how long did it take you scotch drinkers to warm up to the taste of scotch? i like the idea of being a scotch drinker, but can't get past the "it tastes like shit" phase, even though i've had it a couple dozen times. the only liquor i really drink is gin...beer makes up 95% of my alcohol consumption.
High-end scotches all have highly differentiated flavors. Some people *love* peaty scotches, or smoky ones, or ones with a touch of fruit, maybe even sea salt.
Laphraoig, for instance, is about as, um... dense as they come.
Balvenie 21yr Port Cask Aged on the other hand, is light and slightly cherry with a touch of peachwood smoke and 'sea spray'.
Two *COMPLETELY* different drinks. It's rather like fine wines, really.
But yeah, cheap scotches are pretty nasty no matter which one you go with. Stick with the more expensive ones, and try a sip of various ones until you find a style you like. Heck, you may never run across the one that grabs you. (My Mom hated scotch for years... and then just a couple of years ago had a rather rare one that she has fallen in love with. Everyone's palate is different.)
Naw, with Laphroaig you end up *drinking* one square foot of Scotland.
I still can't figure out how they keep the peat in supersaturated suspension like that.
True enough, but I still like it. Perhaps the next time I see some peat, I should just chomp down on a mouthful. It certainly would be cheaper, although it would not go down as easily.
Actually, there is more to Laphroaig than just the peat. That deep malty underlayer....yum. That nice round flavour. It is hard to describe.
I will give props to the layering of flavors in it - I just can't choke down the liquid peat intensity. It's a wee bit too much even for this Scottish Son.
Now, after a few lighter drams, and maybe a good Cohiba, *THEN* I'll happily down it after my tastebuds are already overloaded.
heh..plus you get the chance to own 1 square foot of scotland... maybe all us laphroigers can get together and have enough for a summer home ....heh.
Well, I don't own any square feet, but I have been on (solo) bicycle tours through Scotland twice.
Sometimes on these tours I had a haggis and a Scotch at lunch (when I felt I could afford to eat in a restaurant). Perhaps this was a "touristy" thing to do, but I do like Scotch, and haggis as well (although I note my own post above about not being able to taste the food in any case ).
I have no Scottish heritage whatsoever, but I still have a strong liking for that part of the world and would visit again in a second.
I wonder if you put enough effort into getting used to the taste, if you could eventually learn to appreciate, and wax poetic about, the subtle differences in taste between various brands and "vintages" of antifreeze?
1) I'm just learning to be a Scotch drinker. It took a while, and many little bottles of Dewar's, but now I've got the taste. Can someone recommend a decent scotch in the range of $20-30 a fifth?
2) As I am a Southerner, I drink Bourbon. Evan Williams Single Barrel. If you've not had it, go. Now. Better than Basil Hayden. Better than Elijah Whatsists (Creek?). About $25 a fifth. Best bourbon I've ever had.
1) I'm just learning to be a Scotch drinker. It took a while, and many little bottles of Dewar's, but now I've got the taste. Can someone recommend a decent scotch in the range of $20-30 a fifth?
2) As I am a Southerner, I drink Bourbon. Evan Williams Single Barrel. If you've not had it, go. Now. Better than Basil Hayden. Better than Elijah Whatsists (Creek?). About $25 a fifth. Best bourbon I've ever had.
Re Scotch ? I am not sure about prices in the U.S. for a fifth, or what sort of Scotch you are talking about (blended vs. single malt) ? but for the purpose of argument I?ll assume that what you are asking is what is the best, moderately (but not cheaply) priced blended Scotch (i.e., not a single malt).
I am not a big expert on that particular subject: I know more about single-malt Scotch, and when I drink blends, I usually have Canadian Rye, not Scotch. But I have seen quite a few Scotch drinkers who recommend, for the price, Grant?s and Famous Grouse.
If on the other hand, you are asking about a moderately priced good single-malt, I am not sure that there are any that are moderately priced. Damn expensive - here in Canada at least - but I sip them slowly enough that a bottle lasts a long time... A bottle of Glenfiddich makes a really great introduction to Scotch single malt. I would not try Laphroaig - which I recommended above - until you have galvinized your taste buds a bit.
If you are ever looking for a good Canadian Rye (and one that actually is made from rye), I recommend Alberta Springs. Very flavourful, but very smooth at the same time.
As for Bourbon, I have not tried it often, but have liked it when I have tried it. Can you recommend any other brands? I am not sure that I have seen Evan Williams in stores here.
Thanks for the advice. I may pick up a bottle of Glenfiddich tonight.
As for decent and reasonably-priced bourbons, the Evan Williams single-barrel (usually 8-12 yrs old) is quite simply the best bang for the buck. The reason it's so good is this: normally, bourbon as a pretty serious bite to it; this bourbon doesn't. It makes for an interesting drink, then, since you're expecting to wince a little as it goes down, but it turns out to be smooth as silk.
The bourbons made by Knob Creek (Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and one other I can't remember) are all good. KC is very strong (100%), while BH is I believe an 8 year 80%. BH was my drink of choice until I discovered EW (which is about $15 a bottle cheaper, too!). Elijah Creek (I *think* that's the name) is a 12 and 18 year (I believe), and is comparable to Basil Hayden, but I don't think it's as good.
And frankly, Jim Beam is not too bad. I usually mix it with Coke, though.
The bourbons made by Knob Creek (Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and one other I can't remember) are all good. KC is very strong (100%), while BH is I believe an 8 year 80%.
I think you mean 100 and 80 *proof*... which are 50 and 40% alcohol, respectively.
Comments
High-end scotches all have highly differentiated flavors. Some people *love* peaty scotches, or smoky ones, or ones with a touch of fruit, maybe even sea salt.
Laphraoig, for instance, is about as, um... dense as they come.
Balvenie 21yr Port Cask Aged on the other hand, is light and slightly cherry with a touch of peachwood smoke and 'sea spray'.
Two *COMPLETELY* different drinks. It's rather like fine wines, really.
But yeah, cheap scotches are pretty nasty no matter which one you go with. Stick with the more expensive ones, and try a sip of various ones until you find a style you like. Heck, you may never run across the one that grabs you. (My Mom hated scotch for years... and then just a couple of years ago had a rather rare one that she has fallen in love with. Everyone's palate is different.)
Originally posted by Kickaha
Naw, with Laphroaig you end up *drinking* one square foot of Scotland.
I still can't figure out how they keep the peat in supersaturated suspension like that.
Actually, there is more to Laphroaig than just the peat. That deep malty underlayer....yum. That nice round flavour. It is hard to describe.
I will give props to the layering of flavors in it - I just can't choke down the liquid peat intensity. It's a wee bit too much even for this Scottish Son.
Now, after a few lighter drams, and maybe a good Cohiba, *THEN* I'll happily down it after my tastebuds are already overloaded.
Originally posted by Kickaha
Naw, with Laphroaig you end up *drinking* one square foot of Scotland.
I still can't figure out how they keep the peat in supersaturated suspension like that.
Gah. I had a glass of this the other weekend and couldn't shake the taste in my mouth for 3 days.
Originally posted by havanas
Mmmm.....
heh..plus you get the chance to own 1 square foot of scotland... maybe all us laphroigers can get together and have enough for a summer home ....heh.
Well, I don't own any square feet, but I have been on (solo) bicycle tours through Scotland twice.
Sometimes on these tours I had a haggis and a Scotch at lunch (when I felt I could afford to eat in a restaurant). Perhaps this was a "touristy" thing to do, but I do like Scotch, and haggis as well (although I note my own post above about not being able to taste the food in any case
I have no Scottish heritage whatsoever, but I still have a strong liking for that part of the world and would visit again in a second.
Originally posted by Kickaha
... High-end scotches all have highly differentiated flavors.
...
Laphraoig
[vs.]
Balvenie 21yr
...
Two *COMPLETELY* different drinks. It's rather like fine wines, really.
totaly agreed
I'd say Laphraoig is more for boiled detective types,
while Balvenie gives you a great deal of intellectual experience.
Anyway, i could be thoroughly wrong.
best
Originally posted by shetline
... , the subtle differences in taste between various brands and "vintages" of antifreeze?
seriously, the differences in taste between various antifreezes is quite a matter of opinion ... and ... er ... taste, isn't it?
1) I'm just learning to be a Scotch drinker. It took a while, and many little bottles of Dewar's, but now I've got the taste. Can someone recommend a decent scotch in the range of $20-30 a fifth?
2) As I am a Southerner, I drink Bourbon. Evan Williams Single Barrel. If you've not had it, go. Now. Better than Basil Hayden. Better than Elijah Whatsists (Creek?). About $25 a fifth. Best bourbon I've ever had.
Originally posted by midwinter
Two things:
1) I'm just learning to be a Scotch drinker. It took a while, and many little bottles of Dewar's, but now I've got the taste. Can someone recommend a decent scotch in the range of $20-30 a fifth?
2) As I am a Southerner, I drink Bourbon. Evan Williams Single Barrel. If you've not had it, go. Now. Better than Basil Hayden. Better than Elijah Whatsists (Creek?). About $25 a fifth. Best bourbon I've ever had.
Re Scotch ? I am not sure about prices in the U.S. for a fifth, or what sort of Scotch you are talking about (blended vs. single malt) ? but for the purpose of argument I?ll assume that what you are asking is what is the best, moderately (but not cheaply) priced blended Scotch (i.e., not a single malt).
I am not a big expert on that particular subject: I know more about single-malt Scotch, and when I drink blends, I usually have Canadian Rye, not Scotch. But I have seen quite a few Scotch drinkers who recommend, for the price, Grant?s and Famous Grouse.
If on the other hand, you are asking about a moderately priced good single-malt, I am not sure that there are any that are moderately priced. Damn expensive - here in Canada at least - but I sip them slowly enough that a bottle lasts a long time... A bottle of Glenfiddich makes a really great introduction to Scotch single malt. I would not try Laphroaig - which I recommended above - until you have galvinized your taste buds a bit.
If you are ever looking for a good Canadian Rye (and one that actually is made from rye), I recommend Alberta Springs. Very flavourful, but very smooth at the same time.
As for Bourbon, I have not tried it often, but have liked it when I have tried it. Can you recommend any other brands? I am not sure that I have seen Evan Williams in stores here.
Thanks for the advice. I may pick up a bottle of Glenfiddich tonight.
As for decent and reasonably-priced bourbons, the Evan Williams single-barrel (usually 8-12 yrs old) is quite simply the best bang for the buck. The reason it's so good is this: normally, bourbon as a pretty serious bite to it; this bourbon doesn't. It makes for an interesting drink, then, since you're expecting to wince a little as it goes down, but it turns out to be smooth as silk.
The bourbons made by Knob Creek (Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and one other I can't remember) are all good. KC is very strong (100%), while BH is I believe an 8 year 80%. BH was my drink of choice until I discovered EW (which is about $15 a bottle cheaper, too!). Elijah Creek (I *think* that's the name) is a 12 and 18 year (I believe), and is comparable to Basil Hayden, but I don't think it's as good.
And frankly, Jim Beam is not too bad. I usually mix it with Coke, though.
Cheers
Scott
Originally posted by midwinter
The bourbons made by Knob Creek (Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and one other I can't remember) are all good. KC is very strong (100%), while BH is I believe an 8 year 80%.
I think you mean 100 and 80 *proof*... which are 50 and 40% alcohol, respectively.
Originally posted by Kickaha
I think you mean 100 and 80 *proof*... which are 50 and 40% alcohol, respectively.
Oops! My bad! Yes, that's what I meant.