Scotch drinkers: What's Your Poison?
Comments
-
Talisker does something weird to my nervous system. I don't know what they put in it, but I can't sleep after I drink it. It tastes damn good though. I guess that's what I should be drinking at lunch!
-
Tamnavaulin single malt when I can find it. Not nearly as smokey as others. Very smooth sippin' whiskey.
-
Daily driver...I like Famous Grouse.....
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
I just finished my Talisker Distillers Edition - great stuff, haven't seen the 30 around here yet.
My partner has family just outside of Carbost, Scotland which is about a driver and a nine iron away from where its made. A bottle shows up every year right around his birthday
VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
NAD SS rigs w/mods
GIK panels -
On3s&Z3r0s wrote: »Talisker does something weird to my nervous system. I don't know what they put in it, but I can't sleep after I drink it. It tastes damn good though. I guess that's what I should be drinking at lunch!
Funny you should mention that. When I was drinking, no matter what I drank I couldn't sleep after it. Booze was like an upper to me until I drank too much that is!:eek: -
hearingimpared wrote: »Funny you should mention that. When I was drinking, no matter what I drank I couldn't sleep after it. Booze was like an upper to me until I drank too much that is!:eek:
For me it's only scotch, and the more phenolic ones in particular it seems. It doesn't keep me from drinking them, just not on a school night. :cool: -
On3s&Z3r0s wrote: »For me it's only scotch, and the more phenolic ones in particular it seems. It doesn't keep me from drinking them, just not on a school night. :cool:
I had to look up "phenolic."
What I found;:eek::eek::eek:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolic
If that stuff is in scotch, I can't believe I drank it!:eek::D -
hearingimpared wrote: »I had to look up "phenolic."
What I found;:eek::eek::eek:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolic
If that stuff is in scotch, I can't believe I drank it!:eek::D
What's the matter??? It says they're antioxidants... since antioxidants are good for you, that must mean we all should be drinking more scotch!
Speaking of phenolic... Ardbeg is another Islay scotch that can be found in the states that ranges from undrinkable to sublime depending on which bottle you pick up. They made the Supernova which was supposed to be the most heavily peated and phenolic scotch ever. I smelled it once and that was enough. I didn't have the guts to pay to try it after seeing the face of the guy who bought a shot. -
Seems like the general concensus is for a blended scotch for an affordable daily driver but a jump to 15+ year old scotch but skipping the 12 year olds except for newbies. A bit of a generalization but that's what this thread looks like to me.
Thx for everyone's feedback. -
fatchowmein wrote: »Seems like the general concensus is for a blended scotch for an affordable daily driver but a jump to 15+ year old scotch but skipping the 12 year olds except for newbies. A bit of a generalization but that's what this thread looks like to me.
Thx for everyone's feedback.
There are blended scotches that are definitely not daily drivers. Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a blend made from 20-50 year old whiskeys and it cost more than $200 per bottle. JW Gold is something like $70/bottle and its made from 15-25 year old whiskeys. There are cheap single malts that aren't worth a damn. Single malts will have more variety in flavor. Some light, some heavy, some very smokey, some taste very earthy. Blends take and mix them all up to give a very complex flavor.
It boils down to this: Single malts can be variable from year to year due to the changes in the environmental conditions (hot/cold/wet/dry) and or slight changes to the process (ie: different barrels used). With the blended varieties, the product is very consistent from year to year. The master blenders can adjust the blend to overcome the changes in the single malts that are put into the blend.
There is a lot of snobbery that comes with scotch and many people are taught to believe that blends are trash and single malts are the best, but it really just depends.
I recommend just trying many types. Start with stuff that is 12-15 years old. There are many fine 12 year olds. Anything older than 15 years is going to cost a small fortune and the younger scotches are just too harsh IMO.For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
I like the Talisker myself, 30 is awesome, but the 10 years is good also. I did the Scotch tour last year in Scotland, Edinburgh to be exact. Brought home some Glenmorangie, good stuff.Polk RTi A7's FrontPolk CSi A4 CenterPolk Tsi 100's SurroundOnkyo TX-RZ50:)Oppo BDP 83 (Collecting dust)MIT Terminator 3 Speaker CableMIT Terminator 2 IC's (Oppo 2 chan)Signal Cable HT TWOEpson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080Hisense 55 U8GBelkin PF 60 Power Center
-
There are blended scotches that are definitely not daily drivers. Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a blend made from 20-50 year old whiskeys and it cost more than $200 per bottle. JW Gold is something like $70/bottle and its made from 15-25 year old whiskeys. There are cheap single malts that aren't worth a damn. Single malts will have more variety in flavor. Some light, some heavy, some very smokey, some taste very earthy. Blends take and mix them all up to give a very complex flavor.
It boils down to this: Single malts can be variable from year to year due to the changes in the environmental conditions (hot/cold/wet/dry) and or slight changes to the process (ie: different barrels used). With the blended varieties, the product is very consistent from year to year. The master blenders can adjust the blend to overcome the changes in the single malts that are put into the blend.
There is a lot of snobbery that comes with scotch and many people are taught to believe that blends are trash and single malts are the best, but it really just depends.
I recommend just trying many types. Start with stuff that is 12-15 years old. There are many fine 12 year olds. Anything older than 15 years is going to cost a small fortune and the younger scotches are just too harsh IMO.
+1 for this. I've tasted some really amazing blends and some really terrible low-end singles (Aberlour & Dalmore were a couple of the worst). Most single malts are at least blends of different batches and usually different years. I see no harm in that, and if I was going to complain about something it'd be that many major label distillers (like Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and unfortunately Laphroaig to name a few) add caramel coloring to the whisky to make it look prettier and then they play coy and don't like to talk about it. Cheeky ****. -
On3s&Z3r0s wrote: »+1 for this. I've tasted some really amazing blends and some really terrible low-end singles (Aberlour & Dalmore were a couple of the worst). Most single malts are at least blends of different batches and usually different years. I see no harm in that, and if I was going to complain about something it'd be that many major label distillers (like Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and unfortunately Laphroaig to name a few) add caramel coloring to the whisky to make it look prettier and then they play coy and don't like to talk about it. Cheeky ****.
Is anyone here old enough to remember when that rot gut "Cutty Sark" was considered high end or "Top Shelf" scotch? They even write "Scots Whiskey" on their label as if to distinguish it from all the others.:rolleyes:
Some movies still portray it as a good scotch. It taste like kerosene and gives a nasty hangover no matter how much you drink! I remember some of my uncles and grand uncles claiming it to be the best scotch! UGH! I can't even stand the smell of it. Bar scotches are better than Cutty and they are just flavored grain alcohol with some carmel coloring! Yuck! -
hearingimpared wrote: »Is anyone here old enough to remember when that rot gut "Cutty Sark" was considered high end or "Top Shelf" scotch? They even write "Scots Whiskey" on their label as if to distinguish it from all the others.:rolleyes:
Some movies still portray it as a good scotch. It taste like kerosene and gives a nasty hangover no matter how much you drink! I remember some of my uncles and grand uncles claiming it to be the best scotch! UGH! I can't even stand the smell of it. Bar scotches are better than Cutty and they are just flavored grain alcohol with some carmel coloring! Yuck!
My dad drank Cuttys and soda. Since that was my first exposure to "scotch" it wasn't until I was about 30 that I decided to give it a chance again. I missed out on several years of scotch consumption because of them!
This is making me nostalgic for my mom's crock pot beef stroganoff with those nasty bullion cubes and cream of mushroom soup. I'm not even sure the meat she put in that was real beef, but it always came out tasting reasonably good. God bless her. -
On3s&Z3r0s wrote: »My dad drank Cuttys and soda. Since that was my first exposure to "scotch" it wasn't until I was about 30 that I decided to give it a chance again. I missed out on several years of scotch consumption because of them!
This is making me nostalgic for my mom's crock pot beef stroganoff with those nasty bullion cubes and cream of mushroom soup. I'm not even sure the meat she put in that was real beef, but it always came out tasting reasonably good. God bless her.
LOL!
"No Cliffy that was 'Bef,' you know a meat like substance" ~ Norm Peterson- Cheers -
I recommend just trying many types. Start with stuff that is 12-15 years old. There are many fine 12 year olds. Anything older than 15 years is going to cost a small fortune and the younger scotches are just too harsh IMO.
There's the rub. I really don't want to hang out at a bar because my idea of scotch drinking involves cold weather, a recliner, lowered lights, the wife off to bed, and jazz. I could buy those smaller bottles but I'm a bit inclined to just keep collecting different 750ml specimens to build up my home scotch bar.
-
fatchowmein wrote: »There's the rub. I really don't want to hang out at a bar because my idea of scotch drinking involves cold weather, a recliner, lowered lights, the wife off to bed, and jazz. I could buy those smaller bottles but I'm a bit inclined to just keep collecting different 750ml specimens to build up my home scotch bar.
I didn't really mean sitting in a bar and dumping $12 a shot. That's not my way of enjoying either. Yeah, just pick up a 750 bottle every once in a while. After a year or two, you will have a much better idea of what you like.
Also, if you ever get a chance to do a formal scotch tasting, I would jump on it. The only problem with tastings is that they are often slanted to one particular brand.For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
My shelf currently contains these in no particular order:
Balvenie 12
Balvenie 15
Laphroaig 12
Highland Park 15
BenRiach 10
Favorite of above - Highland Park
Most Unique - Laphroaig (strong peat)
How's the Balvenie 15? One of the local stores has it on sale for $62.99, $3 off. :rolleyes:
Here's my slow, growing shelf in no particular order.
Glenmorangie 10
Glenlivet 12
Highland Park 12 (favorite)
Johnnie Walker Black 12
Chivas Regal 12
Favorite that's not listed: Hennessy XO (I'm out
but I'm spending my discretionary budget on scotch and music instead) -
B15 is fine, although I think I prefer the HP15. It's all good...;). That's a good price on the B15 because it goes for $73.99.Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Friend.
-
hearingimpared wrote: »Is anyone here old enough to remember when that rot gut "Cutty Sark" was considered high end or "Top Shelf" scotch? They even write "Scots Whiskey" on their label as if to distinguish it from all the others.:rolleyes:
Some movies still portray it as a good scotch. It taste like kerosene and gives a nasty hangover no matter how much you drink! I remember some of my uncles and grand uncles claiming it to be the best scotch! UGH! I can't even stand the smell of it. Bar scotches are better than Cutty and they are just flavored grain alcohol with some carmel coloring! Yuck!
My cousin poured the last 4 or 5 shots (of a whole bottle) of Cutty into me through a funnel full of ice at my bachelor party on Friday, June 18th in 1982. I crawled 'til Sunday, walked slowly on Monday, and was almost recovered for my June 26th wedding. VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
NAD SS rigs w/mods
GIK panels -
inspiredsports wrote: »My cousin poured the last 4 or 5 shots (of a whole bottle) of Cutty into me through a funnel full of ice at my bachelor party on Friday, June 18th in 1982. I crawled 'til Sunday, walked slowly on Monday, and was almost recovered for my June 26th wedding.
Nasty but it's 2010 so if you're still married to the same women after almost 30 years, I'd have to give a thumbsup to the Cutty Ice Funnel ritual. Man Law? -
inspiredsports wrote: »My cousin poured the last 4 or 5 shots (of a whole bottle) of Cutty into me through a funnel full of ice at my bachelor party on Friday, June 18th in 1982. I crawled 'til Sunday, walked slowly on Monday, and was almost recovered for my June 26th wedding.
At my bachelor party back in 1981 (1st wife) my father & brother-in-law handed me a bottle of Dewars. Now Dewars isn't a hangover scotch unless . . .
They were goading me to down it, I did the first 3/4ths of it staight down after already drinking everything in sight . . . when I woke up I couldn't understand why every one was so pist off at me.:eek::eek::eek: Before I realized that everyone was pist off, I woke up on the floor next to my ex (how she got there is beyond me) and I heard those awful dreaded words, "do you know what you did last night?" UGH! Wow talk about a bender! I'm lucky I didn't wake up in jail.:eek::rolleyes::D -
fatchowmein wrote: »
Highland Park 12 Single Malt but I'm quite the novice.
Changed my mine. I really like Talisker 10 but it's a bit more expensive (perhaps I'm shopping at the wrong place). Good thing Diet Coke is my daily driver.
-
Lagavulin 18y, if I could get it. I'll settle for 16y as it can be found. Talisker gets honorable mention while 12y Glenfiddich was my college years favourite.
-
Just cracked the label on a JW Blue.....have a lot friends who travel overseas and the duty free pricing is high but nothing like whats charged in the States...new bottle will be here in Nov....all Charlotte area Polkies are more than welcome to come on over and enjoy a drink or 2 or 3
-
Yowsers. Macallan 12 is like jet fuel which is great when the house temp is below 68. Love the "nose".
FYI for those in the DFW area. Goody-Goody has Laphroag 18 for under $70. Can't recall what I paid because I was picking up gifts for others and ran across this sale (one for you, two for me, lol). Haven't opened it yet.
