Totally OT

alephnull said...
...
I want to try a scotch - I've heard Monkey Shoulder is a good starter scotch. Opinions??????????
Are scotchs generally smoother than Bourbons?
So, what's your favorite???

Impossible to name a favorite for me, as many, if not all, of the "nectar of the gods" scotches were one dram of a shared bottle, long since finished.

That is the mystery of single malt scotch whisky. There are dozens if not hundreds on the shelf in a good liquor purveyor. Blends are mixed from different distilleries, and change constantly to reach a target taste, so will remain similar in taste year over year.

I prefer single malts, and even more cask strength / single barrels, as they are guaranteed to be different over time, and give you the opportunity to taste the whisky before a marketing department decides to change it.

But Monkey Shoulder is one of the best bar blends, and many of my crew keep it as their bar scotch for an introductory bottle. My "intro" bottle for new folks is Balvenie 12 year old DoubleWood. Pity is that it has risen in price more than a bit lately.

Come to a GFMPH. I usually do a scotch tasting on Saturday night with a box of custom, organic, hand made cigars on the bar as well. If it is driving distance for me, the selection is better

Nikka Single Coffey Grain Whiskey (Japan). It’s very friendly.
From Scotland, Balvenie’s a great choice.
Bourbon: Woodford Reserve.

If you don’t like any of those three, there’s no hope.

So, am I to believe that any brand or type of whiskey is actually pleasant in taste?

Sorry guys, I’m very skeptical. 🙂

Reminds me of a Saturday Night Live sketch in which they spoofed wine tasting. Gilda Radner takes a sip and gleefully exclaims, “It tastes like horse urine strained through a dirty sock!”

Cheers guys

As a long-time Scotch whiskey drinker, at the moment, my preferences are:

Macallan, either 12 or 18 year old is a good "starter" single malt.
Auchentoshan triple wood is a bit more complex, very smooth.
Dalwhynnie 12 is very light and smooth.

But, as the others have said, when it comes to single malt Scotch whiskies, there are almost as many choices as there are occasions to drink them.

We are assuming of course, that you savor your potion straight, no ice, while sitting in your easy chair.

Post Edited (Sr Sailor) : 1/9/2019 5:45:40 PM (GMT-7)

Have not had hardly any whiskey in recent years but generally had a preference for Irish Whiskey vs. Scotch. Seems to be smoother and not have that peaty or earthy flavor that many of the single malts have. It seems like a cigar demands whiskey of one type or another but that is about it now. There is so much good beer now that it can match up nicely with a cigar as well.

No hard liquor here( way too easy)..hi-octane IPA's...or Champagne...both 30 degrees or so..no more than 2 12 ounces on an empty stomach...tho I chip/ prime the gut as I go...especially good after a hard workout... we go out to eat on occasion...MonkeyPod in Wailea my favorite...many levers...I will have 2 pints and scarff...my wife doesn't drink tho...just drives...no Henny Youngman jokes...Please!!

I enjoy a shot of bourbon every evening. So many excellent choices: Elijah Craig, Weller's, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Jim Beam Black, and on and on. My wife and I completed the Kentucky Bourbon Trail last year and highly recommend it as a week-long experience. Beautiful scenery, great bourbon, amazing information on this uniquely American product. You can spend $12 on a bottle of Benchmark, or a ton of money on single barrel, barrel proof, or other unique expressions. It's just a great drink, whether enjoyed neat, on ice, or as a mixed drink. And, I like to give some credence to its history as a medicinal drink.

Sr Sailor said...
We are assuming of course, that you savor your potion straight, no ice, while sitting in your easy chair.

Absolutely! No better way to fully enjoy your whiskey.

I-T-S -- if you want "proof" go for the cask strength whiskies. These are bottled right from the casks, and are usually higher proof than the brand's normal retail offerings. The distilleries water down the spirits to achieve their label-stated proof. Some folks enjoy the cask strength right from the bottle, others add just a touch of water to "open up" the whisky and to enjoy its fullest flavor. If the whisky is too high in alcohol content, all it does is numb your taste buds and all of the distillery's work is for naught.

I rarely drink whisky these days other than a rare Manhattan on New Years or other special occasion. Mostly just beer or wine these days. Just returned from a local restaurant where I had a blue cheese burger and a pint of local stout. But among my favorite single malts was Laphroig - so thick and peaty you can almost chew it.

I had a night 20-some years ago wIth my Liverpool wife staying with friends in Dumfries Scotland - peat fire in the stove, their very old, not well dog's head in my lap, and more than enough good single malt drunk neat to almost - almost have regrets the next morning.

The best drinking thread; cannot let it die!
So here's a tidbit I learned at the tasting (see my earlier post in this thread).
The barrels for bourbon can be used only once to make bourbon (US law). They are then shipped to Scotland where they are re-used to age whisky. Other barrels used for certain special (and more expensive) Scotches may have previously been used to age port.

Conclusion: the life of a barrel isn't so bad, but the initial charring must hurt...

Post Edited (Sr Sailor) : 1/11/2019 7:10:21 PM (GMT-7)

I Drink Jack and Coke at a party or on a cruise ship but when at home I enjoy a good bourbon. I have seen several of the ones I like mentioned but have not seen Angel's Envy, or Blanton's I think these are both worth checking out. I was able to add a nice Old Forrester 12 year Birthday bourbon, a Maker's Mark Reserve Cask Strength, Eagle Rare, and a 1792 Bottled in Bond to my collection. Oh and I was fortunate enough to sample (a generous 3 oz. pour) a Pappy Van Winkle 20 year. Wow! Now I honestly see what the hype around Pappy Van Winkle is all about. The best bourbon I have ever had.

Cheers!