The Happy Atheist Whisk(e)y Thread!

[bowmore]

Here's my philosophy:

Alcohol is disgusting.

I disagree obviously

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   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

[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.

[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.

[McQ]

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.

[bowmore]

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.

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.

[bowmore]

Whiskey/whisky/bourbon is expensive, however, so when I buy it, I have to buy cheap stuff
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.

[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.

[bowmore]

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.

[Steve Reason]

I'm an antonym of bibulous.

Awwww, no fun there!  

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.

[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.  

[bowmore]

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.  
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...

[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.

[McQ]

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?  

[DennisK]

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.