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!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.