TL Whiskey fans?

On December 29 2011 11:43 Kaozpanna wrote:
How did you guys get into whisky in the first place? Did you have to get used to it or is it in your genes?

I personally am a beer-enthusiast when it comes to alcohol but I'm also interested in learning more about whisky in general.

I'm also wondering the same. How did/do you learn to drink and enjoy whiskeys? I'm also somewhat "beer-enthusiast".

Last edit: 2011-12-29 11:52:10

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stokes17 United States. December 29 2011 11:52. Posts 1381

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Um to be completely honest I started sneaking shots of JD from my dad's stash. Was quick and easy way to get drunk. Then i got into jamison and jim beam on ice, very solid and inoffensive.

And one day I was like "fuck it i want a single malt" So i went balls out and got a bottle of Laphroaig and it KICKED MY ASS. Any semblance of manhood was lost fighting through that bottle. Then I tried a few more peaty smokey islays, and then moved on to spicy highlands and so on so so forth.

Whiskey, Scotch in particular, just had such a breadth of smells and tastes its really unlike any other liquor. I'm a big beer fan as well (my dad actually ferments like ~12 gallons a month)

If you are brand brand new to scotch and whiskey in general I'd suggest getting maybe a bourbon (Jim beam Double Black for $20 a bottle is a very solid choice) and a blended Scottish whiskey such as dewars 12 year or the good old Johnny walker black label. Bushmills black bush is also a solid introduction to irish whiskey. I don't know enough about canadian whiskey to recommend anything.

Hope I helped!

bellweather United States. December 29 2011 13:42. Posts 388

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On December 29 2011 11:50 Grettin wrote:

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I'm also wondering the same. How did/do you learn to drink and enjoy whiskeys? I'm also somewhat "beer-enthusiast".

I think with, as with most other things, it comes down to "giving it a shot" (no pun intended). There're a lot of subtleties so you want to take your time with it and try many different types as opposed to smashing a few shots or diluting it with coke.

On a separate note, how do people feel about Japanese whiskeys?

A mathematician is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat which isnt' there. -Charles Darwin

Tabula`Rasa Singapore. December 29 2011 14:01. Posts 81

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On December 29 2011 13:42 InsideTheBox wrote:

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First post in this thread! Having been to Japan quite a few times, I have had the privilege of sampling some very, very good Japanese whiskey. Suntory Yamazaki 12 and 18 are excellent single malts - a bit on the spicy side, with hints of caramel and fruit at the end. Hakushu is similar to Caol Ila. Sort of a primer for oilier, peatier malts. Recently I just purchased a bottle of Hibiki 17 (which is a blend) - and I have to say, it beats any Scottish blend I've tried so far (mind you, I live in England - so I get a LOT of that stuff in these parts). Its just delicious in a mizu wari (for those of you who are less informed about Japanese whiskey culture - this is a basically a concoction of soda water and whiskey - half and half. Purists deride this, but I don't care. It tastes good.).

All in all, Japanese whiskey is highly recommended. Refined palate, easy to drink - great for a night with a case of cigars and a few of your best mates.

TS-Rupbar Sweden. December 29 2011 19:13. Posts 1053

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On December 29 2011 11:52 stokes17 wrote:

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I have always been intrigued by the idea of whiskeys being so very much different from each other even though it's the same family of drink. There's also a nice culture around it. People like to talk about it and everyone has some memories of a good night when they drank whiskey; it's a good conversation topic.

While it had always been something I wanted to get into, I only got to drink my fathers' blends and cheap Canadian whiskeys until I was about 19. One day, a friend of mine gave me some of his Laphroaig 10 and ever since then, I've wanted to explore on my own.

Today, I like to share my whiskey with anyone who wants some and everyone else I meet do the same to me if I find something in their stash that I haven't tasted yet : ) Whiskey just brings people together!

MelChizm Netherlands. December 29 2011 19:13. Posts 7

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On December 29 2011 11:44 stokes17 wrote:

I'm def getting an Ardbeg when I'm at school but I'm torn between the 10 year and the ugildial. Has anyone tried both? Obviously the ugildail is much more expensive but its significantly higher abv which more or less means my drams will cost the same. Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers!!

Tasted Uigeadail on the international whisky festival in Den Haag, it's quite delicous and it's character is still very recognizable after the 15 drams I tasted before that one. But still, that price tag... as I said before, buy 2 bottles of the 10y old and drink double drams

Last edit: 2011-12-29 19:14:19

abalam Switzerland. December 29 2011 23:22. Posts 315

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For me whisky was something I didn't really enjoy neat and even mixed with other stuff it didn't taste that good, until I tasted a bit from a Longmorn 16 years old that my Dad got as a present once and would occasionally drink and I really liked it. It was no comparison to what was at that time known to me as whisky (Jack Daniels, Jim Bean etc.).
So upon discovering that I actually liked proper whisky we went to a shop nearby my dads workplace that sells all kinds of fine food and drinks and we asked him what he could recommend us and we tried out several things but in the end we ended up with a Yamazaki 18 years old and my god did I love it!
We also bought a bottle of Smokehead 12 years old and the first time i had a sip from it I thought how could anyone possibly like this? The next day, thinking there's got to be something to it, I tried it again and somehow I loved it!
From thereon We just kept trying new things (it's incredible just how broad the palate of whisky taste is) and sharing experiences with other whisky lovers or converting them into it

On the sidenote of blends I really like the Hibiki 17 year old and the Hedonism. I've tried the 17 year old Ballantines that jim murray praised so much and it's just okay, whereas the other two are great!

Last edit: 2011-12-29 23:24:59

Abraxas514 Canada. December 30 2011 00:26. Posts 405

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Acquiring a taste for whisky can be like learning to enjoy coffee. You are experimenting with a substance with strong flavors and mental effects that vary considerably from person to person. I liked coffee black when I was about 12, but only whisky at 21.

But here is a tip: If you want to enjoy your drink, you cant get drunk. More than one or two ounces an hour and you loose your olfactory and taste senses.

And for people mixing whisky with ice or coke... that's like stuffing a big mac full of lettuce. If the spirit is too strong, dilute with a teaspoon or two of water.

Fear is the mind killer

QNdie Poland. December 30 2011 05:23. Posts 203

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On November 12 2011 06:06 HunterX11 wrote:

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It's "whisky" for Scotch and "whiskey" for everything else, though Maker's Mark (a bourbon) and George Dickel (a Tennessee Whiskey) both use the spelling "whisky" on their labels.

Sorry friend, it's whisky for scotch and canadian while its whiskey for american and irish! Obviously both are used but these are generally the correct terms.

MichaelEU Netherlands. December 30 2011 05:36. Posts 579

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Drinking a whisky cola right now. I used to like it, but now I don't. I've lost it. =S

世界を革命する力を！― znfは俺の嫁だ！― znf: "Michael-oniichan ( *^▽^*)ノ✩キラ✩"

abominare United States. December 30 2011 05:46. Posts 1164

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On December 30 2011 05:36 MichaelEU wrote:
Drinking a whisky cola right now. I used to like it, but now I don't. I've lost it. =S

Bolded the probelm sir. You're either buying bad whiskey, or ruining good whiskey.

MichaelEU Netherlands. December 30 2011 05:48. Posts 579

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On December 30 2011 05:46 abominare wrote:

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Bolded the probelm sir. You're either buying bad whiskey, or ruining good whiskey.

I understand that sentiment all too well. But sometimes you're just in the mood for it. Just like you're in the mood for shitty fast food for no apparent reason.

世界を革命する力を！― znfは俺の嫁だ！― znf: "Michael-oniichan ( *^▽^*)ノ✩キラ✩"

abominare United States. December 30 2011 05:57. Posts 1164

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Im more of a bourbon snob, hwoever http://www.drinkrangercreek.com/whiskey/ I was pretty impressed by their bourbon considering it was their first ever release.

I could be biased because of their la bestia belgian ale they make. (and that I live there) That stuff will floor most beer drinkers.

bellweather United States. December 30 2011 06:40. Posts 388

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On December 29 2011 14:01 Tabula`Rasa wrote:

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Thanks, not a fan of blended whiskeys, but you've piqued my interest. Post was very helpful

A mathematician is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat which isnt' there. -Charles Darwin

Solidarity United States. December 30 2011 18:21. Posts 78

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Just opened a bottle of Lagavulin 16, which is my first real Scotch. Love it; sure as hell beats Red Label

. Nice and smooth.

Insomniac22 United States. December 30 2011 18:27. Posts 778

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As a recent whiskey enthusiast (I'm mainly a rum drinker), I've always wondered what whiskey mixes well with

tips?

MelChizm Netherlands. December 30 2011 19:07. Posts 7

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On December 30 2011 18:27 Insomniac22 wrote:
As a recent whiskey enthusiast (I'm mainly a rum drinker), I've always wondered what whiskey mixes well with

tips?

aren't you more like cocktail enthousiast than? but this comment has been made like 10 times in this thread. Most whisky fans like whisky because of its richness and don't wonder what kind of sugary soft drink you want to poor over whisky to loose most of it's little flavours. But cola is the most plain answer to your question I guess. And to get some extend of the whisky diversity even though your doing something babaric as mixing whisky, you can try to taste the difference between smokey scotch (Té Beach is quite cheap and smokey, or just johnny walker red/black) and sweet bourbon (four roses is quite cheap) in your coke.

Surth Germany. December 30 2011 19:14. Posts 119

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On December 30 2011 18:27 Insomniac22 wrote:
As a recent whiskey enthusiast (I'm mainly a rum drinker), I've always wondered what whiskey mixes well with

tips?

Old Fashioned and Manhattan. Both traditionally use american whiskey though. I wouldnt mix scotch with anything to be honest

allecto December 31 2011 10:35. Posts 322

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I have been really into Rye recently. My friend is bringing this back from Canada for me:

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SquatingBear United States. December 31 2011 10:40. Posts 20

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I used to be a big vodka guy, but lately have been getting into whiskey. Personally I like Bushmills 10 yr or Jacks Single Barrel. Good price, good quality.

Right now I'm drinking Redbreast while playing sc. Its nice but doesn't really stand out to me. I would rather save the extra money and go with one the above

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