Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with whisky

The Gift of Scotch

vansly — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:45:35 -0800

What is a good Scotch for ~$200? My co-worker is retiring after 30+ years of service. About $200 has been collected in order to buy him a nice bottle of scotch.

I know he likes scotch and I have seen him drink Glenlivet and Glenfiddich in the past. I also know that he likes Oban. I am looking for a ~$200 bottle in the Vancouver, British Columbia market.

Whisky Me Away

spamguy — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:14:21 -0800

What's a good scotch (or non-scotch) whisky that I can get for $15 - $20? It's Secret Santa season at my office, and my meta-boss is my target. Instructions are to secretly give sub-$5 presents Monday through Thursday, and a more expensive present on Friday. My target enjoys his booze (responsibly!), so I plan to give him $15 to $20 worth of pleasurable scotch whisky or whisky whisky.

I suggest both because, really, I don't know or care. I'm not much of a drinker, and when I do drink, you could convince me turpentine was a fine liquor. This is a double challenge because I realise $20 doesn't go far, and I'd like to avoid the swill water. Even a 300mL flask of something quality would be great.

Which type of whisky should I aim for? What's a good brand that's easily acquired for $15 - $20? By 'easily acquired', I mean I'll probably be hitting up Spec's in town.

What Scotch has a long, campfire-like finish?

paulg — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:40:11 -0800

ScotchFilter: please ID this half-remembered single-malt whisky! What Scotch would have been available in metro Detroit around 2001 with an amazingly smooth palate and a long, campfire-like finish? I’ve started learning more about Scotch lately. I tend to prefer the peaty, smoky Islays like Laphroaig. I’ve discovered some great whiskies, but haven’t been able to identify one I drank long before I had the good sense to keep notes about such things.

Sometime between 1999 and 2003 one of my friends acquired a sampler of Scotches. It might have been a retail display rack with 6-12 different whiskies which he got from someone who owned a liquor store. I think there were a variety of brands, a couple full 750ml bottles and some smaller sample sizes. Some of them were pretty expensive-looking--12, 15, 18, and 25 years old.

One of those scotches left a lasting impression on me, but (or course!) I don’t remember the name. I don’t remember anything about the nose, but it was very, very smooth on the palate. I remember the finish best: a pleasant and dramatic warmth radiating through my body, and a long, overwhelmingly woody (oak, cedar?), smoky flavor. I said at the time that it was like swallowing a camp fire.

Thanks.

Cocktail and liquor advice for a first-timer?

pinsomniac — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:41:51 -0800

Just turned 21 -- seeking advice on cocktails and rounding out my first-ever purchase of liquor. So after a few hours of searching through recommendations on AskMe and other parts of the web, I've decided on the following:

- Sailor Jerry's Spiced Rum (1.75L)
- Maker's Mark Whisky Bourbon (1.75L)
- Tito's Handmade Vodka (1.75L)
- Gran Centenario Azul Reposado Tequila (750mL)
- Firefly Sweet Tea Infused Vodka (1.75L)

First question: Should I exchange the handles for fifths and get two other bottles? If so, what would you recommend adding to this? I'm considering Kahlua, but have no other ideas aside from that.

Second question: Using the above and basic mixers (juice, soda, fruit, etc.), what cocktails would I be able to make? I've done a bit of research, but would love to hear of any personal favorites.

Bonus: What tools are absolutely essential in making a cocktail? A book I have in front of me boils it down to a shaker and a strainer. A jigger would probably help as well. Anything else?

This wasn't exactly what I had in mind for my first question, but it'll have to do. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

What's Irish and stays out all night?

cior — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:29:31 -0800

I need advice on classy Irish drinks, hosting a whisky tasting and the proper way to make a Black & Tan without making a mess. My fiancé and I have been nominated to tend bar at our yacht club's St. Patrick's Day dinner. We're a solid team behind the bar, but have no experience with Irish drinks and drinking customs.

What makes a great whisky tasting? Any recommendations on the whisky? Should we have specific accompaniments?

We'd like to include some classy Irish cocktails, but can only find minty bright green crass options online. What should we try?

Is there a fool-proof way of making a good Black and Tan? We've got the Guiness and the Harp's Lager covered, both in kegs.

Thank you!

Scotch, an acquired taste?

Silvertree — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:40:43 -0800

How did you acquire a taste for scotch? For some reason I have become curious about scotch. I have no idea why. I think maybe a few threads here put the idea in my head. Or was it Ron Burgandy's genius? Or maybe I watched John J. McCoy drink scotch at the end of one too many Law & Orders. Beats me. I don't even know if I like scotch.

So for those of you who are scotch drinkers, did you just order a scotch one day and fall in love? Was it a taste you acquired over time? Did you purposely set out to acquire a taste for scotch? If so, how? Tell me your scotch stories.

I have already read several AskMeta threads with brand suggestions, so that isn't necessary unless it fits into the above, or you just feel really strong about a particular recommendation.

Help me get my man drunk

Abbril — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:05:45 -0800

How do I find out the cost of booze in (Chattanooga) Tennessee when I'm in (Ottawa) Ontario? I want to surprise Mr.Abbril with the gift of booze. Mr. Abbril has expressed a desire for both Macallan 12yr. and Woodford Reserve. Mr. Abbril's parents will be driving from Ottawa to Tennessee next month and I thought I could have them pick one or two of these up for me to stash until the next gift giving occasion arises. I've tried googling for a price estimate but with no luck. How can I find out/estimate the cost of these two bottles?

Show me the way to the next whisky gift...

TochterAusElysium — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:17:02 -0800

What's a good gift for my scotch-loving husband? He has been getting into good scotches over the past couple of years, and I'd like to get him a birthday gift that relates to scotch, but not an actual bottle, since he's got all the varieties he wants that are available within a hundred miles (really; he's got at least 20). For Christmas I got him a membership to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. He has tasting glasses and a couple of reference books. I'd like to find something unexpected. Any ideas, wise ones?

Songs about drinking whisky?

xmutex — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:08:28 -0800

Name good songs about drinking whisky. The sadder the better.

What foods to pair with whiskey?

schroedinger — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:41:54 -0800

I'm having a whiskey party tonight. There will be a mix of scotches, bourbons, and other whiskeys, single-malt and blended. It will not be a dinner party but I'd like to provide some hors d'oeuvres and possibly desserts. I've heard sushi is good with whiskey so I thought lox might work, and this Honey and Whiskey ice cream looks good, but does anyone have any other ideas?

Can I learn to love rubbish whisky?

Gratishades — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:22:17 -0800

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.

The effects of different alcohol

Kudos — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:38:10 -0800

Why does different sorts of alcohol affect you differently? A few friends and I have come to the consensus that Wine has a more "loopy" drunk and whisky a more "brutish", or "lively" drunk. Perhaps more explination of the effects causing the affects of my friends and I are needed. Nevertheless, there definitely seems to be a major difference.

Why is Maker's Mark whisky and not whiskey?

neilkod — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:07:19 -0800

Why is Maker's Mark labeled whisky and not whiskey? I thought the absence of the 'e' is only for Scotch Whiskys. Other Bourbons have the e. What gives?

Beginner's single malt Scotch

mendel — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 10:37:59 -0800

Scotchfilter! What's a decent, inexpensive and readily available single malt or good blend for a brand-new scotch drinker whose current dram of choice is a good dark sipping rum? The intended recipient tried the Glenlivet after he'd had a lot of other things and was surprised by the strength but otherwise seemed to enjoy it and was interested in trying other Scotches. I could just get another bottle of Glenlivet, but it's a bit ordinary and generally-available, and besides, he's already tried that.

I don't want something pretending to be bourbon, but I don't want to overwhelm with iodine and peat either. Probably some sort of Speyside or Lowland, I guess. My own tastes head toward the spicy and peaty and I sometimes have a hard time telling the difference between a good mellow scotch and a boring one.

Also, any suggestions on how to safely mail/ship a bottle of Scotch are welcome too.