OT: Scotch thread

[storrsroars]

I've not seen that. Appears to be one of the more mass produced Mezcals from a tequila company. Those still make decent mixers. Alacrán Joven - Tasting notes | Mezcal Reviews Those don't usually have the interesting complexity of the artisanal mezcals neat.

I'm not even going to try to pretend I know anything on the subject. Even when I lived in MX 25 years ago, I didn't have a lot of exposure to Mezcal, although I tried well over two dozen different tequilas, many not available in the US and some produced in a basement or backyard. Tequila and mezcal had their place (much like vodka was everywhere when I lived in Sofia) and once I got back to the US, I never really sought either out.

That said, it's 10am and just to offer something to the conversation, I poured a shot to see if it's something I'd sip. Probably not. It's smoother than mass produced tequila, it's actually more fruity than smoky or funky, In the nose, I'm finding some pineapple, citrus and even cherry, along with fermented cabbage, saddle leather and Swisher Sweets. In tasting, the pineapple still comes through, the cherry is more like a pipe tobacco, there's a hint of cardamom, and a decent alcohol burn. It's not something that sits on the tongue for long, nor does it significantly develop new notes on second or third sips. So it's not complex.

I've had more interesting reposado tequilas, and I can't see it as something I'd think of as a first or even second option as a sipping booze. I'd probably keep it next to the bourbon as something I'd readily use as a mixer but have little interest in drinking straight. And I'm going to guess my answer would be the same for the entire Mezcal category. Which isn't to say I wouldn't be interested in a tasting of "good" ones if I ever had the opportunity. But this being PA, that opportunity isn't going to happen as there's simply no mezcal to be had unless I went to the one bar here that has an extensive selection and overpaid for a flight of shots which I likely wouldn't fall in love with.

 

[Fishy]

You might have trouble finding Lagavulin right now just because of shipping schedules - I asked at Total Wine. Will be back in stock on most places next month.

I received a bourbon as a gift and by god, I do not hate it - EH Taylor Small Batch. Not sure I love it, but I definitely do not hate it.

I also bought a bottle of ”moonshine.” Some folks bought Dutch Shultz’s moonshine hideout in Pine Plains NY and opened a bar/distillery/event space. Took a drive there last weekend and bought a bottle of their moonshine.

For $25, why not? The moonshine bit is more marketing than reality, but I knew that going in. It’s only 80 proof and, really, it’s really more of a rum than anything else, but still, good and easy to drink.

 

[HuskyHawk]

You might have trouble finding Lagavulin right now just because of shipping schedules - I asked at Total Wine. Will be back in stock on most places next month.

I received a bourbon as a gift and by god, I do not hate it - EH Taylor Small Batch. Not sure I love it, but I definitely do not hate it.

I also bought a bottle of ”moonshine.” Some folks bought Dutch Shultz’s moonshine hideout in Pine Plains NY and opened a bar/distillery/event space. Took a drive there last weekend and bought a bottle of their moonshine.

For $25, why not? The moonshine bit is more marketing than reality, but I knew that going in. It’s only 80 proof and, really, it’s really more of a rum than anything else, but still, good and easy to drink.

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EH Taylor Small Batch is one of my favorites. Two years ago it was everywhere at $40, now bourbon “taters” buy it up. So many stores now mark it up if they have it at all. If you like that, you might like Eagle Rare as well.

 

[Fishy]

EH Taylor Small Batch is one of my favorites. Two years ago it was everywhere at $40, now bourbon “taters” buy it up. So many stores now mark it up if they have it at all. If you like that, you might like Eagle Rare as well.

We have a bottle of Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace in case bourbon people show up - would call them both almost tolerable, but I’m happy enough to leave them to the guests.

I noticed that….at $40, I would say it’s a great deal. At $80-120, nah.

 

[DALTX]

Any Irish Whiskey fans in the crowd? I normally drink Rye or Bourbon and need to get a gift for a person that likes the Irish style best. No clue what to buy, budget would be $40-60 range.

Consider Teeling's Small Batch for the low end of that range.

 

[Deepelm]

Consider Teeling's Small Batch for the low end of that range.

Had this one recommended a few times now. Another buddy is now also chipping in so I think we are going to do like one mid range bottle and one higher end. Appreciate the input!

 

[Fishy]

Good thing about Irish whiskey, bourbon, gin and even rum is that you can spend like $35 and still get something pretty great. Teeling and Jameson are perfectly good in that price range.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Good thing about Irish whiskey, bourbon, gin and even rum is that you can spend like $35 and still get something pretty great. Teeling and Jameson are perfectly good in that price range.

Agreed. Rum especially...if you know what to buy and what to avoid. There is a lot of sugar water out there for sorority girl mixed drinks, the fireball of rum.

 

[Deepelm]

Good thing about Irish whiskey, bourbon, gin and even rum is that you can spend like $35 and still get something pretty great. Teeling and Jameson are perfectly good in that price range.

Here very good stuff about Teeling, been suggested by several now and the price is just right. I will be trying that one for myself lol.

 

[Deepelm]

Not about Scotch but booze related and good to see. The bourbon market is INSANE price wise, these corporations are making millions and trying to F over their employees. Good for them not putting up with it.

BREAKING NEWS: Heaven Hill Workers To Go On Strike Over Labor Contract Disputes | The Daily Pour

whiskeyraiders.com

 

[Umami Zen]

So.. Did a Boneyard- influenced night.. Monkey Shoulder followed by Breckinridge Bourbon.. Preceded by some Vodka-Full disclosure.

Not bad.

 

[Deepelm]

So.. Did a Boneyard- influenced night.. Monkey Shoulder followed by Breckinridge Bourbon.. Preceded by some Vodka-Full disclosure.

Not bad.

I have seen the Breckenridge but not tried yet, not sure I will honestly. The Monkey is a good mixer scotch for me, I did not care for it neat.

 

[Umami Zen]

I have seen the Breckenridge but not tried yet, not sure I will honestly. The Monkey is a good mixer scotch for me, I did not care for it neat.

I hear you..I'm trying stuff that some Yarders throw out there. A learning experience. Obviously have my favorites but don't have a broad and diverse level of imbibing as some.

Never too old to benefit from educated folks. That's how you get smarter..

 

[Deepelm]

I hear you..I'm trying stuff that some Yarders throw out there. A learning experience. Obviously have my favorites but don't have a broad and diverse level of imbibing as some.

Never too old to benefit from educated folks. That's how you get smarter..

Indeed! Just started my scotch journey recently and I am enjoying things thus far.

 

[HuskyHawk]

So.. Did a Boneyard- influenced night.. Monkey Shoulder followed by Breckinridge Bourbon.. Preceded by some Vodka-Full disclosure.

Not bad.

Generally I’d save Vodka stuff for last, drink the best stuff first. I have cheap bottles that are my…I’m borderline and shouldn’t have another bottles, so I don’t waste the good stuff.

 

[storrsroars]

Generally I’d save Vodka stuff for last, drink the best stuff first. I have cheap bottles that are my…I’m borderline and shouldn’t have another bottles, so I don’t waste the good stuff.

As a half Lithuanian who's lived in a former Bloc country, I've been told the proper thing to do is to have a vodka between each of your more expensive drinks to clean your palate.

 

[HuskyHawk]

As a half Lithuanian who's lived in a former Bloc country, I've been told the proper thing to do is to have a vodka between each of your more expensive drinks to clean your palate.

There is this thing called water that I find does that and helps with hydration. But in the former Bloc countries I can see how they might want to go for maximum effect.

My sister brought back several local vodkas from her trip to Belarus (Chernoby) but none of them were particularly good. Best I’ve had remains a Barr Hill vodka from Vermont distilled entirely from maple syrup. So stupid that I didn't buy it.

 

[Drumguy]

As a half Lithuanian who's lived in a former Bloc country, I've been told the proper thing to do is to have a vodka between each of your more expensive drinks to clean your palate.

Interesting. I didn't know until I did ancestry.com but I'm a lot Lithuanian.genetically, so I'll have to try the vodka palate cleansing routine!

 

[Drumguy]

There is this thing called water that I find does that and helps with hydration. But in the former Bloc countries I can see how they might want to go for maximum effect.

My sister brought back several local vodkas from her trip to Belarus (Chernoby) but none of them were particularly good. Best I’ve had remains a Barr Hill vodka from Vermont distilled entirely from maple syrup. So stupid that I didn't buy it.

I've seen the Barr Hill in NH, is it not available in CT? Also the NH stores carry distilled from honey, not maple syrup, that would be very tasty! https://www.liquorandwineoutlets.com/product-detail/3009-Caledonia-Spirits-Barr-Hill-Vodka

 

[storrsroars]

Interesting. I didn't know until I did ancestry.com but I'm a lot Lithuanian.genetically, so I'll have to try the vodka palate cleansing routine!

Sveikinu!

 

[Deepelm]

I've seen the Barr Hill in NH, is it not available in CT? Also the NH stores carry distilled from honey, not maple syrup, that would be very tasty! https://www.liquorandwineoutlets.com/product-detail/3009-Caledonia-Spirits-Barr-Hill-Vodka

I had a customer send me a bottle of their Tom Cat gin and its REALLY good stuff. And I normally cant stand gin at all.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I've seen the Barr Hill in NH, is it not available in CT? Also the NH stores carry distilled from honey, not maple syrup, that would be very tasty! https://www.liquorandwineoutlets.com/product-detail/3009-Caledonia-Spirits-Barr-Hill-Vodka

The Gin is sold here in MA. Tom Cat is good. The honey Vodka is the regular. But that Maple Vodka was a special thing they made one time, tried it at the weekend farmers market at Mad River.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

What Does the Oldest Single Malt Scotch in the World Taste Like? - InsideHook

 

[HuskyHawk]

What Does the Oldest Single Malt Scotch in the World Taste Like? - InsideHook

Probably not that great. That said, I was luck enough to try a Cognac from 1945 and an Armagnac from 1943 as part of a barrel picking panel. Here is the 45, we did choose to have FineDrams bottle some of that cask. Grosperrin N°45 Fins Bois Cognac - Aficionados x Fine Drams The 1943 Armagnac was better, but just way too expensive. The best of the Cognacs on my review sheet was this one, which was our overall group choice. Grosperrin N°72 Grande Champagne Cognac - Aficionados x Fine Drams

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Probably not that great. That said, I was luck enough to try a Cognac from 1945 and an Armagnac from 1943 as part of a barrel picking panel. Here is the 45, we did choose to have FineDrams bottle some of that cask. Grosperrin N°45 Fins Bois Cognac - Aficionados x Fine Drams The 1943 Armagnac was better, but just way too expensive. The best of the Cognacs on my review sheet was this one, which was our overall group choice. Grosperrin N°72 Grande Champagne Cognac - Aficionados x Fine Drams

dang. u is a pro.
im puttin you on the 'we are not worthy' list. no offense, but i wouldn't know the difference between top shelf scotch and scotch tape.

 

[HuskyHawk]

dang. u is a pro.
im puttin you on the 'we are not worthy' list. no offense, but i wouldn't know the difference between top shelf scotch and scotch tape.

I just know some people. But that was cool. I may buy a second bottle of the 96 Armagnac we picked, because it's great and I'm cheap.

 

[Deepelm]

I grew tired off the selection here in North Carolina , and luckily SC is only a 20 min drive to two very large liquor stores. Surprised to find the Deanston, not so much the other two. Only tried the Deanston thus far but its really nice neat, little water turned it far too citrus for me though, would stick with neat.

 

[Deepelm]

Had a good buddy send me a little 1 oz taste of some Johnny Walker Blue Legendary 8 stuff. Pretty damn tasty but not freaking $430.00 a bottle tasty , and def. not for a blended scotch. Never tried to actual blue but if this is any indication that is over priced as well.

 

[storrsroars]

fwiw, Laga GoT Lannister 9 is $36 at BevMax in Stamford.

If you like the Lagavulin 9 GOT (which they aren't making more of), then try the Lagavulin 8. It's very similar, and the 8 is less expensive. In my case, it's a crazy low $40 here in town. I should really buy a case. It is $60 at Milford, CT Total Wine, $48 at my Total Wine.

 

[HuskyHawk]

fwiw, Laga GoT Lannister 9 is $36 at BevMax in Stamford.

Better to let @8893 know, I'm in MA. That's a hell of a price, even lower than the $40 I pay for the 8 year.

Meanwhile, I scored a Benromach 10 for $46 today. That was a nice win. One of my favorite base original bottlings along with Talisker 10. Really doesn't taste like anything else.