BS: Question about Scotch

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 08:30 PM

"..diplomacy par excellence!"

I saw a slightly different diplomacy once...I also like good Irish


Many years ago, before I learned about good Scotch I was in Los Angeles, Cal, for a meeting, and after the meeting a group of us went to a 'daylight' bar in this fancy hotel..(wide open, lighted...lots of potted plants)...and up comes this waiter in a red jacket..a distinguished fellow with white hair and an English accent....and enquires what we would like to drink.."Ahh.." says I, "I don't suppose you have Irish?"..

"Well, not really, " replies the VEDDY formal fellow, with a slight twinkle in his eye..."..we have Bushmills.."

so I grinned at him and ordered a brandy....

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Joe_F
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 08:18 PM

"The ice was a little too warm at the moment" -- diplomacy par excellence! That got & called for a nip of room-temperature Scotch -- only Dewar's, I'm afraid, but it's the thought that counts.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 08:16 PM

I'm with Dave Hanson on the A'Bunadh - and I love Robin Laing's song about it! I might add a wee bit spring water since it's cask strength! And if you go to a whisky tasting you'll find how different the same whisky can taste neat and then with progressive amounts of water added.

John Mackenzie mentions Caol Ila, but there are so many of them! On holiday in Islay we got presented with a "menu" at the bar of all the Islay whiskies, and I think the various Caol Ilas took up 2 whole pages!

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Louie Roy
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 08:00 PM

Beer you asked why add milk to good scotch. It add adds a smooth taste that is unmatched and before you knock it too much try it you might like it. Another thing if you have ulcers it is a drink your stomach can handle with no after effects or heart burn of course if you don't over do it Louie Roy

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 07:46 PM

Q, who says so?

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Beer
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 03:36 PM

Set up another case bartender! The best thing for a case of nerves is a case of Scotch.
W. C. Fields

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 03:30 PM

George Dickel No 12. Thanks to Dick, I developed a love of this Tennessee Sour mash whisky. Find it hard to buy in thr UK though.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 03:02 PM

A good sour mash bourbon never should be taken with ice.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 03:00 PM

The actor Johnny Depp although teetotal is reputed to order a glass of Lagavulin just to smell it, no report of who gets it afterwards though.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 02:56 PM

My personal favourite is Ardbeg Uigeadail from Islay, 54.2% abv. fabulous whisky.

My current bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh is 60.1% abv. both of these I drink neat, the only acceptable thing to put in a good malt whisky is...............another.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 02:45 PM

A great name doesn't mean a great product.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 02:24 PM

Well hush my mouth.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Ed T
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 01:40 PM

I have read that the relatively low priced and not that bad tasting "Famous Grouse" blended is the biggest selling whisky within Scotland.

True?

Cutty Sark Scotch blended is not my cup of tea. But, it seems like it was so for USA President LB Johnson, a president who some referred to as "raw and boisterous".
Cutty Sark

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 01:20 PM

I asked for opinions on Scotch, not opinions about how I take it.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 01:07 PM

Well I guess if you ask a question, you're not guaranteed to like all the answers you get.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Silas
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:56 PM

Hey Kendall, you drink it just how you like it mate, its just a shame that some of us think you may be missing out on the real and subtle flavours that get burned out when it is too cold.

I was in a bar in Bushmills a few months ago. A party of people, their nationality is not really relavent, came into the bar. Bushmills do a 21 year old whiskey that is about £25.00 a shot. This guy ordered a round of these that is six glasses and asked for them on the rocks. The barman, and all credit to him, said that unfortunatly, the ice was a little too warm at the moment and asked if the customer would have it without! They did, and they came back for more.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:55 PM

I have no right to tell him he is wrong, and he has no right to call me a snob. We have different opinions and that is that.

I like my Guinness cold too.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:47 PM

MY brother used to drink "4 Roses".. he finally gave up everything alcoholic....

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:44 PM

I have a Brother who thinks Black Velvet is good whiskey, and he makes it better by adding Diet Pepsi! Now, there's a REAL colonial!

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:41 PM

I looked over the single malt selection at the local government store this morning. There were 250 ml bottles of Glen Breton Ice selling at $49.95 each, about $200.00 a liter. I bought a bottle of their rum instead.
Glen Breton Ice

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:40 PM

What is the basic ingredient of whiskey? WATER.

Let's make a deal, you drink it to suit you and I'll drink it to suit me.

In other words, You don't should on me, I don't should on you.

At least, I don't consider Budweiser real beer!

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:02 PM

Cap'n that was cask strength you had in your glass that day. You need to add water to that.
Apart from which I always add a wee splash of water to a dram, it releases the flavours. Try 'nosing' it both before and after adding water, and see the difference.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Jon Corelis
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:02 PM

Before I first visited Britain, I was a little worried, since I had heard that in Britain they drink their beer at room temperature, and I like my beer ice cold. But it turned out to be ok, since when I got there I discovered that in Britain, room temperature is ice cold.

As for the water, I like malt Scotch with about half as much chilled, still mineral water in it, Evian for choice.

Jon Corelis
Euripides' Hippolytos: A performance version with music

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Silas
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:56 AM

Chill filtering is common for the US market, but almost unheard of in the UK. Th eidea is that if it is chill filtered it does not go hazy or cloudy when you put ice in it. No serious UK scotch drinker would dream of putting ice in malt whisky, it ia akin to putting custard on your sunday dinner.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Will Fly
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:52 AM

lady who did the tour suggested a bit of water. Now, how does that differ from an ice cube?

Captain, the difference is this:

Water - particularly a little spring water at the same temperature as the malt - can bring out the flavour of the malt.

Ice deadens the flavour and kills the aroma - no harm, I suppose, for a blended whisky mixed with a dry ginger, but not good for an expensive malt.

You Yanks may well prefer drinks cold, on the whole, but not all drinks taste good when cold. Would you drink a good red Burgundy or Bordeaux wine which had been chilled? If you do, you're killing all the flavours of the wine. Your choice - and your taste loss.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: eddie1
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:51 AM

Re Kendall's question about the differnce between water and an ice cube - ask the captain of the Titanic!

Without wishing to be boringly technical, most whiskys (and whiskeys) go through a process called "chill-filtering", This effectively kills of the living enzymes in whisky and ensures uniformity whether a whisky is bought in the UK or New Zealand. Adding water only dilutes the strength of the whisky. Ice will certainly kill off some of the more delicate flavours.

You can buy whiskies marked "Not Chill-filtered" where the flavour and after-taste is altered by adding water.

There is no such thing as "the best" whisky. We all have different tastes and even these change according to our moods.

Generally I prefer single malts but I make one exception. Grants, makers of "Stand Fast" and other good paint-removers, produce an excellent blended whisky which is laid up in casks previously used for real ale. Beautiful taste! https://www.grantswhisky.com/uk/discover-our-whiskies/ale-cask-finish/

Happy drinking!

Eddie

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Beer
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:40 AM

Not exactly the answer I'm looking for. Haha!!, good one.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:28 AM

".. can someone give an answer?"

Sure... if they ruin tea & coffee that way, why not everything else? Or maybe they own cows...

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Beer
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:23 AM

O.K., now there are questions about water or ice being added and I can understand as I have done both. With the cheap scotch I always add a little water of 2 ice cubes to take away the harshness. But I must ask this question. What is it with adding MILK? Sounds like a terrible thing to do, but can someone give an answer?
Ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:13 AM

(not ALL of us Yanks require ALL drinks to be cold... *grin*. 'Good' beer/ale and 'good' Scotch are diminished by over chilling... but to each his own)


the 'experts' claim that a small amount of water allows the odor & flavor to be released more completely.....but the followin old joke is a warning.

"Old joke:

Two Scotsmen are talking. Giok has been to visit Andrew, and is about to leave.

Andrew- "So, Giok, my friend....would ye tak a dram afore ye go?"

Giok- "Och..and I don't mind if I do!"

Andrew gets a glass, pours some Scotch, and then adds some water and hands it to Giok, who sips at it.....then sips again, with a quizzical look on his face.

Andrew says, with a touch of pique.."Now, Giok, the whisky- it's not to your liking?"

"Oh, no...no....it's fine....I was wondering though..."

"Wondering? wondering about what?"

"Weel...when you poured it, did you add the water or the whisky first?"

"Ah, Giok..ye were right here...ye saw me do it! And I always put the whisky in first."

"Oh...right, right...of course! I'll be comin' to it, then!"

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Jon Corelis
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:02 AM

My top vote for Lagavulin, followed closely by Talisker, then Highland Park. The first two insanely expensive, but as an ancient poet pointed out, money ain't gonna do your dead ass no good.

Jon Corelis
Being here has caused my sorrow: a Scottish song

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: EBarnacle
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:00 AM

If the blender had wanted to dilute the elixer of life, the water would have been added at the distillery.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Silas
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 10:59 AM

iTS YOUR DRINK AND ITS YOUR MONEY AND IF YOU WANT TO WASTE GOOD SCOTCH BY STICKING ICE IN IT ITS UP TO YOU - BUT JEEZE - WHAT A WASTE.

(Sorry about the caps)

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 10:56 AM

When we visited the Glenmorangie distillery we were offered a dram of it, and the lady who did the tour suggested a bit of water. Now, how does that differ from an ice cube?
We Yanks prefer cold drinks to warm drinks. Get over it.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Ed T
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 10:46 AM

Last year a few friends joined me in a Scotch tasting event.
We enjoyed trying the many brands.

There was a big plate of Hors d'oeuvres, meat on crackers. They were very good.

Each time someone approached the plate to take one, my friend would say, "that was the best haggis I have ever tasted". When they oveheard this, each person walked away with a look of uncertainity.

(Maybe I posted this before. The scotch impacted my memory)

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Louie Roy
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 10:23 AM

Bruce Sheep Dip is expensive but worth every penny   Louie

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: maeve
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 09:28 AM

Stilly, try the single malts, at least, with a dribble of good water in place of ice. The temperature difference and the dilution of melting ice decrease the richness of flavor for me...every ten years or so when we can afford a bottle. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Bruce MacNeill
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 09:01 AM

I had "Any bottle of Scotch old enough to vote" on my Christmas list. My son, who doesn't drink, had to ask questions but we settled on " If it sounds like it was named after a golf course, or is Glen-something that's a start. He gave me a bottle of Glenfarclas 25. I think that's aged in Sherry barrels and has a sweetness to it but it's a good sipping whisky. Generally, Glenlivet is fine with me. For a blended, I generally drink Chivas because it is generally available and generally dependable. Around here, redneck territory, I frequently can't get better than Dewars but at least Dewars has no carcinogens so I can drink it as a health food. Someone above mentioned "Sheep Dip" and I always wanted to try that if for no other reason than the name but it was very expensive when I saw it in the states.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 08:49 AM

I was bought a bottle of Dallas Dhu last Christmas, and let me tell you. I was gobsmacked. I have had 2 wee drams from it, and it's my 'Special events' bottle now.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: scouse
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 05:21 AM

It's so nice of a beautiful lady to buy me a bottle of the Aberlour 12 year old every year on my Birthday, which is in December and that of course sets me up nicely for Christmas and the New year festivities..
As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 04:18 AM

I always loved that line by Eddie Condon

'Gene Krupa's drums trickle through the piece like bourbon over ice cubes.'

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Silas
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 02:34 AM

Ice - good god.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: GUEST,Seamus Kennedy
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 01:43 AM

My two all-time favorites (until I change my mind) are Lagavulin and Bushmills Black Label....not mixed.
I like the smoky peatiness of the Lagavulin, and the sweet fruity overtones of the sherry cask in the Bushmills.
There's also a very nice Irish peated single malt called Connemara, made in the Cooley Mountains in Co. Louth.
While in Scotland last year, I visited the Tomatin Distillery. A very nice dram, but mostly for the Japanese market. Smooth nonetheless.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 10:25 PM

This information is very helpful, thanks! Kendall, I add a ice cubes and sip so the ice is as good as water. The latest I brought home was Johnny Walker Red label and I don't like it as well as a couple of others in the same general price range. Ballantines is quite smoky (interesting to read about the roasting of the grain - that explains a lot). Of the ones I've tried so far, Famous Grouse had the taste I liked best. But I'll make a short list and try a couple of the others listed here. Each liquor store has a different offering, so if I stumble upon affordable bottles, I've give them a try.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: kendall
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 08:52 PM

Ralfy gave Aberlour a 91 out of 100. Not bad.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who adds a bit of water to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 07:58 PM

My grandfather's brand was Grand MacNish. I have not heard of it in many years but I see here that Hemmingway was also a loyal fan.
Grand MacNish
My long departed grandfather would tell you all that the only thing to mix with good Scotch is spit! :-}

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Louie Roy
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 07:28 PM

My favorite scotch is called Sheep Dip it's an 8 year old scotch and I'm sure is one of the cheaper scotches at $40.00 a fifth but is in my opinion excellent.Kendall I nver had a chance to try your brand but I'm guessing it is hard to beat at any price.For a nice refreshing and relaxing drink pour 2 ounzes of scoth in a highball glass and top it off wit 2 ounzes of 2% milk or half and half.Try it you might like it and can be ordered in a cocktail lounge by askig for a moose Milk Louie

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 07:11 PM

Aberlour was still on the the cheaper ones in our Sainsburys. Can't remember exactly but it was early £20s

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 06:46 PM

Just curious why 3-4 people type "Abelour" rather than "Aberlour". It really does have 2 'r's.... A Google search gets very different results.

Subject: RE: BS: Question about Scotch
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 05:03 PM

Just checked the shelves at Tesco. The cheapest single malt was Glen Moray £17.74 - Abelour has rocketed up to £29 plus.