A Wee Dram Discourse (Scotch)

[justiceiro]

A question for you bourbon drinkers:

How come the bourbon in my decanter stays translucent, but once I pour it into a glass it starts to cloud?

There is residual water in your glasses from when you washed them, perhaps?

[AmbushBug]

A question for you bourbon drinkers:

How come the bourbon in my decanter stays translucent, but once I pour it into a glass it starts to cloud?

[justiceiro]

I am basically boned at this point, as the only bourbon for sale in the EU is a) shit that's festooned with stars and stripes and is so rank that it simply says "made in kentucky" but won't say which distillery, also it costs 8 euros per bottle, 4 of which is tax, at least one of which is the bottle, so it 6 dollar per liter bourbon; or b) Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, the usual.


On the other hand, here are some wack scotches and whisies here that I have never heard of, and some I have, for relatively cheap.  Is 80 euros for Bushmills 1608 a good price?   The ten year old bushmills is about 50 bucks.  There's also some crazy expensive scotches, but I don't want to buy them blind.

I would pay any amount of money fro Edradour, but I can't find it, even here.

[duke_of_earl]

I bought a bottle of incredible bourbon at the distillery in Kentucky- Evan Williams 18 year.  Fantastic.  Drink it, I dare you.

Not to go too much off topic, and I agree that Evan Williams is excellent.  When it comes to bourbon, Justiceiro, I recommend George T. Stagg...if you can find a bottle.  I stash a few every year when it comes out.

doe

[justiceiro]

Bourbon tastes like crappy scotch with a teaspoon of burnt simple sugar.  Blech.

Heresy!  You should try something other than Jack Daniels (which is universally regarded to be crap) and Jim Beam (which is OK for $15 a fifth, but there you are).

I bought a bottle of incredible bourbon at the distillery in Kentucky- Evan Williams 18 year.  Fantastic.  Drink it, I dare you.

[bdlaw]

Aqua Vit

That's another thread.

And website.

Entirely.

[CeeDub]

Red, Black, Gold, Green, Blue, and Johnny Jump 10 year for the cruise ship trade . . .  meh!

Consider the Bohemians drinking PBR as an exotic import from Milwaukee . . . :kinde:

If you're not justin funnin' , there are plenty of folks here who will gladly edjimicate your gullet. 

Water of Life.  Aqua Vit.  Eau de Vie.

[Case]

Another total dumbass.   Johnny Walker is cheap nasty "export only" Scotch that you can't even buy in Scotland.  I hope it makes his liver melt and stops him from pissing in the already severely weak human gene pool.......

So next time I do this what should I ask for?

[Soshin]

From the police blotter in today's JJ:


Took money, settled for a lesser Scotch

A robber who held up a Jersey City liquor store at gunpoint Sunday demanded all the owner's cash - and a bottle of expensive Scotch whisky, reports said.

The owner of Webster Liquor at 4 Webster Ave. told police that at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, a gunman took a total of $320 from the store's cash registers and then added a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue to his demands.

When the store's owner told the robber that he didn't carry the pricey booze, the gunman replied he'd settle for a bottle of Johnny Walker Black instead, reports said.

Webster Liquor's owner gave the robber a $42 bottle of black label Johnny Walker, and the gunman fled on Prospect Avenue, reports said.

Another total dumbass.   Johnny Walker is cheap nasty "export only" Scotch that you can't even buy in Scotland.  I hope it makes his liver melt and stops him from pissing in the already severely weak human gene pool.......

[MCA™]

From the police blotter in today's JJ:


Took money, settled for a lesser Scotch

A robber who held up a Jersey City liquor store at gunpoint Sunday demanded all the owner's cash - and a bottle of expensive Scotch whisky, reports said.

The owner of Webster Liquor at 4 Webster Ave. told police that at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, a gunman took a total of $320 from the store's cash registers and then added a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue to his demands.

When the store's owner told the robber that he didn't carry the pricey booze, the gunman replied he'd settle for a bottle of Johnny Walker Black instead, reports said.

Webster Liquor's owner gave the robber a $42 bottle of black label Johnny Walker, and the gunman fled on Prospect Avenue, reports said.

[Harmonicfreq]

The former, I think. 

Not really sure about the cause of this phenomenon.

Harmonic -- Do you mean we are all so waspy we could have just stepped of the mayflower? Or do you mean we're all so beaten down and haggard that we look like we've been doing all the chores the asshole 18th century men expected of us? PG.

[PhillyGirl]

Harmonic -- Do you mean we are all so waspy we could have just stepped of the mayflower? Or do you mean we're all so beaten down and haggard that we look like we've been doing all the chores the asshole 18th century men expected of us? PG.

[skwirrlking]

Bourbon tastes like crappy scotch with a teaspoon of burnt simple sugar.  Blech.

-- aside from the top end - scotch tastes like crappy bourbon with an ashtray of pall mall butts. Blech.

[Harmonicfreq]

Try the Hirsch and see if you blech.

Also, I wanted to bounce a theory off of you I have called "Philly Face".  I formulated this theory while visiting my friends in Philly.  Philly Girls have Philly face; which means they would look totally natural in 18th century garb.

Might also explain the anglophilia . . .

Bourbon tastes like crappy scotch with a teaspoon of burnt simple sugar.  Blech.

[PhillyGirl]

Scotch is not my favorite but I do like the brown liqours.  My fave is bourbon; neat and sweet. 

Bourbon tastes like crappy scotch with a teaspoon of burnt simple sugar.  Blech.

BD, what's with you telling me about the Lagavulin but not getting it for me?!  Geez.     Seriously, though, $72 is a decent price for around here -- I don't know what's up with the folks charging $85.  I could get it in DC retail for $60-70.  Course back then I knew a Diageo wholesaler . . .

I like Talisker as a runner up, though.  Not too shabby.

[Kindelan]

It will turn me into an angry neurotic cripple?  I'm not sure I want that.

Woodsy, kill your TV. Take a Hike.

[Woodsy]

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength 60% Alcohol, 120 Proof.  It'll get you HOUSED.

It will turn me into an angry neurotic cripple?  I'm not sure I want that.

[Kindelan]

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength 60% Alcohol, 120 Proof.  It'll get you HOUSED.

[Harmonicfreq]

Scotch is not my favorite but I do like the brown liqours.  My fave is bourbon; neat and sweet.  If you want to feel proud of the U.S.A. (and the northeast in particular since it was brewed in eastern PA) get yourself a bottle of A.H. Hirsch 16 year old (they have a twenty also but I prefer the 16).  This is a really special spirit.

Also, love the Knappouge Castle.

[bdlaw]

PhillyGirl, I can confirm that Peter at Maiden Lane in lower Manhattan carries Lagavulin 16 year, for $71.99 / 750 mL.

And he's also a hell of a nice guy.  It's only a couple blocks from my office- if you don't want to make the trek, PM me and we can hook some kind of deal up.

PS, it isn't Scotch but I am a huge fan of Knappogue Castle- Irish Single Malt.  The only Irish Whiskey I can really drink.  Though GF refers to it as "rocket fuel".

PPS, We should organize a tasting or at least attend one if Majestic does one again.  Even if it IS almost Labor Day.  Who else drinks Scotch in the summer?  The Solera is an excellent summer Scotch though I admit I adulterate it with ice.

[NiceGuyEddie]

-- a while back united distilleries, who owned the johnnie walker brand and a slew of scotch distilleries at the time used to have some marketing schpiel for the classic malts - six single malts that represented the various terroirs of scotch:   

UD was purchased by Diageo many years ago, and all of their "Classic Scotches" (the six you mention) are widely available.  If you're local liquor store isn't carrying the one of your choice, he should be able to easily order it, as long as he's carrying other Diageo products (and they all do: Captain Morgans, Smirnoff, Johnny Walker, Guinness, etc.)

That being said, I'm a fan of the peat too.  Laphroig is the scotch I keep at home.  Nice and clean, strong peat and moss with a bit of honey.  You all should check out the tastings at Bar Majestic.  They occasionally do a bourbon, rye or scotch tasting.

[skwirrlking]

I am also a huge fan of Lagavulin.  I know, other end of the spectrum, but in winter it's wonderful.  And Lagavulin is also very difficult to find -- they don't make so much of it.  Does anyone know where around here I can get it?

-- a while back united distilleries, who owned the johnnie walker brand and a slew of scotch distilleries at the time used to have some marketing schpiel for the classic malts - six single malts that represented the various terroirs of scotch:   

Dalwhinnie-Highland
Glenkinchie-Lowland
Cragganmore-Speyside
Oban-West Highland
Talisker-Skye
Lagavulin-Islay

they'd package them together in some backbar display (take a look in places serving those whiskeys) and do occasional scotch tastings. not sure what's going on now that diageo owns them, but they had the distribution, so am surprised is hard to find. 

once spent some time with the distillery manager of royal lochnager who said he knew some people who swore by keeping their lagavulin in the freezer. not sure i buy that, but i'm more of an american brown water enthusiast anyway. 

[CeeDub]

well I have been known to enjoy a drink or ten and Scotch is wonderfully complex and some of the best Work I've ever done, to develop a taste/addiction to it.

Lagavulin is King but had some issues at the distillery a few years back.  For some reason, in my travels about New England I've been able to find (leftovers?) the 16 year old 750 ml for $55 to $65 - but around NYC it's a bit more dear, up to $85.  For an ass kicking Eye-lugh, the 10 year old Laphroig will indeed kick your ass, and piss on you as you roll in the gutter.

The goofy barrel aging in this tun or that solera makes some interesting afternotes.  Anybody try the Margaux yet?  I got a 750 of the GlenF Solera 15 for 22 quid via the retail therapy cart rolling down the aisle.  Great way to grab a bottle.  Almost as good as getting one for the holidays - my teetotaler friends usually re-gift stuff they can't stomache - and who's gonna look down on a bottle of JW Blue?

I had the pleasure of working in a unit for 2 years with a cryptographer who blended his own.  He had over 80 in his bar and could pour a shot - blending as he went - from his collection that was indistinguishable from Dewar's.  Fookin' genius he was - did the Sunday NYT word in pen, complete in about 30 mins.

I hope his liver is doing okay.

[Soshin]

I was surprised to see that they have 16-year old Lagavulin for sale in 440 Liquors, next door to the Ashiya Japanese restaurant on Route 440.  It was 80 bucks a bottle though, I can usually find it for 70 bucks tho that is more than likely the 12 year old.

If you really like Lagavulin and peaty whiskeys, check out Talisker from the Isle of Skye.  This was my favorite for years and it is often easier to find than Lagavulin.....

[bdlaw]

Lagavulin is also very difficult to find -- they don't make so much of it.  Does anyone know where around here I can get it?

I have to stop by Maiden Lane Liquors in Manhattan tomorrow - ok, I don't *have* to

I am pretty sure Peter carries it, I will check for you.

As for me, my favorites for the last few years have been Glenfiddich Solera Reserve, and Cask Strength Macallan's.  Balvenie Doublewood is also nice.

EDIT:  you can definitely buy it at Park Avenue Liquors in mid-town NYC:

http://www.parkaveliquor.com/search/finewines.asp?searchcat=22&Param=Lagavulin