Whisky Appreciation Thread

[FiveThous]

no matter how hard I try I cannot get into whiskey. I don't even like mixed drinks with bourbon in them because bourbon literally overpowers anything it touches.

So why am I in here? I desperately want to like whiskey. Can someone describe to me what they like about it? What makes a good whiskey? What seperates a good from bad whiskey in your opinion?

This.

 

[getBUCKED]

Anything in the $20-$40 range I should try?

Bulleit, Makers, JD, Woodford Reserve is what I typically get.

 

[GreatGoo]

no matter how hard I try I cannot get into whiskey. I don't even like mixed drinks with bourbon in them because bourbon literally overpowers anything it touches.

So why am I in here? I desperately want to like whiskey. Can someone describe to me what they like about it? What makes a good whiskey? What seperates a good from bad whiskey in your opinion?

This.

Great questions!

Why is bourbon appealing to me? I was never really much of a beer guy. Especially when I got a little older. Beers just fill me up. I can only intake so much volume of liquid. Liquor was a good solution to this problem. In addition, once you get past the initial noob alcohol burn in your mouth, you start to taste the flavors. In most bourbons you get caramel, vanilla, and oak on the palate. With scotches you get more of light fruit, earthy notes. I have always leaned towards the bourbon flavor profile. I got a sweet tooth.

I first did a side by side tasting with Makers Mark & Elmer T Lee (a $30 bottle of bourbon, but hard to find). The Elmer T Lee tasted considerably better and had much more depth of flavor. I realized then where was more to bourbon than Makers. That is what started me down the bourbon path of trying all the different type of offerings.

What separate a good bourbon from a bad bourbon? Well first, it is actually hard to find a bad bourbon. Most offerings out there are pretty good. FYI. Cleveland whiskey is absolute crap and a running joke in the whiskey community. Of course they had to put Cleveland on the bottle. Like Cleveland isn't challenged enough on our reputation....... What makes a delicious bourbon/whiskey to someone, can be completely different to another. Everyone have different taste. In general, whiskey enthusiast look at depth/complexity of the pour (multiple favors - fruit, floral, oak, chocolate, earth that layer on top of each other), balance of those flavors, and mouth-feel, etc..... For me in particular, I like sweet notes (caramel, vanilla, chocolate) with oak and peanut. Hahaha yes peanut. You might think I'm crazy, but once you get accustomed to drinking whiskey, the flavors really start to explode in your mouth.

And I agree, in general bourbon isn't good in mixed drinks. However, I do like a good Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

 

[GreatGoo]

Anything in the $20-$40 range I should try?

Bulleit, Makers, JD, Woodford Reserve is what I typically get.

Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig, Eagle Rare, Elmer T Lee (hard to find), or Four Roses Single Barrel,

 

[Randolphkeys]

Buffalo Trace and Four Roses are my favs on GreatGoo's list.

If you find whisky cocktails too overpowering, try club soda and the liquor with ice, a little lemon juice at first might dull your aversion with the first glass. That is a simple, classic WWII generation cocktail that doesn't try to change the flavor too much. Another bonus is that your hangover won't be terrible. My wife prefers ginger ale and bourbon as well, but the sugar can sneak up on you the next day.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

FYI. Cleveland whiskey is absolute crap and a running joke in the whiskey community.

Are they the company that speeds up their distilling process and claims they can make whiskey in like a day?

By the way, I'm an Ohio State grad and your school has caused me immense amounts of grief in the last calendar year, but making your site logo a barrel that looks like a Spartan helmet is ridiculously awesome.

 

[Jordan]

Anyone have recommendations on Irish whiskey? I've tried Jameson Black, Gold, and standard, as well as Redbreast 12 year, but frankly I'm not crazy about any of them. There is an Irish whiskey bar near me in DC, and I always feel bad about ordering a Woodford or Blanton's at an Irish bar, so I'm looking for suggestions next time I go. They have over fifty Irish whiskeys. Overall, in my bourbon, I like a bit more burn combined with heavy vanilla notes and other complex layers. Woodford Reserve and Blanton's are my favorites on that end, so any suggestions? @Randolphkeys @GreatGoo

 

[Randolphkeys]

You know as much about Irish whisky as I do, @jking948. I don't buy them for my home, so if I'm drinking it I'm at a bar with a beer around as a back. I want to go to Ireland some day for a proper education.

 

[GreatGoo]

Anyone have recommendations on Irish whiskey? I've tried Jameson Black, Gold, and standard, as well as Redbreast 12 year, but frankly I'm not crazy about any of them. There is an Irish whiskey bar near me in DC, and I always feel bad about ordering a Woodford or Blanton's at an Irish bar, so I'm looking for suggestions next time I go. They have over fifty Irish whiskeys. Overall, in my bourbon, I like a bit more burn combined with heavy vanilla notes and other complex layers. Woodford Reserve and Blanton's are my favorites on that end, so any suggestions? @Randolphkeys @GreatGoo

Not well versed on Irish whiskey. Although, I do have a bottle of Green Spot that I enjoy.

 

[GreatGoo]

Are they the company that speeds up their distilling process and claims they can make whiskey in like a day?

By the way, I'm an Ohio State grad and your school has caused me immense amounts of grief in the last calendar year, but making your site logo a barrel that looks like a Spartan helmet is ridiculously awesome.

Yeah. Cleveland Whiskey pretty much pressure pumps liquor in and out of wood chips to stimulate aging in a oak barrel for years. It doesn't work.

Thanks brother! I have many buckeye friends being that I was born and raised in Cleveland. The buckeyes have gotten the best of State a lot in the past. I'm just enjoying the recent competitiveness of the match up. I still can taste the tears from buckeye fans from last Fall.

 

[BooyaCS]

I am a single malt scotch or bourbon drinker. I prefer anything made by buffalo trace (Rare Eagle, Pappy, W L Weller)

Also for Single malts I prefer anything 18+ yrs or older (there are some real good but real expensive 25 to 35 year scotches).

Also for straight wiskey I will drink Jameson but only 12+

 

[BooyaCS]

Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig, Eagle Rare, Elmer T Lee (hard to find), or Four Roses Single Barrel,

W.L. Weller is in that range but they don't sell it in Ohio. For the money Eagle Rare is one of the best ~$32 in the state of ohio for a 10 year age.

Mitcher's also has a decent (entry level) bourbon that is about $30 depending on where you find it.

I haven't been a fan of the Elijah Craig or the Elmer T Lee. Four Roses is decent.

 

[BooyaCS]

Great questions!

Why is bourbon appealing to me? I was never really much of a beer guy. Especially when I got a little older. Beers just fill me up. I can only intake so much volume of liquid. Liquor was a good solution to this problem. In addition, once you get past the initial noob alcohol burn in your mouth, you start to taste the flavors. In most bourbons you get caramel, vanilla, and oak on the palate. With scotches you get more of light fruit, earthy notes. I have always leaned towards the bourbon flavor profile. I got a sweet tooth.

I first did a side by side tasting with Makers Mark & Elmer T Lee (a $30 bottle of bourbon, but hard to find). The Elmer T Lee tasted considerably better and had much more depth of flavor. I realized then where was more to bourbon than Makers. That is what started me down the bourbon path of trying all the different type of offerings.

What separate a good bourbon from a bad bourbon? Well first, it is actually hard to find a bad bourbon. Most offerings out there are pretty good. FYI. Cleveland whiskey is absolute crap and a running joke in the whiskey community. Of course they had to put Cleveland on the bottle. Like Cleveland isn't challenged enough on our reputation....... What makes a delicious bourbon/whiskey to someone, can be completely different to another. Everyone have different taste. In general, whiskey enthusiast look at depth/complexity of the pour (multiple favors - fruit, floral, oak, chocolate, earth that layer on top of each other), balance of those flavors, and mouth-feel, etc..... For me in particular, I like sweet notes (caramel, vanilla, chocolate) with oak and peanut. Hahaha yes peanut. You might think I'm crazy, but once you get accustomed to drinking whiskey, the flavors really start to explode in your mouth.

And I agree, in general bourbon isn't good in mixed drinks. However, I do like a good Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

The ONLY thing and I mean ONLY thing that you should drink as a mixed drink with Bourbon is a Mint Julep.

Also, Maker's Mark to me, is now 1 step above turpentine. Never been a fan of Makers. Also the burn can be associated to 1 of 2 things. Bad Bourbon or very high proof. Eagle Rare doesn't have a burn (at least to me it doesn't) and most of the bourbon's aged 8+ years don't either.

Also it depends on the region for the scotch different regions have different flavor profiles.

The Island scotch is a bridge between the Highlands. The Southern Highlands are light and fruity but the northern are more spicy.

Speyside is sweet (good luck with it as there are 2 distilleries around the river).

Islay is peaty and strong (my personal favorite).

Campbelltown has more of a salty flavor.

Lowlands are the lightest of the Scotches.

 

[Kouki]

I'm a cheap bastard and I don't have the self control to not go through a bottle too quickly, and I never have two on hand at a time, so I tend to not buy nicer stuff too often.

My favorite bottom-of-the-barrel (hah!) is Evan Williams. Only $13 a bottle, nice to have on hand if people just want mixers but not so bad that you wouldn't drink it straight or in an old fashioned. Inoffensive but straightforward.

If I am splurging a bit more then it's JB Devil's Cut or Black Label (I like the JB family). Only ~$22 but enjoyable straight or in an OF where you can pick up subtleties in the taste vs. cheaper bourbons (I really don't make any other mixed bourbon drinks).

If I really "splurge" then it's either Makers Mark or Knob Creek (boring, I know). I do this so rarely that I forget which one of them it is that I actually like, but I remember preferring one much more over the other. Though my last few splurges have been Angel's Envy, which is fantastic in it's own way vs. I guess more traditional bourbons.

Not a fan of JD at all, I don't understand why it's the "standard" for people (actually yes I do, marketing...). At a restaurant recently, I got a JB and ginger, a JD friend of mine got a JD and ginger, I had him try mine and he was like "...wow that's actually a lot better"...to each his own though. Went to their distillery and didn't enjoy any of them, even their expensive single barrel what-have-you's.

 

[Remi]

I am a single malt scotch or bourbon drinker. I prefer anything made by buffalo trace (Rare Eagle, Pappy, W L Weller)

Also for Single malts I prefer anything 18+ yrs or older (there are some real good but real expensive 25 to 35 year scotches).

Also for straight wiskey I will drink Jameson but only 12+

I second all this. Not much of a scotch fan but everything out of the Buffalo Trace Distillery is great (to me). Buffalo Trace is a great tasting entry level bourbon. Blantons and Eagle Rare are great. Really got into Angels Envy as well. I've tried both the 10yr and 15yr Pappy, found a place in CLE that only charges $15 for a 2oz pour. Definitely lived up to the hype.

For the poster I would recommend Blantons. Gets you up into a higher price point. Cool looking bottle and tastes great.

Ive been trying years to get a hold of W.L. Weller, but I refuse to pay the astronomical resell prices on them.