TheBigCasino wrote:Finally got my Talisker fix, pic from my last trip to the liq store. Oddly enough, never opened it, stuck with Evan, finally found Macallan Cask Strength too, a very pleasant surprise.
That Macallan Cask Strength is probably the best scotch I've ever tried. I stay away from Lagavulin though. I don't like the real peaty stuff, which is why I'm not much of a scotch guy in general.
I'm exploring the whiskies next, starting with blended scotch. Bought shooter bottles of J&B, Cutty Sark, Johnnie Walker Red & Black, and Chivas Regal. Unfortunately, couldn't find shooter bottles of single-malt - you'd think they'd have some at least of their younger ones. I usually find that shooter bottles are my favorite way of tasting new kinds of booze, since if you find one you think is bottled piss, at least you're done with it on the first try and you don't have a big bottle to try to push on your mates.
May you all be hung, drawn, and quartered!
Yes, HUNG - with precious metals and jewels
DRAWN - in a coach and four
and QUARTERED - in the finest homes in the land.
I spoke too soon. Found a shooter bottle of Glenfiddich 15 year on payday, along with Jameson, Wild Turkey 101, Jim Beam White and Black, and other whiskies.
May you all be hung, drawn, and quartered!
Yes, HUNG - with precious metals and jewels
DRAWN - in a coach and four
and QUARTERED - in the finest homes in the land.
GraveyardShiftChuck wrote:I spoke too soon. Found a shooter bottle of Glenfiddich 15 year on payday, along with Jameson, Wild Turkey 101, Jim Beam White and Black, and other whiskies.
I've sampled the J&B, Cutty Sark, and Johnny Walker Red on Saturday, trying to find a good beginner's blended scotch; one that's mixable, but can stand on its own. Currently, it's a tie between Cutty and Johnny Red. Any other suggestions? I'll sample the two 12 year olds (Johnny Black and Chivas Regal) later this week.
May you all be hung, drawn, and quartered!
Yes, HUNG - with precious metals and jewels
DRAWN - in a coach and four
and QUARTERED - in the finest homes in the land.
GraveyardShiftChuck wrote:I've sampled the J&B, Cutty Sark, and Johnny Walker Red on Saturday, trying to find a good beginner's blended scotch; one that's mixable, but can stand on its own. Currently, it's a tie between Cutty and Johnny Red. Any other suggestions? I'll sample the two 12 year olds (Johnny Black and Chivas Regal) later this week.
I'd go with the Chivas or Black Label. Famous Grouse is quite nice too. I'm not a fan of Johnnie Walker Red... I don't think it really stands up on it's own. Also, it's pricey, but if you want something to introduce you to malts, don't go past Johnnie Walker Green Label. It's a pure malt blend, and makes a good transition whiskey when going from blends to pure malts.
I'm just starting to really get in to single malts. I quite enjoy a number of Speysides and Highlands, and am now trying to get to grips with the wall of smokey peat that is Islay whiskey. Has anyone got any experience with Bruichladdich? I'm lead to believe they produce a few more lightly peated whiskeys, which serve as a good introduction.
Johnnie Green is hard to find in my usual candy store. They only have Johnnie Red, Black and the occasional Blue. I'll see the other stores have it.
May you all be hung, drawn, and quartered!
Yes, HUNG - with precious metals and jewels
DRAWN - in a coach and four
and QUARTERED - in the finest homes in the land.
willerror wrote:I need a good beginner's Scotch. I'm a bourbon guy through-and-through so sometimes the smoky-peat quality gets a bit much for me, but I'm willing to train my taste buds some.
Glenlivet or Macallan, if you aren't into the smoke/peat, stay away from any Islay. And if you come across a bottle called the "Peat Monster", run...
Thanks. I really liked Macallan's 12-year, but I was just recently given the Laphroaig 10-year-old Islay and yes, it is indeed "smoky-peat" heavy, but I think--think--I'm learning to like it. Or maybe I just have to warm up with a bourbon or two beforehand.
Just that fact you are still drinking it means you are on board. Alot of times, the Islay runs people off on the first smell - not even the first taste. That 10 year is heavy and surprisingly, there are some heavier ones out there ( if you can believe that ). Douglas Laing's Big Peat is supposed to be heavier ( from what I'm told, I've never had it, runs about $100 a bottle ) and Compass Box's vatted malt "the Peat Monster" is heavier, that one I have and have had, it's a biggie. My wife even asked "Why?? why did you bring that bottle into our house?".
The wife and I recently finished up a big EuroTrip, and we went to Vinopolis in London, where you can purchase books of tickets for a "tasting experience." Wife went with the wine-heavy option, I opted for spirits. I had 3 scotch tickets, she hand one, but we ran into a bunch of folks who didnt want their scotch tix, so we got them.
Each ticket was good for about a half shot, but we got enough that I was able to get a proper double of Glenlivet, in addition to some pours of Chivas 12 and 18.
Now, I'll always be a bourbon man, but the single-malt was mighty fine and may just worm its way to my cabinet for special occasions.
• "Avoiding the darker alcohols like bourbon, red wine and dark rum might lessen [a hangover] and you might also dance better if you wear a tutu instead of trousers." - FKR
• "If you wanna 'talk about' my drinking, it better be about how fucking awesome it is." - Me
