The Official Whiskey And Spirits Thread.

trying higher end bourbons is something i have thought about....i am retiring next July and may take that opportunity to start tasting some of the high end stuff....

right now i am not a 'sipper'....i have not learned to appreciate and enjoy the flavors of high end liquor...but i am willing to learn....:rolleyes:....

cliff

Cliff, it is pretty easy to start if you can drink whiskey on the rocks. You do not need to start high end. Get a bottle of Jim Beam you do not even need 750ml, then get some at Costco, Elijah Craig, Russels, Breckinridge, or Woodford, all $23-$35.

On a quiet night pour an ounce of Jim Beam and one of the others in separate glasses over ice. Also pour a glass of water. Just taste them, do not let first taste determine what you like. Sip them over the time it takes you to drink them and ponder what you like. Repeat starting with the opposite as the first taste and after a few you will begin to figure what you like.

If you work your way from the Jim Beam up you will have a foundation to appreciate the finer things.

MM
 
Cliff, it is pretty easy to start if you can drink whiskey on the rocks. You do not need to start high end. Get a bottle of Jim Beam you do not even need 750ml, then get some at Costco, Elijah Craig, Russels, Breckinridge, or Woodford, all $23-$35.

On a quiet night pour an ounce of Jim Beam and one of the others in separate glasses over ice. Also pour a glass of water. Just taste them, do not let first taste determine what you like. Sip them over the time it takes you to drink them and ponder what you like. Repeat starting with the opposite as the first taste and after a few you will begin to figure what you like.

If you work your way from the Jim Beam up you will have a foundation to appreciate the finer things.

MM

thanks Mike....we have 'mini bottles' in the Carolinas so i can use them to carry out the taste test you describe, but i am not sure if the higher end bourbons would come in mini bottles....if someone wanted to take the time to make a list of the different types of bourbons/whiskeys they suggest to line up in a fairly comprehensive taste testing it would be appreciated....i am fairly ignorant on this subject so i have a lot to learn....just looking for a good starting point....

cliff
 
thanks Mike....we have 'mini bottles' in the Carolinas so i can use them to carry out the taste test you describe, but i am not sure if the higher end bourbons would come in mini bottles....if someone wanted to take the time to make a list of the different types of bourbons/whiskeys they suggest to line up in a fairly comprehensive taste testing it would be appreciated....i am fairly ignorant on this subject so i have a lot to learn....just looking for a good starting point....

cliff

My experience with tasting multiple bourbons, and the conclusion of my friends group is our palette cannot discern the difference if we get more than two, so we just usual stick to two at a time. Remember this is not wine, it's high proof, so goes easy.

The Vodka tasting referenced above, everyone made it through the fine but 30 minutes later, no was allowed to drive home.

MM
 
Mike Buffalo or Blantons are just the mainstay on the boat. I have some Pappy here at the house, I get one drink of it a year on my fathers birthday. In October there is a Bourbon Fest up in Smithfield, that's where I get to do most of the new bourbons.
 
Mike Buffalo or Blantons are just the mainstay on the boat. I have some Pappy here at the house, I get one drink of it a year on my fathers birthday. In October there is a Bourbon Fest up in Smithfield, that's where I get to do most of the new bourbons.

What Pappy doe you have. I have always wanted to to taste a 20+ Pappy. I know of a Van Winkel 8 and a 10 but the market price is silly $400ish per bottle. I am in a local store lottery to purchase but...

MM
 
Got to try Pappy last year for the first time... still trying to convince myself to spring $125.00 for the Frank Sanatra Jack Daniels.
 
23. I bought it for my dad when he turned 80. The day before he passed away we had a taste. Now I have a taste on his birthday.

It's very nice, smooth. You can taste the Carmel and the charr of the barrel. If you do get a chance to taste it make sure you do it neat and enjoy the flavor. I'm on the fence about buying it now, price is getting to high. VA has a lottery and yes I will be in it
 
Mike, you can go online and order Buffalo and Blantons. I think the place I order from is Taste out of Colorado. Give me a few and I will post the site for you
 
Lots of great comments so far, and I enjoy many of the fine spirits mentioned, but I think only 1 person highlighted RUM! How can a bunch of wanna-be pirates not have rum on the list? I always keep some Pussers "British Ration" on board for Painkillers, however, this just in... the Soggy Dollar is branding their own dark and spiced rums. I don't know what that will do to the secret recipe, but I'm willing to be part of the experiment. If you're a fan of the "sunny place for shady people", check out: https://soggy-dollar.passionspirits.com/soggy-dollar.html
 
I have nothing against Rum's my body does. It gives me a migraine in seconds, I have no idea why. I'm a Virginian first (always) and a pirate second. Mom and Dad used bourbon for everything. Teething, colds, flu it was the go to med. Even now I use it for the flu.

Mike and all others having issues finding your tasty drink
Try Rochambeau Wine online, if you are in the New York area the shop is in Dobbs Ferry.
 
Cliff, I bet you could find most of that in the small bottles at any ABC store with the exception of the single malt scotch. And cheaper.
 
Cliff, I bet you could find most of that in the small bottles at any ABC store with the exception of the single malt scotch. And cheaper.

thanks Steve....i usually go to 'Southern Spirits' in Fort Mill, SC to get my liquor and a couple of the guys that work there seem to know their stuff...i might get them to make up a 'sampler pack' of mini bottles of finer bourbons/whiskeys as a Christmas present to myself....:D...

cliff
 
Bourbon: mostly Elijah Craig or buffalo trace, rarely, angels envy or Basil Hayden’s (pricey)
I make a simple old fashioned on the boat, ice (1 large cube), 1-2 shots bourbon, orange peel, orange bitters and a dash of simple syrup (or pre made old fashioned syrup from grocery store (appears to be simple syrup, cherry flavor, and some spices).

Vodka, any brand, I can never taste the difference if you are mixing it. We use this for bloody Mary’s (zingZang Bloody Mary mix?), Lemon drops, cosmos, etc.

Rum: I like captain morgan, but would probably like other spiced rums better if I gave them a shot. I just mix with coke while out on the boat. I don’t get the 100 proof version anymore, I do not do well at night after a day of captain Morgan!

NEVER: cocunut Rum!!

Beer: typically the wife drinks corona or Stella (her name is Stella, so insert joke about that here!), but we found a brewery in Tallahassee, Proof brewing, and really like their 850 and Mango Wit, the latter is not sweet or fruity.

112C9A25-4505-4321-8093-28A3146BAA0D.jpeg
 
Lots of great comments so far, and I enjoy many of the fine spirits mentioned, but I think only 1 person highlighted RUM! How can a bunch of wanna-be pirates not have rum on the list? I always keep some Pussers "British Ration" on board for Painkillers, however, this just in... the Soggy Dollar is branding their own dark and spiced rums. I don't know what that will do to the secret recipe, but I'm willing to be part of the experiment. If you're a fan of the "sunny place for shady people", check out: https://soggy-dollar.passionspirits.com/soggy-dollar.html

I just never have been at the point where a great variety of high end sipping rum was available to even begin to start tasting rums. I do drink some Flor De Cana 7yo or better to sip now and then.

MM
 
23. I bought it for my dad when he turned 80. The day before he passed away we had a taste. Now I have a taste on his birthday.

It's very nice, smooth. You can taste the Carmel and the charr of the barrel. If you do get a chance to taste it make sure you do it neat and enjoy the flavor. I'm on the fence about buying it now, price is getting to high. VA has a lottery and yes I will be in it

Did you know that Pappy 23yo starts with 53 gallons and 23 years later, you are left with just 14 gallons, a 74% loss to the bourbon gods, they in return ad in the magic flavors...

MM
 
I have a few guys weekends thru the summer and somehow we always get into the Black Russians...We call them bunker busters... These were a little over done.
IMG_9801.jpg
 

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