Posted on 01/05/2013 4:29:46 PM PST by nickcarraway
yech hate scotch. First time I ever got drunk as a teen it was on scotch and coca cola, never touched the stuff after that. Hate hare liquor, will have a glass of red or a glass of champagne but that is it.
hard
Unless you're downing synthesized lab-grade ethanol, booze always takes in some distinct flavor from the distilling process.
Booze made from sugar, potatoes, corn, barley or fruit will each taste different. Even if the mash is distilled identically. You're never getting pure ethanol by distilling and it will always pick up some flavors from the mash.
Good vodka is finished by further purifying the distilled ethanol through charcoal or limestone. This removes most of the bad tastes picked up during distillation. However, it also gets rid of any character or good taste. Vodka is more like a finely machined tool than a work of art. Once the process is developed, all vodka from that distiller will taste the same
Most brown liquor, like whisky, is finished by aging in barrels. The charcoal inside the barrel slowly filters the ethanol inside as the barrel “breathes” due to weather variations. The flavors from the mash, the charcoal, the wood, the climate, the air, the water, etc ALL combine to give each barrel a unique flavor. Each barrel is like a unique work of art and each distillery has its own secrets that took centuries to perfect.
We sometimes forget this aspect because the big-brand blends use taste experts to blend each batch so it always tastes the same. In reality, each barrel they source from always tastes unique.
Not sure if this was covered, but the minute presence of ‘fusel oils’ (such as propanol and butanol) also greatly influence subtle flavoring of ethanol.
I get mine for less than $200 at duty free. I've also seen the 200ml sample bottles for $50. I don't think the Gold ($100) or Green ($75) are worth the markup from Black ($40). However, Blue is a whole other level.
It's expensive but splitting an amazing bottle of blue is still cheaper than going out for drinks in NYC.
Well, I think this thread is going to get me into our local LCBO today to check things out. I can see me acquiring a taste for Scotch on ice - after 50 years I actually acquired an appreciation of a cigar now and again....odd, seeing as I am not a smoker.
And yet I feel obliged to say more...
I have about 15 different single-malts in my pantry, ranging from 10- to 18-years old (I have a 25-year old blend, but does that really count?). The 15-year-old Dalwhinnie is perhaps the smoothest in my collection, and for that reason is nearly empty. :(
We brought some Monkey Shoulder back from Scotland a few tears ago. Pretty good for the price.
Very nice...
“I always had a hard time with it.”
Just received a bottle for Christmas, it’s going to be rough!
Though I’ve heard on good authority that Bowmore merits a try.
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yes it does but it takes a bit to get used to. My second try before I really appreciated it.
Must have gone through a lot to settle down with Dalwhinnie, but that was some time ago when there was more money.
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