Bourbon (or other Whiskey) Talk

[bryce]

Since ebay stopped allowing liquor sales I decided to check craiglist for my favorite rare bourbon. I saw multiple ads for people wanting to barter only, no cash, and most of them wanted T-mobile phones. What's that about? The skeptic in me assumes something shady is going on but I can't put 2 and 2 together...

[Desnudo]

Pappy Van Winkle? I would guess that maybe you can't resell liquor without a license so you need to barter and tmobile phones don't have a 2 year plan required.

[bryce]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Pappy Van Winkle? I would guess that maybe you can't resell liquor without a license so you need to barter and tmobile phones don't have a 2 year plan required.

Yep on PVW.
And that makes sense I guess. Just never saw that hesitation to deal with cash in the ebay world (obviously).

[digamma]

What year Pappy are you looking for?

[bryce]

Originally Posted by digamma

What year Pappy are you looking for?

20. Got some to get rid of?

[digamma]

I have about one pour left, actually.

[bryce]

Originally Posted by digamma

I have about one pour left, actually.

Sounds like you need another bottle too!

I've been better at rationing myself lately. Went through an overindulgence stretch awhile back, though.

[Suburban Rhythm]

See this thread.

Random phone question - -**WTF, WHY IS MY PHONE GARBAGE!?!** - Front Office Football Central

Do the require that the phone works?

I'll ship you my old shit phone, send me like $20, give them the shit phone...and run like hell.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by bryce

Sounds like you need another bottle too!

If you like the Pappy family of bourbons, you should also try to get your hands on a bottle of the Jefferson Presidential Reserve 17 year. Made out of old PVW barrels. Really great stuff, but also hard to find.

[bryce]

Originally Posted by digamma

If you like the Pappy family of bourbons, you should also try to get your hands on a bottle of the Jefferson Presidential Reserve 17 year. Made out of old PVW barrels. Really great stuff, but also hard to find.

Duly noted, thanks. I've heard of it but never had it. Yea, my everyday bourbons are Buffalo Trace and Elmer T Lee, so I'm a fan of the BT distillery!

[digamma]

Sounds like we have similar tastes on the sweeter/wheater end of things. I've never really gotten into Elmer T Lee, but do always make sure I have a bottle of Buffalo Trace. I also like Bernheim Wheat for everyday use.

[bryce]

I prefer the wheated to the ryes as well, yes. What do you think of the Weller varietals as an everyday? I have actually never had them since I actually do like MM for a cheap wheat.

[bryce]

I just tried to change the subject of this thread to add 'bourbon talk' to it but couldn't figure out how...

[bbor]

Originally Posted by bryce

I just tried to change the subject of this thread to add 'bourbon talk' to it but couldn't figure out how...

Too much Bourbon?

[digamma]

Originally Posted by bryce

I prefer the wheated to the ryes as well, yes. What do you think of the Weller varietals as an everyday? I have actually never had them since I actually do like MM for a cheap wheat.

I have found their everyday bourbons to be very hit or miss.

[albionmoonlight]

Mrs. A likes wheaty bourbons. I'd like to pick her up something besides MM as a special treat. What might y'all suggest?

[terpkristin]

I'm a fan of Woodford Reserve. I found it accidentally, went into my liquor store and asked for a good bottle of bourbon to give to my dad. Basically said money was no object but the bottle had to be worth the $. They turned me onto Woodford.

/tk

[bryce]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Mrs. A likes wheaty bourbons. I'd like to pick her up something besides MM as a special treat. What might y'all suggest?

Maybe a single barrel MM. I say that only half kidding - There aren't a lot of high end, readily available wheat bourbons that you can just pick up in your local liquor store.

Edit to add Bernheim has wheat as its primary grain instead of corn, which makes it technically a whisky and not a bourbon, but it's good as digamma alluded to earlier. It's reasonably priced, but not available everywhere I don't think. Distribution issues.

[bryce]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

I'm a fan of Woodford Reserve. I found it accidentally, went into my liquor store and asked for a good bottle of bourbon to give to my dad. Basically said money was no object but the bottle had to be worth the $. They turned me onto Woodford.

/tk

I think they are a wheat / rye mix, which is highly unusual. I could be thinking of another brand, but I'm pretty sure this I it. Could be an option for Mrs A but with the caveat it's got rye in it as well.

[albionmoonlight]

She definitely likes smooth drinks. That's why MM is so good to her. Might try and look for some more pure wheat ones.

PVW is good for that?

[bryce]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

She definitely likes smooth drinks. That's why MM is so good to her. Might try and look for some more pure wheat ones.

PVW is good for that?

Yes, yes it is. Good luck finding it, though. You can put your name on a waiting list at your local store and then sit tight for 3ish years. Or prepare to pay $300-$500 in the secondary market (retail is $200).

[digamma]

You might try the Van Winkle 12 year, which is a different bottle in the PVW line. It usually retails for around $50.

My go to in that price range is Blanton's, which in addition to being a very good tasting bourbon is a very cool bottle with a thoroughbred and jockey stopper. Blanton's is a single barrel bourbon with a nice caramel taste--definitely fits into the smooth category.

[DanGarion]

I'm awfully fond of this after one of my friends got it for me for the not baby shower party I had.

[tarcone]

Templeton Rye.
Made in Iowa. It was Al Capones favorite drink durin prohibition.
They make 2 kinds. The stuff they sell in stores, which goes for around $50. Its very tasty and smooth. But the good stuff, you have to know someone on the inside to get.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

I'm awfully fond of this after one of my friends got it for me for the not baby shower party I had.

You and your patron both have good taste.

If you like that, you should try Lagavulin. It is made on the same island and has a similar taste.

Also, Laphroaig makes a variation called quarter cask. It is stored in casks 1/4 the size of normal--that gives the drink more surface area contact with the wood for a more intense flavor.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I'm a big fan of Macallan 12 for your run-of-the-mill "better than cheap" whisky. Had a chance to try McCarthy's Single Malt a few months ago, and it was fantastic. Haven't had a chance to try looking for it retail, they're apparently out of Oregon.

[The Jackal]

Laphroaig is probably my favorite, the smokiest of the single malts. It's also one of the cheaper varieties when compared to Lagavulin (which I agree is one to try/love).

If you are looking a little cheaper try Sheep Dip one time. It's blended, not single malt, but definitely worth what it's sold for and more.

[Peregrine]

No love for Highland Park? Some of my favorite Scotch, and since I am visiting Orkney in a couple weeks on vacation I'm hoping to visit the distillery in Kirkwall.

[Coffee Warlord]

Big fan of Balvenie.

And going over to the Irish side, love me some Midleton, if it's well aged.

[path12]

Took me a little while to appreciate the smokier brands but Lagavulin is now my go-to.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Big fan of Balvenie.

And going over to the Irish side, love me some Midleton, if it's well aged.

Love me some Double Wood.

Vince, I'm also a big Macallan 12 fan. Been slowly working through a bottle of 18.

[Glengoyne]

I'm more of a highland fan, but laphroig is good stuff. Among my highland favorites are Aberlour, highland park, and of course Glengoyne.

The 10 YO Aberlour is better than a 10 year old whiskey has any right to be, and it used to be cheap as well. Now it is in the $40 range, and a good place to start with highland scotch.


Now for you bourbon aficionados, I find Jack Daniels and makers mark to be cloyingly sweet. What brand should I consider if I want to try out a bourbon?

[BrianD]

How do you all drink your whiskey/bourbon/scotch? Neat, rocks, or water? I have been slowly testing the whiskey/scotch waters with garden-variety J&B and Jameson. Are these on the very low ends of the conversation, or too low end to even be in the conversation? I don't want to go too crazy while I am experimenting, but I also want a decent representation to determine if I like it enough to go deeper.

[Coffee Warlord]

Neat. Always neat.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

Now for you bourbon aficionados, I find Jack Daniels and makers mark to be cloyingly sweet. What brand should I consider if I want to try out a bourbon?

Well, Jack is technically a Tennessee Whiskey because it has a slightly different filtering process and is going to be sweeter because of that.

You might try a rye (also technically not bourbon).

Bulleit is also a good entry level bourbon that errs toward the rye side of things (they also make a rye). Another one that gets a bad rap from the strong bourbon drinkers is Basil Hayden's. It gets knocked because it is only 80 proof. It has an oakier taste.

Some of the stronger bourbons (Baker's, Booker's) will also be less sweet.

bryce, any others?

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Neat. Always neat.

+1

/tk

[dzilla77]

My well single malt is Glenlivet 12. I also like their French Oak (15yr) and their 18. Glengoyne 17 is another favorite. Balvenie Double Wood and Caribbean cask (rum barrel finish) all also ones I like.

As for bourbons, I can't beat Buffalo Trace.

[bryce]

Originally Posted by digamma

Well, Jack is technically a Tennessee Whiskey because it has a slightly different filtering process and is going to be sweeter because of that.

You might try a rye (also technically not bourbon).

Bulleit is also a good entry level bourbon that errs toward the rye side of things (they also make a rye). Another one that gets a bad rap from the strong bourbon drinkers is Basil Hayden's. It gets knocked because it is only 80 proof. It has an oakier taste.

Some of the stronger bourbons (Baker's, Booker's) will also be less sweet.

bryce, any others?

I would say Buffalo Trace. Or is that considered too sweet still? Great bang for the buck.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Logan

Love me some Double Wood.

Vince, I'm also a big Macallan 12 fan. Been slowly working through a bottle of 18.

I haven't had a chance at the 18 yet, I'd imagine it's pretty fantastic.

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Neat. Always neat.

Originally Posted by terpkristin

+1

/tk

+2 for neat. I'm drinking it because I like the taste of it. I don't want it watered down.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by BrianD

How do you all drink your whiskey/bourbon/scotch? Neat, rocks, or water?

It depends. I like the intense taste of scotch, so I almost always drink it neat. Sometimes I like to drop a couple of drops of water in it, just to watch the cool swirling around effects.

Bourbon, I tend to mix with room-temperature water. When I am drinking bourbon, it is because I want a bit sweeter taste, and mixing it with a little water helps to bring that out.

I don't use ice b/c I don't want to numb my taste buds at all. And, I don't like the whisky/water ratio changing over the course of the drink as the ice melts.

And make sure that if you are using water, you try to use decent water. Water with a strong taste (iron, etc.) can overpower a whisky.

Basically, I think that experimenting is the right way to go. See how different things taste to you, and depending on the particular whisky and your particular mood, just do what you dig.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by bryce

I would say Buffalo Trace. Or is that considered too sweet still? Great bang for the buck.

I like Buffalo Trace too. For the price, it's hard to beat.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by BrianD

How do you all drink your whiskey/bourbon/scotch? Neat, rocks, or water? ...

I find a "generous splash" of room temp water does the trick.

The little bit of water takes some of the sting out of the alcohol, and lets you taste flavors that are otherwise covered by that otherwise harsh edge. I find that any cooling mutes most of the distinguishing characteristics of a given scotch. IMO, you may as well drink a cheap blend if you are going to drop ice into it.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by dzilla77

My well single malt is Glenlivet 12. I also like their French Oak (15yr) and their 18. Glengoyne 17 is another favorite. Balvenie Double Wood and Caribbean cask (rum barrel finish) all also ones I like.

As for bourbons, I can't beat Buffalo Trace.

Now with such obvious good taste, how can I not take this tip to heart? Buffalo Trace is on my radar.

[Logan]

Anybody drink rye? When I'm looking for something cheaper than the scotches I normally go for, the liquor store down the street from me sells Redemption rye for $25. I find that hard to beat from a taste/value perspective.

ri(1) or however it's supposed to be written is pretty good too but pricier.

[dzilla77]

With regards to Rye, I have found Bulleit to be a decent moderately priced rye. Jefferson's is very good, especially if you like your rye on the spicier side, but its a bit more in price.

[Desnudo]

200 Bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Go Missing - Businessweek

[bryce]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

200 Bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Go Missing - Businessweek

I question the $130 retail price tag... Cheapest I've seen in a liquor store is $200. That makes the haul $40K. But on the black market it'd be closer to $60-$80K.

[Coffee Warlord]

Just got a lovely bit of news that I'll be getting a ~12% raise come my anniversary in December. May have to treat myself to a nice bottle of scotch today.

[Logan]

Congrats!

[Coffee Warlord]

Danke!

Doublewood, Single Barrel, or Caribbean Cask. (Pretty much guaranteed to be a Balvenie - it's been like 2 years since I've had a bottle of it on hand). Decisions, decisions.