Post by: ted nightshade on August 06, 2004, 02:28:12 PM
But as this stuff gets good it gets steep and since I don't drink a lot I'll be living with it for a while, so I'm really curious to hear what all you audio snobs like in the way of a fine single-malt Scotch.
Post by: Loco on August 07, 2004, 01:20:05 PM
As for blends, nothing beats Old Parr on the beach...
Post by: PP on August 08, 2004, 10:33:02 AM
Post by: PRobb on August 08, 2004, 11:58:34 PM
Find a bar with a good selection of malts and taste, in order, a Lowland, a Highland, a Speyside and an Islay. If you are still conscious, you should have a pretty good idea of where your tastes lie. Enjoy!!
PS- reading your post caused me to pour a glass of Ardberg. MMMM- wow thats good.
Post by: ted nightshade on August 09, 2004, 05:02:55 PM
| PRobb wrote on Sun, 08 August 2004 20:58 |
Welcome to the wonderfully world of malts! First, Scotch is regional, like French wine, and each region has it's own characteristics. For people just discovering malts, I usually recommend a good Lowland whiskey like Glenkinchie (not sure of the spelling) The Lowlands are very smooth and don't have the strong peaty bite of some of the other regions. Personally, I like the ones from the isle of Islay, on the other end end of the spectrum. Lagavullin, Talisker actually from the isle of Skye- or Ardberg are great examples. They are huge tasting whiskeys and each sip takes a minute or two to fully develop. Find a bar with a good selection of malts and taste, in order, a Lowland, a Highland, a Speyside and an Islay. If you are still conscious, you should have a pretty good idea of where your tastes lie. Enjoy!! PS- reading your post caused me to pour a glass of Ardberg. MMMM- wow thats good. |
Yes, doubtless a good call on the bar... I'll take a hard-drinking friend to help me out, that way I can sample a few and live to tell the tale.
I'm intrigued that you like the peaty smoky stuff. I have an inclination that I might. The Jim Beam rep who gave me an oral history of such things prefers American rice beer to the room-temperature British "Black Breakfast" stuff I love, so I had to consider I might be looking for something woolier than his preferences in whiskey too.
" Personally, I like the ones from the isle of Islay, on the other end end of the spectrum. Lagavullin, Talisker actually from the isle of Skye- or Ardberg are great examples. They are huge tasting whiskeys and each sip takes a minute or two to fully develop."
That sounds promising! Won't be quite like living in a pile of boulders with an open fire, but ah well... Thanks for the names, I've been wondering which of the Islay style things to attempt.
In the meantime, I've located a local 3rd generation (at least) bootlegger who makes her own organic whiskey- this I have to try. I've tried her cherry wines, and they are unbelievably fresh and wholesome. Mmmm.
Post by: PRobb on August 09, 2004, 10:59:21 PM
PS- this thread has now caused me to pour the Ardberg two nights in a row. My taste buds thank you, my wallet is not so sure
PPS- Islay, according to a relatively sober Scotsman, is pronounced "Ila as in I love Lucy"
Post by: PRobb on August 09, 2004, 11:11:28 PM
Post by: ted nightshade on August 10, 2004, 02:43:00 PM
| PRobb wrote on Mon, 09 August 2004 20:11 |
Oh-I forgot. I'm looking forward to a review of the "organic" whiskey. |
Me too!
Post by: PP on August 11, 2004, 12:25:06 PM
Post by: ted nightshade on August 13, 2004, 07:01:33 PM
I like to eat kelp, so I ought to like the Isley stuff!
I think that getting the grog stable enough (high enough alcohol content) to stash it somewhere and avoid the revenuers must have been a major reason to get into distilling. I'm for anything to beat the heat!
Rereading the Old Pulteney link, I was really expecting them to say it was aged in herring barrels.
Post by: ted nightshade on August 14, 2004, 06:43:43 PM
It's a Laphroig 10 year, best Islay representative my local liquor store had.
Post by: PRobb on August 17, 2004, 12:33:06 AM
And what happened to the "organic" stuff?
Post by: ted nightshade on August 17, 2004, 02:30:35 PM
Thoughts on the Laphroaig- tastes like brimstone! Is this what the high rollers drink in hell? My "wife" can't stand it- I love it. I did do the unthinkable though at her suggestion and made a mixed drink- habanero lemonade with the Laphoaig, christened Fire and Brimstone. Ah, bliss... woke up in the morning sweating kelp and peat smoke. Pleasant though. I can tell though that something older than 10 year is going to be much more involved and subtle.
Are you into amurickan whiskeys, PRobb? I've been lookin' at some of the stuff at the internet store Peter linked to... any recommendations? I'm intrigued by the stuff that is unfiltered and bottled right out of the barrel at 126 proof... I have a feeling a li'l nip of that might put me right in ragtime heaven.
Post by: PRobb on August 17, 2004, 04:06:12 PM
I need some education here. Anybody want to chime in?
Post by: ToddP on August 18, 2004, 02:32:38 PM
Now as for Tequila, if you go to AES in San Fran, make your way up to the Richmond District to Tommy's Mexican Restaurant. The largest selection of 100% Agave Tequila north of the border.
http://www.tommystequila.com
You may even make a return trip to attend Taquilapalooza
Post by: ted nightshade on August 20, 2004, 05:37:51 PM
Today I came back with a bottle of the Booker's unfiltered, undiluted 126 proof cask-strength bourbon. Tasty stuff, and smooth! Not what I expected... adding a couple drops of good water helps, after that it's downhill. I think I will stick with this as far as the Amurikan stuff. I would like to try some of those cask-strength single malt scotches...
I don't know if I can drink any kind of Tequila- just the smell takes me right back to that one time I got puking sick in high school...
Post by: ted nightshade on August 21, 2004, 04:09:52 PM
So is some of this tequila psychedelic in some way? Mescal, or something? That could be a big bonus, and we will be going to SF, so what brand to look for or should I just ask there?
BTW, changed the Talisker order to one for a 17 year Ardberg... can't wait!
Post by: PRobb on August 24, 2004, 12:02:07 AM
Talisker is unique. A very peppery bite. One of my faves. Can't wait to hear what you think of the Ardberg. One of the longest finishes ever. Take a sniff, let a sip sit in your mouth for a second, swallow and just wait for it to develop. It keeps going and going and.......
Post by: ted nightshade on August 31, 2004, 12:28:57 AM
Talisker is really, really nice. Much less smoky, very complex with a KICK. HOOO!
Post by: ted nightshade on August 31, 2004, 12:30:27 AM
Post by: PRobb on August 31, 2004, 01:20:52 AM
Post by: ted nightshade on August 31, 2004, 11:19:13 AM
Post by: overeasy on September 05, 2004, 10:38:55 AM
adulterate it with a little ice and (fresh) lime juice- ahh.....
overeasy
amateur recordist
professional boozehound
Post by: Dave Mallon on September 07, 2004, 12:30:55 PM
I love Glenlivet - A bottle lives in my house at pretty much all times.
I quite Like Tamnavulin, although this is quite hard to come by and I have only found it in Scotland
Another I discovered last time I was in Scotland was Tobermory, which was really nice.
Another vote for Islay, too.
So many Whiskies, so little time...
Dave M (UK)
Post by: ted nightshade on September 07, 2004, 09:21:59 PM
This looks to be a life-long investigation... so little time indeed. Just makes life the more precious.
Post by: drumtracks on September 12, 2004, 01:14:11 PM
Post by: PP on September 13, 2004, 06:45:38 PM
Post by: ted nightshade on September 18, 2004, 08:12:04 PM
| Peter Oxford wrote on Mon, 13 September 2004 15:45 |
Quote Ted : "bellydancers we know seem to have a thing for tequila and loosen up quite a bit under it's influence". Ted, I keep having mental images running through my mind of you playing with your organ, surrounded by a bevy of beauties, rhythmically wobbling their hips, suggestively all about you, as your Leslie whirls about. |
Actually my all-but-wife plays the organ, I just lug the Leslie! And do the geeky engineering stuff. And play various acoustic instruments.
The visuals really ain't nothing to complain about!
| Quote: |
What a great way to make a living. I knew the music business was the one for me! |
Well, I ain't exactly making a living, but I'm living, sure enough! And hopefully will be able to parlay it all into continuing to do so.
| Quote: |
What I'm concerned about, is that he's buying this stuff, especially to put out for me (who's drinking it purely to help him), and thereby conserving his precious stocks of the really expensive, good stuff he enjoys, which has entirely disappeared all of a sudden up to his room. It's very worrying, as it undermines all my good work on his behalf. |
I suggest you gently imply that you can't stand that kind of swill and think it would show more filial respect to ply you with the good stuff. Gently, of course, in a fatherly way. That might solve the problem and relieve some of the stress on your taste buds.
You know folks, all these wine and whiskey reviews, they go on about the taste but never talk about the high or the hangover? I wanna know, can you live on the stuff? Will it inspire you to write new symphonies, or down and dirty blues? Will your thoughts about the bellydancers be austere and platonic or maybe somewhat different? And how will your head be in the morning?
Post by: Barish on September 22, 2004, 11:22:10 AM
Glenfiddich is good but Glenmorangie's 18 tastes better to me. You can't beat their Madeira Mature but is quite expensive.
Post by: PRobb on September 24, 2004, 01:20:33 AM
Post by: ted nightshade on September 24, 2004, 05:11:23 PM
I am enjoying the Ardbeg, fine sippin' stuff, but it doesn't make me as nostalgic for the good old days of the British dismantling people's stone huts and that, and long cold nights out in the mist. Great stuff, nonetheless, but so far I think the Laphroig is about my fave, and I have to say I am very much looking forward to getting some cask-strength Laphroig! On order right now...
Post by: Barish on September 24, 2004, 05:29:01 PM
Cheers.
Post by: ted nightshade on September 24, 2004, 10:31:22 PM
I'm in Oregon so it's the OLCC- I'll see what the line is... and how to beat it.
There's always crime!
Post by: lucey on October 11, 2004, 03:40:45 AM
It's hard to get and about $120, but amazing ...
(the 25 year old is impossible to get right now.)
Post by: James Slanger on October 14, 2004, 01:41:58 AM
Luckily I'm in Chicago and only a few miles from Sam's Wine and Spirits: http://www.samswine.com One of the better sources in the States. Ardbeg 10 for 40$ a bottle. (or 230 for a case
) They're in the middle of their warehouse sale right now too.../jim
Post by: James Slanger on October 14, 2004, 01:50:00 AM
| lucey wrote on Mon, 11 October 2004 02:40 |
18 Year old Macallan Ted. Single malt heaven. (the 25 year old is impossible to get right now.) |
www.Samswine.com says they have it for 383.99$ a bottle. But the site may not have current inventory. I'll ask when I stop by this weekend. I had two glasses once at 25$ each . . . . very much worth it.
/jim
Post by: PRobb on October 14, 2004, 10:32:42 PM
| James Slanger wrote on Thu, 14 October 2004 01:41 |
Can't believe I haven't seen this thread yet. 5 minutes after turning 21 I went out and bought a bottle of Glenlivet 12. My personal standby has been Talisker for a year or so now - which I think has more going for it than Laphroig personally. Luckily I'm in Chicago and only a few miles from Sam's Wine and Spirits: http://www.samswine.com One of the better sources in the States. Ardbeg 10 for 40$ a bottle. (or 230 for a case ) They're in the middle of their warehouse sale right now too.../jim |
Talisker and Ardbeg-my kind of guy! I have the Ardbeg 17 right now and it is amazing.
Ted- what ever happened with the "organic" whisky?
Post by: ted nightshade on October 17, 2004, 12:45:42 PM
| PRobb wrote on Thu, 14 October 2004 19:32 | ||
Talisker and Ardbeg-my kind of guy! I have the Ardbeg 17 right now and it is amazing. Ted- what ever happened with the "organic" whisky? |
I got to track down "Evil Eva"- been so hectic this year I haven't gotten around to it. Her wine is pretty fabulous, filtered through the clay, real old school, should be interesting to try the whiskey...
Now here's what I've found- the Laphroig, especially with a piece of habanero soakin' in it, is exactly what I need to be nipping to open up my voice and transcend. Exactly! It's the ticket there, all right. Talisker, now that was real nice banging right off the bottle while stacking heaps of firewood- just the ticket there, you could take great big slugs and you could live on that stuff. Great workin' man's whiskey, even if it costs a day's wages for a bottle! Ardbeg 17, is very nice and like a sublimely subtle bourbon, and great for that little sip in the study, with the fine liqueurs, but it doesn't do a thing for my singing. It's a nice little eye opener in the morning though! Start the day off right.
I wonder what that Ardbeg 10 is like, and what the Laphroig 15 is like... could it be the 10 year stuff is just better for gettin' physical?
Post by: Former Oceanway drone on October 29, 2004, 11:25:26 PM
Cheers,
Alan Tomlinson
Post by: James Slanger on November 01, 2004, 09:46:13 PM
/jim
Post by: Gideon on November 03, 2004, 01:37:53 PM
| ted nightshade wrote on Sun, 17 October 2004 12:45 |
I wonder what that Ardbeg 10 is like, and what the Laphroig 15 is like... could it be the 10 year stuff is just better for gettin' physical? |
The 10 year old Ardbeg is peatier and more intense. In fact, the Ardbeg 10 has the highest peat ppm of any Islay malt (and hence any SMS). Personally I prefer it to the 17 which is much more mellow and, in my opinion, a bit watery.
The difference between the 10 and 15 year old Laphroaigs I find to be less dramatic, but again, as a fan of vigorous peatieness, I prefer the younger malt. Somewhat paradoxically, however, something really magical happens to the Laphroaig 30; but these days the price is prohibitive so now I drink beer.
Also, if you like Islay malts, don't forget Lagavulin, it's a bit less intense but has, I believe, the best aftertaste.
Other personal favorites:
Springbank 12
Macallan 18
Highland Park 18
YMMV
Post by: Gideon on November 09, 2004, 03:01:14 PM
Post by: PRobb on November 09, 2004, 08:27:02 PM
Post by: Gideon on November 09, 2004, 09:16:20 PM
| PRobb wrote on Tue, 09 November 2004 20:27 |
So was it kinda like AES for kilted alkies? |
Exactly!
Other than the Ardbeg, my favorite was the Japanese single malt, Suntory Yamazaki (I also liked the girl behind the Balvenie counter).
Post by: PRobb on November 09, 2004, 10:10:55 PM
Post by: David Schober on November 12, 2004, 06:29:04 PM
A good subject for political junkies of different stripes to have some common ground! I got inspired by the Talisker comment and just bought some this afternoon. I'm enjoying it now. Thanks for the recommendation. Good and peaty, but not overpowering. A few drops of water made it just right.
While at the store I found a book by Michael Jacskon (of course not the singer) on various whiskies. A great resource worth checking out.
A year ago in England I had the pleasure of spending about $75 on single glass of the most amazing nectar of the Gods I've ever had.(I'm ashamed to say I can't recall the name!!!) No joke...the finish lasted a solid 20-30 minutes. Totally amazing! I certainly can't do that very often, but wow!
I asked the store manager about the Johnny Walker Green label. He heard about it, but only had it in a gift pack and hadn't tried it yet. The indivuals should be out soon.
Cheers!
Post by: Gideon on November 13, 2004, 03:29:01 PM
| David Schober wrote on Fri, 12 November 2004 18:29 |
While at the store I found a book by Michael Jacskon (of course not the singer) on various whiskies. A great resource worth checking out. |
I agree, an excellent book.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/076240731X/ref=sib_dp_pt/102 -8473017-7848925#reader-link
Post by: David Schober on November 13, 2004, 03:45:44 PM
Thanks for the Amazon link. FYI, the book I was looking at wasn't limited to Scotch. it listed whiskies from around the world. Of course Ireland was listed, (I do enjoy Bushmills as an inexpensive drink, and Black Bush I think is quite good for a premium blended) but also had reviews on whiskies from places as strange as Japan. I'll double check the name. But it's not limited by Scottish producers which I found a good thing. I couldn't find it in Amazon, but the title is says "whisky" and not "scotch." No doubt his books on Scotch will be more in depth for that specific than the book to which I'm referring.
Post by: PRobb on November 15, 2004, 12:03:12 AM
Actually it IS that Michael Jackson. The photo on the jacket is from a short-lived and poorly publicized moment in journey through the world of plastic surgery
Post by: David Schober on November 15, 2004, 12:28:15 AM
there are worse things one could be doing.....
Post by: ted nightshade on November 15, 2004, 12:41:17 PM
Is that Whiskey Fest always in NY? Is it ever a west coast thing?
Post by: David Schober on November 15, 2004, 01:05:45 PM
| ted nightshade wrote on Mon, 15 November 2004 11:41 |
There's something about this Laphroig with a habanero and some honey steeped in the bottle that just takes me further- it ain't smooth at all but man it gets me THERE.! A bit of an off-sour thing though that's catching up with me here. I do think I will try the 10 year Ardbeg and see if that's more like it, and the Laguvalin (sp!) too. Is that Whiskey Fest always in NY? Is it ever a west coast thing? |
Hey Ted,
That sounds crazy. And just crazy for me to give it a try! So how's this done? A pour the scotch in a new bottle with the goodies or put the goodies on the Laphroig bottle? Normal size pepper? How much honey? You said to steep the ingredients...heat or just let it sit for a bit?
Sound like a great cold rememdy!
David
Post by: Gideon on November 15, 2004, 04:51:09 PM
Post by: ted nightshade on November 16, 2004, 11:30:25 AM
I'm still working on the recipe- I cut a large habanero into several pieces and popped it right in the Laphroig bottle, from which I filled my little formerly-vanilla-extract pocket flask to take down to the studio.
First it was just hot... a couple days later, a nice roasty pepper flavor developed... then it got hotter and roastier... now, I can barely drink more than a sip! So I added the honey and a touch of lemon juice. I think maybe it was best just after a few days... possibly it would be better to dress the habanero and remove the seeds and membrane and go for a milder more tasy beverage with just the shell of the pepper.
It's not the ultimate recipe but it gets you LIT and is very good for opening up the vocal chords!
Oh yeah, I forgot, about the time it was getting hotter and roastier I popped a bit of echinacea root, fresh from the garden, into my little flask- holy cow, that was really something. That'll cure your cold!
| David Schober wrote on Mon, 15 November 2004 10:05 | ||
Hey Ted, That sounds crazy. And just crazy for me to give it a try! So how's this done? A pour the scotch in a new bottle with the goodies or put the goodies on the Laphroig bottle? Normal size pepper? How much honey? You said to steep the ingredients...heat or just let it sit for a bit? Sound like a great cold rememdy! David |
Post by: Tomas Danko on November 16, 2004, 06:41:36 PM
| Gideon wrote on Mon, 15 November 2004 21:51 |
I once soaked a hotdog in Laphroaig; it was the best damn hotdog I ever ate. |
Now THAT is truly the words of a connoiseur!
Cheers,
Tomas Danko
www.danko.se