Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s my turn to fill in for Fitzie today while he’s away on his business trip, scouting new locations and themes for the Hoddle. We at Carty Free Towers salute him for his ongoing efforts to keep the Hoddle fresh.
The last time I guest-hosted the Hoddle I gave a quick update on my cancer booze, reporting on some of the bottles I had purchased and opted to try. Well, that continues today. Here are a few more bottles I’ve sampled recently. Again, I don’t drink regularly, just the occasional tipple, but my liquor cabinet is full to bursting and it’ll last me at least a good year so thanks to the efforts of you fine, outstanding people. Not all of these were in my initial Cancer Bottle Shopping Trip, but they are (or were) all in my cabinet.
The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14
The Balvenie DoubleWood was one of the first “serious” scotches I ever tried, years ago, and it remains one of my favorites. I thought about just getting that again, but was really intrigued by this expression, two years older and finished in rum casks. It’s a really tasty dram — the rum does something unexplainable to the juice and it’s not your typical Speyside. It’s sweeter, warmer, with honey, brown sugar, and oak. I really enjoy this.
Rating: 8/10
Rabbit Hole Cavehill Bourbon
I took this bottle to a men’s weekend to celebrate my recovery from cancer. It lasted about 30 minutes. Holy smokes is this smooth — perhaps one of the smoothest bourbons I’ve ever owned. I had exactly 1.5 glasses of it with the rest shared among my fellow male-presenting friends, and loved it so much that I went out and got a second bottle, just for me. Fantastic.
Rating: 9/10
Redbreast 12
Before my diagnosis I was just starting to get into Irish whiskey, starting with Bushmills and Buskers but not really getting much further than a bottle of Sexton (which I like). But Redbreast 12 was recommended to me by a buddy so I went and got a bottle. Very tasty. It’s like Jameson, if Jameson gave more of a shit. Smooth, fruit-forward, with a depth to it I didn’t expect. I wish the price were a little lower but this is a bottle I will go back to again.
Rating: 7.5/10
Green Spot Whiskey
This was a bucket list bottle — I’ve never been able to find any of the “spot” Irish whiskeys in my area (Green, Blue, Red, Yellow) but at that same men’s weekend I happened across a bottle and snatched it up like it was clearance-rack Pappy Van Winkle. It’s different from the Redbreast 12 — while Redbreast is also fruit-forward, Green Spot really leans into crisp pear and green apple, with a riesling-like acidity and a looooooong finish. Really, really good.
Rating: 8/10
Wyoming Whiskey
Someone told me I should try this, so I bought a bottle for more than I wanted to. I’m sorry I did. It’s a low-proof bourbon-style whiskey that just tastes flat — young and underbaked. A higher proof might have helped this (it’s bottled at 88 proof) but I’m just not a fan.
Rating: 4/10
Yoichi Single Malt
My first Japanese whiskey and I researched it long before I dove in. I really wanted the Hibiki, but it’s a) hard to find and b) stupid expensive, so I went with this instead. Peaty, malty, creamy, it’s like a Japanese Islay. Approachable and a tasty dram straight, but opens up with a couple drops of water. Unfortunately, it’s way overpriced in today’s market. It’s good, but I feel I could get plenty of equally smoky drams from Scotland for less.
Rating: 7/10
That’s all for today!
Song of the Day: “Gamma Ray” by Beck
And now, the news:
Carlo Ancelotti has been confirmed as the new manager of the Brazilian national team.
It turns out Transfermarkt squad market values might be... not actually ridiculously wrong?
In cricket news, the IPL will resume this Saturday in India after its postponement due to the armed conflict between India and Pakistan.