I Finally Splurged...

[jwise]

I finally splurged... on a bottle of Balvenie 21yr Portwood. I have tasted it before, and even had a mini bottle last year. It is unbelievably good.

I decided to finally pull the trigger on a bottle when plans came together for my best friends and I to get together over the holidays. We're spread out far and wide these days, but we'll all be in Dallas this next week. I figured the occasion required a bit more than just a bottle of the usual.

I picked up the bottle today at a local shop that specializes in the high-end hooch. Here she is in the box:





With my other Balvenie expressions, the 15yr Single Barrel (which I keep in my decanter) and the 14yr, which I have not yet broken the seal on. Before the plans came together to see all my best friends over the holidays, I bought the 14yr to bring (planning to see at least ONE of my best friends, and wanting something good to share.)



For those of you who have never had the pleasure, I highly recommend you try it.

Here's to good drink, and good friends!

[BourbonDrinker]

Good choice. One observation though. If your crystal decanter is leaded crystal, you should not store alcohol you plan to drink in it for any period of time. The lead will absolutely leach out into your scotch, and possibly to very high levels. It's safe enough for short periods, like decanting it for a party and pouring it back into the bottle after.
Lead is poisonous and not something to take lighty.
Cheers.

[Jojo]

Balvenie 21 year Portwood is one of my favorites - an exceptional scotch! Enjoy your holidays with your friends

[Dr. Spencer]

Sweet - I went looking for that at Bevmo today but they had none, so I picked up a Glenlivet 21 in the wooden box.

I'd love to compare the two side by side.

[jwise]

I've never had Glenlivet 21yr. The Portwood is just so fantastic it is not even funny. I could drink it all night and into tomorrow, but it probably wouldn't be the smartest way to go about killing a bottle.

Currently, I'm drinking up the last of my Macallan 18yr. Nice dram. Not sure its worth the money, but very good, indeed.

[Dr. Spencer]

Originally Posted by jwise

I've never had Glenlivet 21yr. The Portwood is just so fantastic it is not even funny. I could drink it all night and into tomorrow, but it probably wouldn't be the smartest way to go about killing a bottle.

Currently, I'm drinking up the last of my Macallan 18yr. Nice dram. Not sure its worth the money, but very good, indeed.

I really liked the Livet 21 - Very smooth, not very "alcoholic" for a 43%er, you can hold it on your palate for a long time with no burn. Its actually smoother than the XXV IMHO. Beautiful dark amber color. I'm not good at describing flavor, but this one gets a big thumbs up. It would be very easy to polish off half a bottle in one sitting.

[bkblankenship]

Originally Posted by TheEtherMan

Good choice. One observation though. If your crystal decanter is leaded crystal, you should not store alcohol you plan to drink in it for any period of time. The lead will absolutely leach out into your scotch, and possibly to very high levels. It's safe enough for short periods, like decanting it for a party and pouring it back into the bottle after.
Lead is poisonous and not something to take lighty.
Cheers.

"TheEtherMan" is correct about decanting in lead crystal containers. See link provided for health risks of long-term storage in lead crystal containers.

http://www.ehow.com/list_5981585_hea...d-crystal.html

[Dr. Spencer]

I'll be picking up a bottle of this tommorrow night at Total Wine & More - they have one left and its mine

[jwise]

The whisky was fantastic, as always. My friends enjoyed the opportunity to taste this amazing dram, and I shared some with my father-in-law today.