Summer, Summer, Summer time.

[opelfruit]

This may have been done last year but I can't remember, don't remember last week if I'm honest.

As the weather turns nice for most of us where do you turn with your whisky? Most people discount whisky in summer as it's a colder weather drink but I think the right whisky can really compliment summer time...If you choose wisely.

Top drams for hot weather then?


For me I tend to start thinking about the following (list not exclusive);

Glencadam 10yo
Any Balblair as long as it's bourbon matured, age doesn't seem to matter.
Arran 10yo
anCnoc 12yo
Springbank 10yo
Bourbon matured Kilkerran
Hakushu 12yo

Wheated bourbons, or more corn forward ones, save the Rye for winter.


Personally, bourbon matured fruity whisky that sits between 10 and 15 years old. A little peat in the Campbeltown malts seem to work well too, but not too much.


I'd take some quality fruity blends too for a whisky highball it'll it were a really hot day.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[sorren]

For me believe it or not I turn to the younger auchentoshans, classic or 12yo, also Rosebank but these are getting too expensive to have on a regular basis, bladnoch is a good summertime dram, dalwhinnie can go down well and don't forget glenmorangie original,

[Quaich1]

Summer drams vary with weather and mood but these 10 are some of the drams (malts and blends) I will likely gravitate to some time over the summer in no particular order:

Tomintoul 21

Balvenie Doublewood 12

Bruichladdich Laddie Classic_01

Ballantine's 17

Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14

Nikka 10

Aberlour 10

Aberlour 16

Johnnie Walker XR 21

Glenmorangie 10 The Original
***************************************************************************************
And one Canadian grain whisky- Canadian Club Chairman Select 100% Rye

But please don't hold me to only these

_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[Diademo]

In the southern hemisphere we are heading toward winter:

My summer drams usually are:
- Glentauchers from G&M (1991/2007, 1991/2010, 1994/2004 bottlings);
- Balblair (all ex-Bourbon casks)
- anCnoc (most of them)
- Balvenie (rum casks)
- Glen Grant
- Glenmorangie (10yo, 18yo:)
- Glen Moray (16yo, wine finishes)
- Bladnoch (basically everything)
- Benrinnes (wine finishes)
: but I'm drinking everything else from my stash as well:

[opelfruit]

Bladnoch isn't a whisky I've had before and whilst I've seen it mentioned I only seem to be able to find indie bottling. Do they put out an official range and if so where are you likely to find it?


Ah yes, forgot about Glen Moray, the chardonnay finish is really lovely in summer.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[sorren]

Bladnoch ob can be found in some of the bigger shops, but they went into administration last year so it's harder to find the whisky at the moment, I used to visit the distillery on my way up to Auchentoshan and buy several bottles, it was very well priced, if you keep an eye on whisky broker he is the son ( I think ) of one of the former owners, he sometimes has a few bottles, I'm sure if the distillery reopens you will get them easily again, the whisky is good and is a typical lowlander,

[Diademo]

[Alexppp]

For me above all it's time for Glencadam 10 and as you say any bourbon-matured Balblair. On the go at the moment are the '02 and '95 vintages.

Also the Glenlivet 12 First Fill, Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask, Glenmorangie 10 and bourbon-matured Glen Moray.

[TheWM]

I'm down with bourbons like you, higher corn % that sweetness in summer does the trick.

Mortlach 16, Glen Moray Chardonnay, EWC 13, Old Pultney 12, Kavalan single, a host of light Japanese numbers (Nikka in the barrel springs to mind) Tweedale Blend, Ballantines 17, JW green 15.

I tend to avoid peaty numbers until the sun has set and the fire is roaring.