Absinthe Ban Lifted in US. Apparently. But only for weak, crappy absinthe.

[Tebonas]

I had Absinthe once, the best thing were the sugar cubes.

[Sky]

He was saying people who drink to "get fucked up" need to grow the fuck up.

Yes. Not aimed at you, Righ. And it was probably overly harsh because when I was a kid we used to get as plastered as you could get.

[Righ]

Oh, okay then. But I'd still rather not grow up, even though the higher alcohol booze is best for tasting not chugging. :)

[Sky]

Well, grow up is subjective. I do have a spongebob fleece blanket.

I finally convinced my football/drinking buddy that this year we are going to drink like big boys. Tumblers and ice instead of shotglasses. We've been drinking good stuff for a few years now, and it's criminal to slam it imo. Just something wrong about doing a shot of XO brandy!

[Samwise]

I brought a bottle of nice scotch (like $70 a bottle) to a party once and poured a finger for a friend who'd had limited exposure to the good stuff.  (He's something like 10 years older than me.)  Before I could stop him he'd slammed it down like a shot of cheap tequila.

I wept.

Then I poured another and made him do it right.   

[Roac]

I brought a bottle of nice scotch (like $70 a bottle) to a party once and poured a finger for a friend who'd had limited exposure to the good stuff.  (He's something like 10 years older than me.)  Before I could stop him he'd slammed it down like a shot of cheap tequila.

I wept.

I've a cask strength scotch that I enjoy, so when we had friends over I was happy to offer them a drink.  One accepted, and apparently not being accustomed to drinking hard liquor of any sort let alone good scotch, also threw it back.  The reaction was predictable.  "... you don't know what cask strength means, do you?"

[Strazos]

I don't understand....if it's so strong, wouldn't you HAVE to drink it as a shot, since it would be tough to drink anyway due to the undiluted strength of the drink?

[Margalis]

I finally convinced my football/drinking buddy that this year we are going to drink like big boys. Tumblers and ice instead of shotglasses. We've been drinking good stuff for a few years now, and it's criminal to slam it imo. Just something wrong about doing a shot of XO brandy!

Well you're halfway there, now just lose the ice.

[Abagadro]

I finally convinced my football/drinking buddy that this year we are going to drink like big boys. Tumblers and ice instead of shotglasses. We've been drinking good stuff for a few years now, and it's criminal to slam it imo. Just something wrong about doing a shot of XO brandy!

Well you're halfway there, now just lose the ice.

Margalis beat me to it. Don't put ice in good liquor.  Kills the taste and actually makes it taste more like rubbing alcohol. If you have good scotch, you should pour it into a good heavy-bottomed glass at room temperature and then "break" it by putting a small splash of water into it. That splash opens up the oils and gets the aromatics really going.

As to the question above of whether you have to do it as a "shot" good liquor should always be sipped. If you can't handle having that nice burn as it trickles down your throat, stick to wine coolers.

Which brings to mind one of my all time favorite Higgins quotes. Magnum is offering him a scotch and asks if he want ice in it. His response: "God no, I'm not a bloody American!"

[IainC]

Margalis beat me to it. Don't put ice in good liquor.  Kills the taste and actually makes it taste more like rubbing alcohol. If you have good scotch, you should pour it into a good heavy-bottomed glass at room temperature and then "break" it by putting a small splash of water into it. That splash opens up the oils and gets the aromatics really going.

As to the question above of whether you have to do it as a "shot" good liquor should always be sipped. If you can't handle having that nice burn as it trickles down your throat, stick to wine coolers.

Which brings to mind one of my all time favorite Higgins quotes. Magnum is offering him a scotch and asks if he want ice in it. His response: "God no, I'm not a bloody American!"

Also if it's good scotch and not Bells or some other form of barley flavoured meths then holding it on the back of your tongue and allowing it to evaporate over your palate is the best way to appreciate it.

[Roac]

I don't understand....if it's so strong, wouldn't you HAVE to drink it as a shot, since it would be tough to drink anyway due to the undiluted strength of the drink?

Not really.  You pour about a shot's worth (or two) for something cask strength, but most shots you throw back in one go.  You don't do that with good scotch, or any good hard liquor, because the whole point is to taste it.  Drink it slowly.  Also, *good* liquor doesn't have much alcohol burn, even at 120 proof.  Try it side by side with cheap grain alcohol some day if you want to compare it. 

Edit:  I should probably add, yeah, it's going to have more burn than standard 80 proof stuff.  My brother in-law thinks the bottle I have tastes like rock gut, but everyone else I've offered it to (who likes scotch) loves it.  It does take a bit to acclimate to, but I think it's some of the best stuff I've tried in the price range. 

[Righ]

So what is it out of interest? Something sold retail or a special from somewhere like SMWS?

[Roac]

So what is it out of interest? Something sold retail or a special from somewhere like SMWS?

Nothing so fancy - A'bunadh.  I love the stuff, but I'm not to where I feel like dropping over $100 per bottle.  Would be nice though.

[Sky]

I grabbed a bottle of scotch at random, it sounded good. Lafrog. Or something, the scottish apparently don't know how to spell. They even forgot the e in whiskey ;) We didn't have time to indulge in it on Sunday, but it's slated for next weekend. I don't know how good it is, 10yr single malt (like the Bushmills we're currently working through), cost about the same as the other whiskeys and whiskys that weren't on the tippy-top shelf ($45 or so). Smells interesting and apparently I now own a square foot of Islay. A foothold, you could say.

Also bought some mead and of course the bubbly for tonight (Laurent and Perrier).

[Roac]

I grabbed a bottle of scotch at random, it sounded good. Lafrog. Or something, the scottish apparently don't know how to spell. They even forgot the e in whiskey ;) We didn't have time to indulge in it on Sunday, but it's slated for next weekend. I don't know how good it is, 10yr single malt (like the Bushmills we're currently working through), cost about the same as the other whiskeys and whiskys that weren't on the tippy-top shelf ($45 or so). Smells interesting and apparently I now own a square foot of Islay. A foothold, you could say.

Also bought some mead and of course the bubbly for tonight (Laurent and Perrier).

I believe you have to join the Laphroaig society to get the foot of land thing.  I have a bottle of the stuff as well, but I don't care for it much at all.  It is interesting, and has put everything else in perspective and fun to drink every so often for that sake, but I will not likely go for another bottle once this one is out.  I had something of an idea of what I was getting into with it, with it's "love it or hate it" rep, but had to try it and unfortunately there are no good whiskey bars around here to try it.  I'm avoiding anything Islay at the moment as a result, though that's likely a bit unfair to the rest of them.  I believe Righ said he reaches for it (or the QC at least), so it has some converts.

[IainC]

Laphroaig and Talisker are my two favourite whiskies. I love the peaty malts.

[MaceVanHoffen]

I'm a huge Laphroaig fan, also big into Lagavulin.

A recent discovery I'll pass on:  Glenlivet Cask Strength.  It's the other end of the spectrum ... more heathery and a bit honey-y.  Yes, I make up words.

[Samwise]

I got a bottle of The Balvenie for Christmas.  Mmm.

[IainC]

I'm at my in-laws house currently where we are making serious inroads into a bottle of 25 year old Glen Ellen. It's very drinkable indeed.

[Phildo]

I'll be drinking Bud Light from a keg momentarily.   

[Righ]

Nothing so fancy - A'bunadh.  I love the stuff, but I'm not to where I feel like dropping over $100 per bottle.  Would be nice though.

That's a great whisky. As for Islay whiskies, they do tend to have the same general characteristics of Laphroaig - robust peaty flavor and a phenol top-taste from the sea air. However, Laphroaig is very much an extreme case. Bunnahabhain is considerably milder and a very subtle and quite complex taste. Bruichladdich is fairly uncharacteristic of the more famous Islay malts, being a rounded fruity tasting whisky - the less expensive products from the distillery being very light on peat taste indeed. They have an extensive range and are well worth sampling.

I'm eager to sample Kilchoman's first whisky in 3 years time. They're making a more traditional Islay whisky than the above, but their unique location on the island will no doubt result in a very different flavor.

[Margalis]

Balvenie is quite good.

Talisker is something I like a lot in the fall/winter only.

[DeathInABottle]

I grabbed a bottle of scotch at random, it sounded good. Lafrog. Or something, the scottish apparently don't know how to spell. They even forgot the e in whiskey ;) We didn't have time to indulge in it on Sunday, but it's slated for next weekend. I don't know how good it is, 10yr single malt (like the Bushmills we're currently working through), cost about the same as the other whiskeys and whiskys that weren't on the tippy-top shelf ($45 or so). Smells interesting and apparently I now own a square foot of Islay. A foothold, you could say.

Also bought some mead and of course the bubbly for tonight (Laurent and Perrier).

Just tried Laphroaig a few days ago.  God.  Don't make that your first drink of scotch.  I think I need a slower, less stinky introduction to single malts.

[Abagadro]

  I think I need a slower, less stinky introduction to single malts.

You mean you don't like the smell of band-aids in your Scotch?

I actually like it, but it is not a beginner Scotch.

[Roac]

Just tried Laphroaig a few days ago.  God.  Don't make that your first drink of scotch.  I think I need a slower, less stinky introduction to single malts.

Ewww, no, don't try that first.  Or second.  It is a must-try for anyone who gets into scotch, but get into it first.  I'll [again] suggest Glenfiddich for a starter single.  It is terribly overrated, but it also has the quality of being very popular and hence unoffensive.  It's average.  Ordinary.  None of the qualities that people who do like Laphroaig are going to go after, but if it's your first you don't know any better and you're more likely to go "not bad" after trying it.

[MaceVanHoffen]

Another good starter Scotch is Macallan, which is aged in sherry casks.  It's definitely not peaty ... lots of cherry, pineapple, and even cranberry notes in it.  It's still got that delightful Scotch aftertaste (burn?) though.  Macallan was my gateway Scotch ... now I'm strung out on the really expensive stuff.

[Prospero]

Balvenie 12 double wood is also a lovely starter scotch. It was what I popped my scotch cherry on.

[IainC]

Oban is a very smooth but flavoursome scotch if you want a gentle introduction.

[Roac]

Oban is a very smooth but flavoursome scotch if you want a gentle introduction.

I dunno about flavor.  I like it, but it's a very mild drink, lacking the character and boldness of most others.  Very smooth though, almost deceptive.  Both of these reasons is also why it was my choice for my flask for New Year's Eve; easy to drink, doesn't have a strong scent that would be missed by not having it in a glass, but still has enough flavor to taste good relative to other stuff I could've put in there. 

Either way, yeah, I could see this as a starter too. 

[Engels]

Unless you're rolling in dough, I suggest the modest Glenlivet for a starter scotch. Its pretty approachable; not too bright, not too pungent, with a nice buttery thing going on that you have to pay a lot for in better scotches to reproduce. The pros on the board will probably scoff about how that's a scotch for the Hoi Poloi, but until you know what you like, save yourself some money and buy Glenlivet.

Oh, and don't get Glenfidditch. That's also a cheaper single malt scotch, but its virtually turpentine. I'll dring Johnnie Walker Red before I touch the fidditch.

[Righ]

You can try Glenlivet, Glenfidditch and Macallan in most moderately up-market bars, even in the USA. Another one that's quite easy to get, popular and worth trying to get the taste is Glenmorangie. I too would recommend Glenlivet to start if you have a limited choice - Macallan is one of the best of the whiskies you can buy in a bar with a limited selection, but its strong taste (sweeter than Laphroaig but still very intense) is not always best for beginners. If you've got a wide selection of more common whiskies available, I'd pick Dalwhinnie as a starter, and follow with the lowland Auchentoshan to get an idea of the differences in subtle flavors without going for anything too robust or complex. Then when you want complex, try Cragganmore.

[Engels]

Dalwhinnie and Auchentoshan are very good calls, Righ. <sigh> I miss them like old friends. Wish I could drink like I used to in college! Damned genes.

[Roac]

Cragganmore is , and I'm a bit disappointed now that my bottle of it is gone.  Not because I can't get another, but because I'm not sure whether I want to pick another up or try something new. 

[Prospero]

Auchentoshan is  . I picked it up on a whim because my wife's family is from the region. I tried the "unaged" version and it was delicious. Anyone compared the unaged to the 10 year?

The ultimate starter scotch in my mind is Tomintoul. I've used this to create a number of scotch lovers. It has a rich flavor without being overly sweet or bitey. It also has a little smoke to it, which helps folks move on to the peatier scotches.

[MaceVanHoffen]

I tried Auchentoshan unaged (no casking), 10 year, and 21 year at a recent Scotch tasting.  I have to say, I didn't care for the unaged.  The taste was just off, it reminded me of corn whiskey (which I hate).  I definitely enjoyed the 10 year, though.

But ... oh my god ... the 21 year was amazing.  And it should be, for the price.  My local spirits pusher sells it for $185/bottle