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Crossposting this here and the pipe/cigar thread: I don't smoke cigars often, usually just get offered one now and then by my manager and I usually enjoy it. But I do drink often. After finally delving into the world of scotch I feel like I should try pairing some with cigars. Particularly what would you guys suggest to pair with a heavily peated scotch like Lagavulin 16?
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Sep 15, 2012 20:06
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wormil posted:Midnight Moon is made here in NC and I've been tempted to try it but it seems like a waste of money for $22. There's also Howling Moon at $25 and Troy & Sons out of Asheville that's $30, ridiculous. Heaven Hills makes Georgia Moon which is a more reasonable $12. But really, I don't see a point in unaged whiskey unless it's dirt cheap. There are some cases where I think the unaged whisky is, well, point-ful. Take Charbay's recent Racer 5 Whiskey releases. The white version was much better than the aged one - in the aged one you lost a lot of the hop character which made the stuff interesting, and it became humdrum. In the unaged one, though, you could tell you were drinking distillate of Racer 5. It tasted like Racer 5 in particular, not just like hoppy white whiskey. The new-make and young whiskey that people sell also often serves to fund new distilleries. In that case it's almost like investing in the distillery - something I'd do for somewhere like Kilchoman, less so for many of the generic American distilleries which are popping up everywhere. I think a lot of these guys could make better money by producing vodka or gin to fund their initial foray into distilling, whilst laying down whisky stock for aging.
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Sep 15, 2012 22:22
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I'm not very good with describing bourbon, even though I love it, but I recently picked up a Jefferson's Reserve and it is wonderful. Even neat the aroma only carries a mild alcohol presence that really highlights a sweet, almost butterscotch, aroma. The flavor is very similar, I'm not getting much oak, just a mildly sweet butterscotch that's very drinkable. I really enjoy this, one of the smoothest bourbons I've had.
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Sep 21, 2012 17:00
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I'm seeing some long-time friends tomorrow night, and after stumbling onto this thread I've decided to surprise them with a nice bottle of scotch for us to enjoy. We're not huge spirit drinkers, but it's something we've all talked about exploring in the past. After some research and the first couple pages of this thread, I've narrowed it down to Johnnie Walker Black or Glenlivet 12 for tomorrow night. Can someone explain the difference (in taste, I understand the difference in manufacture) between a single malt vs a blend? Is the Glenlivet 12 worth the extra price over the Johnnie Walker? As a first timer I'm a little hesitant on spending too much on something I may not like, but I also want to do our introduction right. Thanks for any help!
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Sep 22, 2012 00:32
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The glenlivet is a good choice, it's milder and more approachable for someone not used to Scotch. You'll probably find JW harsher and less enjoyable.
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Sep 22, 2012 01:15
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Just as a different opinion: I think, overall, JW: Black is a better spirit, but Glenlivet is better for people who aren't used to scotch. Black Label has much more of a bittersweet, smoky flavor to it. Glenlivet is more citrus and fruit.
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Sep 22, 2012 02:04
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JW Black is tasty but honestly I feel like it's overpriced. Don't even get me started on JW Blue. I had some once and was unimpressed, especially considering how much it costs. It could be that I'm just more of a fan of single malt than blended. My favorite remains Balvenie Doublewood and well just about any Balvenie really.
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Sep 22, 2012 03:12
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I am properly trying my Baker's tonight and it's pretty dang good and on the sweet side, but it has a nice alcohol bite that is actually pleasant unlike some others I've had that had strong alcohol presences.
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Sep 22, 2012 05:22
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Midorka posted:I am properly trying my Baker's tonight and it's pretty dang good and on the sweet side, but it has a nice alcohol bite that is actually pleasant unlike some others I've had that had strong alcohol presences. I am not a fan of most Beam products but Bakers is probably my favorite bourbon. edit to add more content: I'm at the bottom of my bottle of Larceny bourbon and my impression hasn't changed much. The 6 year in the blend is too immature and conflicts with the other flavors. It's like someone took 1/3 each of Woodford, Makers, and Old Grand Dad; you get sweetness, harshness and pepper all in one swallow. That said, I have no doubt there will be fans of Larceny, there are already. But for me, I already have favorites at $20 & $30 and I'm not likely to choose this over those. MSRP is supposed to be $25, I paid $30 (w/$10 rebate) and the price has dropped to $28, hopefully it will keep dropping. wormil fucked around with this message at 04:12 on Sep 24, 2012 |
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Sep 24, 2012 03:51
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Baker's is very good but for small batch I will forever be a Booker's devotee until I find something better. I have yet to find that.
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Sep 24, 2012 04:20
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Huh. Apparently, Foxwoods (casino, northeast US) poker room, as well as giving out free mixed drinks, has a nonzero number of scotches. I ordered a Glenlivet, which was probably smaller than a full glass ordered at a bar/restaurant, but...still. A dollar tip? Pretty cheap!
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Sep 24, 2012 04:56
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Powdered Toast Man posted:Baker's is very good but for small batch I will forever be a Booker's devotee until I find something better. I have yet to find that. I think Booker's is my favorite, but Jefferson's Reserve may have taken it over. Also with my Baker's bottle I've completed the Beam Small Batch set and here's the order I'd rank them: Booker's > Basil Haydens > Baker's >>>>>>> Knob Creek Single Barrel. I love all of them except the Knob Creek Single, I am almost scared to try it again.
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Sep 24, 2012 05:17
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If I had to pick one, then it would be Baker's. Booker's is pointlessly hot and water seemed to break it down. Basil Hayden's is alright with ice on a hot day, or for serving friends who aren't whiskey/bourbon drinkers.
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Sep 24, 2012 07:14
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wormil posted:edit to add more content: I'm at the bottom of my bottle of Larceny bourbon and my impression hasn't changed much. The 6 year in the blend is too immature and conflicts with the other flavors. It's like someone took 1/3 each of Woodford, Makers, and Old Grand Dad; you get sweetness, harshness and pepper all in one swallow. That said, I have no doubt there will be fans of Larceny, there are already. But for me, I already have favorites at $20 & $30 and I'm not likely to choose this over those. MSRP is supposed to be $25, I paid $30 (w/$10 rebate) and the price has dropped to $28, hopefully it will keep dropping. When you can get pretty great bourbons for as cheap as $13-$15, having a mediocre one priced at $30 is a pretty hard sell.
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Sep 24, 2012 14:41
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What are some great bourbons under $20?
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Sep 24, 2012 14:53
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Midorka posted:What are some great bourbons under $20? Old Grand Dad Bonded is literally the best budget bourbon you'll find. Buffalo Trace may also be at/under $20 depending on your location.
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Sep 24, 2012 18:26
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Buffalo Trace is $25 here, my favorite bargain bourbon. I'll try Old Grandad, I've heard good things.
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Sep 24, 2012 18:29
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Rebel Yell is a pretty decent bargain whiskey.
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Sep 24, 2012 19:40
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Midorka posted:What are some great bourbons under $20? Elijah Craig 12, Fighting Cock, Evan Williams 1783 Midorka posted:I love all of them except the Knob Creek Single, I am almost scared to try it again. My bottle of KC Single was pretty bad.
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Sep 24, 2012 20:17
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Midorka posted:Buffalo Trace is $25 here, my favorite bargain bourbon. I'll try Old Grandad, I've heard good things. Make sure you get the Bonded version, with the orange cap. The regular stuff is apparently not as good.
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Sep 24, 2012 20:42
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Mr. Glass posted:Make sure you get the Bonded version, with the orange cap. The regular stuff is apparently not as good. The bonded is the 4yr, 100 proof. The black cap is the 4yr, 86 proof. (Age is an estimate) OGD100 is full of fire and testosterone but at $18+/bottle I think it's overpriced.
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Sep 24, 2012 21:06
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Very Old Barton Bottled in Bond is also another tremendous value bourbon - sitting at about $14. It's pretty nice straight up and it makes a great Manhattan\Old Fashioned too.
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Sep 24, 2012 21:38
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wormil posted:The bonded is the 4yr, 100 proof. The black cap is the 4yr, 86 proof. (Age is an estimate) OGD100 is full of fire and testosterone but at $18+/bottle I think it's overpriced. Ah, wasn't aware the non-bonded was basically the same stuff, just lower proof. I generally use it in old fashioneds, so the higher proof helps the drink stand up to the ice (in my opinion).
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Sep 24, 2012 22:13
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Mr. Glass posted:Ah, wasn't aware the non-bonded was basically the same stuff, just lower proof. I generally use it in old fashioneds, so the higher proof helps the drink stand up to the ice (in my opinion). I don't know that they are the same, here is an article on bonded whiskey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottled_in_bond quote:To be labeled as "Bottled-in-Bond" or "Bonded," the spirit must be the product of one distillation season and one distiller at one distillery. It must have been stored (i.e., aged) in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 (U.S.) proof (50% alcohol by volume). The bottled product's label must identify the distillery (by DSP number) where it was distilled and, if different, where it was bottled.
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Sep 24, 2012 23:05
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wormil posted:Elijah Craig 12, Fighting Cock, Evan Williams 1783 I wish Elijah Craig 12 year was that price here, I love that stuff. It's like $28 here.
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Sep 25, 2012 02:36
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wormil posted:Evan Williams 1783 This man speaks the truth. I bought this on a whim for $14 in the Outer Banks because I wanted something halfway recognizable that wouldn't hurt my wallet. Expected to just use it for mixed drinks or whatever and just leave the rest behind, but wow. You get quite a bit more than you pay for. Makes great boilermakers--especially with New Belgium's Shift. It's still sitting in my cabinet with that smug "I told you so" look.
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Sep 25, 2012 02:45
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Midorka posted:I wish Elijah Craig 12 year was that price here, I love that stuff. It's like $28 here. Wow, that's a shame. It's $24 here but is on sale all the time for $19. The magic of EC12 is that it's very balanced, very consistent and the highest quality bourbon in it's price range with the possible exception of Wild Turkey 101 (also $24 here but never on sale). WT can be a bit polarizing though, I love it but not everyone does. Kraven Moorhed posted:This man speaks the truth. I bought this on a whim for $14 in the Outer Banks because I wanted something halfway recognizable that wouldn't hurt my wallet. Expected to just use it for mixed drinks or whatever and just leave the rest behind, but wow. You get quite a bit more than you pay for. You really do, it's a terrific bargain. Oddly I'm not a big Evan Williams fan but love the 1783. Like the Elijah Craig, Evan Williams is very consistent and balanced if just a tad sweet. Fighting Cock is meant to compete against Wild Turkey and again has been very consistent and balanced even at 103 proof although it's sweeter than WT. I took a bottle on vacation to Michigan and it was a great novelty, everyone wanted the empty. Neither FC or 1783 are very complex but more like comfort food.
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Sep 25, 2012 03:23
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I'm not concerned about what water does to Booker's because I drink it neat, motherfucker. Or possibly in a Manhattan.
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Sep 25, 2012 03:40
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I'm enjoying my Jefferson's Reserve with two cubes just barely floated. I like my bourbons like this personally.
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Sep 25, 2012 04:27
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I just wanna give a shout-out as to how great Templeton Rye is; sweet and spicy without being too overpowering in either dimension. I also recently got a bottle of Lagavulin 16, but I wasn't quite as blown away by it as a lot of people are. I might just be put off by the price, but it doesn't seem particularly astounding; I like the peat level and the mouthfeel, but I'm not picking up a huge amount of flavor other than that. Maybe I just need to give it a second tasting.
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Sep 27, 2012 06:08
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Aglet56 posted:I just wanna give a shout-out as to how great Templeton Rye is; sweet and spicy without being too overpowering in either dimension. Lagavulin, to me, has more character than pretty much any other major Islay distillery bottling. It has sherry influences where most Islays do not. It has a briny, oystery, oily taste which might put off some.
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Sep 28, 2012 00:23
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I'm drinking another glass of Lagavulin right now, and I'm enjoying it a lot more; it's definitely got more sweetness and body than I picked up on my first tasting. I guess it's just sort of an acquired thing.
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Sep 28, 2012 05:01
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Sipping on some Ardbeg Uigeadail right now as a "congrats" for finishing a bunch of projects at work and a bunch of assignments for my classes and man... I forgot how delicious this stuff tastes. Perfectly intense peat and a little bit of sweetness mixed in there and just, man, I love this whisky. I've had half a bottle sitting in my cabinet for a good 6 months and, well, I don't how I've skipped drinking this guy for 6 whole loving months. Deliciously and powerfully perfect. I'm exhausted so I'm not going to get too deep into the notes and whatnot, but if you haven't tried this guy yet, get on it.
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Sep 28, 2012 08:19
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Aglet56 posted:I'm drinking another glass of Lagavulin right now, and I'm enjoying it a lot more; it's definitely got more sweetness and body than I picked up on my first tasting. I guess it's just sort of an acquired thing. Sometimes with Scotch, the flavour 'opens up' a little once you've cracked the bottle. The second (third, fourth?) dram from a bottle is better. Also, sometimes the first experience you have with a heavily peated scotch is so shocking that you can't get over the thwack of peat to discern anything else. Once you're expecting it, you can pick up the other stuff.
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Sep 28, 2012 15:46
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I finally got around to getting some Black Maple Hill bourbon and it's pretty great.
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Sep 28, 2012 19:17
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Bulliet rye is pretty great. WIld Turky 81 rye is not- too bland compared to the Bulliet. What other ryes are are great and priced in the same ballpark?
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Oct 1, 2012 20:23
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Sazerac and Rittenhouse Bonded are both excellent ryes. Good luck trying to find them though – keep an eye out for specialty liquor stores.
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Oct 1, 2012 21:10
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I've started using water instead of ice for my bourbon and I'm much happier.
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Oct 2, 2012 03:21
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I picked up a bottle of Rittenhouse Bonded in San Francisco last weekend for $23. It's very good, especially when you consider the price. Got bored the other day and put a drop or two of black walnut bitters in with it and really enjoyed it so I'm thinking that it would make a good old fashioned as well. Also tried some Whistle Pig for the first time, I really enjoyed the flavor and the spiciness really surprised me, in a good way.
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Oct 2, 2012 03:33
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Midorka posted:I've started using water instead of ice for my bourbon and I'm much happier. Good man. I remember graduating from coke + bourbon to ice + bourbon then to water + whisky, and boy what a difference. While some people may like ice, if you're really in it to savor some of the flavor you have to have it room temp. Cold kills flavor. Also, all this talk about Rittenhouse makes me want to go out and buy a bottle and whip up some manhattans this weekend.
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Oct 2, 2012 03:48
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