BBoozer wrote:Mr. Viking wrote:I'm inclined to agree. Sill prefer corks on whisky even though there is no practical benefit. Practical, mind, that's the sticking point
Mr. Viking, slightly off topic, what would be your favourite whiskies? And then, on topic, can you share your thoughts on your favourite wines?
Well, I would say the whisky I've enjoyed most is Lagavulin 16 yo. Being a youngster though, I haven't had the opportunity to try a wide variety. I enjoy most Islay whiskies. I liked Laphroaig quarter cask because it's peatiness was ballanced by the richness of the flavour. I liked the basic Caol Isla because I felt the opposite, it was quite light in flavour, ignoring the peat, which isolated the peat as a flavour, which I enjoyed. I have only tried one Glenfarclas, the "105" cask strength, which I think is only 8 years or so old when bottled. It has a very mellow and balanced flavour that I like, but there is still some interest to it unlike some mellow whiskies. I would love to try some of the older bottlings, but the prices get rather silly.
My favourite blend is the Bailie Nicol Jarvie, which has a wonderful spicy taste, while still being light and drinkable. I find it a perfect example of "scotch whisky", and much better than many "premium blends". It has also had it's price dropped from £16.55 to £14.55 in my local shop, putting it in the price bracket of slosh like Whyte and Mackay or bell's.
On Irish whiskey. I have had only single malts from Bushmills, and blends. I believe as a triple distilled whiskey the malt doesn't stand up to long aging, so the 10yo is the best, with the others have too much of a sickly flavour, though many disagree. Despite this I love black bush, which is a blend with a very strong sherry profile. Probably I just like the packaging so forced myself to like the product. I have found Powers is my favourite everyday blend, probably again because I like the shape of the bottle. Jameson Crested ten was excellent, but I think isn't exported any more so is only widely available in Ireland, a great pity. I have wanted to try pure pot still whisky, which is, as the name suggests, made without continuous distillation (the evil practice that gave the Scots the benefit in the export market for so long) and a mix of malted and unmalted barley in the mash bill. Green spot was the only one available for a long time, and was out out of my price range. It is also apparently not the whiskey it was five or ten years ago. My trouble with Irish whiskey is that for a long time there have only been two disitlleries, I believe there are now three, but this is not enough. The two were also under the same ownership for a long time. I blame the Irish government for not bothering to worry about competition and letting monopolies grow, leaving a narrow choice of products. It has however led to some iconic brands.
I haven't had enough bourbon to have a proper opinion but I enjoy Wild Turkey a lot, I had Bulleit which was quite enjoyable. Jim Beam is the only widely available bourbon here and I buy it when it's on offer as it is usually overpriced. I had Jim Beam Black label which I remember being good. Very drinkable. Four Roses was quite light, and enjoyable
I am even more of a novice on wine. I enjoy drinking local wine when I can, usually cheap. I have always enjoyed Chateauneuf du Pape, an affectation I think I have inherited from my father. But I do find the wines are very consistently good, probably because of the strict controls on the name. I have had a Spanish wine with a pig on the label called, I think, Agoston, which was very good, rich with a hint of fruit but balanced with some "spice" as I would call it. Naturally being spanish, though, they were a bit sweet with vanilla from the oak barrels. The Yellow label was better than the red for this. I have an affinity that I am sure will offend you for a company I can't remember the name of, which make comedy wines, with pictures on the label. They started with "chat-on-ouef" and now make "longue-dog". They taste nothing like the real thing but are cheap and I am childish. I used to enjoy beaujolais as it was light and drinkable everyday, and Sainsbury's did a great bottling in 2010, but I haven't found one since at a reasonable price and quality. I enjoy sparkling wine. Whatever I find to be cheapest and drinkable at the time, usually a cava of some sort, though I have had some good prosecco. I like a bready, yeasty flavour rather than the acidic fruity flavour which I often find in cheap champagne or very cheap cava, which simply causes heartburn and the minimum of pleasure. Lidl did an excellent cheap champagne last year but I forget the name.
I tend to drink a fair ammount of fortified wines, finding them to be consistent and a better bet in this country as they travel well. I buy ruby port quite regularly, and would buy taylor's for a vintage bottle. Churchill's port is my favourite (coincidentally the newest producer) but is difficult to find and expensive. I buy fino sherry instead of white wine, as I find most white under £10 to be undrinkable, while good sherry can be had for £5. I also enjoy amontillado and Olorosso, but I find he sweetened sherries a bit sickly for general consumption. I enjoy sparkling wine. Whatever I find to be cheapest and drinkable at the time, usually a cava of some sort, though I have had some good prosecco. I like a bready, yeasty flavour rather than the acidic fruity flavour which I often find in cheap champagne or very cheap cava, which simply causes heartburn and the minimum of pleasure. Lidl did an excellent cheap champagne last year but I forget the name.
Feel like I should put a bibliography on this essay of a post, but no
"I spent all of my money on cars, women and booze, the rest of it I squandered" G. Best