CHANGED MY WAY OF DRINKING GOOD WHISKY

[chief38]

I am a big fan of Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select and so for the Holidays my Son got me a bottle of the Sinatra Select Single Barrel. Now that I've been sipping it for a few months I have not added an ice cube or water or anything at all. It is just terrific neat in a Norlan Glass.

Because I started drinking this specific Whisky neat, I have now followed this practice with the regular Jack Single Barrel and all my other Bourbons.

A few days ago when out to dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, I ordered my standard drink for that Restaurant (Jack Old No. 7) and forgot to say neat - so I drank it anyway but immediately found it to be watered down. I also tend to drink it slower when neat, enjoy the nose and savor the flavors and scents that you just don't get when ice s added.

The first time I ever really drank Whisky neat on a regular basis is when I received this Sinatra Select and have to say it has really opened up a whole new way of enjoying my favorite Sour Mash's and Bourbons.

PS: the bottle is no longer full......

 

[STCM(SW)]

I got a bottle of that from the stepson two years ago.
At $180.00, not worth it.......

 

[rwt1405]

Ok, help the guy who doesn't drink much (but does actually enjoy a little whiskey every now and then), why exactly would it be called "neat"?

To me, it certainly sounds like one of the dumbest "terms" I've ever heard.

Then I read the definition of "straight up", and that certainly doesn't sound like something "straight up", which to me should be without anything added, certainly not "neat".

Am I the only one that finds these "drinking terms" confusing (or actually stupid), as if defined by someone who was drunk (or high, or both), which seems to make the most sense to me.

SMH

 

[eb07]

I just order my whiskey and say no water and no ice. These millennial bartenders and waitresses tend to screw up orders unless you are very specific.

 

[Ogandydancer]

I had always thought the two terms straight up and neat were interchangable or meant the same thing (without ice or water). I used to drink JD and Jim Beam but it got to where I tasted it in everything the next day so I now find Buffalo Trace to be more to my liking.

However I am more of a Scotch or Irish drinker.

 

[ChuckS1]

You're only one step away from being a Scotch drinker now.

 

[JayFramer]

Great way! If it's a high ABV like 90 or better proof, I'll add a few drops of water in.

 

[BARgunner]

I have to agree with chief38, I like my whiskey neat. I drink Bourbon and I think you can really taste all the subtle flavors when it's not watered down.

 

[Absalom]

....I drink Bourbon and I think you can really taste all the subtle flavors when it's not watered down.

There is a difference between adding water and watering it down. That’s why most of the quality bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys are now bottled or at least also available bottled at higher than standard drinking proof.

That allows you to add a tablespoon or two of water to bring out the flavors and still have a strong enough spirit. If you start doing that to a standard 40% ABV Beam White Label or JD No. 7, ending up too watered-down is easy to do.

On the other hand, adding a bit of water does agitate the molecules and intensify the flavor. That’s established science by now.

You can easily test that for yourself if you can get your hands on two bottles of the same recipe-and-age whiskey at different proofs, like Weller Special Reserve at 90 and Weller Antique at 107, or Barton 1792 Small Batch at 93 and Full Proof at 125.

Pour both and taste them after adding enough water to the higher-proof version to bring it down to the lower proof, just before tasting. Even though both samples should be the same juice at the same proof, the one you just watered will taste better (at least it does to me every time; works with Scotch too).

 

[Rule3]

But have you tried it neat in a Dirty glass?

 

[Funflyer]

You're only one step away from being a Scotch drinker now.

Exactly! Most Bourbon and Whiskey are just a gateway alcohol. Scotch is where it's at Well would you look at that, it's past noon and time to visit my friend Johnnie Walker, he's black you know.

 

[chief38]

I got a bottle of that from the stepson two years ago.
At $180.00, not worth it.......

I agree, While it is about 30% - 40% better and smoother than the Single Barrel Select, it costs 350% more. This is not something I'd buy on a regular basis, but as a gift I'll GLADLY accept it. The only downside is that after sipping the Sinatra for a few weeks it's a little hard to go backwards to the regular Single Barrel.

AND........ it DID teach me to drink good Whisky neat now. All in all - a very worthy experience!

 

[chief38]

You're only one step away from being a Scotch drinker now.

I can not drink Scotch! I have at least 8 different ones in my house including Royal Salute, Chivas, Johnny Black, & Platinum, Glenfidich, and about 3 or 4 others too and won't touch a drop! I have NEVER been able to develop a taste for the stuff - regardless of how much it costs! It's one of the few Whisky's I just can't drink!

My Fav's are:
Jack Daniels Sinatra, Single Barrel, Regular #7, Woodford's Reserve Double Oaked, Regular Woodford's, Blantons, Larceny, Dickel, Devils Cut, Pappy Van Winkle (almost cost prohibitive), Maker's Mark, Tito's Vodka, Mount Gay XO Rum, and a bunch of others - just no Gin or Scotch.

 

[chief38]

I have to agree with chief38, I like my whiskey neat. I drink Bourbon and I think you can really taste all the subtle flavors when it's not watered down.

ABSOLUTELY SIR!!

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

In my younger days when I first drank whiskey with out water or ice, the stuff was clear and came in a fruit jar, can't really say it had a great flavor.

 

[Dashriprock]

I had to look up Norlan Glass. Very interesting.

 

[oysterer]

Buffalo Trace guy here

I was lucky and was given a bottle of Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Thomas H Sazerac Rye Barrel Strength 2016 issue. That was absolutely incredible.

Otherwise drinking Buffalo Trace's Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Strength if my local dealer is kind enough to let me have one (6 bunkered).

All neat, no ice, nothing, maybe a dab of water to open her up.

 

[Absalom]

I had to look up Norlan Glass. Very interesting.

Me too. Never heard of it before. The card-carrying cynic in me immediately notices that for a set of 2 you pay double the price of a set of 4 Glencairn glasses, which have been my standard for all spirits for years; with a Glencairn, you can even get aromas out of vodka, which legally isn't allowed to have any aroma.

Then again, the Norlan gathered some impressive endorsements from people whose opinion I respect, and looks pretty cool, and the whisky blogs' reviews have been generally positive.

I think next time someone in the family is looking for a gift idea for me, I have a hint I can drop

 

[Old TexMex]

I drank whiskey in it’s natural form. Straight out of the bottle. Glasses was for lasses.

 

[03hemi]

I can not drink Scotch! I have at least 8 different ones in my house including Royal Salute, Chivas, Johnny Black, & Platinum, Glenfidich, and about 3 or 4 others too and won't touch a drop! I have NEVER been able to develop a taste for the stuff - regardless of how much it costs! It's one of the few Whisky's I just can't drink!

My Fav's are:
Jack Daniels Sinatra, Single Barrel, Regular #7, Woodford's Reserve Double Oaked, Regular Woodford's, Blantons, Larceny, Dickel, Devils Cut, Pappy Van Winkle (almost cost prohibitive), Maker's Mark, Tito's Vodka, Mount Gay XO Rum, and a bunch of others - just no Gin or Scotch.

That's what we all said! lol You'll be there before you know it now that you have learned how to really enjoy the flavors. One ice cube or filtered over ice when pouring will "open up the nose" and bring out more flavors. Single malt scotch taste the best by the way neat, some are sweet, some are smokey and some are in between, you'll have to decide the one you like best.