Better Bourbon and Scotch

[shellunderwater]

So, last two cruises... Freedom from San Juan and recently Majesty from FLL, I've wanted some better premium bourbon or scotch, such as Blanton's or an 18 year single barrel.  I just couldn't find it on either ship.  I guess the Freedom is catering to their key clientele with rum.  

 

We will be on Enchantment is a few months and I'd like to set my own mental expectations.  Anything better than their normal Makers, etc? 

 

Not that the top shelf is bad, I'm just willing to pay a couple of dollars extra (above my package) to get a premium pour.

[alfaeric]

The highest shelf bourbon I've seen on board was Bookers, Basil Hayden, and Four Roses (not the single barrel).  I've also seen some Bullet and Buffalo Trace for something slightly different that the cheaper ones.  I once saw a Blanton's bottle, but it was not the single barrel, too.  Funny how you can get some good Buffalo Trace products in the store, but not in the bars (I know, different subcontractors run them).

 

Once REALLY nice thing about drinking it by itself- it's considerably cheaper than a mixed drink.  Just wish they had better glasses....  But I can deal with it.  And I do wish they would get someplace with really good whiskey and glasses- that stuff lasts forever, and you can charge a lot for it. 

 

Can't help on the Scotch- more of a bourbon drinker.

[Sea Dog]

Now that whisky and bourbon are the "in thing" to drink now a days, I would love to see a bar on a ship that had a bigger and wider selection of bourbons and whiskey's to drink. I would not mind paying a little more to taste some of the really good stuff. 

[Cruiser_1977]

I'm also a Bourbon drinker and so far on Carnival (in January Woodford was as good as it got) and NCL (did have Bulleit Sky June 2018) have been satisfied but not blown away by the selection. I leave Friday on the Navigator and hope for some "better" Bourbons. I would be willing to pay "more" (above the drink package maximum) for better Bourbons. I just don't think there are enough of us that want them. I will continue to keep putting it in my post cruise surveys, but I'm not holding my breath.

Edited September 16, 2019 by JennyB1977

[crewsweeper]

Last menu I saw for RCCL had only Blanton's lower end single barrel, Bulleit and Buffalo Trace.  Used to have Knob Creek but didn't see 4 Roses at all.  A couple of bars may carry Rittenhouse Rye. Not that that's the top shelf of the brand.

[skittlesdfw]

2 hours ago, shellunderwater said:

So, last two cruises... Freedom from San Juan and recently Majesty from FLL, I've wanted some better premium bourbon or scotch, such as Blanton's or an 18 year single barrel.  I just couldn't find it on either ship.  I guess the Freedom is catering to their key clientele with rum.  

 

We will be on Enchantment is a few months and I'd like to set my own mental expectations.  Anything better than their normal Makers, etc? 

 

Not that the top shelf is bad, I'm just willing to pay a couple of dollars extra (above my package) to get a premium pour.

 

Hi there! Just wondering, when was your sailing on Freedom?  We leave on her in the next few weeks, and one of our travel mates was really keen on getting Blanton's from the ship

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, JennyB1977 said:

but I'm not holding my breath.

I can only dream of finding "Pappy Van Winkle" on a ship because it will never happen. I have seen and heard of "Blanton's" being on some ships but not recently. Harmony does have "Whistle Pig Rye," which I like a lot so I will be happy. Anything Buffalo Trace puts out is great IMO.

[George C]

Not really a bourbon guy but drink a lot of scotch, most ships have 18 year old chivas regal as part of the package , lots of good single malts also included, all of the 12 year old single malt was included. Only thing we paid extra was for Johnny Walker blue which is 21 year old

[Cruiser_1977]

OMG a Blanton's Gold would be great! I've only had Pappy once (12 year). At Bobby Vans in DC. I will tell ya, it was yummy. 

[Jarmo]

1 hour ago, JennyB1977 said:

I'm also a Bourbon drinker and so far on Carnival (in January Woodford was as good as it got) and NCL (did have Bulleit Sky June 2018) have been satisfied but not blown away by the selection. I leave Friday on the Navigator and hope for some "better" Bourbons. I would be willing to pay "more" (above the drink package maximum) for better Bourbons. I just don't think there are enough of us that want them. I will continue to keep putting it in my post cruise surveys, but I'm not holding my breath.

Looking forward to what you find on Navigator.

[skittlesdfw]

51 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

I can only dream of finding "Pappy Van Winkle" on a ship because it will never happen. I have seen and heard of "Blanton's" being on some ships but not recently. Harmony does have "Whistle Pig Rye," which I like a lot so I will be happy. Anything Buffalo Trace puts out is great IMO.

I'm not sure if you'd qualify it as recently or not... but when we sailed on Harmony in October 2018, they had Blanton's in the pub.  They also sold it in the duty-free shop 🙂

[mac66]

Well, you could always bring your own premium brand. Just sayin' 😉

Edited September 16, 2019 by mac66

[grod19]

I haven't been on board in about 2 years (kids....), but I found different bars had different options so search around.  Blanton's was by the pool.  Knob Creek was in the Music hall.  I can't remember what was in 270 but it was another decent option.  This was on Anthem.

[twangster]

I prefer peaty Scotch.  Ardbeg is as peaty as Royal gets and it's not bad.  Black Label has always been generic table Scotch I use as my fall back when there is nothing else around.  Double Black can often be found on Royal as well.

 

Others include Glenfiddich, GlenLivet, Dewars and Chivas Regal.

 

From the generic drink menu:

 

 

 

 

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I prefer peaty Scotch

I've had the Balvenie Peat Week Aged 14 and liked it. I'm a sweet guy so I like the Balvenie 12 and I have have had the Glenmorangie Nectar D'or which was real sweet. Since they have Templeton Rye I will drink a lot of that but that's my rye that I drink at home so I would love to mix it up a little bit.

 

Here's the bourbon collection I'm starting.

Edited September 17, 2019 by Sea Dog

[Sea Dog]

2 hours ago, skittlesdfw said:

They also sold it in the duty-free shop 🙂

I may be tempted to buy a bottle since I can never find one in my home town. The only problem would be packing it for the airplane ride home. Suggestions or tips anyone?

[twangster]

57 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

I may be tempted to buy a bottle since I can never find one in my home town. The only problem would be packing it for the airplane ride home. Suggestions or tips anyone?

 Wrap well in clothes. Pack in middle of suitcase with clothes all around.  

 

Its only when TSA decides to inspect and repack thoughtlessly do you have issues.  

[Sea Dog]

17 minutes ago, twangster said:

Its only when TSA decides to inspect and repack thoughtlessly do you have issues.

Yes that's what concern me because when it's x-ray'd and they see a round glass container full of liquid I'm sure they will go nuts!

[SRF]

10 hours ago, George C said:

Not really a bourbon guy but drink a lot of scotch, most ships have 18 year old chivas regal as part of the package , lots of good single malts also included, all of the 12 year old single malt was included. Only thing we paid extra was for Johnny Walker blue which is 21 year old

 

The problem is, virtually all the single malts I have seen on board are Speysides.  And I do not drink Speysides.   Highlands, Islands, and even Lowlands are fine.

[dominicr]

This is a good thread that I want to follow.  I’m interested in trying to find some blantons gold and straight from the barrel on our next cruise which isn’t until next May.  From what I saw on some posted bar menus the bourbon selection should be fine.  I saw buffalo trace, four roses single barrel, and whistle pig 10 year rye.  All of those are decent enough to have a few drinks at night.  The boat also had templeton on the menu and even though it’s a cheap MGP product it still makes a good cocktail. 

[suesnake2002]

I love woodford reserve. To my palate it is the best. Buffalo trace is my second pick, and lastly is makers mark 48. I drink my burbon neat. 

I don't care for bullet or blantons. Thats just me. 

I have paid as much as $25 for a single woodford when out at a bar. So yeah i would pay extra for a premium burbon with the drink package. 

They cater to the wine people, with premium wines. Why not us scotch or burbon peeps. 

[dominicr]

35 minutes ago, suesnake2002 said:

I love woodford reserve. To my palate it is the best. Buffalo trace is my second pick, and lastly is makers mark 48. I drink my burbon neat. 

I don't care for bullet or blantons. Thats just me. 

I have paid as much as $25 for a single woodford when out at a bar. So yeah i would pay extra for a premium burbon with the drink package. 

They cater to the wine people, with premium wines. Why not us scotch or burbon peeps. 

 

Woodford is good and I enjoy that.  I’ve heard a lot of people say they aren’t fans of blantons but  I can’t agree with that.  I’ve had a few bottles that weren’t great but they still weren’t bad.  Since it’s a single barrel you’ll get a little bit different taste with each one.  

 

A “cheaper” bottle I’d like to see would be eagle rare.  For 30 dollars a bottle it doesn’t get much better than that. 

[Goofyfanatic]

14 hours ago, George C said:

 Only thing we paid extra was for Johnny Walker blue which is 21 year old

 

Not to sound like a whiskey snob but Johnny Walker Blue is a No Age Statement blend.

 

I have found myself drinking Glenlivet in the casino. Off the top of my head I'm not sure which one it is but being that it is part of my Club Royale perks I'm not complaining. 

 

I'll take a picture of my whiskey collection and post it later.

[alfaeric]

46 minutes ago, suesnake2002 said:

I love woodford reserve. To my palate it is the best. Buffalo trace is my second pick, and lastly is makers mark 48. I drink my burbon neat. 

I don't care for bullet or blantons. Thats just me. 

I have paid as much as $25 for a single woodford when out at a bar. So yeah i would pay extra for a premium burbon with the drink package. 

They cater to the wine people, with premium wines. Why not us scotch or burbon peeps. 

Eh, I would not really say they cater to wine people- I'm an older wine person, and the selection of really good wines isn't there.   It's ok, but not anything more than the selection of whiskey relative to the rest of the selections we all love and cherish.

 

And what I like about liquor- they can afford to get one bottle that they can charge $20/shot and just let it sit in the one bar that they would serve it at- unlike wine that would go bad, especially after opening.  So maybe we should all suggest it on the surveys post cruise.

 

I'm a neat drinker, too- and would really like it if they could get some better glasses than the heavy duty tumblers where a shot barely covers the bottom.

 

We should all remember to mention that after our next cruise.  They do have some very high end cognacs, afterall. It's not as if this whiskey movement is going away anytime soon.

 

(and are any of you magnificent bastards, or wannabes?  🙂 )

[crewsweeper]

14 hours ago, JennyB1977 said:

OMG a Blanton's Gold would be great! I've only had Pappy once (12 year). At Bobby Vans in DC. I will tell ya, it was yummy. 

Be interesting if that was the Blantons sold in the shops, but I don't know.  Gold is restricted for sale in "selected international markets" what ever that means.  Not even sure if it's carried at any of the ports.  But then Hennessy White is carried on board the ships so....

 

As a preferred rye over bourbon drinker, I would go for Whistle Pig and maybe Rittenhouse, but never Templeton.  Way too much hype for a lower end rye.