The Water of Life
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Topic: The Water of Life
Posted By: Atavachron
Subject: The Water of Life
Date Posted: March 11 2015 at 04:42
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... or whisky! There have been at least two other whisky threads on PA, both were locked, both posted before I began enjoying the stuff more regularly. I'd say I'm mainly a scotch man (must be the Scot in me); bourbon is good but a mite strong; I like brandy sometimes but the really good stuff is expensive; and rye, well ... One thing I have noticed in my meager few years as a whisky appreciator is that the cheap stuff is never worth it. Inexpensive scotch is missing the deep smoke and peat flavors and has an artificial aftertaste that I find vile. Now that they're saying any moderate consumption of alcohol can be beneficial, I say that's good news 'cause I don't drink wine. I already know we have numerous whisky drinkers here, so let's hear your favorites, your expensive treats, your worst ever - - ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Replies:
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: March 11 2015 at 04:50
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I started to explore the realm of whisky only recently, but I'm discovering some good ones. My obvious favourite is the intensely rich 16yo Lagavulin with its smoky and peaty aftertaste. This is heaven. A good second is the 10yo Springbank. Another excellent one is the 15yo Dalwhinnie, but this one does not have any deep smoke and peat flavours at all. ------------- 
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: March 11 2015 at 04:55
You don't drink wine? Shame on you   !Unfortunately, I have very a very low threshold for alcohol, and spirits are not good for me. My dad, however, used to like high-quality whisky, and I think we still have some impressive bottles stashed away in the family home in Rome. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 11 2015 at 04:59
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^ I cook with wine but somehow I never became a drinker of it. I too have ~ or had, when I was younger ~ a lower tolerance for alcohol but some time ago my interest in the hard stuff outdid my low tolerance. I think that may be one reason I prefer whisky: I can sip it and enjoy the flavors but still not need much to get warm. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: March 11 2015 at 06:56
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My favourites - Laphraoig Talisker Aberlour I like the peaty ones and also the ones with a hint of toffee.
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: March 13 2015 at 08:18
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Never liked whiskey. I wish I could enjoy it, but to my ill educated pallete a high end single malt is as revolting as a supermarkets own value brand. It's possibly my least favourite alcoholic drink after Pernod.  More of a wine man these days. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: March 13 2015 at 08:44
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Being a Scot, most people think it tantamount to high treason when I profess to heartily loathe the stuff. Anything held in close proximity to your eye that makes it water, I ain't gonna put inside my body. Love bourbon though (Jack Daniels) and red wine (Merlot) but stopped drinking beer when my Irritable Bowel Syndrome kicked in a few years ago. Most Scots of my generation (I'm 52) never drank whisky, (we viewed it as old man's drink or something that only tourists were gauche enough to pay through the nose for) It was just lager/heavy, vodka, cider, Guinness and (very rarely) real water from a tap.  ------------- 
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 13 2015 at 20:14
That's funny; I find bourbon to be quite strong whereas scotch seems mellower. I must be missing something. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
ExittheLemming wrote:Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 10:59
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David, I was just thinking of a new thread for spirits, so we don't have to infringe on the beer thread. Perhaps this can be it. Like Raff I can't handle too much but I enjoy sampling very fine spirits. The interesting thing of late is discovering how great fine bourbon is for cooking. I use a touch of that Woodford Reserve in my crabbapple sauce recipe and people rave about it. Really nice, distinct edge it brings, along with the brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger. ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 12:52
Shame indeed, between Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, The Asti trio (Barbera,Nebbiolo and Dolcetto), the Valp/Ripasso/Amarone triumvirate, Bolgheri, Massetto, etc.... that is just Italy. Sipping on a lovely Amaro from DiBerta , astounding! Now Burgundy, mamma mia! ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 21:57
Yes bourbon for cooking is brilliant! I've done a steak au poivre that can use bourbon or brandy, it's scrumptious. You crust a small fillet (mignon or close) in coarse ground black pepper then pan fry it to perfection before removing it and making a sauce of the drippings, some cooked-off whisky, a bit of heavy cream, and salt till reduced. Yum. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 22:03
I truly wish I was a wine drinker. Red wine gives me a headache, though occasionally I will have some white with fish or something. I frequently use Chinese rice wine ~ Xiaoxing ~ which is a bit like sherry but with a deeper flavor. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 22:44
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Wake me when they find Whisky on mars. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 23:06
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Posts That Could Just as Easily be in Off at Tangents #12 -
------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 23:22
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Sorry, I just throught this thread was going to be about finding water on other planets. My post seemed seemed like a fine observation in my estimate. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 23:24
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No no Mannie, it's fine, I was fooling ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: March 14 2015 at 23:56
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I figured. Something relevant: I'm not a fan of fireball. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 15 2015 at 00:59
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I'm right with you there, my friend; I'm such not a fan that I've never tried it...I just can't do it. I mean c'mon--  ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: March 15 2015 at 01:51
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I wish I never did either...but I have a group of friends who are into the stuff...it became most unavoidable. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: March 15 2015 at 02:21
Marvin actually became a homeless alcoholic after the Looney Tunes gravy train came off the rails -------------
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Posted By: Tuzvihar
Date Posted: March 15 2015 at 05:38
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I usually don't drink spirits, rather beer and wine (dry red mostly). BTW, when I saw the title of this thread my first thought was about... F. Herbert's Dune. ------------- "Music is much like f**king, but some composers can't climax and others climax too often, leaving themselves and the listener jaded and spent." Charles Bukowski |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 15 2015 at 08:54
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nah.. excess is my life motto.. why have a shot when you can drink a bottle. Oh the days of youth. I don't do the hard stuff anymore, it is hard for me to practice moderation, it isn't in my personality. With one exception... at the company X-mas party when Mad Micky comes out and I'm dancing on pool tables and losing my clothes while ogling all the other guys wives ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 15 2015 at 22:09
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Drink mostly craft beer last 10 years ......German white wine in the old days and an occasional red.....I do like B&B (Benedictine and Brandy) and a good vodka and bourbon now and then.
Not really a Scotch Whiskey guy but if someone can recommend a good single malt one that's not too expensive , I'll pick up a bottle. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: March 16 2015 at 08:05
 ) but it's absolutely gorgeous, I think it's around £36 a bottle.
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 16 2015 at 10:51
That's around 72 dollars US.....is that a reasonable price for a good single malt..? What do the known brand names go for? ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: March 16 2015 at 11:35
| I'd say you'd want to pay at least £25 for a reasonable single malt. Ove here Tesco had a few for around £27 (Glenfiddich, Highland Park, Jura). |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: March 16 2015 at 17:07
Mick...so no tequila shots??  ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 16 2015 at 18:12
spits iced tea (on call this week so this is the 'dry' week) on monitor. funny you say that.. the last time I did those was the company X-mas party where ... ahh.. what happens at Red Lobster.. stays at Red Lobster. Yeah.. it was party that would have made Caligula proud Debauched and oh so much fun. Yeah... I was in rare form that night.. and was the first.. and only time Raff saw me praying to the porcelain god. Man I was f**ked up... no.. no tequilia shots for me. Never again ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: March 16 2015 at 20:46
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Great story....fear and loathing at Red Lobster Yes those worship sessions can be most humbling....been there. Thankfully its in the past now. Still miss the cigs more than any other partying vices though. Always will i suppose. ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: March 16 2015 at 21:07
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Man I am not a fan of alcohol, but when I do have a drink it's got to be Crown Royal whiskey. I can at least sip it and enjoy it somewhat. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: March 17 2015 at 02:38
Tequila is rough, I've had it once or twice, don't know if I could do it again. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: March 17 2015 at 04:00
  Take care with this one. It grows on you and you may love it just before the bottle is finished  .-------------
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Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: May 09 2015 at 18:28
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At the spirits store today I noticed this bottle of Scotch from Spain, priced at $900 a bottle. Intrigued, I read a few reviews at a Whiskey fan site and almost all of them said resoundingly that YES, it is worth the price. I guess it is just the drink of a lifetime. So, someday if I get to retire I may grab a bottle of this on the way home to share with some close friends. I also found out that $900 isn't even close to what you can spend for spirits. There are bottles out there that fetch over 10K. Yikes. For tonight, a simple $25 vodka will suffice....  ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: May 09 2015 at 22:26
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For me the best whiskey is the cheapest. Also, I thoguht this thread woudl be a bout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuA-GwDZbI" rel="nofollow - this. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: May 10 2015 at 07:33
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Saw this the other day....interesting video about Scotch whiskey.... http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/whisky-island/" rel="nofollow - http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/whisky-island/
------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Kirillov
Date Posted: May 10 2015 at 08:04
Those are some of my favourites too, particularly Laphraoig. I never used to like bourbon, but I'm warming to it now. I guess my tastes are changing as I get older. |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: May 10 2015 at 09:50
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Same here Michael....I've also started to incorporate it into cooking a bit...bourbon gives great character and depth to certain treats ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: May 10 2015 at 10:06
"they consider themselves artisans.....it's more about alchemy than manufacturing...." "i do talk to the casks..." Great piece, thanks Wu. What a wonderful place and lifestyle these folks have, may they keep it as it is forever... And a perfect last story to close Simon's career, RIP Bob. ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: May 10 2015 at 12:25
Have you tried Johnnie Walker Double Black? The reason I don't care for it may be the reason you might find it appealing. Very smokey, with hints of peat abound.  |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: September 10 2015 at 18:34
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Just poured a double Vodka with some Hangar 1....not too shabby. I always enjoy mixing a drink with my Dad's old jigger, which dates back 40 or 50 years. I can remember it sitting on the counter many a night during my folks card games with their friends. It has poured hundreds of wonderful nights and I'll pass it on to someone when the time comes.  ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: September 10 2015 at 20:00
I have not tried the Double Black, but I agree that too much smoked peat is no better than too little. There are also times when I prefer the JW Red to the single Black for the same reasons. And then there's the Blue and Green and Gold and ... ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: September 17 2015 at 16:04
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Amazing how much more fun cocktail hour is when help prior to dinner, than after. Yeezsp ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: September 17 2015 at 16:36
Just picked up this 1.75 liter puppy Hey I'm no lush, it's just a better buy. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: September 17 2015 at 17:20
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Scotch is the one I need to revisit....I have figured out the bourbon is probably not my thing for regular drinking, but scotch is a bit different, no? ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: September 17 2015 at 17:51
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Oh yeah, Bourbon is very sweet and quite strong with a sort of coconutty aftertaste I don't like. Scotch is more balanced between sweet, smoky, and malt barley, with a pretty strong alcohol kick. I'd also say it's more varied and complex than bourbon or brandy. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |