Best Whiskey in First Class?
 

The last time I was on CX in F I was offerred a choice of JW Blue or Chivas Royal Salute -- leading to my first blind taste test between the two.

My recollection is that JAL also offered the same choice.

I happen to be a big fan of both.

What airlines still offer either or both fine premium whiskeys?

Now, if I could only find McCallan 25...

In the early and mid 90s, United used to have JW Blue in international F. I do not know if they carry it lately -I have not traveled F in United in a long while, and lately I am also drinking less when flying: only the Champagne and the Wine http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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The trouble with resisting temptation is...that you may not get another chance :-)

British Midland still offer a selection of single malts -- mostly the big names like Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MatthewClement:
[B]British Midland still offer a selection of single malts -- mostly the big names like Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie

As do BA

I was surprised that UA carried Glenmorangie on flight from DEN-FRA in first.

I haven't seen JW Blue (or Gold) on UA in int'l first for longer than I can remember. Its surprising because they have no problems in uncorking the Dom. Perhaps they may feel that if better miniatures were offered, given the nature of the beast, they might grow feet (or wings) more readily than larger bottles of wine/champagne.

That is the only single malt that I've seen on UA, and they seemed to have often stocked it on US domestic runs, at least in the past (been fortunate not to have had many of those lately...).

AA used to stock Glenmorangie 10 yr on domestic runs; haven't seen it in a while, though. Only Glenlivet 10. Yuck.

Just curious: anybody seen Lagavulin (my favorite) on a plane?

nologic, let me know when you find that airborne Macallan 25. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

aa doesn't stock enough glenlivet for 2 people on a flight. i love it. wish they wouldn't run out.

[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 08-08-2001).]

Thanks to all those who have the taste to recognise the difference between a single malt and a "designer" blend. All those creations which are really just made to part the non-discerning from their money are nothing more than that. No self-respecting Scot would be seen dead drinking them

Me? No, actually I don't drink whisky, but I live with one who does. G&T with american quantities of ice for me SVP!

All this talk of single malt scotches, especially on British-flag or heavily influenced by British culture carriers such as Cathay Pacific forgets those of us who prefer bourbon. (I'll leave the defense of Irish whiskey to someone from the Aer Lingus board).

The fact is that you can't get an exceptional small-batch bourbon whiskey on an airplane either.

And don't get me started on beers -- even on the Belgian national carrer Sabena, from a nation that has raised the art of brewing to its highest levels, your best option is going to be an insipid lowest-common-denominator lager like Stella Artois and not any of that nation's great abbey ales or lambics.

Perhpas a carrier can set themselves apart from the rest of the field by offering the Scotch Malt Society Connessieurs various vat numbers?! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I actually rarely drink Scotch while aloft! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm not talking about the little bottles of 10-12 year old stuff.

I'm talking about fifths of 21+ year old scotch.

While I enjoy many single malts (yes, Lagavulin is excellent), I generally prefer age over anything: in other words, a 21 year old blend like JW Blue or Royal Salute to me is much smoother and appealing than a 12-16 year single malt.

Paul, you're saying the "locals" don't like the refinement and finesse of the 21-25 year old blends? Maybe, if given a choice between a 25 year old single malt and a 21 year old blend, I would agree, but compared to a 10-12 single malt...

I doubt all the airlines have done away with their premium whiskeys in international first?

What does BA offer?



[This message has been edited by nologic (edited 08-08-2001).]

Doesn't any one like the good ole Crown Royal anymore, another reason I love CO

From the bourbon perspective, BA offers (used to?) Knob Creek in F, which is pretty solid.

We're talking apples and oranges here...

I'm talking about $150+/- bottle stuff.

Yes, 25-year-old McCallan, a definite "there is a god" Scotch.

Do the airline reps read these boards? If they do, and take your wishes to heart ...

There's even a McCallan 30 for $350/bottle, if you want to get fancy...not that McCallan 18 at $80 is anything to sneeze at.

Still, I think the McCallan is a bit unrealistic for the airlines, although at $5,000+ per flight, I'm not sure why...but the Royal Salute used to be a mainstay...

There's also some decent XO cognac out there, in my recollection, but it's been about 5 years since I've taken those flights.

Even the BOS Flagship Lounge had a good XO available.

Speaking of Bourbons, although they don't offer it in the air, the Delta Crown Room in Cincinatti does offer Woodford Reserve.

nologic, I had the opportunity to go to a Scotch Whisky tasting last autumn, most of the whisky's were McCallan - including the 30 year old. It was quite the bargain for $15 each, thank god my wife was the designated driver.

I was very dissappointed in the 30 yr McCallan. I actually prefer single malts that are "peatier", and just did not find the 30 yr satisfying.

Now, give me the 18 or 21 year old Glenlivet, (the 12 year old is okay, but not that exciting) or Lagavulin, or Glen Ord, or Laphroaig, or Talisker, or GlenFarclas 105, or Longmorn, or even the Singleton.

Oh, I need to stop now and pour myself a wee dram.

[This message has been edited by Larrude (edited 08-08-2001).]

BA's basic First service includes Glenmorangie with the Port Wood Finish as their single malt, and JWBlue as the blended. As noted , they also carry Knob Creek for bourbon lovers. Frapin VIP XO is their house cognac as of a couple of months ago. I think supply may also be a reason we don't see overly exotic single malts. It takes a lot to provision a fleet.

i've enjoyed recent flights in the front cabin of MX, sampling the tequila selection. Standard complement is made up of Cuervo Tradicional, Grand Centenario Reposado and Reserva Antingua 1800. They also provide a liqueur, Agavero Licor de tequila which is akin to a Drambuie, and a sweeter offering, Dobel "Un sueno hecho licor", which is like a Bailey's.

One of the few nice things one can say about NW is that they do try to carry a seasonal microbrew. I would like to see at least one such selection on other carriers, in addition to the mass market beers. [BA does carry London Pride.] And from time to time AS and Horizon also offer local microbrews from cities in the NWest USA.

One often gets a more interesting sampling of microbrews in airport lounges. If only some carriers could be as adventurous in the air!

You'll spot the 16yo occasionally in my carryon.

I began to develop my taste for scotch when I (slowly) ran a good portion of the whiskey trail some years ago. Ashamed to admit it, but back then I didn't see much reason to go beyond Glenkinchie 10.

There is one?

That's really not fair to those of us stuck at a hotel with a crappy bar... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by SuperSlug (edited 08-08-2001).]

How can a spirit mature with age. Wine, yes, I understand..but spirit no. Paul is right, this is all about marketing. Blended whisky even were it 100 years old will always be inferior to Malt. Now although I do not drink the stuff myself, I would also say that an Irishman would argue in favour of Whiskey.

To my whisky drinking man (and he has impeccable taste as he lives with me!!!!! Who knows maybe that's why he drink it in the first place), ther's not whisky like Scotch Whisky BUT he is very fond of Burbon, and Canadian Club. To his taste, the two are totally different to Whisky. Ultimately, its all down to taste, isn't it?

Hmmm...not sure where to go with this one. People who don't drink scotch seem to have the strongest opinions here about the best scotches...

If whiskey doesn't age...then this is indeed the marketing coup of the century, since scotch prices are principally driven by age...starting with "cheap" 8-10 year old stuff.

For those who care, truly superior scothes are generally aged in wooden casks for many years, developing intense flavor combined with incredible smoothness. Many non-scotch drinkers that I have introduced to 21-25 year old scotch are amazed at the smoothness/drinkability of the stuff -- expecting the harshness that turned them off to scotch at some point. (BTW, I find the same is true with old cognacs...get up to the XO level and above, and the "sting" disappears.)

The premium blended scotches, like JW Blue, combine the best of numerous bathces to create or blend a great result. Not unlike many great meritage wines these days...not a pure play single grape, but compelling nonetheless. I enjoy both: certain single malts, and the best blends.

Hurray for BA; it's good to see they trot out the Blue. As for the Glenmorangie, I happen to like the 12 year old cask series, although I prefer the sherry wood finish to the port wood finish...but we're talking a $40 bottle compared with a $190 bottle...

Not sure I can say JW Blue is worth all that money, but there is a difference...

Otherwise, I was disapppointed to hear that the McCallan 30 isn't extraordinary, since I was looking forward to the right opportunity to try the stuff ($15/glass sounds amazing!)...and now expect to be disappointed...I'll probably try a blind taste test with the 25 at a steak house on the road one day. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

But, please let me know when the next McCallan tasting comes to town! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif My house standard is the McCallan 18 -- still the best combination of taste and price available...although it's getting a bit unreasonable at $80 compared to Lagavulin 16 at $50.

I used to buy and enjoy the Ballentine 17 when it was available at Duty Free...it used to run about $40, but I haven't had it in a while. My guess is I'd find it a little weak at this point...

[This message has been edited by nologic (edited 08-09-2001).]

Shareholder's point is well taken; what I'm posting below is from an article I wrote about three years ago for the magazine "Mid-Atlantic Brewing News" on the improving quality of beers served at airports. Much of the information about specific places I mentioned in that article has become outdated, but I think this quote about why you're seeing better tap choices may still apply:

###BEGIN EXCERPT###

...run by Maryland-based Host Marriott Services, which operates 42 craft beer concessions at U.S. airports and has more planned. “We find that if we take a generic, typical airport bar and turn it into a microbrew establishment,” explains Stan Novack, the company’s Vice President of Concept Development, “we see a minimum increase in sales of 35 percent. In some instances we’ve seen sales increase as much as 150 percent. Host Marriott likes that.”

The company likes it enough to encourage the managers at all of its more than 400 airport locations serving alcohol to make a craft beer available to customers. “We have not mandated that,” says Novack, “but it’s a strong recommendation that they try to feature at least one tap of a local product.”

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Sorry, duplicate!

[This message has been edited by Larrude (edited 08-09-2001).]

SuperSlug - I understand the hotles with a crappy bar, but I have been known to travel with a bottle of a really nice single malt.
BTW, I love the bartenders that say they have any scotch I might want, even offer a free glass if I can name one they don't carry. I usually just mention Clynelish or Tobermory - it's rare to see these outside of the Highlands.

nologic - this comment will really shake you - when I tasted the 30 yr old MaCallan (which you might like, MacCallan just isn't one of my favorites), the tasting was $15 for the entire event - we tasted 6 - 8 malts and Famous Grouse Gold Reserve. I literally walked away from the tasting with the biggest grin on my face I've had in years. The event was sponsered by a local liquor store and was held at Oak Hill Country Club (where the 1995 Ryder Cup tournament was held) with hot hors d'ouerves. $15 !!!!!

Larry

Spirits don't age once they're in a bottle. The designated age refers to the time they spend in the barrel >before< they're bottled.

Duly shaken. $15 is a bargain for a glass.

I understand they don't age further once bottled...which is unlike wines...how about cognac, I always thought that continued to age...

I too have been known to pick up a good bottle from duty free for trip...

BTW, I find the LHR Duty Free scotch selection and prices to be truly outstanding for an airport...which reminds me, I think last time I was there I got my grandfather a Ballentine 25 (he drinks the regular Ballentine) and I doubt he has even touched it (a waste in retrospect)...

I raised an observation to SAI about only finding blended 12 year old malts in Raffles class on flights between Canada and the Orient. I don't know about F class. It surprised me that they didn't carry at least one single malt. I will have six segments on SQ coming up very soon. Hope things have changed.

people who like mcallen may wan't to go thru boston. i got 1.13 l, 12 yr old [i think] for $38 @ duty free to take to a friend in ireland. the price seemed great based on my recollection of 5 yrs ago. at shannon, jameson was ~ $12.50 /l. best buy in the duty free. sorry to stray from topic but have only got in intl f 3 times in last 20 yrs. perhaps i should start a duty free thread? [maybe there is one!]

[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 08-09-2001).]

This topic of discussion is for FlyerTalk Travel, not FlyerTalk Miles. I regret that I do not have the ability to move to FlyerTalk Travel at this time. This thread will now be closed.

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burkey
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