Whisky, whiskey, or other?

[The Cosmic Avenger]

So in the Let's talk beer thread, someone mentioned starting a thread about bourbon, and since I got to it first, I decided to make it about ALL whiskey/whisky! (Or any booze, really.)

My current favorites are High West Double Rye, very affordable and tasty; Maker's Mark, often with a fair amount of water to reduce but not eliminate that spicy kick, so I can taste the other components in there; Uncle Nearest 1856, IMO much better than the 1884, which needs water to be drinkable; and Compass Box Art & Decadence, a blended Scotch that I tried at last year's WhiskyFest and had to pick up a couple of bottles.

What about you?

 

[Golden Mean]

Scotch.
Like Grangestone (in sherry or cognac casks). Johnnie Walker red is surprisingly good to me. Sometimes I'll venture over to the smoky Islay (E-lah) stuff like Lagavulin.

 

[MichaelB]

I like Irish whiskey.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

Scotch.
Like Grangestone (in sherry or cognac casks). Johnnie Walker red is surprisingly good to me. Sometimes I'll venture over to the smoky Islay (E-lah) stuff like Lagavulin.

If you can find Johnnie Walker Green Label, I actually like it better than the Blue Label and it's about 1/4 of the price. And peaty Islay malts are my first love, Ardbeg was one of the first single malts I bought for myself!

 

[Winemaker]

I enjoy bourbons and ryes during the fall and winter months more than during the warmer months. I do have to disagree with you, CA, on the spiciness of Maker's Mark, as it has a wheated mashbill, unlike those made with a rye mashbill.

Although a great marketing tool, sign up to be a Maker's Mark Ambassador. They put your name on a barrel, you get the option of getting 8 bottles of MM with your name on the label. You have the opportunity to dip your bottles in the red wax when it has completely aged. My barrel was slow, so it took eight years. Every December until your barrel is harvested, they will send you some MM trinket. I have a MM bottle sweater, scarf, ear muffs, ski hat and a couple of other marketing things.

Also, for you whiskey/whisky lovers, take a teaspoon of unsweetened tea in your glass. the tannins in the tea break up the flavors in layers, which I find more enjoyable. I read that tip in the WSJ a number of years ago, and was a skeptic. But I found it true for myself.

 

[rodi]

I didn't like whiskeys. My husband loves bourbon. His go-to is Woodford Reserve. I was looking for something to "sip" when he had his bourbon and stumbled on good juniper based gin. I like Hendricks and Bombay Sapphire. Not into the floral gins.

 

[Plantman]

I'm a gin drinker also. Bombay Sapphire is my favorite also. I'll drink pretty much anything but have yet to find a scotch that I like.

 

[Flyfish1]

I'm definitely a bourbon fan. These days it's Makers Mark, Angels Envy, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit ,or occasionally Blanton's or something unusual.
On the Irish whiskey side - my friend turned me on to Dead Rabbit.

 

[FIREd]

I like bourbon (Maker’s Mark when I can find it) and Tennessee whiskey (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel). But I’m partial to scotch. My favorite is Springbank, but I like variety, from fruity to heavily peated.

 

[Closet_Gamer]

Balvenie Double Wood 12 years old

Actually, pretty much any whiskey that spent part of its life in a sherry cask.

 

[Souschef]

If you can find Johnnie Walker Green Label, I actually like it better than the Blue Label and it's about 1/4 of the price. And peaty Islay malts are my first love, Ardbeg was one of the first single malts I bought for myself!

I tried a sampler of the JW whiskys-Red, Black, Green & Blue. To my taste, I liked the Black the best.
My favorites are the different Bowmore whiskeys. I visited the distillery and was given a taste of the rare ones by the Operations Manager.

 

[Phroig]

Scotch for me. Black Label for a regular dram; a nice malt when I have one. My last one was Glenfiddich Gran Reserva 21, a bit of a splurge but very tasty.
I also occasionally drink gin, mostly G&Ts in the summer.

 

[rembrandt]

I just started drinking Absolut on the rocks. Practically no hangover compared to bourbon.

 

[Lorenzo]

A couple of months ago we took a road trip to tour some distilleries and other whiskey-related attractions of Kentucky's so-called Bourbon Trail. I had done this myself about 15 years ago, but my wife had never done it, and we had a blast.

 

[Winemaker]

I just started drinking Absolut on the rocks. Practically no hangover compared to bourbon.

Blame it on the yeast that that distiller uses. Certain companies use proprietary yeasts ,that's why their brand is distinct. Certain yeasts put out certain by products that create havoc on different people's system.

 

[CardsFan]

Lately, my favorite bourbon drink is maple bourbon:

Start with a full glass of ice.
1 hefty shot of good (but not too expensive) bourbon. Makers Mark is perfect. Woodford reserve is good, but maybe overkill.
About 1/2 a shot (or less) of maple syrup (MAPLE SYRUP, not Mrs Butterworths)
A couple of shake of bitters.

Simple. Basically a maple Old Fashioned

 

[marko]

Spent a lot of time in Scotland at one point. Really developed a strong preference for single malt scotch, Glemoangie 18 in particular. I'm actually sipping a glass right now, in a snifter, no water, no ice.

Knew a guy in Edinburgh who could tell any Scotch with his eyes closed...just by taste. He was infallible and could suggest your next glass based on what you were currently drinking, like pairing wine!

FWIW, when my grandfather died he left 11 GALLONS (yes, its true) of Markers Mark behind. Thirty five years later, I still have a little more than a half gallon left.

 

[NanoSour]

Any Speyside scotch is OK with me. A few favs are Glenfiddich 14 & 21, The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 & Doublewood 12, McCallan 18. When interested in peat I'll go Ardbeg 10 and Laphroaig 10 from Islay.

 

[Flieger]

Just got back from a friends where I had a..... Bourbon! Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, my favorite!

Cheers!

Flieger

 

[marko]

I used to love Glenkinchie but can't find it anymore.

 

[zangbao]

When I used to drink, I liked Maker's Mark. Had a great time visiting their distillery.

I also liked Aberfeldy. Visited their distillery and was surprised to know that they outsourced their distillery process and they only bottle onsite. I hear that most of Scottish distilleries work this way now.

My favorite was Blue Label. My Scottish friend was aghast. But I don't care if it's not a single malt whiskey.

 

[folivier]

I enjoy Ezra Brooks, a Kentucky straight bourbon. But only occasionally. A bottle will last me a couple years.

 

[Lorenzo]

When I used to drink, I liked Maker's Mark. Had a great time visiting their distillery.

It was our favorite distillery tour on the Bourbon Trail. Beautiful grounds. I was impressed by the print shop where all the labels are still printed on a hand-operated press. My wife wax-dipped a souvenir bottle. I bought a couple of their less common bottles. We left with a new respect for Maker's Mark, which is surely what their goal is.

 

[VanWinkle]

Jameson Black Barrel Irish whiskey is a recent find I enjoy.
It helps Vanwinkle take those long naps.
Also Buffalo Trace Boubon creme is enjoyed by S.O. with
rootbeer- she says it tastes like a rootbeer float.

 

[disneysteve]

Do we like whiskey? I suppose just a little. These shelves are 3 bottles deep, all different