whiskey/whisky

Post by **horton** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 1:21 pm

recently i have discovered the joys of bourbon.

after a foul bottle of jim beam, i got a bottle of makers mark, which is pretty nice.

I now want to investigate scotch. what is a good starters bottle, I dont want to spend a fortune incase i hate it, however I dont want to make the mistake i did with bourbon, and nearly get put off it, by buying a bottle of shit.

Post by **Dukester** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:03 pm

go for a blend if your just starting out.
Scotch is something you have to want to develope a taste for.

Any of the medium priced blends should be good enough to try.
Be safe and go for a Johnny Walker Red or a Dewars.

Clan McGregor, while cheap, is probably the best cheapy blend you can get.

Post by **Kills On Site** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:46 pm

If you decide to go for a single malt scotch, if you are ok with the blended stuff, try The GlenLivet. It is a good, smooth scotch.

Post by **seremtan** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 3:23 pm

WILL YOU VISIT...

... THE VALE OF TRANQUILITY?

Post by **Grudge** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:01 pm

A nice single malt to start out with is Highland Park. It's very smooth with just a hint of smokeiness, but it's still complex enough to kick the ass of any blended crap.

Post by **andyman** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:23 pm

ugh as soon as i saw the word whiskey i got sick to my stomach..... too many jack induced comas

Post by **seremtan** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:32 pm

tell me about it. the smell takes me right back to a night of jim beam and coke and several missing hours

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:39 pm

so what am i gonna do with my 3/4 empty bottle of Chivas Regal. suggestions?

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:49 pm

does it burn :icon23:

Post by **Dark Metal** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:21 am

I'm a huge Scotch drinker. When I first started drinking it I used to go with the Johnny Walker Black. I still find it's one of my favorite sipping Scotches. I'd suggest trying that then moving on to inexpensive single malts, i.e. McClelland's. McClelland's is a great pick as they have 4 inexpensive choices from all 4 regions in Scotland, Islay, Lowland, Speyside and Highland. They're simple and not aged too long so they give you a good entry into the different tastes. My favorite region tends to be Islay as they're very peaty and full bodied. Tonight I'm on a Double Cask Matured, cask strength Laphroaig, which is an Islay. Super peaty and formidable at %48 and I'm really enjoying it. I'm up to 32 bottles in my collection, most of them about half empty, left to enjoy or sample for guests. It's a very enjoyable drink to get into, but it does take some time to really appreciate and enjoy the differences.

Post by **bitWISE** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:03 am

I like Glennfiditch but I haven't ventured into scotch much. As far as whiskey goes I really like Jack Daniels Single Barrel.

Post by **andyman** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:55 am

Big southern comfort fan here. word of advise: don't drink half a bottle on an empty stomach. and then run. it will hurt you

Post by **Dukester** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:19 am

Dark Metal wrote:My favorite region tends to be Islay as they're very peaty and full bodied. Tonight I'm on a Double Cask Matured, cask strength Laphroaig, which is an Islay. Super peaty and formidable at %48 and I'm really enjoying it.

Right there with you on the Islay, especially the Laphroaig, but it's the last one I'd recomend to the beginning Scotch drinker.
Not that you did

Post by **horton** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:57 am

andyman wrote:Big southern comfort fan here. word of advise: don't drink half a bottle on an empty stomach. and then run. it will hurt you

I feel guilty drinking southern comfort.
Alcohol should not taste like candy.

Not that I dont like it.

Post by **horton** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:02 am

Dark Metal wrote:I'm a huge Scotch drinker. When I first started drinking it I used to go with the Johnny Walker Black. I still find it's one of my favorite sipping Scotches. I'd suggest trying that then moving on to inexpensive single malts, i.e. McClelland's. McClelland's is a great pick as they have 4 inexpensive choices from all 4 regions in Scotland, Islay, Lowland, Speyside and Highland. They're simple and not aged too long so they give you a good entry into the different tastes. My favorite region tends to be Islay as they're very peaty and full bodied. Tonight I'm on a Double Cask Matured, cask strength Laphroaig, which is an Islay. Super peaty and formidable at %48 and I'm really enjoying it. I'm up to 32 bottles in my collection, most of them about half empty, left to enjoy or sample for guests. It's a very enjoyable drink to get into, but it does take some time to really appreciate and enjoy the differences.

A couple of days ago, I went to buy a couple of bottles.
1 scotch. 1 bourbon - because I owed someone a favour and I knew he liked whiskey, I just didnt know if he prefered scotch or bourbon.

I was looking at the laphroaig, but I ended up getting glenmorangie 10yr malt, as the 48% kinda scared me.

In the end he chose the scotch, and I ended up with a bottle of makers mark (which i love)

I dont want to make the same mistake that I made with bourbon, I bought a cheap bottle (jim beam) and thought it was shit, but I kinda realised it was due to it being cheap shit, and gave bourbon another chance with a semi-decent bottle.

Im gonna hit the shops later today, and see if I can find something interesting.

Drinking at 33 is far better than when I was 18, I no longer get really drunk, and I can apreciate the drink, not just the effect it has (as opposed to when I was 18)

Post by **Pete** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:09 am

I used to drink Jack Daniel’s, Black Velvet and Crown Royal. Chivas has a pine gum taste and I don’t like it. I’ve always been wondering what is the difference between whiskey and scotch and bourbon and some are named whiskey/scotch…

Post by **Dukester** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:19 am

I wouldn't necessarily classify Jim Beam as cheap shit, more like mid-priced shit. (or not even shit at all, very much a good example of a Straight Bourbon, while Makers Mark has a different taste because of some other grain they use in place of rye)

How are you drinking your bourbon? Some, like Beam and some of the cheaper brands are definately meant for mixing with at least some water or coke while others like MM and Knob Creek are meant to be smooth for sipping straight.

Post by **Kills On Site** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:29 am

Dukester wrote:
Dark Metal wrote:My favorite region tends to be Islay as they're very peaty and full bodied. Tonight I'm on a Double Cask Matured, cask strength Laphroaig, which is an Islay. Super peaty and formidable at %48 and I'm really enjoying it.
Right there with you on the Islay, especially the Laphroaig, but it's the last one I'd recomend to the beginning Scotch drinker.
Not that you did

Ditto. I love the Islay malts, so much character and complexity. Of course I wouldn't recommend them for someone starting out, and some people never do like them, but they are amoung my favorite of all the Scotches. I need to get my hands on some 15 year Laphroaig, so far I have only been able to get the 10 year. How long was that Double Cask Matured Laphroaig matured Dark Metal?

Post by **Nightshade** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:35 am

I personally can't stand the stuff, bad memories of Jack and also Southern Comfort. My last boss, however, was an absolute Scotch FIEND. He and our European sales rep trade bottles every so often. He has a fucking guide book for the shit with pages earmarked and all that shit.

Post by **Captain** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:06 am

Anyone try ever try Fireball? It's great when you down it with orange juice.

Pete wrote:I used to drink Jack Daniel’s, Black Velvet and Crown Royal. Chivas has a pine gum taste and I don’t like it. I’ve always been wondering what is the difference between whiskey and scotch and bourbon and some are named whiskey/scotch…

You forgot to try imitating Pete.

Post by **horton** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:07 am

Dukester wrote:I wouldn't necessarily classify Jim Beam as cheap shit, more like mid-priced shit. (or not even shit at all, very much a good example of a Straight Bourbon, while Makers Mark has a different taste because of some other grain they use in place of rye)

How are you drinking your bourbon? Some, like Beam and some of the cheaper brands are definately meant for mixing with at least some water or coke while others like MM and Knob Creek are meant to be smooth for sipping straight.

I normally drink the bourbon straight, with another glass with ice water, however when I'm feeling like a pussy I mix it with ginger ale.

Post by **Hannibal** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:38 am

Any Irish whiskey fans? I've only tried one (Bushmills Original) and wasn't too impressed. It was a blend I think. Hardly any flavor to speak of, might be decent in a cocktail but straight up it was shit.

Post by **Dukester** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:23 pm

horton wrote: I normally drink the bourbon straight, with another glass with ice water, however when I'm feeling like a pussy I mix it with ginger ale.

Well, drinking it straight, I'm prbably not gonna be to fond of JBeam much either.

I've found the longer I have been drinking Scotch that now almost any Scotch has become sippable. The Glenmorangie you mentioned before would have been a great choice to try

I don't know if you have ever even tried a sip of scotch before, but if you haven't just be prepared that it isn't going to have a taste even remotely close to any american whiskey or canadian blend.

I recomended a cheaper blend before, but it sounds like a was probably going too cheap. The Johnny Walker Black label that Dark Metal mentioned would be a good first choice, especially if you are gonna sip.

Good luck with that. Buy a small bottle and let us know how you like it.

Post by **horton** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:31 pm

thanks for the tips.

I just came home with a bottle of McClelland's lowlands.

First impressions are good.
Drinking it straight is very different from straight bourbon.

Post by **Dukester** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:40 pm

Yeah, drinking scotch. it's almost like you can actually taste all the ingredients, especially once you start trying different single malts. Speyside compared to Islay for example.

You're gonna have fun and have a lot less money