Now *that* is a big alembic

[Bradley Young]

http://gizmodo.com/we-went-to-scotland-to-see-how-true-scotch-is-born-1600024518
 
I don't know how you would tune it.

[FC Bass]

 
 
Would be great if you can have it as part of the inlaid logo, preferably with a straw attached. (though neck dive could get problematic) :-)
 
I once mastered a bottle A'bunadh with my (at that moment) father in law in one night, dangerous stuff! :-)

[adriaan]

It IS part of the logo.

[FC Bass]

Yeah, but that's not a real one :-)

[oddmetersam]

I was at Aberlour on a self-guided Scotland distillery tour in 2009.  Eleven distilleries in eleven days, starting with a stint on Islay, then traveling north and staying at Rothes.  Some pics here:
 
http://www.pinterest.com/oddmetersam/scotland-distilleries-tour-2009/
 
A'bunadh is cask strength (the way i like 'em) and bottled in batches; my fave is still Batch 16. Sublime.

[jazzyvee]

Wow I didn't know you had ventured this side of the pond Sam.

[oddmetersam]

Yeah, Jazzy. I left my girlfriend back home and my co-worker left his wife back here, too. Needless to say, the women folk were NOT pleased. But we were manly men on a mission and driven by primal urges; taking with us only the barest of essentials for clothing and personal hygiene in our quest for the Holy Dram. My girlfriend doesn't really drink scotch and my bud's wife doesn't drink at all and woulda been a constant Debbie Downer nag! In fact, back home my bud has to hide all his alcohol in his closet, pickup truck, backpack, the attic, etc...Sometimes he can't even remember where he stashed a particular bottle.
 
Next time I'll have to go at a more leisurely pace and check out you, Graeme and some of the other guys (and all your exquisite basses!)

[jacko]

You're welcome anytime Sam.  
 
graeme

[oddmetersam]

Cool, Graeme! I'd also love to see your car!

[peoplechipper]

I am jealous; I would love to do those tours but cannot afford; my Dad did the whiskey trail and dammit I should too; it is my birthplace after all and last time I was in Scotland I was 12; too young for scotch, though I discovered it soon after-teen drinking-...

[bigredbass]

I live not far from the 'Whisky Trail' (Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Makers Mark, and several more)  around Tennessee and Kentucky, actually about 60 miles from the home of Jack Daniels in Lynchburg.  I'd probably be more inclined to take the Trail if I was a drinker, but maybe one day . . . . Oddly enough, here they sell chipped-up JD charred-oak barrels (they only use them once) as wood chips for the grill / smoker, and yes, they smell EXACTLY like you think you would.  I really wonder what kind of 'pot liquor' you'd get when you soak them before grilling . . . .
 
J o e y

[peoplechipper]

In Newfoundland Screech was made from putting boiling water(and other heinous things...) into rum barrels and steeping, so you'd probably get some nice stuff...I would say to enjoy those chips while you can; many scotch producers use old bourbon casks, and seeing that scotch drinking is on a big upswing, most of those barrels are already sold...Tony

[cozmik_cowboy]

Bourbon barrels (and other whiskey barrels; Jack ain't bourbon) are getting big in beer-brewing as well.
And gardening; I have half a Jack barrel in the backyard that most years I grow tomatoes in (and I will say, all of these uses for Jack Daniels barrels are better than using them to make Jack - nasty swill!)
 
Peter

[keith_h]

Before my dad passed away my folks lived in Bardstown, Ky. The wife and I would make the rounds to Makers Mark, Jim Beam and others when we visited. Their neighbors, the Willet's, have had a branch of the family reopen the old distillery. I'm hoping to try some once it's released and I'm someplace I can buy it (unlikely here with NC's antiquated state run liquor system).  
 
I've used old bourbon barrels smoking. We would get them direct from the distillery still damp from use. I thought they added a good flavor to the food. I'm not sure how good the bagged stuff is but suspect it would be ok after soaking.  
 
Keith

[keith_h]

Got caught in the old double post.
 
(Message edited by keith_h on July 30, 2014)