Whisk(e)y

[daftbeaker]

Well, there isn't a Drink section

Bearing in mind I've developed a bit of an appreciation for rums over the last few years, does anyone have any recommendations of (reasonably) cheap but nice whisky? It all tastes much the same to me at the moment so 25 year old single malts will be a waste

[daftbeaker]

That's the point, it all tastes much the same to me In the last year or so I've had a 12 year old Laphroaig, a couple of different Glenfiddichs, some Whyte and Mackay blended and this horrible thing from Tescos for a fiver. All I can tell you is to stay away from the Tesco stuff, it gives me a f***ing horrible hangover.

I'll keep an eye out for the Speysides

[daftbeaker]

Thanks for the advice

If the object of the exercise is to get blootered, don't get blootered on just whisky.

I learnt that one a while ago. No memory of it but apparently we ended up at a mate's house where I fell off the sofa and had my feet over the armrest. I then supposedly spent five minutes shouting abuse at everyone for not helping while being unable to work out how to free my legs

On the way back from my walk today I acquired a quarter of Bells and a bottle of Glen Moray which is apparently a Speyside with toffee and butterscotch flavours That should last me quite a while

[PKMKII]

Not much of a whiskey drinker myself, although I am partial to 7 & 7's (that's a shot of Seagram's 7, a blended whiskey, in a highball topped off with 7 up).

[daftbeaker]

The Speyside was a good call Roy, it's got flavour but it's not as abrasive as the Bells. It's like comparing a nice spiced rum with Bacardi

[Ubi Dubius]

I'm partial to bourbon, myself (when I drink, which is rarely these days - damn medications), especially Four Roses. We have a family story about Four Roses, which I've told in another thread.

[Cardinal Fang]

My own personal preference is for blended rather than malt, with my current favourites being Bailie Nicol Jarvie (about £15 a bottle), Asyla (around £20) and Famous Grouse (about £16). Blended is cheaper than malt as a rule, but price also depends on the age of the different whiskies in the blend (the stated age of a blend is the age of the youngest whisky in it). It goes without saying that you should stick to proper Scottish whisky IMHO. My friend on the other hand reckons Johnnie Walker Black Label is the king of blends but you pay a bit more for it (about £25).

If I'm going for a malt, I prefer Lowland ones which tend to be quite dry, fruity and mellow. I'm partial to a bit of Auchentoshan 10 Year Old Single Malt (the 18 year is even better, but at £50 a bottle it's so not in my price range!!!). You can also get some similarly lovely light ones from the Highlands - Loch Lomond malt is rather good. Had some Talisker 10 Year Old recently and that was also really good- sweet, slightly smoky with a kick at the end.

If you like your single malt smokey and peaty, you can't fault Lagavulin 16 Year Old. Not cheap (around £40 a bottle), but damn, it's good.

CF

[Almighty Doer of Stuff]

Somehow the word "peaty" just doesn't sound like a word I'd want used to describe my beverage. "Boy, this muck I dug out of the swamp sure is tasty!"

[daftbeaker]

Somehow the word "peaty" just doesn't sound like a word I'd want used to describe my beverage. "Boy, this muck I dug out of the swamp sure is tasty!"

I agree but the people that do drink tasting vocabulary are a bit odd. A relatively common component of some red wine tastes is 'petrol'

In other news, I got a bottle of Benromach yesterday and it really does taste like smoke. The actual whisky is quite mild but the aftertaste is very similar to the feeling you get after having a cigarette

[Cardinal Fang]

I'm going to agree with Roy about adding a little water. You need only a dash. The reason for this is it changes the surface tension of the drink, so you get a much better hit on the taste buds. And as he said ice definately a no-no.

I recommend drinking whiskey for the taste (and likewise any decent real ale). If the aim of the game is just getting hammered, sh*t lager, vodka etc is probably the way to go.

CF

[daftbeaker]

Bottle of Laphroaig for 20 quid

Cheers for the advice Cardinal Fang and Roy.

[AUSloth]

Somehow the word "peaty" just doesn't sound like a word I'd want used to describe my beverage. "Boy, this muck I dug out of the swamp sure is tasty!"

Went to a whisky tasting the other week and had an Islay that was as "peaty" as you can get but I took it to mean the smoky flavour of the drink (tasted like it was served in an ashtray used by a fine cigar smoker). I was told they made it in winter when you don't go out side for any reason other than to get more dried peat for the fire and because of bad chimney designs the smoke infuses the product. However it could have been the old pirate doing the show was just tugging my wooden leg.

[daftbeaker]

I'm not too keen on Famous Grouse. The actual flavour is quite pleasant but there's a definite aftertaste of ethanol. It outs me in mind of what I think a Bell's mixed with vodka would taste like

Also, Sainsburys had litre bottles of Bell's for 12 quid on Monday but I'd left my driving license at home when I was doing my CRB form. When I got back today they'd sold them all

[TwistedSister]

Here's a little tid-bit for you guys:
I just received a catalog that advertises Whisky Stones.
" Whether you spell it "whisky" or "whiskey", whether you call it rye, bourbon, or Scotch, you know the importance of serving it right: neat, slightly chilled, in a handsome glass.
Set includes 6 "whisky stones". Chill the stones in the freezer and cool your drink without diluting it."

The "set" also comes with two mouth- blown, non lead Avva crystal tumblers.
All for just $69.95 (US) or $42.94 (British Sterling Pound)

[Almighty Doer of Stuff]

I Googled to determine what was meant by "neat" in reference to whiskey, and found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gH4q5Fmrpg

I also found the actual definition, of course, but this is still mildly cool, I think.

Alternately, they could have simply lifted one glass, moved the other one over, and placed the first glass where the other one had previously been, but I don't think that would have had the same effect...