Whiskeys and Other Fine Spirits: A Journey Into a Wabbit Hole

[tbm3fan]

BF, I will certainly keep you in mind as I continue to branch out of my bourbon safespace into parts unknown. I am currently looking into expanding my palette into Irish and Rye.

For those others who may be considering dipping their toes into the pool, a primer:

Try as I might I simply cannot put Scotch ahead of my Bourbons or Irish Whiskeys. So I typically stock around 5 Bourbons and 3 Irish Whiskeys. However, and this is a big however, neither can supplant my desire for tequila. You see after my first drink of beer at a party (1972) the next was with tequila, lime and salt. I still remember the girl's name who introduced me to it. Cuervo crap at the time as that is all there was. Now I have 6 different tequilas on my shelf and would happily pour a shot every night along with a little piece of ice to release the aromatics. When I head back to the Philippines this December I will be packing two of my favorite tequilas and a friend I haven't seen since 2008 is anxiously waiting. He happens to be Aussie. Oh, another pour I love to sip straight out of the freezer and it is the only vodka I will drink, forget the Stoli crap, is Blue Ice.

[Red Team]

Tbm,

I became spoiled by the smooth and subtle sweetness of Beluga and Russian Standard vodkas, but I can no longer get my hands on these bottles for obvious reasons. I shall give Blue Ice a try!

In terms of Tequila, I'm quite partial to Don Julio's offerings. I've also enjoyed making Tequila Old Fashioneds with Anejos.

[Bigfella]

Uber Eats had deals this weekend with a couple of local liquour chain stores offering 30% off a wide selection of items which would then be delivered to your door. Even with the slightly boosted Uber Eats prices & delivery cost it was still at least 20% off everything, in some cases more. Major bargains and my last big buy for the year. I decided to stock up on some good whisky. There was a restriction which effectively limited me to buying two bottles at once. However, that was only a minor inconvenience.

So, for those who live in backward societies that don't deliver alcohol to your door, read and weep :

*Lagavulin 16 year old
*Oban 14 year old - both are fine Islay malts. Good if you like a peaty whisky. Lagavulin 16 the better drop, one of thd best Islay malts that the ordinary folk can afford.

*Dalwhinnie 15 year old
*Aberlour 12 year old - two Speyside, highland whiskies (Dalwhinnie is the highest distillery in Scotland), these are sweeter, maltier whiskies, not peaty.

*Bladnoch 11 year old - the only Australian owned distillery in Scotland and maker of the most beautiful sweet whiskies. This one is aged in bourbon & red wine barrels. Also among the coolest bottles of any whisky - I use an old one like a decanter for an 'infinity bottle' - the dregs of all my old whiskies.

*Starward Solera - this is a departure from the above in every way. First, it is a local whisky from Melbourne (not that far from me actually). Second, it is not a single malt, but 'solera' blended. This is a complex process often used for sherries & such, involving small amounts of young product being added to older vintages progressively. Quite complex. Finally, this was aged in sherry casks. YUM!

[DOR]

*Drool*

[Red Team]

BF,

I normally don't go for peated Scotch, but there's something about the Lagavulin 16 that continues to hook me as a layman Bourbon drinker. Outside the Islay Scotch realm, I recently got my hands on Balvenie 12 year Double Cask Finish which does an amazing job bridging together classic Scotch and Bourbon flavors.

Later tonight, I'll be cracking open a new bottle from my (belated) special occasion reserve and will share my thoughts after trying:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (Batch C921)

Despite its 120 proof strength, this bourbon combines classic bourbon sweet notes (vanilla, caramel, brown sugar) with a perfectly balanced oakiness that rounds everything out on the palate. This is a great example of a classic bourbon, elevated by its proof.

[Bigfella]

BF,

I normally don't go for peated Scotch, but there's something about the Lagavulin 16 that continues to hook me as a layman Bourbon drinker. Outside the Islay Scotch realm, I recently got my hands on Balvenie 12 year Double Cask Finish which does an amazing job bridging together classic Scotch and Bourbon flavors.

Later tonight, I'll be cracking open a new bottle from my (belated) special occasion reserve and will share my thoughts after trying:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (Batch C921)

Despite its 120 proof strength, this bourbon combines classic bourbon sweet notes (vanilla, caramel, brown sugar) with a perfectly balanced oakiness that rounds everything out on the palate. This is a great example of a classic bourbon, elevated by its proof.

I don't mind a good peated whisky, but MUCH prefer a 'sherry bomb'. However, as you say, Lagavulin 16 is something special. Beautifully balanced drink and highly recommended.

As it happens I currently have a Balvenie 14 Carribean Cask open. WOW! It is a beautiful sweet, mellow whisky. Based on this side by side comparison it sounds like it is a bit sweeter than the Double Wood, but both sound pretty good. I have a 200ml bottle of the double wood which I will open in the next few months to do my own comparison.

I have always struggled with overproof whiskies. Anything above 50% is a lot of work. I know you can add water, and I have a dropper, but I don't like messing with the product. I tend to steer away from 'cask strength' whiskies unless there is a compelling reason. I have heard good things about Elijah Craig, but might start with the regular strength.

[Gun Grape]

Having to tighten the belt with all the high prices, I'm wondering:

Are these OK to mix with generic cola or should I go with the Classic Coke or Dr Pepper?

[tbm3fan]

Having to tighten the belt with all the high prices, I'm wondering:

Are these OK to mix with generic cola or should I go with the Classic Coke or Dr Pepper?

Tongue in cheek, right?

[Bigfella]

Tongue in cheek, right?

I have heard awful things about Marines from Buck, so I'm inclined to take him seriously. Grab the good sippin' whisky & make a run for it!

[Gun Grape]

So better used for Natural Lite Boilermakers?

[Albany Rifles]

I have heard awful things about Marines from Buck, so I'm inclined to take him seriously. Grab the good sippin' whisky & make a run for it!

Well I rarely mix anything with my bourbon but if I do it's usually club soda.

I haven't had a bourbon & coke since I was a young Captain and a student at the Infantry Officers Advanced Course 84-85. When my study group got together to "study" we drank Jim Beam & Diet Coke...out of Slurpee cups (Buck to Pete translation: a large plastic cup which could hold a liter or more).

For some reason as I got older I got more discriminating in my tastes.

And Gunny, I haven't had a Natty in decades. And to me as someone who sat in Memorial Stadium in Baltimore to watch Orioles games in the bleachers when I was in high school in 75-76 the Nattys we drank were Natty Bo's...National Bohemians.

[Gun Grape]

Diet Coke. That's just wrong

[tbm3fan]

Mixing some of those Jim Beams with soda I can see just as I can see ordering Jack and Coke. Jack Daniels isn't a quality bourbon. However, like GG, Diet Coke is just wrong, Afraid of a few, and just a few, extra calories in the glass? I see people always ordering Bud Light. Yuck, I stick with Boston Lager or Sierra Nevada Torpedo if possible.

The only mixed drink I have ever ordered, starting in 1974 when 21, was Seven and Seven. That lasted about 20 years when going out. Besides it was too hard to get up to the bar to look at what they had if I said bourbon and splash of water. Probably get the lower level Jim Beam.

[Red Team]

I don't mind a good peated whisky, but MUCH prefer a 'sherry bomb'. However, as you say, Lagavulin 16 is something special. Beautifully balanced drink and highly recommended.

As it happens I currently have a Balvenie 14 Carribean Cask open. WOW! It is a beautiful sweet, mellow whisky. Based on this side by side comparison it sounds like it is a bit sweeter than the Double Wood, but both sound pretty good. I have a 200ml bottle of the double wood which I will open in the next few months to do my own comparison.

I have always struggled with overproof whiskies. Anything above 50% is a lot of work. I know you can add water, and I have a dropper, but I don't like messing with the product. I tend to steer away from 'cask strength' whiskies unless there is a compelling reason. I have heard good things about Elijah Craig, but might start with the regular strength.

Definitely can't go wrong with Elijah Craig Small Batch, but should you ever have the chance to try their "Toasted Barrel" variety, absolutely take it. Both are around 94 proof, but the Toasted Barrel takes those classic EC flavor profiles and adds some amazing cinnamon toast notes to the palate.

[Red Team]

Having to tighten the belt with all the high prices, I'm wondering:

Are these OK to mix with generic cola or should I go with the Classic Coke or Dr Pepper?

Gunny,

My go-to for Coca-Cola mixing is Jim Beam Devil's Cut. Cheap and with a satisfying kick that's tamed by the Coke, not diluted.