Scotch Whiskey

[CScott]

In 1966 as an underage kid from NY, I spent the summer with relatives in Prescott AZ. My cousin took me into a friends bar on "Whisky Row" and bought me my first real drink. Pinch bottle Haig & Haig served neat. I have been drinking good scotch ever since.
About 2 years ago, I was in a restaurant in S. Colorado and noticed 18 year old MaCallan on the top shelf. It had been recommended to me by a senior sales manager in my company so I ordered a shot before dinner. Man was that good so I had another. When the bill came, I had been charged $28 each. I am saving up for a bottle but whenever I get a few dollars together, some danged old revolver shows up. A nose strait from heaven, I swear I can almost taste it.
Incidentally, that same cousin also showed me the first S&W that I had ever seen and "insisted" that I carry it on our fishing trips. It was a blue 22 4" Kit Gun but I don't know the model #. I have a Model 63 and a Model 17 now, among others. We also "limbered up" my uncle's 44 special, a Model of 1926 I think.
Good whisky, great revolvers, & trout fishing. I really need to call my cousin to thank him (or cuss him) for getting me on the right track way back when!
Happy Days,
Scott

 

[hoc9sw]

I was based for a while in Moscow. In that part of the world JD was unobtainable, and cost a fortune. We were looking for something, and stumbled on a 1.75 of Glenfiddich 18 in an embassy store for less than $10. That became the house dram.

My favorite these days is early production Ardbeg Uigedail, when I can find it. The newer juice just isn't the same.

 

[max]

If you haven't done so already, you need to visit Ralfy.com. He has over 600 videos on his scotch and other tasting. I don't care for scotch, I am also a Canadian drinker, but really enjoy his videos, voice and humor.

 

[mudcat100]

Ah, Scotch. My dad favored it, and I could never understand why. He was a very smart man. This trait of his might have been the only anomaly that would ever cause me to doubt his intellectual prowess.

I have a bottle of Johnny Walker black label in my spirits stash. It's been sitting there unopened for close to 15 years, waiting for a guest who might want a sip or two. It should be prime by now. I have never kept Johnny Walker red in my house on the advice of my dad - apparently even Scotch aficionados consider it rotgut.

One of the people who used to work for me in El Paso loved Chivas Regal; I think I obtained and poured some for her back around the early '80s. I still have that bottle; the level has not gone down a bit since then. I assume that it's now aged to perfection - for those who like Scotch. I have not found but a few Scotch drinkers among those friends who come to our house for occasional conviviality. Usually even these folks will prefer one of my famous Manhattans, a Margarita or my favorite beer, Heineken. My posse is a discerning bunch and it makes me appreciate them all the more.

I tried a Rob Roy once, believing that once Scotch was mixed with something less distasteful, it might magically become drinkable. I was wrong for one of the few times in my life.

Perhaps I can send what I have to the U.S. Navy. It might be useful as a solvent to remove grey paint or to use as a starter assist for recalcitrant jeeps.

Now Kentucky Bourbon - that's another story. Tennessee whiskey is very close in drinkability. Jim and Jack have been among my friends for many years.

John

So, do you like single malt or blended?

 

[GaryS]

As has been stated, The. MacCallan (18is best IMHO), The Balvenie Doublewood or, if you can, Portwood, and Haig & Haig Pinch 15 or Famous Grouse Black. Quite surprisingly, the Costco simgle malt is pretty darn good! It's a Speyside, and rumor nas it that it's made at MacCallan.

I went today. There are two Costcos in MA that have actual Costco liquor stores in them. The others have some other arrangement, but they aren't company owned.

The very nice lady told me that they didn't get an allotment this year. Technically, last year. They usually get it in late September and it's a big seller during the holiday season. People come in and buy cases of the stuff to last them through the year and to give to others as gifts.

She pointed me towards a $700.00 bottle of Kirkland Scotch that was produced by Glenlivet. 40 year old Scotch. I wasn't going to buy one of those, but she said they have sold a few.

Anyway, she suggested I email Costco corporate and find out what the story was.

I'll report back if I hear back from them.

ETA: I did a little on line research and apparently they buy overrun production from various distilleries and bottle it under the Kirkland label. That's probably a bit harder these days since Single Malt is really popular.

 

[chaparrito]

I haven't tried the Costco liquors, but lest anyone demean "discount house" brands keep in mind that Costco is the largest wine buyer in the country and one of the largest in the world. I have no doubt they know what they're doing in the hooch business as well.

 

[italiansport]

I like to dispel a misunderstanding here about open bottles of whiskey. Whiskey does NOT "age" once it's been bottled. However it will degrade over time even if the bottle isn't opened. A open bottle will degrade faster so it's IMO never a good idea to leave an open bottle of whiskey unused for any length of time.
Jim

 

[Arik]

I've had Costco tequila. Bottled under Kirkland. It was ok. Not great but not bad.

 

[Absalom]

... so it's IMO never a good idea to leave an open bottle of whiskey unused for any length of time.
Jim

I love the educational value of this forum. I didn't know that. I'm going to run and have a dram out of all my open bottles right now to clean out the valves and make sure the transmission doesn't gum up!

 

[johnnyflake]

I am one who agrees with the statement that Single Malts are for sipping and blends are for drinking. I have had many Single Malts, in my life time, all were good, in their own way but I never considered them something special, and a few were very, very expensive.

For drinking, I am a simple man, when it comes to scotch. My go to, is Johnnie Walker Black!

 

[GaryS]

I've had Costco tequila. Bottled under Kirkland. It was ok. Not great but not bad.

It's not just Scotch and tequila. They also have a Kirkland brand Vodka. Which the nice lady told me is Gray Goose.

I don't drink Vodka since an unfortunate incident on my 19th birthday that involved, Vodka, Kahlua, ice, and a Budweiser beer class. I'll leave the rest to the collective imaginations of the group. Suffice it to say that 19 was a lonnnnng time ago.

 

[Arik]

It's not just Scotch and tequila. They also have a Kirkland brand Vodka. Which the nice lady told me is Gray Goose.

I don't drink Vodka since an unfortunate incident on my 19th birthday that involved, Vodka, Kahlua, ice, and a Budweiser beer class. I'll leave the rest to the collective imaginations of the group. Suffice it to say that 19 was a lonnnnng time ago.

It could be. The thing with tequila is that they ALL have a 4 digit number that are unique to the specific distillery, so it's easy to check

 

[ChuckS1]

I didn't know that Costco had their own brand of Scotch. I'll have to take a cruise by later today and check it out.

Yeah, but who needs 55 gallons of Scotch?

 

[Donn]

Single malt. Glenfarclas 25, when I can find, (and afford), it.
Blend. Johnnie Walker Gold, when I can afford it.

 

[GaryS]

Yeah, but who needs 55 gallons of Scotch?

Seriously, though the nice lady told me that it comes in usually in September and customers come in and buy it by the case. I'd guess that some buy a years supply and some buy it to give to other people as presents.

If it's only available once a year, that makes sense I think.

 

[johngalt]

A question from a whiskey noob: what makes a rye preferable to corn? Is it just different or better marketing?

 

[johnnyflake]

A question from a whiskey noob: what makes a rye preferable to corn? Is it just different or better marketing?

Absolutely Nothing!

Anyone that says they prefer Rye over Corn, or Corn over Rye, or that one method is better than the other, is simply being Subjective. It comes down to personal taste, it's as simple as that!

 

[Isis1200L]

Yeah, but who needs 55 gallons of Scotch?

Well, if I can have a gallon of 55 different scotches, I'd sure as heck go for that!!!
Anyone drink McClellands? Their Highland is very smooth and to me, it finishes with a hint of vanilla. Most excellent with chocolate.
GOOD DARK chocolate, that is. (Trader Joe's Pound Plus 72% cacao)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVe82b-OVVU

 

[Absalom]

Absolutely Nothing!

Anyone that says they prefer Rye over Corn, or Corn over Rye, or that one method is better than the other, is simply being Subjective. It comes down to personal taste, it's as simple as that!

What do you like better, cornbread or rye bread? Same difference. Under US law, it's simply about which grain makes up more than half of the mash which is fermented and from which the whiskey is distilled. Corn produces a softer, rye a spicier flavor. Historically, whiskey production started with rye in the Northern colonies, because that grew better there, and shifted to corn as settlement expanded southwest into Kentucky and Tennessee.
What's "better" depends on what you prefer.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, local distillers are often using neither, but winter wheat instead, which can make decent spirits, too.