Better Bourbon and Scotch

[Sea Dog]

4 minutes ago, Nado44 said:

Wish they'd carry the Bulleit Rye (green label)

I believe I had the Bulleit (green) on Adventure 2 years ago. I drank it neat and also had them make my Manhattan's with it. They did not have Templeton Rye on board then. Obviously RCI makes deals with the distilleries as to what brands and quantities they can get. My guess is this is why we don't see too much top shelf bourbon's or whiskey's as they need to buy in bulk and Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker, Makers Mark are usually in good supply.

[dominicr]

6 minutes ago, Nado44 said:

Curious. What RCI ports are best for buying bourbon/whiskey - and what stores?

I recently purchased Woodford Reserve (1L) for $30 when the Allure was in Roatan. Not sure if that was a good deal.

 

Someone said earlier in the thread st marteen is good for the whiskey/bourbon and the western side of the gulf for tequila and rum.  

 

To me that kind of blows because I don’t drink tequila and rum and my next cruise is western.  

[Sea Dog]

8 minutes ago, Nado44 said:

Curious. What RCI ports are best for buying bourbon/whiskey - and what stores?

I would be interested in knowing as well.

[Goofyfanatic]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

I heard of it but now from your recommendation I must see if I can find a bottle. Great pic of your collection.

The Nikka was very hard to find...ended up buying it online for England and shipped to the states. LOL. 

 

Thanks for the compliment...the collection makes the picture.

[Sea Dog]

I think this thread could be even more valuable as members post pictures or observations of what bars on what ships have the top shelf bourbons and whiskeys that are not on the drink menu. I will be on Harmony October 13th so I will be looking.

[alfaeric]

2 hours ago, Nado44 said:

It isn't often that we get an informative, educational RCI thread!  Woot.

 

I'm a bourbon drinker myself. Best onboard bourbon, in my opinion, is Bulleit Bourbon (orange label). Wish they'd carry the Bulleit Rye (green label) - and have that available on the Diamond menu. Jack Daniel manhattans aren't the best.

Funny thing about that- more than once (many times more than once, actually) I've ordered something other than JD fully knowing that they should charge me for it during the Happy Hour.  But I've gotten it as part of the D Happy Hour. Far more often than not, this happens.  Pretty sweet.  I suspect that a shot of JD may be the same price so they don't really care.

 

So if you are at a bar, and are prepared to pay for it, it's worth asking for it during the happy hour.  You may never know.  

[alfaeric]

43 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

I think this thread could be even more valuable as members post pictures or observations of what bars on what ships have the top shelf bourbons and whiskeys that are not on the drink menu. I will be on Harmony October 13th so I will be looking.

Good idea- we board the Allure Sunday.

[Nado44]

These were the (limited) choices in the casino bar on Allure a couple of weeks ago. Alok the bartender can be seen as well. 🙂

[boscobeans]

2 hours ago, Nado44 said:

 Jack Daniel manhattans aren't the best.

 

Jack Daniels is unique and in my opinion can't be categorized other than it's "Jack Daniels". 

[Clarea]

10 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

 

Jack Daniels is unique and in my opinion can't be categorized other than it's "Jack Daniels". 

 

Tennesee whisky, not Bourbon.

[biomedbob]

As if?

 

[George C]

3 hours ago, Nado44 said:

Curious. What RCI ports are best for buying bourbon/whiskey - and what stores?

I recently purchased Woodford Reserve (1L) for $30 when the Allure was in Roatan. Not sure if that was a good deal.

St Thomas and ST Marten normally have best deals on liquor  

[boscobeans]

1 hour ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Tennesee whisky, not Bourbon.

 

On some Saturday nights my bar would easily go through two or more cases of that (ugh) "Tennessee Whiskey."

 

Could never understand its popularity, but to each his own. I never complained, LOL.

[Clarea]

18 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

 

On some Saturday nights my bar would easily go through two or more cases of that (ugh) "Tennessee Whiskey."

 

Could never understand its popularity, but to each his own. I never complained, LOL.

 

I get it for free onboard, and lose interest after a couple of days.

[Sea Dog]

2 hours ago, Nado44 said:

These were the (limited) choices in the casino bar on Allure a couple of weeks ago. Alok the bartender can be seen as well. 🙂

 

Thanks for the pic. Keep them coming folks. I can't tell what's to the left of the Makers Mark?

[Nado44]

1 minute ago, Sea Dog said:

Thanks for the pic. Keep them coming folks. I can't tell what's to the left of the Makers Mark?

 

It's Bulleit Bourbon (orange label).

[SRF]

20 hours ago, suesnake2002 said:

I love woodford reserve. To my palate it is the best.

 

They cater to the wine people, with premium wines. Why not us scotch or burbon peeps. 

 

I like Woodford also.  The interesting thing is, it made more like a Scotch, than a bourbon.  Yes, it uses a lot of corn.  But they have copper pot stills.  The stills were made in Campbelltown Scotland.  They age in low rick houses.   If you visit the distillery, and have visited any Scottish distillery, they are basically the same type of place.

 

I agree, it is not like they would have to stock many cases of each, a few bottles per cruise would be consumed, max.

 

For me, a nice selection of Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Laphroiag, Highland Park, and a few others would keep be VERY happy.

 

 

[SRF]

On 9/16/2019 at 7:32 PM, twangster said:

I prefer peaty Scotch.  Ardbeg is as peaty as Royal gets and it's not bad.  Black Label has always been generic table Scotch I use as my fall back when there is nothing else around.  Double Black can often be found on Royal as well.

 

Others include Glenfiddich, GlenLivet, Dewars and Chivas Regal.

 

When have you seen Ardbeg?

 

And since when is Ardbeg only mildly peaty??????   Other than Octomore, it and Laphroaig are the peatiest.

 

Dewars, Chivas, and Johnny Walker are all blended whisky.  And should not be mentioned in a serious discussion of Scotch whisky. 🙂

 

 

[SRF]

11 hours ago, dominicr said:

 

Someone said earlier in the thread st marteen is good for the whiskey/bourbon and the western side of the gulf for tequila and rum.  

 

To me that kind of blows because I don’t drink tequila and rum and my next cruise is western.  

 

I found Glenmorangie 18 year old for just over $100 per bottle on Antigua this past spring.

 

I picked up 2, and really thought about 2 more.  It runs over $130 locally, and last I heard, was discontinued.

[SRF]

7 hours ago, boscobeans said:

 

On some Saturday nights my bar would easily go through two or more cases of that (ugh) "Tennessee Whiskey."

 

Could never understand its popularity, but to each his own. I never complained, LOL.

 

Especially since there is a really good Tennessee whisky.  Dickles.

 

 

[SRF]

14 hours ago, rusty nut said:

JW Blue doesn't have an age statement. The only thing Diageo  will tell you about the scotch is that it contains over 20 rare single malts in its blend. There is a rumor floating around that it's youngest spirit is 28 years aged. 

 

And if so, in my opinion have WASTED over 20 rare single malts.

[SRF]

14 hours ago, oshoguno said:

 

I bought a Highland Park 25 in St. Thomas one time and packed it in my checked baggage for the ride home.  I wrapped it in layers of my clothes and put it in the center of the bag with lots around it.  Made it home safe and sound and is waiting for my daughters wedding before I plan on opening it.

 

I have only lost two bottles (none of whisky) in all my traveling.

 

One bottle of a brandy that just broke.  I suspect a defective bottle.    But my clothes smelled GREAT.  Luckily it was on the way home.

 

And one bottle of sake that somehow ended up in the corner of a soft sided luggage, and it seems they dropped it on the corner.

[SRF]

11 hours ago, Goofyfanatic said:

The Nikka was very hard to find...ended up buying it online for England and shipped to the states. LOL. 

 

Thanks for the compliment...the collection makes the picture.

 

I do that a couple of times a year.  It was much cheaper before British Post decided that whisky was hazmat and could not fly on passenger aircraft.

 

Nice collection.  A bit small. 😄

 

 

[SRF]

9 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Tennesee whisky, not Bourbon.

 

And not the only Tennessee whiskey.

 

I much prefer George Dickel over JD.  

[boscobeans]

3 hours ago, SRF said:

 

Especially since there is a really good Tennessee whisky.  Dickles.

 

 

It is a prime example of advertising and image over quality.