Posted on 09/04/2009 4:07:49 PM PDT by JoeProBono
It is the era of designer drinks: bubblegum martinis, vodka essences, caffeinated schnapps. You name it. In spite of all their flair and fun, when you sit down to really enjoy a drink for the craftsmanship and complexity, you really only have a few good choices, and they were usually created over a decade ago.
For years I had been a wine guy (not whinny, mind you). I took the classes, began to dig into certain vintages and the regions and vineyards around the world, and I developed a taste for the European wines, which tended to be drier and have more varied, less fruity flavors. Yet in the midst of all the serious study of the art of wine, it cracked me up when a sommelier remarked that a wine had a "certain pee de chat aroma" (a fancy way of saying it smells like cat pee) with a straight face.
Try reading a review of a good wine as you walk down the isles of your favorite liquor store and you will see flavors like "tar," "tobacco," and "sulfur." Mmmmm.(?) While tasty and amusing, wine didn't quite do it for me.
My father was once told by his physician to have some wine or a beer in the evenings to calm himself down. I took note, having suffered from being unable to control my stress levels at times, and began to search for a nightcap of my own to help me relax in the evenings. Naturally, I started with wine. It didn't quite satisfy, so I moved on to trying different cognacs. Again, not quite what I was looking for.
Then I remembered my 100 year-old grandmother. Her nightcap of choice was an affordable Scotch. So I bought a bottle of Glenmorangie at my local Costco (the cashier remarked that his customers were happily surprised to find it on hand) and thoroughly enjoyed every drop. Now I fully expect to live to be 100. So why is Scotch the perfect drink? It has a complexity similar to what a good wine will have. The vast array of flavors is always surprising. The bite of the alcohol is wonderful. The variety of good Scotches is enough to last a lifetime. The history of the spirit is rich. It does wonders for a good night's sleep. And a flask of good Scotch seems to improve one's poker playing skills, I've found.
With any new endeavor, such as striving to become a connoisseur of Scotch Whisky, questions arise that beg to be answered:
What say you, gentlemen?
Which ones are the best? The best value?
And for us amateurs, please explain the differences between scotch, whisk(e)y, and bourbon (cost, taste, etc.).
Scotch and Irish Whiskey are two of my favorite things.
Try Glenlivet one of these days. Absolutely worth it. I swear.
My Grandfather was a fine old Scotsman. He was also an alcoholic. My Grandmother hated alcohol. He had 12 children. His five Sons were all alcoholics and his seven Daughters all hated drinking.
He was a successful farmer but I wonder how much more he could have accomplished if he had been sober more often. He did like his whiskey.
I was at a dinner supplied by a customers companies expense account and had a Scotch that was over $50 a shot.
It was the most incredible thing I have ever sipped.
I can’t remember the brand though.
Drink SMOOTH!
Sorry, got to vote for good sourmash Bourbon!
One of my favorites.
My brother last week gave me a bottle of Laphoraig which I have yet to crack.
Any one have a comment on this product of the isle of Islay
D’accord! I like Laphroaig. The plain old 10 year old is a
fine example of an Islay malt Scotch. It has plenty o’ bite and is an acquired taste. It may not be the finest or best example but once you’ve made peace with Laphroaig 10 you are on the road to flavour heaven...SSZ
Drink scotch whisky, all night long,
and die behind the wheel.
They got a name for the winners in the world.
I want a name when I lose.
They call Alabama the ‘Crimson Tide’.
Call me Deacon Blues.
- Steely Dan
*Excellent* scotch, you should enjoy it this Labor Day weekend. :-)
Cheers!
I prefer good tequila.
I found it to be an acquired taste, and once acquired, it was tough to drink anything else.
I no longer drink and haven’t for 25 years....
I do miss it.
I am left with an occasional beer on my boat or a wine with dinner from time to time.
I’ve been thinking of buying a bottle of expensive brandy and keeping it hidden in my nightstand or in my gun locker. ;>)
Now that I have turned 60, I think I am supposed to hide a bottle of something to sip, from time to time.
Wish that I could.
But I will be spending it at my other brother’s home who does not drink.
Always tasted like lighter fluid to me....now bourbon is something else :o)
Yes! If scotch whiskey had a sound, this would be it.
Dewars ad:
“You thought girls were yucky once too.”
Here’s the TRUTH about how each Scotch distillery gets such a unique taste. Remember how each distillery takes its water from the nearest stream? They tell you that it’s the peat used in the process, but really...those streams are draining all the water from the fells and glenns...all full of sheep.
Yep, all that sheep wee-wee filters into the ground water...
It’s still the best stuff...loved it when I had the taste for it...
Runs about $12 in Ohio ....
THE SIX CLASSIC MALTS OF SCOTLAND.
My current favorite.
No thanks. When I was about 16, I drank half a bottle of Glenfiddich. Cured me for life.
Admitting a limit to the wallet, I have found over the past 35 years or so that you likely can’t go wrong with any single malt Scotch more than 15 years old...
I second your vote for The Glenlivet 15 year old. I like it better than the 16 year old Nadurra, or the 18 year old. I haven’t the heart to open my 21 year old Archive yet.
My husband’s current favorite Edradour (sp)
I personally find whisk(e)y, and bourbon too "sweet" and really love the smokey, bitter chocolate, coffee, flavors you (or I) find in a good single malt Scotch....
One big FYI about single malt Scotch, like good wine it's not blended for flavor, what you get in the bottle is what came from that keg ... the flavor of a single malt Scotch can vary from bottle to bottle
The only trouble with good scotch is the next morning.
These days I stick with the vino.
I wish the taxes on a bottle of scotch was only $12 in Ohio.
2 rocks and a splash of water in mine, please...
My name is Paul. I drink scotch.
I chill Dewars in the freezer and sip it while I post on FR.
Just kidding - I’m from Washington (state) where we have the highest taxes on alcohol in the nation. I can buy Washington wine cheaper in Ohio (where my grandmother lives) than here. I saw a pint of vodka selling for $2.95 in Ohio where it costs almost six here.
www.johnniewalker.com/
There ya go, that’s my drink! Only thing I buy, I don’t like fruity, sweet drinks. All my friends order ‘tinis with candy colors, and sweet drinks but just give me my JD and I’m a happy camper.
OooKAY
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