Scotch anyone?

[therevjay]

Whats your favorite? For years I wouldn't drink the stuff on a dare. I thought it tasted like iodine smells. Well cheap Scotch does!

After someone gave me a taste of good stuff (Glenlivet) I changed my mind. Now my favorite is "Johnnie Walker black label" Glenlivet, and other single malts still taste good. But the blended stuff isn't bad either. (some anyway)

[jeffsmith]

Oban
Dewars if no Oban is about

[NKJ nut]

Great idea!! I was feeling so stressed I thought about drinking a bottle of 10 year old after shave lotion

[old bear]

Johnnie Walker Black has been a favorite for many years; I also enjoy Haig & Haig Pinch. I’ve always favored bended Scotch over single malts.

[steamloco76]

Dewar's with a good Honduran cigar. Famous Grouse for something more mellow. The Glenlivet or another classic single malt if the rich guy at the bar is buying

[BlackSky]

I'm a fan of MacAllan and Oban.

[Ironhand]

I like the really smoky single malts, like Lagavulin. Of course, I can't afford this kind of scotch often, so I nick a drink or two when I visit my Papa.

[medxam]

Lagavulin, single malt. It is only $90.00 a fifth in NC, but worth it on the screen porch at night with a good Cuban cigar!

[haggis]

Laphroig, Port Ellen, Lagavulin, Talisker, Ledaig (pronounced Led-Chig), Highland Park. That should get us through the first week.

If you're interested, they're from Islay (pronounced Eye-Luh), Islay, Islay, Skye, Mull, and the Orkneys.

Buck

[ContinentalOp]

The only Scotch I've tried that I've liked is 21-year-old Glenfarclas. I never understood what the connoisseurs* meant when they talked about the different qualities of Scotch until I tried Glenfarclas.















*Yes, I had to look it up to see how it was spelled.

[swDC]

I love Balvenie... My standard bottle is their 12yr Doublewood but I just picked up a bottle of their 14yr Carribean Cask last month and that is damn good as well with a hint of rum sweetness to it... I think I will go have a glass before bed.

[Bud11]

JW Black for me. Several others for special occasions.

[cussedemgun]

Make mine Jamison's Irish

The Scotts invented whisky - - it was the only way they could prevent the Irish from ruling the world!

[LennyLames]

A client had given me a bottle many, many years ago. The package states the following:
Single Malt
The Balvenie
Distillery
Banffshire Scotland
Doublewood

Is that the same one, swDC? I have no idea if it's good or not, since I'm not exactly a connoisseur. Wine has been know to age naturally in our household, from lack of consumption. Beer has been known to expire as well, unless my brother-in-law comes for a visit.

Should I just continue storing it (are there any special requirements for temperature and humidity?), should I give it away, or is the best storage through one's gullet and eventually pissed down the toilet?

[cussedemgun]

Originally Posted by LennyLames

A client had given me a bottle many, many years ago. The package states the following:
Single Malt
The Balvenie
Distillery
Banffshire Scotland
Doublewood

Is that the same one, swDC? I have no idea if it's good or not, since I'm not exactly a connoisseur. Wine has been know to age naturally in our household, from lack of consumption. Beer has been known to expire as well, unless my brother-in-law comes for a visit.

Should I just continue storing it (are there any special requirements for temperature and humidity?), should I give it away, or is the best storage through one's gullet and eventually pissed down the toilet?

GREAT idea for a KARMA! please put my name in.

Jim

[Ironhand]

Originally Posted by haggis

Laphroig, Port Ellen, Lagavulin, Talisker, Ledaig (pronounced Led-Chig), Highland Park. That should get us through the first week.

If you're interested, they're from Islay (pronounced Eye-Luh), Islay, Islay, Skye, Mull, and the Orkneys.

Buck

Islay is where my Pop's family goes back to, for many generations. I am(sort of) a member of Clan McNeil, courtesy of my father's family, an odd thing for a full-blood Sioux Indian(I'm adopted.. in case you were wondering).

[HAWKEYE10]

I hate Scotch. I tried to drink some one time and that's it. That stuff tasted terrible. Don

[mes227]

Originally Posted by LennyLames

A client had given me a bottle many, many years ago. The package states the following:
Single Malt
The Balvenie
Distillery
Banffshire Scotland
Doublewood

Is that the same one, swDC? I have no idea if it's good or not, since I'm not exactly a connoisseur. Wine has been know to age naturally in our household, from lack of consumption. Beer has been known to expire as well, unless my brother-in-law comes for a visit.

Should I just continue storing it (are there any special requirements for temperature and humidity?), should I give it away, or is the best storage through one's gullet and eventually pissed down the toilet?

Single Malt - this means it's 100% from malted (sprouted) barely from a single distillery. Compared to, say, JW Red, Black and Blue, which are blends of malt and other grain whiskies from dozens of distilleries, blended so that each bottle each year tastes identically. Single malts can vary considerably from batch to batch, which is one of their attractions.

The Balvenie - that's the distillery. They make great stuff!

Banffshire Scotland - where the distillery is located

Doublewood - This is the "expression" or style. Balvenie makes a number of styles. Doublewood is first aged in used American bourbon casks for over 10 years, and then finished in European oak sherry casks for a total of at least 12 years. Balvenie's Doublewood is a fine malt. Other styles include 15 & 30 year old, port wood, rum cask, and recently a lightly peated version.

Storage: Good whisky will store well in it's original bottle for a century or more. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight. i.e., store in a liquor cabinet or cupboard. Whisky is not nearly as sensitive to temperatures as wine but I wouldn't abuse it (don't store it in the garage). But if you keep it in the house, in a cupboard, this will last as long as needed.

Better is to enjoy it!

[mes227]

Originally Posted by HAWKEYE10

I hate Scotch. I tried to drink some one time and that's it. That stuff tasted terrible. Don

There's a world of difference between what's commonly called Scotch (blended, such as Chivas, JW, etc) and top-shelf single malts (Highland Park, Belvenie, Caol Ila, Edradour, all from Scotland; Eddu, France; Amarut, India; Lark, Australia; etc). I'm not putting blended Scotch down, but they are as different as rum and bourbon.

[tango-papa]

Originally Posted by LennyLames

A client had given me a bottle many, many years ago. The package states the following:
Single Malt
The Balvenie
Distillery
Banffshire Scotland
Doublewood

Is that the same one, swDC? I have no idea if it's good or not, since I'm not exactly a connoisseur. Wine has been know to age naturally in our household, from lack of consumption. Beer has been known to expire as well, unless my brother-in-law comes for a visit.

Should I just continue storing it (are there any special requirements for temperature and humidity?), should I give it away, or is the best storage through one's gullet and eventually pissed down the toilet?

Another note on storage...
Has the bottle been standing upright or lying on it's side all these years?
If it's been standing, you're good to go. If it's been on it's side, trash it as it's now "corked".
Trust me, you do not want to sample any "corked" whisk(e)y!

tp

[Onomea]

Originally Posted by tango-papa

Another note on storage...
Has the bottle been standing upright or lying on it's side all these years?
If it's been standing, you're good to go. If it's been on it's side, trash it as it's now "corked".
Trust me, you do not want to sample any "corked" whisk(e)y!

tp

Say, would you pls explain that? No alcohol has ever survived in my house long enough to have that problem (!), but I am curious as to why wine would be stored on its side, but whiskey standing up...

[Maximumbob54]

I don't care for whiskey in any of its forms. It's a personal taste issue, nothing against it or those who enjoy it. I bought a bottle of Bacardi Ocho Anyos that is supposed to be a decent aged rum and I can enjoy that over a cube or two of ice. I tried a small squeaze of fresh lime and it was different but I won't say better. I'm not sure what a true top shelf rum would even be.

[tripledipper]

While I drink JW Black and Red, and one of these days will get a bottle of Blue, I also have Clan MacGregor, as a reminder of when I could not afford the better stuff. Single malts are OK too.

[Thuer]

My all time favorite is the Famouse Grouse.
At the moment I do have a bottle of 15 year old Dalwhinnie and a 10 year old Edradour in my cabinet.

Do I love Scots? I really do thinks so!

[H Richard]

Lagavulin is the best, but Bowmore (also an Islay malt) in close at half the price. Or, just about any of the Islay malts. Glenlivet French Oak isn't too bad dither.

[Chromedhearts]

Some room temp. Cutty Sark, and a non-filtered Camel. Well one of my Army 1st Sergeants always ended his day that way.

[Nico Testosteros]

I've pretty much given up Scotch, im a bourbon drinker now but my uncle from England brought some Aberlour over and we enjoyed it one night. Very nice.

[TIMETRIPPER]

Scotch is definitely an acquired taste. McClellans is good for an inexpensive single malt. I actually prefer their lowland variety to Chivas. Still adjusting to the peaty flavored highland and Islay versions though.
Here's two others that served me well will on a fishing trip in May:



Both were in the $40-50 neighborhood.

John

[Thuer]

Heeeee I do know the botle on the left side.

[Len]

Unless I missed it, I'm surprised than no one's mentioned Glenmorangie.

I am a fervent bourbon drinker [but only two or three times a year], and find a good bourbon to be a life enhancing experience.

I'd tried scotch, and found it not to my liking...until I got a bottle of the aforementioned scotch as a gift...and was willing to admit to the error of my ways.

I like them both, at the right time and the right place.

For example....around the lodge fire during duck season, the drink just "is" bourbon.

After a long, summer sail to Thunder Bay...then it's time for scotch.

My 2 cents....Len

[nogoodnamesleft]

I need to reexamine my thoughts toward scotch ... it's always tasted like the inside of a leather bag to me ,but then again, I've probably not been drinking quality scotch.

[longranger]

I had tried to drink scotch for years Johnnie Walker Black and Blue,stuff sucks,Chivas Regal O.K.
Just spent the past six weeks working for a outfitter here in Wyoming that outfits folks from the U.K., had a gentleman and his lovely wife from Scotland for 2 weeks.I got me an education on Scotch ! He explained that I did not like J.W. because of the style,better than 250 different distillers in Scotland they each feature their interpretation of what Scotch should be,each is very different.He bought me a double shot of Bowmore 15 year old.Oh my god,the best whiskey I have ever put in my mouth.He explained all the regions in Scotland just do it different all have their own way of making Scotch.
I am a devout sour mash whiskey drinker,George Dickel(reserve single barrel)Elmer T Lee and a few others.No bourbon or blended whiskies for me.Bourbon/blended whisky is for moderates,the squishey middle folks that really have'nt sampled the better whiskey's available.Islay Rocks.

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Originally Posted by Chromedhearts

Some room temp. Cutty Sark, and a non-filtered Camel. Well one of my Army 1st Sergeants always ended his day that way.

That ain't a too shabby way to end a day my friend!!!!!!!!!!

[jbcap]

JW Black most of the time and Dewars if I'm out of Black. JW Blue or Gold only if obtained as a gift. Lagavulin is also pretty good.

[LennyLames]

Originally Posted by mes227

Storage: Good whisky will store well in it's original bottle for a century or more. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight. i.e., store in a liquor cabinet or cupboard. Whisky is not nearly as sensitive to temperatures as wine but I wouldn't abuse it (don't store it in the garage). But if you keep it in the house, in a cupboard, this will last as long as needed.

Better is to enjoy it!

Thanks for the info. I learned more about this bottle the past couple of days than in all the years I've stored it. Sounds like it was worth keeping than giving it to my brother-in-law. It's been in the kitchen all these years, and moved with me from Minnesota. It came in a fancy cardboard tube with embossed metal end caps so I assume it hasn't seen any sunlight since manufacture (is distillation the proper term?), until a few minutes ago when I opened it to make sure I wasn't just lugging around a bottle of Thunderbird.

Originally Posted by tango-papa

Another note on storage...
Has the bottle been standing upright or lying on it's side all these years?
If it's been standing, you're good to go. If it's been on it's side, trash it as it's now "corked".
Trust me, you do not want to sample any "corked" whisk(e)y!

tp

Fortunately, due to the aforementioned cardboard tube, it has been standing upright, not sideways in some wine rack.

As a subsequent poster asked, I'm also curious about what a "corked" whiskey is all about.

[E Z MUNNY]

When I was in the USAF we had a New Year's Eve party in the barracks. I had gone to the base PX liquor store and came back with a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label and for some unknown reason, a big can of grapefruit juice. I mixed the two together time after time and by 0100 hours at least 3/4 of the scotch was gone but I was not drunk. I haven't liked scotch or grapefruit juice since (this was in 1962) but Appleton Estates 12 year old Jamaican Rum is something else - absolutely the best stuff I have ever had.

[jframe]

I am FAR from an educated drinker, but when it comes to Scotch, you just can't beat a good bourbon or sour mash. In all honesty, with my pauper of a job as a Ford parts man, good Scotch is out of the question price wise for me, hence my growing affection for Maker's Mark. I would like to be able to develop a taste for a decent Scotch that won't choke the wallet though.

[tango-papa]

Originally Posted by LennyLames

Fortunately, due to the aforementioned cardboard tube, it has been standing upright, not sideways in some wine rack.

As a subsequent poster asked, I'm also curious about what a "corked" whiskey is all about.

I have no idea how to do a reply to multiple posts, so I'll answer here for Onomea & LennyLames...

Whisk(e)y has a significantly higher ABV than wine. Any whisk(e)y bottle left on it's side so as to allow the liquid to be in constant contact with the cork, will break down the cork (i.e. the glue/resins in the cork). A lengthy lay on the side will also usually result in muliple particles of cork floating in the liquid along with a bit of haze.

The result is a rather nasty taste to the otherwise tasty liquid.

LennyLames,
The Balvenie, Doublewood is a really nice, easy drinking Scotch. Be wary though, it's also a "gateway" dram if you're not careful.

Regards,
tp

[Kenna]

JW Black on the weekends with a good cigar around campfire.Will try Blue at the appropriate times. Kenna

[haggis]

Originally Posted by jframe

I would like to be able to develop a taste for a decent Scotch that won't choke the wallet though.

• Bowmore Legend - no age statement, probably 7-8 years old. Single malt from Islay.
• Jura - Single malt from Isle of Jura, 10 years old. This is the only distillery on Jura, the island just north of Islay.
• For a good blend, Whitehorse. One of its major ingredients is Lagavulin.

These are all in the $25 or less range for a 750 ml bottle. Decent whiskies all. I think that Legend is a very good single.

Buck

[Onomea]

Thanks, Tango, for the explanation. Makes sense.

[Ogandydancer]

Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Johnnie Walker red ot black, Dewars, and as for Irish I go for Bushmills, Black Bush, or Tullimore Dew. Domestics; Wild Turkey, Makers Mark, Austin Nichols Rye.