Can I learn to love rubbish whisky?

April 13, 2007 5:22 PM

I'm drinking some rubbish whisky bought as a present that I am enjoying more each time I drink it- can it ruin my palate and appreciation of fine malts? On a wider note the same question but with wine, food etc.

My father in law gave me some fairly poor "Pure" malt whisky. I love the single malts and this bottle was a chore to drink to start with but I'm finding it easier over time (note; meaning easier on different occasions, not that I'm halfway down the bottle in one session and thish is shtarting to tashte good). So the question arises can one go 'backwards' in ones taste appreciation by moving from fine malts, wine, food etc by consuming inferior products? Personal experience or, even better, any studies in this field appreciated.

posted by Gratishades to food & drink (25 comments total)

Oh please; no it won't ruin your palate.
posted by caddis at 5:29 PM on April 13, 2007 [3 favorites has favorites]

No. Good god.
posted by fire&wings at 5:31 PM on April 13, 2007

I don't think so. Next time you have the good stuff you'll appreciate it even more.
posted by jclovebrew at 5:35 PM on April 13, 2007

Um, no. I enjoy all kinds of single malts, but drink a blend as my "everyday". I also enjoy fine dining, as well as a good hot dog.

Don't overthink your beans.
posted by trip and a half at 5:36 PM on April 13, 2007 [5 favorites has favorites]

No, that's silly.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 5:37 PM on April 13, 2007

Yes. But only if this whisky is bad enough that it actually kills your tastebuds.

Try this experiment: drink 4-5 fingers of the bad stuff, then try some good stuff. Were you able to appreciate it's nuanced flavour? Yeah, you're hosed.

I'm guessing you'll actually be ok.
posted by JMOZ at 5:57 PM on April 13, 2007

C'mon, man. Don't be that guy.
posted by clockzero at 6:12 PM on April 13, 2007 [4 favorites has favorites]

Surely the question is "are you enjoying it?". If you're not enjoying it, then stop. If you're starting to find it quite pleasant, then keep drinking it. Unless you're a whisky taster by trade and hence need an appreciation of fine malts to pay the bills, what's the worst that could happen if you do lose your palate?

Having said that, I don't think it's going to happen. I'm a convert to organic corn fed chicken - tastes soooo much better than regular chicken - but after a night out, nothing tastes better than fried chicken'n'chips from my local takeaway. It's all about what tastes good at the time you're eating it!

Chill. Pour yourself a glass and enjoy.
posted by finding.perdita at 6:26 PM on April 13, 2007

Since you asked about food as well: I am someone who enjoys everything from greasy-spoon chili dogs and hamburgers with cold draft Budweiser to roast pheasant with an expensive bottle of Barolo. In my experience your taste and taste buds can rebound from any manner of insults.
posted by TedW at 6:38 PM on April 13, 2007

Also who cares if you decide that you like the cheap stuff, heaven forbid you enjoy something inexpensive. I am not criticizing you, I am just saying that if you end up preferring whiskey that costs 25 dollars a bottle instead of 150 I don't think it would reflect poorly on you in front of rational company.
posted by BobbyDigital at 7:26 PM on April 13, 2007

What everyone said. You might try considering using it for an experiment, though -- these guys did an interesting (and wildly successful) experiment in vodka alchemy using only a Brita water filter. (The direct link's giving me trouble, so if it won't load, just go here and scroll down to the post titled "Practical Applications of the Philosopher’s stone. For drunks.")You might consider trying the same thing with your whisky, see if it works.

If it does, I demand you report back here to let me know whether I can cut my booze budget in half or not.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:25 PM on April 13, 2007

Drinking moonshine and rye and Mekong whiskey is what made me love scotch (not that there's not a right time for Mekong, though).
posted by luriete at 8:39 PM on April 13, 2007

Vodka != whisk(e)y. I'd stay away from filters. But yeah, don't be that guy.
posted by holgate at 8:50 PM on April 13, 2007

A recent broke period found me drinking miserable wine that tasted vaguely like fermented grape jelly. It was torture at first, but after a bit, while it certainly didn't taste good, it went down easier with hardly any disgusted shivers at all. The first nice bottle I had when the tasted absolutely heavenly. It was just a decent bottle of Sonoma pinot noir, but it felt like a revelation, like my taste buds were super charged. Hopefully, crap whisky will work the same way.
posted by mostlymartha at 9:02 PM on April 13, 2007

Vodka != whisk(e)y. I'd stay away from filters.

But this is for SCIENCE!

Seriously, the filter's basically charcoal. Sour mash whiskeys like Jack Daniel's are charcoal filtered to mellow them out, and I believe most bourbons have lump charcoal thrown in the barrel while they age. Be interesting to see what it does for cheap scotch. I mean, you can't make shit scotch worse, unless you maybe peed in it and added hobo blood and had Emo Phillips do ads for it and lit it on fire and then put it out with even cheaper scotch.

In short, there's a fair chance you could make it at least slightly less assy and almost zero chance that you'll make it worse. I say go for it.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:17 PM on April 13, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Um... it's worth pointing out that if you like it, it's GOOD WHISKEY, whether or not other people happen to agree with you.

It's what YOU like that matters. If you drink to 'make a statement', that's fine, but it has nothing to do with flavor, and you might as well buy the most expensive pisswater you can find.

If you like this stuff and it's cheap, then drink it instead of the expensive stuff. If you think your friends would prefer other varieties, stock that too.
posted by Malor at 9:21 PM on April 13, 2007

I understand why you're worried, because it's becoming more palatable over time. But don't worry, you will be back to your normal self when it's gone. As an aside, good for you for drinking the stuff and not re-gifting it! You're a good man.
posted by snsranch at 9:22 PM on April 13, 2007

All of these anecdotal accounts involving Budweiser and hot dogs not causing permanent harm are the public school education induced ramblings of Neanderthals.

If you want to retain even a fraction of your well refined taste you will go out and buy a bottle of single malt that is older than you. Right now.

Naturally, there are hundreds of studies about bourgeoisie poison available on pubmed. Search for Gallo or Box wines. The side effects are horrific. I almost feel sorry for them. Swine.
posted by stavrogin at 9:47 PM on April 13, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

There's a world of difference between not knowing any better and actually developing an authentic appreciation for something less-than-fine. You're confusing the two.
posted by treepour at 10:11 PM on April 13, 2007

my dad was an army sergeant in papua new guinea during world war two when a small boy approached his unit and offered some scotch whisky for sale.
dad queried the boy "is it old?"
the boy responded "oh no. it's new. very new."
posted by bruce at 7:42 AM on April 14, 2007

How can it be "rubbish" or "fairly poor" if you're enjoying it? You may be lucky enough to have gotten your hands on something really good at a great cost. I have a shelf full of top-shelf American whiskey and the stuff I like the best is definitely in the lowest quartile of the price range. (Eagle Rare 10, but don't tell too many people.)

Do not put whiskey down a Brita or any other sort of charcoal filter. Tennessee whiskey is "charcoal mellowed" by passing it through lightly charred maplewood, not finely divided carbon. A Brita filter will remove most of what makes whiskey taste like whiskey, and leave you with a very off-tasting vodka.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:53 AM on April 14, 2007

What was the brand?? Was it Wild Turkey, cause I like that stuff. Does that make me less of a man? (thanks for the heads up ikkyu2)
posted by vronsky at 3:49 PM on April 14, 2007

Thanks for replies all and apologies for coming across as being 'that guy'. I do like the good stuff but not consciously trying to be a snob (I'm drinking this stuff on my own so no one to impress but me). The question concerns whether it is a one off or whether consuming something not very good on a number of occasions can lead to one appreciating it more, and if it impacts on one's taste long term.

With regards to ikkyu2's question it is not a case of getting good stuff that's cheap. It is both cheap and nasty- on the first couple of occasions I was drinking it with my nose pinched- but come the third and fourth time it seemed decidedly more pleasant so wondering what the causes were for this.

Cheap Cheers!
posted by Gratishades at 7:10 AM on April 15, 2007

All of these anecdotal accounts involving Budweiser and hot dogs not causing permanent harm are the public school education induced ramblings of Neanderthals...Gallo or Box wines...

Hey now! I resemble that remark! Besides, "Gallo or box"? My standards may be low, but I do have some standards. I do, however, admit to a public school education.
posted by TedW at 12:31 PM on April 15, 2007

I'll join the crowds saying "if it's cheap and you like it, keep buying it." I drink Korbel brandy, which is among the cheapest brands, but it's some of the best I've ever had (A fifth of Korbel VSOP is something like thirteen dollars in the US).
posted by DoctorFedora at 3:38 PM on April 15, 2007