The Rye Scotch Whsiky Whiskey and Bourbon Discussion

I'm definitely a bourbon drinker. My daily sit-down-on-the-couch-and-relax cocktail is a pretty light bourbon and soda - just enough bourbon to flavor it, really. My favorite nightcap is a good bourbon on the rocks. My favorite mixed drinks are Manhattans (I know, theoretically made with rye, but details) and Old Fashioneds. If I go to a craft cocktail bar (I live in SF, that's kind of the only kind of bar at this point), I go for the one made with bourbon. You get my drift.

I have gotten some entertaining reactions ordering bourbon everywhere I go. At a very fancy bar in London (the Library Bar in the Lanesborough hotel), I ordered an Old Fashioned. The waiter's eyebrows climbed nearly to his hairline and in his posh accent he gasped, "But that's a man's drink!" Yep, and I would like one to insert into my face, thank you very much sir.

I also amused the guys on the ski patrol the first time they poured me a shot of Maker's. Clearly they were attempting some sort of hazing of the new girl and thought I'd spit it out, but I slammed it right back, grinned at them, and said thanks. Unfortunately for me, that was the end of them offering me shots, since they know I'll actually take them.

 

For my birthday the husband got me Booker's. He said the people at the ABC were raving over it and he shrugged and said he wasn't into bourbon. They looked at him like he was crazy.

 

Booker's is some of the best American whiskey there is. It's amazing. Comes in a cool, rustic crate too.

 

I pretty much called (more like hounded) every liquor store in the LA area and ended up getting it at suggested retail price ($140 ish). I could've flipped it for 5 times that but fuck it.

It tastes light years better than any other bourbon I've tried. I think it's smoother neat than most others are on the rocks. If you're a bourbon fan and ever get a chance to try some, pay the big bucks and give it a go. You won't be disappointed.

Some of my favorite affordable/available bourbons are Blanton's, Willett's, and Woodford. Can't go wrong with any of those IMO.

 

Blue is like olive oil, possibly the smoothest scotch you've ever had.


Mccallan 12 year is ok, but nothing special.

Chivas Regal is dog shit.

 

Johnny Blue's base malt is Royal Lochnagar, which is apparently very good and costs almost seven times less.

I'm sure Blue is good to blended scotch drinkers, but unless you have decent wealth you'd have to hate money to buy it. $220 a bottle? Yeesh.

 

This, to me, is an essential part of the experience of being into scotch (or bourbon, especially in the case of our friend Mr. Van Winkle). It's the ritual. The selecting of the bottle, the spending of too much money, the carefully placing it in a place of pride in your home, the pouring of the drink in your nicest glass, and the feeling of celebration as you sip it. Sure, my husband and I are a Johnny Red and Maker's Mark household on the daily. But the entire experience of having a really nice bottle and busting it out for a special occasion, and how good that entire ritual makes you feel, is totally worth the price.

On the opposite note, for those looking for decent flavor at rock bottom prices, you should seriously try Johnny Red. Everyone goes for Black, but Red is shockingly smooth for the category and even cheaper. My husband is a serious Balvenie fan and he loves the Red.

 

I haven't convinced myself to go ahead and spend over $50 on a bottle of Scotch yet, but it's probably happening soon. My favorite so far is Balvenie, love the smoky flavor. Bourbon and ginger ale is my go to mixed drink, but since it's mixed I've never felt like going beyond Makers in terms of quality. I do like Maker's 46 though.

 

I agree, Walker Red is a great deal. My dad is a fan of Dewar's White for a cheaper scotch. Likewise it ain't bad but could use an extra ice cube or splash of water. Scotch just seems inherently more ritualistic than bourbon, with the old Scottish roots compared to a booze born in humble Kentucky. It is nice to keep one of those special bottles on hand.

I'll be honest and say Walker Blue was a bit of a letdown to me. I helped a buddy finish off the last of his bottle (had about an inch and a half left in it) during a recent hunting weekend and while it was a very smooth and tasty scotch, it wasn't the sensation that it has been trumped up to be. Not worth the additional cost over some other great whiskeys after that experience (just my two cents). If I'm buying, I'd probably be just as happy with a Glenlivet 12.

 

Scotchcrotch, if you really liked JW Blue you went in the wrong direction taste wise with Macallen and Chivas Regal. Macallen is a Highland and Chivas is a Speyside blend. From the three you listed and your thoughts on them, it sounds like you'd prefer a scotch with a peaty/smokey component. Try a scotch from the Islay region. Ardbeg and Laphroaig are heavily peated and very smoky. They could be overwhelming to begin with. Bowmore and Bunnahabhain aren't as heavily peated and you might want to start with them. Bowmore's somewhere in the middle and Bunnahabhain is the lightest peated from Islay. Bunnahabhain is my favorite Islay. A bottle of Bunnahabhain 25 is my 'special occasion' bottle.

Unless you have the means to spend Benjamins the way most spend Washingtons, Blue isn't worth the price. Diageo cracked the marketing code with Blue and has everyone who's not a regular scotch drinker believing it's the pinnacle 'go to' scotch for special occasions when there's so many other quality spirits costing so much less. Within the JW lineup for my money I prefer Green label. Its a blend of Talisker, Linkwood, Cragganmore and Caol Ila. Additionally, Green is one of the few blends that does not use grain whiskey as an ingredient.

 

Being fairly ignorant towards scotch (for now) I love listening to single malt fans project utter animosity towards blended fans. I mean grab-and-rip-my-shirt-collar animosity "HOW FUCKING DARE YOU EVEN SAY THE WORD 'BLENDED' IN MY PRESENCE!!! IT IS CRIMINAL GARBAGE FOR WORTHLESS UNEDUCATED FUCKS!!!!"

I'm paraphrasing here,by the way.

 

Focus: Balvenie or Laphroaig are my usual go-tos...just pour it in an empty glass and I'm set.

Alt-Focus: Walked into my kitchen during a house party once upon a time to discover a friend of a friend mixing 18 year Glenlivet with Coke (the soda variety)........I wept.

 

Jesus, thats like putting ketchup on a filet mignon.

 

Now that I've seen a few more names thrown out there I've tried more than I thought and never really thought in terms of scotch or bourbon.

Woodford, makers, knob, Elijah Craig are some that I have enjoyed.

I've done some Dewars, JW, Oban, and then a few other aged scotches (Glenlivet, ect). Scotch seems to be a bit dangerous for me but if I keep it to a glass or two with dinner or before bed I'm all good. Some I like a lot, though I haven't really acquired the taste for it yet, and others I just don't. Off hand I don't know exactly what it is I don't like but its a pretty strong reaction.

I've always thought it was funny, my friends dad (we all go way back and are close friends) went on a bourbon tour and brought back some Elijah Craig (11 or 14, and 21 year). We were at his house while they were gone, I think my buddy had to go over and check on their dogs, and he called his dad about sampling some of the Craig. His response was you can have what you want but tell Hoosiermess not to touch the 21 year. I like him, I don't love him. He's still using that line. Must be somewhat expensive but it cracked me up. Now I want to raid his house and try it...

 

It shook my faith in humanity, to say the least...

 

Again, that's why I say drink what you like how you like and if anyone gives you grief over it tell them to fuck off. My only beef with scotch blends is the lack of variety in your average American liquor store. There are so many more out there than Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Cutty Sark, Dewar's, & J&B. Hell even Famous Grouse and Ballantine's are sometimes tough to find. I get it, they'll only stock what they typically sell, keeping a case or two of 'non-mainstream' blends on hand would not break the store.

Ok, that's a situation where I'd probably say something...Sprite's a much better mixer with scotch. Seriously though, that is an instance where I'd suggest different scotch for mixing. Especially if it was my bottle of Glenlivet.

If you ever find yourself in Omaha, NE a really great place to learn about scotch:http://www.dundeedell.com/ This is where I learned the basics.