Whisky, whiskey, or other?

My go to favorite is Bulleit Rye, large splash with some ice. Also enjoy scotch single malts. Hope to someday go to Scotland to do the Malt Whiskey Trail with friends.
 
Jimmie said:
My go to favorite is Bulleit Rye, large splash with some ice. Also enjoy scotch single malts. Hope to someday go to Scotland to do the Malt Whiskey Trail with friends.
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Bulleit and also Redemption are my go-to bourbons (and ryes). Looking at what is on the shelves at bars, I think those two are often their staples, too. Neither top-shelf nor well liquor, but just reliable go-tos. (Is there a term for that in bar jargon?)
 
Lorenzo said:
Bulleit and also Redemption are my go-to bourbons (and ryes). Looking at what is on the shelves at bars, I think those two are often their staples, too. Neither top-shelf nor well liquor, but just reliable go-tos. (Is there a term for that in bar jargon?)
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If there isn't, there should be. The bartender at my bar always starts pouring it when I walk in the door without asking and has it in front of me by the time I sit down. Just can't beat great service like that!
 
Lorenzo said:
Bulleit and also Redemption are my go-to bourbons (and ryes). Looking at what is on the shelves at bars, I think those two are often their staples, too. Neither top-shelf nor well liquor, but just reliable go-tos. (Is there a term for that in bar jargon?)
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I think the term is a call drink in bar lingo.
 
I don't drink much of the hard stuff anymore, but when I do, it's Crown Royal or Makers Mark... In a pinch, I'll drink Jack Daniels (Black Label)
 
I like a good aged Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, but rarely buy it. A) It does not last long, B) They are typically quite expensive and that kind of dulls my enthusiasm, they do not go on sale often.
 
For the whisky drinkers, here’s a new opportunity to BTD. Aged 84 years, and expected price is around $100k. The Macallan Just Released The Oldest Whisky Ever, Here Is What You Need To Know About The 84 Year Old
The Macallan has produced no shortage of incredible releases to mark its 200th anniversary in 2024. However, none have been quite as spectacular as The Macallan TIME : SPACE Collection, containing the oldest scotch whisky ever produced at a staggering 84 years old. The Macallan TIME : SPACE Collection consists of two unique releases. The first is TIME : SPACE, consisting of just 200 sets with the price on request. Based on the pricing of The Macallan Reach and The Macallan Horizon, we expect the price to be in excess of $100,000. The second is TIME : SPACE Mastery, which has an RRP of £1,100 ($1,500).
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On the rare occasions (primarily holidays) that I have liquor in the house, I will buy
Chambord (mix with a little Lime juice or limeade) or
Jack Daniels Winter Jack, straight or with a Fireball shot, warmed up in a coffee mug with a cinnamon stick.

When we were in Nashville, we toured the Jack Daniels tasting room, they had some good stuff there!
 
I was a single malt Scotch lover, Lagavulin was my favorite. DW still drinks Macallan 12 or Balvenie Doublewood 12, Caribbean Cask 14 or occasionally DW 17 - always neat.

I switched to bourbon a few years ago. Maker's Mark was my house brand, then Larceny, and now Basil Hayden's - though I still keep Maker's 46 on the shelf. There are other bourbons I've tried and liked, I tend to favor wheated bourbons, don't like most (spicy) ryes - Basil Hayden's is completely unlike most ryes I've tried.

I think I've perfected the Old Fashioned at least to my taste...
  • 2-3 ounces BH,
  • 2 tsps simple syrup or agave nectar (patiently stirred in or it sits at the bottom of the glass unlike simple syrup),
  • 4-5 drops Hella Bitters aromatic,
  • 2 Luxardo cherries,
  • 1 large ice sphere and
  • pure orange oil around the rim inside (just for scent).
 
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For those who kind of like whiskey but haven't really found their favorite yet, I would highly recommend that you move beyond the base level offerings. There is a big difference in taste and quality with a not so big difference in price when you go up a step. For example, regular Maker's Mark runs about $30 here and I would never drink that straight or even in a spirit-forward cocktail. But Maker's 46 runs $40 and is quite enjoyable straight or in a mixed drink. Jim Beam white label is $25 and the most I'd do with that is mix some in a glass of Coke. But Jim Beam Double Oak is $33 and a decent sipper.
 
My Mother, rest her soul, was born and raised in Scotland along the River Clyde. There is now only one Scotch distillery operating in the Lowlands. Auchentoshen Single Malt is hard to find in here the USA, but I did locate a bottle in the back rack at our local spirit shop.

When I brought that bottle home and pulled the cork. the aroma that filled the room was almost -- familiar to me. I nosed the glass and I felt that there was 'something' there.

Mom was not a scotch drinker at all.....but she grew up drinking this water.

The Scottish word for 'water' is uisge. This is pronounced, you guessed it -- whis-kuh.
 
Lorenzo said:
@Midpack, I had to look up Hella Bitters. Truly better than Angostura? It just seems like heresy to use something other than Angostura.
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I was gifted the Hella Bitters aromatic and it's excellent, but evidently I should try Angostura again. I have some Woodford Reserve orange bitters, and agree with it's (last place) ranking in the article below...

Whatever you do, don't overlook Luxardo cherries, though maybe you're already in the know.

www.tastingtable.com

20 Cocktail Bitters Brands, Ranked By An International Bartender - Tasting Table

To make it easier to sift through the countless bitters brands and up your cocktail game, we've ranked them from okay to outstanding.
www.tastingtable.com www.tastingtable.com
 
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Midpack said:
I was gifted the Hella Bitters aromatic and it's excellent, but evidently I should try Angostura again. I have some Woodford Reserve orange bitters, and agree with it's (last place) ranking in the article below...

Whatever you do, don't overlook Luxardo cherries, though maybe you're already in the know.

www.tastingtable.com

20 Cocktail Bitters Brands, Ranked By An International Bartender - Tasting Table

To make it easier to sift through the countless bitters brands and up your cocktail game, we've ranked them from okay to outstanding.
www.tastingtable.com www.tastingtable.com
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I ogled the Luxardo cherries the other day when I was in a liquor store, but at over $20 a jar I decided to pass on them, though I have splashed out on them before. (Maybe one for the micro-BTD thread?)
 
Lorenzo said:
I ogled the Luxardo cherries the other day when I was in a liquor store, but at over $20 a jar I decided to pass on them, though I have splashed out on them before. (Maybe one for the micro-BTD thread?)
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disneysteve said:
Luxardo is good but we think Amarena is even better.
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google a recipe for luxardo cherries, its very easy to replicate. I have a batch in the fridge right now.

all this talk makes me want an Manhattan.
 
Kings over Queens said:
You had me at hello. lol

My wife just scored me a bottle of the 1.75 sized basil hayden for $65.99, last one on the shelf.

I just finished reading Pappyland, given your selections there you'd probably enjoy it too.
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The photo I posted is actually a couple of years old. I didn't feel like taking a new one. Basil is no longer in there and isn't something we are likely to replace. It's fine but there are so many options we prefer out there.
 
Kings over Queens said:
google a recipe for luxardo cherries, its very easy to replicate. I have a batch in the fridge right now.

all this talk makes me want an Manhattan.
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I see--lots of recipes. Some look wrong, others ... could be. I think Luxardo's maraschino cherries are a sour variety, which would be very difficult for me to source where I live. Now, if one lives in, say, Michigan, I'd bet a sour cherry variety could be found.
 
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