Expensive Licquor

[chaparrito]

I am pleased to have somehow lost my taste for Scots whisky. After years and years paying through the nose I just didn't want any more. Maybe I never really liked it and just got snookered by the fly-fishing style snob appeal.
American whiskeys in all their glory, even the priciest (except for Pappy VW of course) can be had for a fraction of what comparably rare Scotches cost.
Lately I've been enjoying 4 Roses small batch, a number of good ryes including the 19th century style pure rye from Anchor Distilling in San Francisco, a single malt offering from a small Montana outfit that uses locally grown barley and the interesting products from High West Distilling in Park City. In my own state Whiskey del Bac in Tucson is winning awards with their Mesquite smoked single malt. Virtually all these bottles are in the 40-80 dollar range.
Neither price nor labels have any flavor at all.

 

[Qball]

Me and a few friends made some "shine", started with 400liters of mash
First run was made without cooling the whole basement was filled with gas

Thankfully it didn't explode, could have been the most expensive Booze i ever had.

Not mine but very simmilar

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Gin is my choice for the hard stuff. Recently introduced to Boodles and Hendricks thanks to this board. Tanquery remains my favorite.

If you ever get a chance, give Blackwood's gin a go. The botanicals are harvested from Scotland's northern-most islands, the Shetlands. A bit rich at $45, but simply amazing.

 

[Bkreutz]

I quit drinking alcohol over 20 years ago (I don't know the definition of moderation ) But I do remember (slightly) some 50 cent a quart tequila that I bought in Acuna Mexico (no label, grease pencil price on the glass)

 

[finesse_r]

I quit drinking alcohol over 20 years ago (I don't know the definition of moderation ) But I do remember (slightly) some 50 cent a quart tequila that I bought in Acuna Mexico (no label, grease pencil price on the glass)

I was just wondering about that, not being a tequila drinker myself. Do you chew the worm in the bottom of the bottle or do you just drink in down?

 

[Arik]

I was just wondering about that, not being a tequila drinker myself. Do you chew the worm in the bottom of the bottle or do you just drink in down?

The worm is a gimmick for American market. In reality it means that the cactus used was infected. Like worms in an apple. And no one would put that into their liquor as it signifies poor quality

 

[DoubleAdobe]

Toss up, Old Crow and Ten High Bourbon are both getting around 15 bucks a half gallon. If I am flush I do go for the Jim Beam.

 

[BearBio]

My favorite is gusano rojo mezcal. Runs $50-60 per bottle up here. Used to buy it in Mexico for $3.50 per liter.

 

[Absalom]

I am pleased to have somehow lost my taste for Scots whisky. After years and years paying through the nose I just didn't want any more. Maybe I never really liked it and just got snookered by the fly-fishing style snob appeal....
....... Virtually all these bottles are in the 40-80 dollar range.
Neither price nor labels have any flavor at all.

Indeed they don't, and that's what you're paying for if you move much past your $80 limit in Scotch. I've drunk Scotch and Irish for almost five decades now and American whiskeys for three, and enjoy them all (even Japanese now). I'm far from an expert (if I thought so, I'd be posting whiskey reviews on Youtube, something far too many people do who really shouldn't), but I've come to the conclusion that one needs to move past the beginner's cliche that older is better with Scotch, once the whisky is mature at 10 to 12 years. The producers and their media court like to perpetuate the concept because the margins are so much better with the older, rarer vintages. But they are just older, rarer, and pricier; whether they are better depends on what you are looking for in the flavor profile. If you're looking for wood complexity, older is better; if you're more interested in the grain aspect, not so much. And with peated, smoky whiskies, older can actually be worse, as the wood asserts itself over the peat with age. I don't buy any single malts over 12 years, and drink very fine drams from bottles generally under $60.
And as for American whiskey, I think you can stay below $40 for the rest of your life and never drink bad whiskey. My current favorite, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel, a superb bourbon, goes for $33 and makes me wonder how anyone (like Jefferson's) is actually able to sell no-name sourced juice for $80. Marketing, I guess.

 

[rlongclu]

Sounds like I should be collecting full bottles of Johnny Walker Blue and keeping them for an investment.

Feel free to store them at my house

 

[Kinman]

I was told by a true tejano that the worm in Tequila is there to signify the fact that the alcohol content was sufficient enough to keep the worm from deteriorating, if your drinking the real stuff that ain't got any labels and there ain't no worm in it, don't drink it.
I will also share an appreciation for The Bowmore, my favorite of the common single malts...I've got my eye on a couple of American all Rye whiskys that I'd like to try, they run well over 50 bucks a bottle, I keep hoping my son will give me a gift card to the big liquor store so I can afford to sample some of that fine Rye.

 

[yashua-p]

I belong to the Old Tennis Shoe school of consumption. To me, it's about the destination, not the journey.

regards

yashua

 

[S42N8]

I will admit to some overpriced bourbon; in my defense, it seemed like a good idea at the time. The Woodford Master's collection was actually quite good; the IW Harper 15-year was overpriced. The Michter Barrel Strength Rye is on the borderline - really tasty without the 108 proof burn you'd expect, but not sure it worth the $70 price tag.

 

[Gamecock]

Gawd, I feel so cheap now.

 

[Cyrano]

I was just wondering about that, not being a tequila drinker myself. Do you chew the worm in the bottom of the bottle or do you just drink in down?

Tequila doesn't have a worm in it; you're thinking of mescal. There are two types of mescal; one is clear, without a worm, the other is light tan, with worm I think the color of the worm infuses into the mescal. Mescal also contains mescaline, a haluciogenic (sp?) drug. If you get drunk on it you'll have a really huge hangover (spoken as one who has experienced it....once)/

 

[BigBill]

I want to import some of that labyrinth to dance with the green lady.
The next big holiday.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Tequila doesn't have a worm in it; you're thinking of mescal. There are two types of mescal; one is clear, without a worm, the other is light tan, with worm I think the color of the worm infuses into the mescal. Mescal also contains mescaline, a haluciogenic (sp?) drug. If you get drunk on it you'll have a really huge hangover (spoken as one who has experienced it....once)/

Well, you're exactly right about mescal, not tequila, having the worm. However...

Good mescal--like good tequila--is 100% agave (although the two--in their pure forms--are borne from different types of agave and follow a much different process prior to distillation), no additives, and, therefore, should produce no handover (if consumed in moderation).

Tequila = blue agave (maguey), comes from the state of Jalisco [ya-lees-co]. Mescal from the state of Oaxaca [wa-ha-ca]= comes from many other agave varieties. Short and simple.

The two are akin because the come from Mexican agave. End of similarities.

It's possible to enjoy either without the ill effects the next day.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[RSBH44]

Johnny Walker Blue. Paid $99.00 in about 2001 for a bottle. Had about one drink a year for about 10 years from that bottle. Christmas or special occasions only, of course.

I think it goes for about $250.00 now.

Yup, same here. Johnny Walker Blue. I bought a round for 5 of us at a bar to congratulate a friend of mine who's daughter was getting married. It cost me $100

 

[Arik]

. Mescal also contains mescaline, a haluciogenic (sp?) drug. If you get drunk on it you'll have a really huge hangover (spoken as one who has experienced it....once)/

Lol no it doesn't! Since when? Mascal IS tequila but can't be called tequila if it didn't come from the tequila region of Mexico. Can't call it tequila unless it's made in that one region. Like cognac and champagne. If they didn't come from that region they are called Brandy and Sparkling wine.

If you got a hangover from Mescal or tequila you had corn liquor. There are 2 types of "tequila" MADE WITH agave and 100% agave. "Made with" means they used some agave in your bottle. To be more accurate, they used 51% agave and the rest is corn liquor. 100% is just that......100% agave, nothing else added.

The $15 bottle of Jose Cuervo is 49% corn liquor. However, Jose Cuervo La Familia is 100% agave and cost 4x as much and not usually found in most liquor stores.

 

[Arik]

I want to import some of that labyrinth to dance with the green lady.
The next big holiday.

Are you talking about Absinthe? I've had it here (it's sold in the US) and in Europe. Dispite magical claims there is no pshycodelic properties to it. People get those effects cause of the high alcohol content