[iop890]

We have a few threads about scotch, vodka, etc. But they're all pretty old and not broad enough.

What's your favorite spirit? Anyone have anything unique you would suggest?

This is what I've got at my place right now, they're all good/great(especially the Chartreuse and the Laphroaig Cask Strength) except for the Zubrowka which is alright but not something I'd buy again.

[Ethan Hunt]

Looks like a good selection you got there iop. I love liquor, I love it neat and how I like each drink. Vodka is my main drink, one cube. So I could suggest a few.

Balkan. That will blow your head off. Surpassingly refined given that it's 88% (176 proof). Strongest commercially available vodka in the UK. It is illegal for any bars to sell it neat. It is a bizarre drink and must be treated with respect. The alcohol waits 10 minutes or so before it hits you. But really a single is 10% stronger than a double.

Uluvka. A personal favourite of mine. Comes in one cool looking bottle. Quite a sweet tasting vodka and is very easy to drink neat at 40%.

Blue Duck. One of the smoothest vodkas on the market. I believe it is 7 times distill (3x for Smirnoff and 5x for grey goose). Extremely easy to drink.

Kirkland Signature. The Costco own brand which is smoother than Grey Goose as well as costing half the price. Can get a Magnum for below £30. Is one fine tasting and inexpensive vodka. Definitely worth adding to your drinks cabinet.

Debowa. Comes in some of the most unusual packaging ranging from an oak cask to an oak bullet. Looks very interesting and will definitely be a focal point with any girls you bring over.

Any of the above I'd recommend for you. Don't really bother with a mixer but if I do it'll be soda water with lime and lemon.

[RIslander]

Bombay martini, dry, with a twist of lemon.

[Swell]

I enjoy Don Julio Tequila. Slowly sipping.

If I am drinking bottom shelf tequila, I like to mix with grapefruit juice and ice.

[Suits]

Scotch, all day long.

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Yamazaki scotch, Ketel One vodka, Bulleit bourbon, Jameson Irish whiskey, Grand Marnier 1880.

[Elster]

Ever since I left Argentina, I ve become aware of the cultural cliche that I am.

I do enjoy some Fernet Branca with Coke to remember good ole times of being young and stupid in Bs As.


From my time in the fatherland,I ve come to develop a taste for Schnapps (Williams is preferred).
In my own time absinthe on very special occasions,when visiting France of course Ricard happens

[godfather dust]

I'm not a big liquor guy, but my drink is double vodka on ice.

Grey goose
Belvedere
Absolut

[Running Turtles]

On the topic of Vodka, you might also want to check out Beluga. So far, it's the best vodka I've tasted, but I haven't tried any of Ethan Hunt's suggestions. Next on my list for sure.

[TigerMandingo]

A really amazing vodka I recently discovered is Balinoff. Super smooth.

[El Chinito loco]

For Scotch I can recommend Kavalan. It's a Taiwanese scotch and it's surprisingly good. I was given a bottle of the vinho barrique which recently won the 2015 world single malt whiskey award.

Whenever i'm in Taiwan I always buy a bottle of sherry cask or whatever to take abroad as a gift to friends.

[Davidovich]

I keep a stock of Italian Sambuca and Limoncello in my freezer, along with a bottle of the Korean potato vodka called Soju, which is delicious. I also keep a small bottle of French Chartreuse at room temperature, containing the memories and smells of an Oregon rain forest. Otherwise, my drink is Drambuie.

[Gmac]

I've enjoyed Sambuca, a bit too sweet for me but my dad loves the stuff.

Here's my drink of choice as of late:

[glugger]

(02-11-2016 10:26 AM)Gustavus Adolphus Wrote:  

Yamazaki scotch, Ketel One vodka, Bulleit bourbon, Jameson Irish whiskey, Grand Marnier 1880.

All of the Suntory whiskys are beautiful, yamazaki, hakushu etc. Perfectly balanced whiskys.

[kimbo]

At the risk of seeming unrefined: JD, Russian Standard

[iop890]

(02-11-2016 10:26 AM)Gustavus Adolphus Wrote:  

Yamazaki

(02-11-2016 11:16 AM)El Chinito loco Wrote:  

Kavalan

(02-11-2016 12:41 PM)glugger Wrote:  

All of the Suntory whiskys are beautiful, yamazaki, hakushu etc. Perfectly balanced whiskys.

Good taste, guys. I've been wanting to pick up another bottle of Yamazaki 18 but they're $200-250+ at least around here if you can even find it, it's making me miss being in Asia.



Lots of vodka suggestions so far. I'm not a big vodka guy but when I do drink it I usually just stick with Sobieski. I never buy flavored vodka unless I see something unique or interesting like the bison grass stuff in the OP.

[zatara]

Prices below are gonna be from where I used to live in the U.S., but in my experience they don't vary too much worldwide. All the bottles are major worldwide brands so are available anywhere I've been. Either 700ml or 1litre bottles.

1 bottle - Vodka: Stolichnaya. Its decent but not particularly expensive. Its not like anyones going to be drinking it straight anyway though so who cares. Using Grey Goose or similar in a vodka&coke is silly. $20
1 bottle - Gin: Bombay Sapphire $25
2 bottles - Cheap whiskeys for when girls want a whiskey&coke or I have people over who have no taste in whiskey: 1 bottle of Jameson ($25), 1 of Jack Daniels ($20)
1 bottle - Good whiskey for myself/guests with taste: Redbreast 12 year old $70
1 bottle - Good scotch as above: Glenfiddich 18 Year Old $110
1 bottle - Good rum as above: 1 bottle Mount Gay Extra Old $50
2 bottles - Cheap rum for guests/girls: 1 bottle Captain Morgan ($20) and 1 bottle Bacardi ($20)
1 bottle for shots - Jager $20

I have fancier, local items from time to time but the above are my liquor cabinet regulars. 10 bottles, should be less than $400USD total to buy outright most places in the world. And all multinational brands, so pretty easy to get. They (along with wine, beer & mixers) cover almost any hosting social situation and have a decent bit of variety across taste and price.

[cascadecombo]

Those bottles of Yamazaki can get pretty dang expensive.

There was a nice whiskey bar where you could drink that for a very reasonable price.

[iop890]

I'm not a huge Gin drinker but when it comes to gin I like Citadelle and Blue Coat.
For London Drys I'll take Tanqueray over Bombay Sapphire, there's something about Bombay I just don't like. I ended up giving my last bottle of it away.

If anyone here likes rum, you should try finding a bottle of Phraya. As far as I know it's the only good spirit to come out of Thailand. It picked up a double gold medal from SFWSC a couple years ago, along with a gold last year.

[Aer]

Please, whoever's been to Russia, tell me which vodka tastes better.

Best (hands down) vodka I've ever had.

[roberto]

The local winery/distillers do a bloody amazing vodka, the guy goes out into the woods to find all the botanicals for it. Can't really say what it is without doxxing myself though.

Big fan of Johnny Walker black label here. Best Johnny Walker I ever experienced was a pre-metric bottle of Red Label.

If it's a bourbon you're after, I'd highly recommend Woodford Reserve. One of my labourers bought be a bottle for Christmas, it's very nice indeed.

[HenryM]

Corpse Reviver #2:
equal parts gin, Lillet Blanc, Cointreau, lemon juice, splash of absinthe--shake w/ ice and--enjoy!

[DamienCasanova]

So delicious

Bourbons
Woodford, Buffalo Trace, Knob Creek, Makers, Bulleit are all great go-tos


One of my favorites, great price and taste



This apple bourbon is so good

Also if I want to get some expensive stuff i'll go with, Basil Hayden, Booker's, Blanton's, Angel's Envy,

[Rhyme or Reason]

Lately I've been on a Patron kick. Rocks, spash of water, and a lemon wedge.

[Htownanddown]

Bulleit Rye on the rocks is my drink of choice. Tito's is a really nice Vodka that is pretty reasonable to order when you're out.