@LeeEvolved Yeah, I generally agreed with that sentiment. I can add a few drops of water easily if the dram needs it. Setting a teapot up as a still to remove some water is a whole different challenge.

@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington @ContemplativeFox - yeah, I know there’s a market for everything (especially these days), but I like to have my whisk(e)y wake me up, palatatively (is this a new word?). If I want something gentle- I’ll water it down myself lol.

@ContemplativeFox @LeeEvolved I will say that for American whiskey that Michter’s products are by far the most “gentle” pours and I suspect this is in part due to hitting the barrel at no higher than 103 proof (vs industry max of 125). They’re also known for using second fill barrels to help keep the flavors soft but readily available.

@LeeEvolved I expect it's a combination of low proof, tired barrels that never held anything particularly strong, a high concentration of hearts, and distillation up to the legal proof limit, possibly along with fairly flavorless stains of barley and yeast. The bottle I was looking at would only have been $150 and I'm sure it would have been interesting to try, but I balked at the last minute.

@ContemplativeFox - I think it comes down to exactly what makes Tomintoul “the gentle dram”: is it because they blend everything down to 40-43%, because they use second or third fill barrels, or a combination of both? That’s why I’d love to try something CS. I’m assuming the 23yo had a hefty price tag so I’d probably pass, but if I could find an 11-13yo CS IB for less than $90 I’d give it a go I think.

@LeeEvolved Please don't make me regret not purchasing the 23 YO CS IB I just passed on :'(

@Slainte-Mhath - yeah that miniature triple pack was pretty disappointing. It did save me from spending more money on Tomintoul’s full size bottles. I’d be interested in trying an IB offering if it were above 45-46% ABV, though. Let’s see how this stuff tastes right out of the barrel...

@Slainte-Mhath Yeah, not just darkening them, but making them the same color is a strong indication that they aren't trying to produce a product for those like us who hang out on Distiller discussing the ins and outs of scotch.

@ContemplativeFox I bought the miniature triple pack of Tomintoul 10, 16 & 25 some years back, and what annoys me is the almost identical colour of E150a in all three bottles...

@Slainte-Mhath Wow, I just posted a tasting assuming that the 40% was the new norm. That's really weird and annoying. I imagine it isn't a night-and-day difference, but still...

@Soba45 No, the 70/75 cl bottle has 43% ABV, the miniature just 40% ABV.

@Slainte-Mhath A sample and it was at 43% oddly so perhaps they have changed the recipe?

@Soba45 Was that a sample or one of these 5 cl miniatures with 40% ABV?