently my collection grows and shrinks like budget allows. Always have some very cheap blends in the rack, like Vat 69, J&B and Three Ships (it being local works well for me). I also try to keep some medium-priced whiskies in my collection, like Glen Grant Major's Reserve or Glenfiddich 12YO (or one of those classic Speyside whiskies), and then finally I like to keep a bottle of "expensive" whisky, like Dalwhinnie 15YO. I don't have so much space, so right now it's only between 5 and 10 bottles at a time, but one day it'll increase, I'm sure... I'm jealous!
Squirrelled away 5 bottles of Yamazaki Limited Edition 2014 for future consumption (or resale, if the price is right). This information is priceless! Thanks for the guide Ralfy!
+Ted Barrera It's unfortunately not a great whisky, but might be worth something one day.
Matt Bailey Beg to differ. It's an amazing whiskey. Also, bought each bottle for $80. Now they're worth over $400 each. :)
+Ted Barrera Each to their own. It's a young Yamazaki spirit, not too different to their 'distillers reserve' which is around 5-7 years old when bottled. They also bottled about a million of them, making the 'limited' moniker a bit false. And lastly, $80 to $400 increase in this Japanese whisky bubble we're in is a pretty poor investment when compared to most Ichiro, Karuizawa and Kawasaki releases that were recently $170 now selling for $6,000-8,000 easily. I've had the 2014 and 2015 LE ones now and while it's a nice easy drinker, it's not going to blow anyone anyway or win any awards kinda malt. Best consumed, not 'collected'.
Might want to do your research. While the youngest whiskey in this expression aged in bourbon, the other 2 parts of this come from 20 year olds. And where'd you get your "a million" bottled figure? Last I checked, ONLY 10,800 bottles were released in two stages. As for the price rocketing of the Karuizawas... Supply and demand. The Karuizawa Distillery closed in 2011, which is why anything from that distillery will only increase in value.
"Each to their own"... Agreed.
+Ted Barrera Ok so a "million" was a turn of phrase, but jeez 10,800 is bloody heaps! And I don't know their breakdown of casks, but 2 parts (of 100 parts?) are from two 20yr barrels? Completely soaked out from younger bourbon-casked spirit either way. I had this in a line up with some Eigashima's and Karuizawas when I tried it: no one wanted to take the rest of the bottle home with them! It's a supermarket single malt (which is where I bought one in Japan) where there were thousands (not millions, my bad) of the stuff made for mostly export and cashing in on the name. I'll stick with single casks and whisky that says it's age and provenance cheers.
A classic Ralfy vid with tons of great Ralfyisms. Can’t justify the storage locker yet...though if I can’t store my wee collection safely and soundly I may have to find a place.
Cheers Ralfy!🥃🥃🥃🥃
Hey Ralfy - I live in Costa Rica and finding a good single malt is almost impossible. So my collection consist of blends. Scotch down here is pretty expensive but there are some "dust hunter" finds out there in the blended world. My best find is a 3 bottles of 1998 JW Swing. Passport, Something Special and some others are down here. I would love to find a bottle of Ardbeg anything. I am hooked on that smoke flavor. Keep up the great work, I love your reviews and you have helped a new whisky collector.
Ray Gano . . . the JW Swing should be a good sipper !
I see some Sonoma Rye Whiskey above you.. I live very close to the distillery in California.. very happy to see that bottle in your library
This is super informative. Cheers Ralfy
"Malt minions"? Great video Ralphy...I was worried that I might have been mistreating my growing collection...I WAS! Downstairs they go where there's a bit more humidity. Cheers!
Just want you to know Ralfy...you've created a peathead here, I am in love with the Islay malts. I was given a bottle of Glenmorangie Original for Christmas along with a Talisker Storm. I had always drank JW Black, but asI say I got these as a gift...then I ran across your reviews. Well...a bottle of Lagavulin 16, Ardbeg Ulgeadail, and Laphroaig Quarter Cask later here I am wanting more. Thanks for what you do maltmate...:).
Even though I do not drink that much I do appreciate the video. Of course I know to keep whiskey out of any light but still it helps to know.
This is my favorite whiskey channel.
I’m that person with only 1 bottle on the shelf!
After being teetotal until it hit the age of 56, I’ve discovered the world of single malt!
So far, my one bottle (aside from a few dozen now-empty samples) is. GlenAllachie 10yo cask strength batch 6… but it won’t be on its own for long!
Hello Ralfy, I have one question. I store my whiskies in a cabinet in my living room. No sunlight can reach them and it's rather dry there. Usually the room temperature during the year is not very high (I would say around 20-22 degrees Celsius). However in summer (like now) it can be high (sometimes even around 28 degrees).
Can such conditions cause damage to whisky, if it's exposed to such heat for only few weeks or is this amount of time too short? Normally I have around 5 open bottles and I empty a bottle within few months, so we are not talking here about a big collection.
Thank you in advance for your answer. And thank you of course for your UA-cam channel and all the reviews! They are a wonderful companion on my whisky journey.
. . . temperature fluctuations will oxidise a whisky quickly over time so best not to store too long once opened. Some collectors keep whisky bottles in a cabinet chiller to ensure stability !
Bizarre collection, greetings from Chile 🇨🇱
Hi Ralfy! What is your opinion on wrapping the top of a bottle with parafilm if you plan on storing it for longer periods?
I've been doing this for over a year now even with bottles I open every few months. My bottles are staying very fresh, no oxidation that I was having before, but I also began using private preserve argon gas and decanting into smaller bottles around the same time I started using para film. It's very cheap, and it certainly isn't going to hurt. For long term storage I would say this is a very good idea.
Yours special and extraordinary reviews are superb stuff :) keep it that way please!
This might be a pretty stupid question but ive bought 3 bottles now of port charlottle islay single malt 10 year aged heavily peated whiskey and I absolutely love it....ive recently bought numerous other bottles of whiskey (most being much more expensive over 100 dollars a bottle Canadian) and still none compare to the port charlotte 10 year heavily peated
Now my question is what does Islay single malt mean? More importantly what even is Islay? And what would be some other medium end whiskeys that are high in peat. I have no problem spending a few hundred dollars on a good peat whiskey....
TheJusnic82 . . . wiki "islay whisky"
I believe islay is a small island that is part of scotland and it has 8 distilleries on it
You are a wise man Ralfy. A wise man.
I have only two bottles at all times. Lagavulin 16 for me and Chivas Regal 12 for guests. Though I would enjoy having an Ardberg 10, brings back good memories.
Hi Ralfyboy, thanks for sharing your experience, I've got a miniatures collection of whiskies, rums,tequilas,cognacs,brandies,ouzos,piscos,raki,etc..
I wondering if what is the best way to sealed properly on the top without damaging the quality and aesthetic of the bottles?
If you have a good idea or suggestion..also I very welcome any viewers advice and experiences ..cheers
Guardian Ted, keeper of the storage :)
Love how quickly you regained your composure after doing the malt ted voice 🤣
Hi Ralfy,
All of my sealed bottles of whisky are stored lying down. This is okay right?
. . . a big mistake ! always store upright to avoid leaks from soft corks.
Malt mention: Malty Misty Moo (my cat). I'm going to call my next dog Ralfy in your honour. Informative as ever, keep up the good work from a malty Mancunian.
Should the bottle lie down if in a dry environment (so it doesn't dry out) or is it ok to let it stand? Can a Whisky get corked, like wine can?
pdmmdk . . . never, always store upright.
If a cork is contaminated be it a Whisky stopper-cork, sparkling wine, or a vintage Port cork, it will taint the contents. Granted tainted Whisky corks are rare it does happen. The most common chemical compound is Trichloroanisole (TCA) occasionally found embedded in the cork/bark although unpalatable it's harmless.
Whisky has a much higher alcohol content than wine, which is stored on its side to keep the cork from drying out, so if it was stored on its side the cork would deteriorate. You should turn your bottles over every few weeks just to get a splash on them to keep from drying out though
What a treasure trove that is Ralfy! Maybe one day I'll have a collection half as good! :D
Hi Ralfy
Thanks for another great vlog I collect whiskey for my grandchildren I have about 200 bottles and it's growing every week, but of course every now and then I have to check the quality, its great fun and like yourself the research is tuff but someone has to do it. Thanks for your inspiration
Regards Kevin
I collect whiskies and scotches to drink, not to wait around while they appreciate in value (if they in fact do). Still, some good points in this one. Ralfy is first and foremost a whisky lover, and I love the boy for that. Taking good care of something you love... we can all learn from that, eh?
So how do you keep a cork from drying out then? Should you tip the bottle upside down to moisten the cork now and again?
haha I only have 1 bottle at a time, I drink it too quickly then I say im not getting whisky again for a while.. then I get another and do the same thing
Hi Ralfy, have a little question is Laphroaig An Cuan whisky ,is good as collection whisky, or it is marketing trick?
+michael shister . . . not to be found in my collection. Special edition "ages stated' Laphs only.
+ralfystuff I have noticed that Japanese whiskey has gone up in price a fair bit in recent months, why is that?
. . . greed !
Hi Ralfy... When can we have the pleasure of seeing your breathtakingly beautiful Undertaker's Stash ?? 🎊😊 Hope the day comes soon.... Fingers crossed 🤞
Hi Ralfy, great work, I've been watching for just a few months. I have a bottle of Glenmorangie Signet which is boxed but also cellophane wrapped. Should I remove the plastic? It must not be a frequent presentation.
Ralfy I don't know I ever remember seeing Age statements on the std. Ballantines or Grand Mcnish that I've past by many times but today I noticed specials on Ballantines 4yo and GM3yo.
Now I'm sure they're not great even good Scotchs but the fact that an AS is now part of the title is rather refreshing to say the least. The wheels of progress may turn slowly but they do turn. cheers Ralfy
First time I've watched this video. Don't you look different Ralfy! How your video technology has improved over the year since this.
thank you ralphy nice revieuw
Granted for where I am in life, I have a descent selection, about 12 bottles, but I hope to get to a point where I can invest a bit more time and money into a real collection :) I save all of my bottles and boxes however, and theyre all lined up all nice and pretty.
Hi Ralfy! I have a storage question. I live in a house which does not have air conditioning. We have a cool basement, but it houses a wood stove and a dog and sometimes (heaven forbid) perfumy plug-ins, along with odorous food stuffs at times. I have my whisky and rum bottles upstairs in a dark wicker chest covered by a blanket so no light gets in. But I'm wondering if, with temperatures reaching 26 C in summer (and hotter), and a lot of humidity, should I move them to the basement instead? I'm concerned the various smells will taint the whisky, but so might the hot temps. I only drink them, I don't collect them, so am most concerned with the quality of smell and taste - and I have some great bottles, and don't want them to go off. Thanks, cheers!
. . . don't worry about it, so long as the summer heat does not go on for too long.
@@thewhiskybothy Thanks Ralfy! A quick follow-up - are you thinking it's better for the whisky to endure some heat rather than the various smells? I just moved it all (just 12 or 14 bottles, but still a lot in my mind) to the basement. Unfortunately, here in downstate New York (about an hour or so north of the city) these summer temperatures are only just starting. It's already in the 80s F here, and looks like it's going to be a long and hot, humid season. Thanks again!
Question, what about whiskey oxidation?
Do you move whiskey to a smaller glass bottle when it reaches below half full?
Hey Ralfy - Quick question for you and hope you can help. How sensitive is Single Malt Scotch to vibrations or being dropped. I just picked up a new bottle of Jura 16 and dropped it onto the floor.... lucky there was a think layer of carpet between the bottle and concrete floor so the bottle did not break. But it did have a fair bit of bubbles inside. I have not opened the bottle yet but do you think could impact the whiskey inside?
Won't be affected at all.
Ralfy, sounds a very interesting person and I bet you could have a good conversation with this man. He's very knowledgeable on the Whisky subject.
Sage advice as usual Ralfy. What whisky is in the Bottle that ends in Blue? Surely not Haig!
John Henfrey no Haig Blue in my collection !
Ralfy, I am creating a blend and wanting your advice. So far this is what I'm thinking: Start w/ a 1.75 bottle of Dewar's White label. Add just a bit of Ardbeg Corryvreckan, a bit less of Ardbeg Uigeadail, and a bit of Black Bush. I was thinking of adding a "cask element" largely based off your lesson in review 386 (& a half) where you talked about toasting, seasoning, & slightly charring a bit of wood. Some thoughts entertained were also adding a full fifth of Speyburn 10 yr and I even have a bit of store-bought moonshine (corn liquor) that is sweet and bottled at 50.35% (I'm reluctant to do that last part since everything else is Scottish except the Black Bush, which isn't that far away from Scotland) I have been very fond lately of the higher strength, Islay, heavily peated single malts.. but man...they're expensive! I'm looking for a way to get more bang for my buck, have a good dose of smoke... higher than 40% ABV.... any advise from you is much appreciated (even as if as simple as saying "don't use the moonshine"...) Thank you much
jvg3fiona . . . look out for Finlaggan cask strength or Islay bottlings from Independent bottlers, good luck !
store-bought "moonshine" is, in most all cases, unimpressive. As I distill my own spirits, as well as age/mature my own Whisky and Rum, I have a pretty good reference as to what good-quality "moonshine" truly is. Personally, I haven't found any, save for maybe Popcorn Sutton's or my own, that I would add to the blend you mention.
A little tip on blending. Get a graduated cylinder and mix small test batches first, making notes on how much of each spirit is added. That way you have reference for portions once you develop a blend you like. And remember, the flavor profile will change somewhat after the spirits have some time to "marry", so you may find it has changed over time from what you first tasted after blending.
I like to give my blends a month or more in a 3-gallon oak barrel. The barrel I use for blending has essentially been "used up" in regards to aging new-make spirits. But it works wonderfully for marrying blends.
If you don't have a barrel, half-gallon Mason jars work well also.
Shine Runnah thanks. will post once I have the finished (& well married) blend. I'm looking for a good blast of Islay peat smoke in it. I won't use the Firefly White Lightnin. I want know where to find a nice piece of American White Oak (in Southern Cali)
I currently have zero bottles of whiskey at my disposal (they ran out). Have gone through Glenfiddich 12 and 15, Glendronach 12, Laphroaig 10, a couple of blends, Macallan 10 and recently a Highland Park 12.
Any suggestions on what the next bottle / adventure should be?
Hey Ralfy , from February in Italy, we will have our first italian whisky. If you happen to go in South Tyrol , try it out and let us know if in addition to wine, we do also whisky. Puni is the name of the company that produces it
Hi Ralfy, would you consider doing another video of recommended single malt scotch whiskies (Perhaps under £40) for those of us relatively new to the wonderful world of Whisky and looking for affordable, quality experiences??
Hello Ralfy, I have a question. I keep my bottles on a shelf in the kitchen. There is no direct sunlight. I also have a tiny boxroom where I keep the vacuum, a ladder and some cleaning stuff on shelves. This room has no window and is probably the coolest room in my Appartement. However when I open it I get hit with all the smells of the cleaning liquids from the washing machine stuff to the window cleaning liquid and it’s quite intense. Does it even make sense to relocate my bottles to the boxroom or would that be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire? I can’t put the cleaning liquids anywhere else since my Appartement is rather small...thankful for any opinion
. . . keep whisky away from smelly cupboards, Get yourself a small 'whisky cabinet' . cheap and convenient !
ralfydotcom now that is an awesome idea, many thanks!!!
Hi Ralfy, one of my labels has fallen off my whisky and i would like to stick it back on any recommendations on what type of glue?
Hi Ralfy, what is your stance on turning whisky bottles now and then? I heard it helps keep the cork moist.
. . . all spirit bottles should be stored upright to prevent spirit leaks and 'cork-soak' which weakens the seal.
ralfydotcom But does it help when keeping them upright to every now and then hold them at an angle to moisten the cork? Or is that not a thing ;-)
Just bought my first bottle of malt whisky, Isle of Arran 10yo
Looking to buy a couple more, any advice?
. . . spread your search !
Kind of glad you broke the seal on that old Teacher's bottle. It was intriguing me.
This may seem like a silly question, but what about cardboard cylinders, with metal caps. Most Laphroaigs and many others come in these. Are these okay for long term storage? Is it just all metal tins that are problematic?
JohnnyH1982 . . . mainly metal tins which can trap moisture.
Many thanks!
I store mine with the lid removed, or fold a business card so the lid's ajar.
hi woukd u recommend cardbord boxes rathen tinnns? also, i have some unopened whiskeys that are about 5 years old, can i still drink them or do they spoil or something other after years not opened? thanks
+Mr International . . . unopened bottles of liquor can be drunk over 100 years after bottling IF the seal is intact and content not spoiled.
very comprehensive lecture, thanks a lot
Do I see a bottle of Glenfarclas on your shelf????Very good whiskey .Had some !Good climate control information .I have a wine cellar on the north side of the house ,stays cool and damp all year round .winter is quite cold
Hey Ralph, are Octomores worth buying for if you're got enough money to spend? How does an octomore hold up to other malts that are cheaper?
+Jasper Knol . . . it's a fashionable collectable, and too expensive.
Hello Ralfy.
Weren't you going to discuss how you buy your whiskeys in this WR?
PeatSmokey . . . yes, but I'm still waiting for the blackboard to be delivered.
This made me homesick. So I subscribed.
So, is that older bottle of Glenmorangie 10 going to be reviewed? Maybe compared to a current bottle?
shuboy05 . . . that's my plan.
Thanks Ralfy love it ❤️