Happy Atheist Forum

Anyone else a whisky or whiskey fanatic?
If so answer these questions for me, and feel free to extrapolate!

What is your favorite Scotch whisky?

Irish whiskey?

Canadian whisky?

Non bourbon American whiskey?

Favorite bourbon?


Favorite whisky or whiskey or all time?

I'm an antonym of bibulous.

Quote from: "BadPoison"What is your favorite Scotch whisky?

I'm a big Dewar's 12 year fan. But Glennfiddich (not to sound lame) is another favorite. If I want to change it up, I love the smokey flavor of "The Big Smoke" - which is a blended Islay Malt. I have yet to really try many single casks of scotch.

Quote from: "BadPoison"Irish whiskey?

I've never really gotten into irish whiskey, but Jameson's 12 year is quite good, as is RedBreast.

Quote from: "BadPoison"Canadian whisky?

Anyone else a Pendleton fan?

Quote from: "BadPoison"Non bourbon American whiskey?

I only like JD with a mixer.

Quote from: "BadPoison"Favorite bourbon?

Knobb Creek is by far my favorite. And it's 100 proof, just the extra burn I'm looking for. Bufalo trace is alright when I'm low on funds... or am entertaining guests.  

Quote from: "BadPoison"Favorite whisky or whiskey or all time?

[/quote]

Oban!-- A single malt Scotch!

Quote from: "Sophus"I'm an antonym of bibulous.

Awwww, no fun there!

I used to drink Seagram's 7 and coke as my drink of choice. I quit drinking anything but wine and beer because it began making me mean. I hated that. Gimme a nice shiraz or a smooth Chinese beer and I'm a happy guy.  

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"I used to drink Seagram's 7 and coke as my drink of choice. I quit drinking anything but wine and beer because it began making me mean. I hated that. Gimme a nice shiraz or a smooth Chinese beer and I'm a happy guy.  

Chinese beer?
I've had Sopporo, and it's very good. But I think it's Japanese.

Quote from: "BadPoison"I've had Sopporo, and it's very good. But I think it's Japanese.

Sapporo (ã,µãƒƒãƒãƒ­ãƒ"ー) is Japanese, yes, and pretty good. I prefer Kirin Ichiban (ã,­ãƒªãƒ³ä¸€ç•ªæ¾ã,Š) to Sapporo, though, even though it's more of an American beer than it is Japanese. I mostly drink Tsingtao (é'島啤é...'), Harbin (å"ˆçˆ¾æ¿±å•¤é...') and Tiger (from Singapore). For the most part, I can't stand American beer. I remember someone saying something about American beer being like making love in a canoe...

Anyway, back to the Scotch.  

Quote from: "BadPoison"

Quote from: "Sophus"I'm an antonym of bibulous.

Awwww, no fun there!

I've never been able to grasp the urge to massacre brain cells.

What is your favorite Scotch whisky?
It was Genmorangie.  I got a bottle of Macallan 18 year as a gift, and that is my favoite.  I ration it so much that it is sometimes hard to remember what it tastes like.  My other favorite is Balvenie 12y.  Honorable mention to Oban.

Irish whiskey?
Don't drink it.

Canadian whisky?
Don't drink it.

Non bourbon American whiskey?
Jack Daniels Single Barrel.  I have this around for my father in law, but I love it.

Favorite bourbon?
Bookers, Knob Creek and Makers Mark (in that order).

What is your favorite Scotch whisky?
Lagavulin

Irish whiskey?
Tullamore Dew

Canadian whisky?
Can't stand that stuff

Non bourbon American whiskey?
Wild Turkey Rye

Favorite bourbon?
Woodford Reserve and Knob Creek

Favorite whisky or whiskey or all time?
25 years old Springbank

I've only had scotch a few times, and I liked it. I've not really made the time to explore it they way I'd like, though.

I had a bit from a really expensive bottle, Johnny Walker Blue, and it was outstanding. I don't think it was that old.

Quote from: "Willravel"I've only had scotch a few times, and I liked it. I've not really made the time to explore it they way I'd like, though.

I had a bit from a really expensive bottle, Johnny Walker Blue, and it was outstanding. I don't think it was that old.

Considering that you'll easily pay more than $180.00 for a 750ml bottle of Johnny Walker Blue label, it's save to say it's aged for more than 20 years - according to wikipedia:

QuoteThere is no age declaration for Blue Label although its information booklet states that some of the blends used are "up to 60 years old"

It sounds like wonderful stuff!

Their Gold Label is incredibly good, and I believe it's aged for 15 years.

I live in Texas (almost literally in the sticks) and grew up around some hardcore drinkers (not my family, just my friends). So, all I really know of whiskey is Wild Turkey (100 proof) and Jack Daniels. I have come to really like the Gentleman's Jack and the single barrel Jack, good shit man!

Quote from: "BadPoison"Considering that you'll easily pay more than $180.00 for a 750ml bottle of Johnny Walker Blue label, it's save to say it's aged for more than 20 years - according to wikipedia:

I would not pay that amount of money for a blended whisky, because I would fear that I would be heavily disappointed. Some years ago I bought a very expensive  bottle of Chivas' "Royal Salute", just to figure out what the hype was all about. I still regret that I ever bought it, because any decent malt whisky of less than one fourth of the price that I paid beats it in quality and taste.

I have a bottle of Chivas 12 year old (which is only $30) and it's sub-par even for that price range. Maybe it's just me.

I do rarely spend more than $80 on a bottle - and when I do it's always rationed.

Quote from: "oldschooldoc"I live in Texas (almost literally in the sticks) and grew up around some hardcore drinkers (not my family, just my friends). So, all I really know of whiskey is Wild Turkey (100 proof) and Jack Daniels. I have come to really like the Gentleman's Jack and the single barrel Jack, good shit man!

You know, I do like Gentleman's jack, but the single barrel is better imo.

Then again, I think that charcoal filtering is cheating!

You should really try knob creek, or maker's mark. It's not anymore expensive than Gentleman's Jack, and I think you'll like it (maybe even better!)

BTW, I live here in Texas too! Just south of Houston close to NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Quote from: "oldschooldoc"I live in Texas (almost literally in the sticks) and grew up around some hardcore drinkers (not my family, just my friends). So, all I really know of whiskey is Wild Turkey (100 proof) and Jack Daniels. I have come to really like the Gentleman's Jack and the single barrel Jack, good shit man!

I love Gentleman's Jack (and Wild Turkey) as well. After all the good reviews in this thread, I think that I'll score a bottle of single barrel Jack when I'm back in the States for my X-Mas holidays. The very good US "shit" is difficult to get here in Europe.

Drink?? Gasp!

of course I do not drink. As I am a minor.

And that would be illegal.  

Laphroaig is numero uno in my book. My family comes from Islay. I even have my own 1 square foot of land on their grounds (as a FOL...Friend of Laphroaig). Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Lagavulin are on my top list too. I love the Laphroaig Cask Strength and 15 year old the best. Even the plain old 10 year old is fine with me. I think the Islay malts are the toughest for newbies to stomach though, because of the peat and smoke and saltiness.

A good Speyside, like Balvenie, or Dalwhinnie are just pure heaven. I can give those to newbs without much hesitation. Oban is my favorite highland whisky.

As for the other categories, I don't do too much of them, but sure do like Bookers and Makers Mark. Just had a Makers Mark Manhattan on Sunday in fact. Mmmmm....good!

Quote from: "BadPoison"

Quote from: "oldschooldoc"I live in Texas (almost literally in the sticks) and grew up around some hardcore drinkers (not my family, just my friends). So, all I really know of whiskey is Wild Turkey (100 proof) and Jack Daniels. I have come to really like the Gentleman's Jack and the single barrel Jack, good shit man!

You know, I do like Gentleman's jack, but the single barrel is better imo.

Then again, I think that charcoal filtering is cheating!

You should really try knob creek, or maker's mark. It's not anymore expensive than Gentleman's Jack, and I think you'll like it (maybe even better!)

BTW, I live here in Texas too! Just south of Houston close to NASA's Johnson Space Center.

I have actually tried Maker's Mark and agree it is just as good. I have never tried Knob Creek, but will surely do so since many here give it good reviews.

Glad to know you're another Texan. It's amazing how lonely an atheist can feel in bible-thumping Texas, and then I get on here and there are many! BTW, Johnson Space Center is fuggin' awesome! I would love to visit it again, I went there when I was like 10 or so, but I was still very cool at that age!

Quote from: "Tom62"

Quote from: "oldschooldoc"I live in Texas (almost literally in the sticks) and grew up around some hardcore drinkers (not my family, just my friends). So, all I really know of whiskey is Wild Turkey (100 proof) and Jack Daniels. I have come to really like the Gentleman's Jack and the single barrel Jack, good shit man!

I love Gentleman's Jack (and Wild Turkey) as well. After all the good reviews in this thread, I think that I'll score a bottle of single barrel Jack when I'm back in the States for my X-Mas holidays. The very good US "shit" is difficult to get here in Europe.

I do highly recommend you do so, as I and BadPoison will tell you, it is even better than Gentleman's!!!

Quote from: "oldschooldoc"I have actually tried Maker's Mark and agree it is just as good. I have never tried Knob Creek, but will surely do so since many here give it good reviews.

It's very good! Of course it's 50% alc as opposed to the usual 40% of most whiskeys. I think it's only aged around 9 years - but there might be an older version I'm not aware of.

QuoteGlad to know you're another Texan. It's amazing how lonely an atheist can feel in bible-thumping Texas, and then I get on here and there are many! BTW, Johnson Space Center is fuggin' awesome! I would love to visit it again, I went there when I was like 10 or so, but I was still very cool at that age!

I definitely feel alone in Texas. I don't have a single atheist friend. I have plenty of friends that aren't very faithful, but none of which will ultimately say they believe the probability of god being less than 50%...  

Quote from: "Tom62"

Quote from: "oldschooldoc"I live in Texas (almost literally in the sticks) and grew up around some hardcore drinkers (not my family, just my friends). So, all I really know of whiskey is Wild Turkey (100 proof) and Jack Daniels. I have come to really like the Gentleman's Jack and the single barrel Jack, good shit man!

I love Gentleman's Jack (and Wild Turkey) as well. After all the good reviews in this thread, I think that I'll score a bottle of single barrel Jack when I'm back in the States for my X-Mas holidays. The very good US "shit" is difficult to get here in Europe.

I do highly recommend you do so, as I and BadPoison will tell you, it is even better than Gentleman's!!![/quote]

It really is - and for as much as I dog on JD - single barrel Jack really is crafted with care.

Quote from: "McQ"Laphroaig is numero uno in my book. My family comes from Islay. I even have my own 1 square foot of land on their grounds (as a FOL...Friend of Laphroaig). Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Lagavulin are on my top list too. I love the Laphroaig Cask Strength and 15 year old the best. Even the plain old 10 year old is fine with me. I think the Islay malts are the toughest for newbies to stomach though, because of the peat and smoke and saltiness.

A good Speyside, like Balvenie, or Dalwhinnie are just pure heaven. I can give those to newbs without much hesitation. Oban is my favorite highland whisky.

As for the other categories, I don't do too much of them, but sure do like Bookers and Makers Mark. Just had a Makers Mark Manhattan on Sunday in fact. Mmmmm....good!

Seems like this is the thread for me.  

I think you have no doubts as to the origin of my nick.

I'm very much a whisk(e)y aficionado. I've nosed and tasted a lot of whiskies.

A few of my top favs are

Gordon and MacPhail's St. Magdalene 1981
Gordon and MacPhail's Tamdhu 1973
The whisky house 33 y
Daily Dram : The Drunken Angel
Chieftain's Ledaig 10y 1997

Favourite distilleries by region

Scotland Islay:

Port Ellen

Scotland Islands + Campbeltown:

Highland Park

Scotland Highlands :

Clynelish

Scotland Speyside :

Ardmore

Scotland Lowlands :

St. Magdalene/Linlithgow

Ireland :

The Tyrconnell

But if you ask me again tomorrow you may get another list.

I'm not very familiar with American/Canadian/Japanese whiskies. (this really is a budget matter)

I do enjoy Cognac, Calvados, and Rum as well.

If any of you guys/gals are interested at all I'll post a picture of my whisky collection.

Bowmore, I'm shocked.

Quote from: "Wechtlein Uns"Bowmore, I'm shocked.

I wonder why exactly.

I've never had a manhattan! I looked up the cocktail and saw that as Bowmore implied, the primary ingredient is whiskey. Knowing that it has vermouth in it - I'm not sure if I would like it (as I'm not a big martini fan)

What do you guys think?  I'll probably order one next time I'm out and let you know what I think.

All of this talk about whisky is making me thirsty. I killed a bottle of Dewers last night, so I'll be heading back to the store sometime soon (as I can't let that empty spot in my cabinet be unfilled)

Quote from: "BadPoison"I've never had a manhattan! I looked up the cocktail and saw that as Bowmore implied, the primary ingredient is whiskey. Knowing that it has vermouth in it - I'm not sure if I would like it (as I'm not a big martini fan)

I didn't. It was in the post I quoted.

Quote from: "bowmore"

Quote from: "BadPoison"I've never had a manhattan! I looked up the cocktail and saw that as Bowmore implied, the primary ingredient is whiskey. Knowing that it has vermouth in it - I'm not sure if I would like it (as I'm not a big martini fan)

I didn't. It was in the post I quoted.

I see that now. I apologize.
 

Quote from: "Wechtlein Uns"Drink?? Gasp!

of course I do not drink. As I am a minor.

And that would be illegal.  :beer:

And most other countries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age)

(Note that in Belgium, there's no legal drinking age for drinking in private. That's at the parent's discretion.)

Quote from: "McQ"I think the Islay malts are the toughest for newbies to stomach though, because of the peat and smoke and saltiness.

In my experience newbies quickly latch onto the peated whiskies. I think because they are easily identified, and because of the reasoning : I like peated whiskies, therefore I am not a newbie.

The Laphroaig 10 y is to me still a reference point for comparing peated whiskies.

Here's my philosophy:

Alcohol is disgusting.
Therefore...
Even though certain drinks like whiskey and wine are surrounded by pretentions, ultimately and in all honesty we don't drink them because they taste nice or because they were fermented at a particular latitude. We drink them to get pissed.
And so...
I'm making my way through a bottle of Teachers at the moment because it offers the most value for money, despite being utterly revolting. Plus I'm a students and can't afford anything good...

Quote from: "Mister Joy"Here's my philosophy:

Alcohol is disgusting.

I disagree obviously

Quote from: "Mister Joy"Therefore...
Even though certain drinks like whiskey and wine are surrounded by pretentions, ultimately and in all honesty we don't drink them because they taste nice or because they were fermented at a particular latitude. We drink them to get pissed.

Now there's a hasty generalisation  :D Plus I'm a students and can't afford anything good...[/quote]

I bet there are even cheaper ways to get drunk than by drinking Teachers.
Ironically your last statement contradicts the very first of your post.

I think you're just jealous

Yes, that's more or less what I was trying to imply. And fret not, I am aware of the irony. The post was 'tongue-in-cheek eccentric' and the last sentence was intended to indicate that, though evidently I need to put everything up in bright neon lights of literalism around here. (how dare you not appreciate my art! I stamp my foot in rage!)

Alcohol's tasty in the same way that cigarettes are tasty. They're not. But that's precisely why they are. Coffee's like that as well: if you can't physically feel your gums turn to rubber and shrink away from your teeth then you obviously haven't made it properly. :( . That's all.

Quote from: "bowmore"

Quote from: "McQ"I think the Islay malts are the toughest for newbies to stomach though, because of the peat and smoke and saltiness.

In my experience newbies quickly latch onto the peated whiskies. I think because they are easily identified, and because of the reasoning : I like peated whiskies, therefore I am not a newbie.

The Laphroaig 10 y is to me still a reference point for comparing peated whiskies.

I need to hang around you and the people you hang around with, man! I can't get anybody hooked on Laphroaig or any other Islay malts. It's just a shame! I'm surrounded by wine snobs and Martini drinkers. By the way, no problem with wine lovers, I just like to tease.

What do you think is the single greatest single malt you've ever had? Or, if you could only have one more wee dram before you died, what would you pick? I'm not sure I could decide.

Quote from: "Mister Joy"Yes, that's more or less what I was trying to imply. And fret not, I am aware of the irony. The post was 'tongue-in-cheek eccentric' and the last sentence was intended to indicate that, though evidently I need to put everything up in bright neon lights of literalism around here. (how dare you not appreciate my art! I stamp my foot in rage!)

Alcohol's tasty in the same way that cigarettes are tasty. They're not. But that's precisely why they are. Coffee's like that as well: if you can't physically feel your gums turn to rubber and shrink away from your teeth then you obviously haven't made it properly. :( . That's all.

The nice thing is that there are actually some decent tasting very cheap malts. Really. But you have to look for sales.

Quote from: "McQ"I need to hang around you and the people you hang around with, man! I can't get anybody hooked on Laphroaig or any other Islay malts. It's just a shame! I'm surrounded by wine snobs and Martini drinkers. By the way, no problem with wine lovers, I just like to tease.

Well, I'm talking about newbies I meet at whisky tastings. They already have an interest in whisky, and are mostly keen to explore further.

Quote from: "McQ"What do you think is the single greatest single malt you've ever had? Or, if you could only have one more wee dram before you died, what would you pick? I'm not sure I could decide.

Well one of the top favs in a previous post would qualify. But making me pick just one would be near criminal.  

The sad part about whisky is that the very good ones are all too often a passing thing, as they are mostly the result of exceptionally good barrels. The same result is impossible to mimic.
The great part of that is obviously, there'll always be more exceptionally good barrels yielding great stuff, it just won't be exactly the same.

Quote from: "Mister Joy"Whiskey/whisky/bourbon is expensive, however, so when I buy it, I have to buy cheap stuff :D
A good single malt in my bar lasts about a year, I think.
A cheaper blend is also in my bar. That'll last about a month.

So drink Teachers any time you want a whisky, nose a single malt on more special occasions.

A good idea but I can't make anything last long. If I don't drink it sharpish, my housemates will, because we're fairly 'communal' about booze (which is generally ok because I rarely buy any, but still). And, though they're willing to share, they always get Bells, which is foul. Jack Daniels I like, Teachers I can vaguely enjoy if I'm a bit tipsy but Bells I find bloody undrinkable.

Quote from: "Mister Joy"A good idea but I can't make anything last long. If I don't drink it sharpish, my housemates will, because we're fairly 'communal' about booze (which is generally ok because I rarely buy any, but still). And, though they're willing to share, they always get Bells, which is foul. Jack Daniels I like, Teachers I can vaguely enjoy if I'm a bit tipsy but Bells I find bloody undrinkable.

That parameter was sadly beyond my guessing.

Quote from: "Sophus"

Quote from: "BadPoison"

Quote from: "Sophus"I'm an antonym of bibulous.

Awwww, no fun there! :D  

I've said it more than once: if they ever invent a drug that makes me feel like most of the opiate drugs do, without the side effects, I'd be high 24/7. I just like to feel good--what else is there? Everybody has there own preference about what makes them happy. Whether it's food, sex, sports, family, or drugs, we all just want to be happy. It's all about brain chemistry, alcohol is just a more direct route.

Oh, anyway, I've got some Jameson at home. I don't really care for it. I wish I could afford sipping whiskey and rum, and others as well. I have some cheap brandy that isn't horrible straight, but for the most part the stuff I can afford is tough to choke down without a mixer. I need to get into foo foo drinks.  

Quote from: "Steve Reason"Oh, anyway, I've got some Jameson at home. I don't really care for it. I wish I could afford sipping whiskey and rum, and others as well. I have some cheap brandy that isn't horrible straight, but for the most part the stuff I can afford is tough to choke down without a mixer. I need to get into foo foo drinks.  :D
Drink it from a nosing glass, and don't cool it. Drink it at room temperature, so the flavours open up.
If you still don't care for it, well, de gustibus et coloribus...

I'm still quite new to single malt Scotch whisky, so based on what many of you have said, I picked up a few I hadn't tried:

I purchased a bottle of Laphroag 10y, Highland Park 12y, and The Balvenie 10y. (This is what my budget allowed, and here in Texas it totalled $140.00... But I'll make them last!)

The Laphroag is wonderful - Very smokey with a good finish. You can taste the ocean, but it's not overly pronounced.

The Highland Park had a good taste as well. I thought I could taste something sweet, like maple syrup or molasses.

I have yet to try The Balvenie.

Quote from: "BadPoison"I'm still quite new to single malt Scotch whisky, so based on what many of you have said, I picked up a few I hadn't tried:

I purchased a bottle of Laphroag 10y, Highland Park 12y, and The Balvenie 10y. (This is what my budget allowed, and here in Texas it totalled $140.00... But I'll make them last!)

The Laphroag is wonderful - Very smokey with a good finish. You can taste the ocean, but it's not overly pronounced.

The Highland Park had a good taste as well. I thought I could taste something sweet, like maple syrup or molasses.

I have yet to try The Balvenie.

Nice choices. Of course, being partial to the Laphroaig myself, I'm very happy you like it. Now the important question is whether or not you will become a FOL and get your one square foot of land on the distillery property?  

Scotch is a little ashy to me, although I don't venture to spend more than $40 for a bottle of booze.

My favorite whiskey is Jamison, though.  I can't elaborate on its subtleties since I don't know terms the whiskey aficionados use, but me feel good to drink.