Hi, I am strongly leaning in favor of whiskys that refrain from adding E150 coloring, like most do, and even chill filtering. Does anyone know of any web sites listing good whiskys that don't add color or chill filter?
Also what are your opinions?
Posted Dec 31, 2010, 4:41 PM UTC
Springbank doesn't add coloring or use chill-filtering, really tasty whisky.
in addition to ardbeg, arran, couvreur, glenfarclas, bruichladdich and springbank (probably a few others too) look to independent bottlers. signatory, old malt cask, cadenhead, scott's selection, duncan taylor, dun bheaghan, blackadder and more don't mess with their casks.
i can definitely taste caramel coloring, once you smell the pungent powder in its pure form, you'll never miss it. it definitely masks some of the whisky's character.
A far as E150 goes, I found a forum post that has a thrown together list of folks who use it: http://www.whiskywhiskywhisky.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=268&t=2848
I'm not sure what the concern is the E150, I've only just heard about it, does it change the whisky somehow (other than the obvious coloring) ?
As far as the chill filtering goes, I've seen a number of distilleries moving towards non-chill filtering. I know I have a bunch in the bar that are done that way, but I can't think of a list off the top of my head.
Laphroaig doesn't for some of their older stuff, and I don't think Highland Park does either. Both of them are the most solid of whiskies.
Oh boy, I finally picked up a bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask, which is non-chill filtered, and it is a world of difference from the standard 10 year. Get it!
Also recommending the Quarter Cask, I know it's not chill-filtered but its colour status is in disrepute. I think it actually depends where you get the whisky if it is coloured or not. It's not filtered and bloody delicious anyways though. Can't recommend enough!
I love the Highland Park 18. Now, if only I had twice as much money all the time...
Make that 10x as much money
I believe that anything out of the Bruichladdich Distillery come to you with no color added and no chill filtration.