Good shit

congrats? It's can turn into a very expensive hobby. The last scotch I had was a 1975 Glenrothes. Usually runs 5-600 bucks per bottle if you can find it.

I was just thinking, I've taken some girls on some expensive dates, and I sometimes regretted them. However, not once in my life have I ever regretted plunking down a few hundred on a high end bottle of wine or alcohol. Especially cognac and scotch. Shit is like crack to me.

I've had Glenfidditch before, not bad. Glenlivet is decent if you're on a budget.

Hit up Amazon and pick up a 4-set of the Glencairn glass.

Changes everything.

heheh, expecting a gun bottle.

Just found out harrowing news recently...

In 1999 I got my hands on a bottle of Johnnie Walker Excelsior (a 50 year single malt, 1947 -1997)... through Singapore duty free... cost me $200 a bottle back then. Staying with a chick at time, we broke up and I asked her to hold it while I sorted my shit out in another place... when I went back to retrieve it.. got told that 'someone broke into my house and stole all the liquor'.

I saw one priced yester day... approx $1,500 per bottle.

Last year, some Indian friends of mine celebrated Indian independence day.. happens to be the same day as Australia day... said they liked scotch. I brought over a bottle of Glen Morangie Nector D'Or... 18 year old single malt. I said 'have a sip of this fellas', just as I left the room. I came back only to see they mixed it with Coca Cola.

My head dropped.

My local has half price 'Johnnie Walker Platinum', I've yet to taste. Anyone tried it?

JW Platinum is below the Blue but above the Gold. My dad is a Blue drinker, so whenever I see him that's what we knock back.

Blends are blends, though -- find yourself a solid style of single malt and stick with it. I'm working on the Lowlands right now.

Do you guys drink on the rocks or not? Personally I never saw the point.

Single malt Scotch is the only liquor I truly enjoy. It's a shame I'm too broke to justify getting a bottle.

@GQ
Apparently putting it on the rocks helps to open up the flavors more

Welcome to the good life.

Quote: (11-08-2012 10:55 PM)_GQ_ Wrote:  

Do you guys drink on the rocks or not? Personally I never saw the point.

My M.O. with whiskey is as follows:

Well - only for mixers
Premium (Johnny Walker/Jameson/Maker's Mark/etc.) - couple-few ice cubes
Super-premium (Glenfiddich/Redbreast/Booker's/etc.) - neat or with one small ice cube to mellow it out

I love single-malt Scotch. My current favorite is Glenmorangie Lasanta, which is extra matured in sherry casks. Very smooth. I gave a bottle of it to my dad for Father's Day.

Quote:Quote:

Do you guys drink on the rocks or not?

Never.

I prefer bourbon myself. Which is maybe a little strage since I live 60 miles from Scotland. Really digging Jack Daniels Single Barrel these days. Much nicer than JD - which I used to love but have drifted away from. Mostly since I realised that JD gives off a slight banana scent. And I am still annoyed that it keeps getting diluted by the manufacturer. It used to be 45% alcohol. Then it came down to 43%. And as of about 7 years ago - it has dropped down to 40%. Personally - I am hoping to track down some of the rarer bourbons around which can range from 55% to 65% alcohol content. I much prefer a stronger richer flavour.

Anyway - JD Single Barrel is 45%. And has a richer flavour than ordinary JD. Interestingly JD Single Barrel is 47% in America. So - would like to try that some time.

Anyway - I didn't post to try and hijack the thread. Instead I wanted to share an amazing Johnny Walker commercial from a few years ago. It is one of the best adverts I have ever seen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnSIp76CvUI

Cardguy

I like the Balvenie Doublwood and it's less than $40 at trader joes.

Hey cardguy, try Knob Creek. It's 50% ABV small batch Kentucky bourbon. In the U.S. it costs $25-$30 per 750 mL.

If you haven't had it yet, check out Maker's Mark, 45% ABV. Unique combination of ingredients, but still a good bourbon.

Since this thread is branching out from whiskey, this is what I've been sipping on lately.



Jameson has been my standard bar order for years. This Redbreast, though, it's like drinking the tears of angels. I think the trick with whiskey is to start low and take gradual steps up in quality. That way you really appreciate the difference.

I have had Knob Creek and Maker's Mark and a few others. Although it is hard to find anything other than JD in the supermarkets here in the UK. Personally - I don't really like Maker's Mark. But I will definitely try out the new Maker's Mark 46 series when I get a chance.

Good to see Knob Creek coming in at 50%. I have had it in bars but never asked to see the label. I am at a stage now where I think it is sad when a bourbon is only at 40%. It seems the accountants are having too much say in the production when that happens.

I once tracked down some Pappy Van Winkle 15 year Family Reserve in a bar. Very expensive but tasted great. And packed a bit more heat since it was around 53.5% or something. I keep meaning to order some bottles of that sometime - but the cost is about $150 a bottle. I think this is the brand (from what I have read) which is often considered the best in the world. I had some 20 year Family Reserve as well - but prefer the 15 year one. Which also happens to be stronger.

Funny thing about Scotch and Bourbon. To me they taste totally different. I love Bourbon and find Scotch undrinkable. Yet I have heard alot of people who can't really tell the difference between the two.

I wish I was a Scotch drinker. The choice of Scotches in the UK is immense. Unlike with Bourbon where it is hard to find more than the usual 2/3 brands.

I keep meaning to move to Kentucky someday!

Also - I have being drinking bourbon for the past 8 years. And it is definitely true that your palette becomes more educated over the years. You can really taste the difference with the premium products.

Cardguy

PS When drinking I find - if I drink a bottle of bourbon in 3 hours or so. I will be quite drunk. But if I spread it out over 5/6 hours then I am still pretty sober. With me - it isn't how much. But how fast.

People who can't tell the difference between Scotch and Bourbon are full on plebeian. I expect that kind of statement out of a 17 year old girl.

I've always done Crown Reserve.


Damn though...Scotch hits ya a lot harder than whiskey...haha

3rd drink and I'm feeling it

Scotch is a whiskey.

^^^I had two doubles of JW right before boarding a flight to Brasil. Proper mess on the flight (I'm a lightweight) but I entertained the group of college kids sitting in my area lol.

Quote: (11-09-2012 12:01 AM)T and A Man Wrote:  

Scotch is a whiskey.

Well yeah, I know

I just mean it hits me harder than the Crown Reserve I'm so fond of.

Quote: (11-08-2012 11:36 PM)j r Wrote:  

Since this thread is branching out from whiskey, this is what I've been sipping on lately.



Jameson has been my standard bar order for years. This Redbreast, though, it's like drinking the tears of angels. I think the trick with whiskey is to start low and take gradual steps up in quality. That way you really appreciate the difference.

I brought two bottles of Redbreast back from N. Ireland, and never cracked either one. It's available in the States now, but runs if I remember correctly around $100-120. It's the best whiskey I've ever tasted to be sure, to be sure. It too is distilled in sherry casks from France.

Black Bush is a cheaper option, but not near as refined IMO.

edit-Oh shit, I forgot about Bushmills 1608. I was tempted to buy a case and leave it in the back of the closet. Now that's a proper bottle too.

Quote: (11-09-2012 12:08 AM)Aliblahba Wrote:  

Quote: (11-08-2012 11:36 PM)j r Wrote:  

Since this thread is branching out from whiskey, this is what I've been sipping on lately.



Jameson has been my standard bar order for years. This Redbreast, though, it's like drinking the tears of angels. I think the trick with whiskey is to start low and take gradual steps up in quality. That way you really appreciate the difference.

I brought two bottles of Redbreast back from N. Ireland, and never cracked either one. It's available in the States now, but runs if I remember correctly around $100-120. It's the best whiskey I've ever tasted to be sure, to be sure. It too is distilled in sherry casks from France.

Black Bush is a cheaper option, but not near as refined IMO.

The Redbreast 12-year is only about $50 a bottle. I've never had the 15-year. Like I said, I develop a taste for the lower end version and then kick up to the next notch. The 12-year is amazing, so I can only imagine what the 15 is like.

Does Irish Whiskey have any traits that differ in taste from Scotch Whisky? I never explored the differences since I much prefer bourbon.

Cardguy

Quote: (11-09-2012 12:19 AM)cardguy Wrote:  

Does Irish Whiskey have any traits that differ in taste from Scotch Whisky? I never explored the differences since I much prefer bourbon.

Cardguy

Cleaner, smoother taste.