Learn me on Whiskey

If you are going to get into Whiskey/Whisky, start off with 80 proof juice. Don't be that guy who gives his kid a 12 ga 3 inch shotgun slug for his first time shooting.

If you like sweet, try a bourbon.
If you like spicy, try a rye.
If you like smoke, try a Scotch.
If you like neutral, try Irish.

Flaviar.com has flavor profiles which can help you find the flavors you like.

Enjoy!
 
Last edited:
Lite said:
If you are going to get into Whiskey/Whisky, start off with 80 proof juice. Don't be that guy who gives his kid a 12 ga 3 inch shotgun slug for his first time shooting.

If you like sweet, try a bourbon.
If you like spicy, try a rye.
If you like smoke, try a Scotch.
If you like neutral, try Irish.

Flaviar.com has flavor profiles which can help you find the flavors you like.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum. Nice first post. You’ll fit right in.
 
I drank a bunch of bourbon about 40 years ago. Then a bunch of scotch maybe 30 years ago. And then again recently.

I like Irish now. Jameson Stout Edition in particular. Not pricey either.
 
Lite said:
If you are going to get into Whiskey/Whisky, start off with 80 proof juice. Don't be that guy who gives his kid a 12 ga 3 inch shotgun slug for his first time shooting.

If you like sweet, try a bourbon.
If you like spicy, try a rye.
If you like smoke, try a Scotch.
If you like neutral, try Irish.

Flaviar.com has flavor profiles which can help you find the flavors you like.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
I agree. Great post.
 
Lite said:
If you are going to get into Whiskey/Whisky, start off with 80 proof juice. Don't be that guy who gives his kid a 12 ga 3 inch shotgun slug for his first time shooting.

If you like sweet, try a bourbon.
If you like spicy, try a rye.
If you like smoke, try a Scotch.
If you like neutral, try Irish.

Flaviar.com has flavor profiles which can help you find the flavors you like.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Best 1st post ever.
 
As someone who was a budget minded volume drinker during the last recession, don’t ignore the bottom shelf either, because we might be headed into the Dark Ages, part Deaux.

Clan Macgregor. I think it used to $13 a half gallon.

It didn’t have any character to speak of, but for that price it didn’t taste bad. I lost many 3AM political debates around 2012 to the tune of that swill.
 
Last edited:
I picked up my first bottle of Scotch to be obtuse. None of my wife's relatives drank it or had it on hand. They like brandy and vodka. And at gift giving time we were always expected to bring them a $40 bottle of hooch. I got sick of feeling like they didn't reciprocate so I set out to find a bottle for no less than $50 as I needed to make up for lost time.
My first bottle was Glenmorangie 10 year. I ended up really liking it. Moved on to the 12 year Lasanta variety and the 14 year Quinta Ruban. Those are both good. I've had a sample of the 18 year and it's smooth, but it makes all the others seem like trash because it's so good in comparison.
I've also taken a liking to the Balvenie Double Wood. It's excellent, and can be had for about $50 if you shop sales.

For bourbon I've enjoyed Bookers cask strength, and a recent bottle of Old Elk that cost less than half as much is doing a good impression.
 
There is a crap ton of choices. To be honest, for the money I will drink Jameson’s all day long and twice on sundays.

When I want to spend triple the money but get triple the flavor without feeling like I just stuffed my mouth with peat from a Scottish bog I buy me a bottle of glen livet, 15 year old French oak reserve.

@Qball introduced me to Macallan and it is delicious but more of a special occasion drink.

I’d definitely start with the less Smokey and less Peaty scotches. You can go from there to develop whatever tastes you like.
 
Last edited:
Second the recommendation for Glen Livet. Their 12 year old is great. I think 50 clams for a fifth.
 
Lots of good suggestions.

For scotch, you might try Old Pulteney, as well. Their 12 year is about $40 a bottle and it is very good. Not overpowering. You can even taste a bit of sea salt in it, due to their location on the seashore.

Glenlivet is a good one, as has been noted. Glenmorangie has several easy drinking offerings. Balvenie Double Wood is also a really nice one.
 
My only piece of advice is don't get caught up in chasing allocated unicorns like Blanton's, E.H. Taylor, Weller, Stagg, etc. - or buying into the "rarity = quality" myth. This is not saying the allocateds are not really good, but there are plenty of sleeper bottles readily available out there on the bottom shelf.

Grab a bottle of Very Old Barton ($13), Benchmark, Ancient Ancient Age 10 or J.T.S. Brown ($16) and give it a try. In the end, everybody's tastes are different and other's suggestions may not meet your flavor/mashbill preference.
 
Chdamn said:
One thing that may help (if this COVID bull excrement double standard ever stops) is find a whiskey bar and buy a flight. Most of them do flights like beer flights.
Click to expand...


On that note, a whiskey bar is a great thing to do with a friend or three.

For that matter, if you find yourself up Hickory way of an evening, give me a shout and you can drop by my place to try something. I don't keep much on hand, but if I know you are coming, I'll make sure to have something interesting for you to try. Sipping whiskey is good alone, but it is great with a friend.
 
Chdamn said:
I’d definitely start with the less Smokey and less Peaty scotches. You can go from there to develop whatever tastes you like.
Click to expand...

Agree the Highland Scotch Whisky's can be a bit of a challenge and turn off if you are not ready for the heavy peat taste. My first Whisky experience was blended Scotch (Cutty Sark) at age 7 mixed with 7-Up, but I've learned to appreciate all categories and today I prefer barrel proof Bourbon Whiskey and Scotch Whisky neat. But you have got to work up to that.

If you want to drink Scotch, but peat is not your thing, then try Lowland Scotch Whisky (Auchentoshan Distillery , Glenkinchie , etc.) as they are way more approachable and not so full of peat. Lowland Scotch is like the recoil of a 6.5 Creedmoor, Highland Scotch is like a the recoil of a 300 Win Mag.
 
Tim said:
Best 1st post ever.
Click to expand...
LOL Thanks! Appreciate the positive feedback on my first post to this forum. @Bunsen encouraged me to get on this forum since this is more local and he thought I'd enjoy it. I tend to not post unless I have something useful to add and I guess I got lucky that the OP asked a question that I thought I could give a meaningful answer to. Thanks @Tim
 
You might want to try some Crown Royal Black. It is a good choice in sipping whiskey, and would probably be my choice if I had only one.

Gentleman Jack from Jack Daniels is another good one to try.

Some folks like flavored whiskeys, like Crown Apple or Peach. They are not for me.

However, I do like Red Stag from Jim Beam, a Black Cherry liqueur infused with Jim Beam Bourbon. And it's 70 proof so you can sip it a little longer.
 
Lite said:
LOL Thanks! Appreciate the positive feedback on my first post to this forum. @Bunsen encouraged me to get on this forum since this is more local and he thought I'd enjoy it. I tend to not post unless I have something useful to add and I guess I got lucky that the OP asked a question that I thought I could give a meaningful answer to. Thanks @Tim
Click to expand...

Maybe we need to have a local taste test sometime soon. Quite a few folks from The Quay here, and some seem to be gravitating to this topic. 😆
 
dmarbell said:
Maybe we need to have a local taste test sometime soon. Quite a few folks from The Quay here, and some seem to be gravitating to this topic. 😆
Click to expand...
That is a great idea. Several of us guys who shoot at Woody's like to have tastings. We all bring a bottle or two to share (depends on how many people). You get to try a bunch of different things. Great way to explore new things without spending a bunch of money on a bottle you may not like. Just have to be careful about how you do it and have a DD on hand.
 
My wife picked up a very inexpensive 1.75L bottle of blended scotch from costco/kirkland (other states that don't have ABC stores).
it will be used for mixed drinks.. I tried drinking it alone at first. that was a mistake.
 
Bourbon - must be Kentucky (Knob Creek and Angel's Envy are favorites).
Rye - Though the few I have tried were lovely, I don't have enough experience to reccomend.
Scotch - Have very little experience and probably should not comment. Glenilivet 12 y/o oak cask is, to my taste, pretty good. For his birthday, I purchashed McAllen 12 y/o double cask and learned that I really like a single malt scotch.
Irish - favorites are Powers and Paddy. Jameson has the name recognition but, to my taste, is not appreciably better.
 
MadMardigan said:
I’m looking for a sipping whiskey for Friday nights.

Looking at Aberfeldy maybe to start with.
Click to expand...

Distiller is also a good website and app to look at for figuring out what flavor profiles you like and dislike and then you can decide if you like whiskey, whisky, or bourbon.

My preference is scotch from the Isley region, which can be a bit harsh to start.
Monkey Shoulder is a good value for the price point and I recommend a lot to those wanting to try a good blended whisky.

Bourbon: Eagle Rare or any of the Jefferson's offerings
Scotch: Laphroaig, Ardbeg are good starts.... but I like them all.
 
Famous Grouse has won several taste tests I have conducted for guests with a dozen or so different scotches.

Jack Daniels has been a favorite of this old Tennessee boy.

Jameson suits me fine.

I do not have the discriminating tastes others may have but do like what I like. I will, however, drink about anything available on the rare occasions I allow myself to enjoy the spirits.
 
I am a Scotch person. I enjoy Dalmore 12, Glenlivet 15 and Dewars 12 year old. I drink these neat and find them to be quite smooth.

Also this past weekend I got to try Dewars Double Double 21. It was very good, but I actually like the 12 year better. Every ones taste is different so try different whiskeys and see what you like.
 
Charlie said:
Jack Daniels has been a favorite of this old Tennessee boy.
Click to expand...
Me too! Black Jack if I’m mixing, Gentleman Jack if I’m sippin, Single Barrel for good sippin! My dad bought 2 1/2 gallons twice a month for a long time of Gentleman Jack. The next time he went into the ABC store, he bought 2 1/2 gallons of Black Jack. When he went up to pay for them the guy behind the counter asked him “ You bought a gallon of Gentleman Jack for months, now you’re buying cheaper regular old Black Jack, is something wrong?” Dad looked at him and said “ Company’s comin.” 😂🤣 True story!
 
You will probably have to try a lot of different things to find something you like.
Coming from primarily drinking rum for the last 10 years I've struggled to find a whiskey that I enjoy sipping on. I've found Larceny to be more enjoyable than most.

I add Larceny to coffee and savor.
 
My three faves are Jefferson very small batch, Basil Haydens, and Woodford Reserve.
If you like a blend, try Seagrams VO Gold. Pretty good, and around $20.00 a fifth.
 
Jefferson small batch, woodford reserveare my go to. Some Bullit on occasion. Got a bottle of redemption a week or so ago and it’s good too.

I have to say, we heard about Very Old Barton and got some back during the summer for a weekend on the lake. I was incredibly impressed for the price point. I look every time I go to the store and can’t find it any longer.
 
Try a top shelf or next shelf down Rye. I've tried a bunch of them and havent found one I didnt like, just some better than others. Sometimes the Wild Turkey (only 51% rye), Jim Beam and George Dickel are on the bottom shelf and they are all 3 good. I like Rye over ice. The guy that turned me on to Rye, keeps his in the fridge and drinks it neat. Sorry about your liver either way. 🤪
 
I started out with Kentucky Gentleman with coke (the soft drink). I use to like Jack Daniels with coke. And, Jim Beam with coke. Ancient Ancient Age too. And, Wild Turkey. Then back to old Jack and Jim. During the aftermath of the Martin Luther King shooting, all I could get was Rocking Chair whiskey. After drinking enough, it rocked more than my chair! o_O

I never was any good at "sippin" whiskey. Any brand got me drunk, and I had a tendency to show my ass. I forgot about the "sippin", and only on Friday nights, and staying home. I sincerely envy you fellows who can. That's what I learned.
 
Last edited:
Lite. Great first post. Just a slight clarification. You referenced smoky Highland whiskeys, I think you meant Islay. That region includes peated whiskeys like Laphroaig, Ardbeg, etc. Highland region whiskeys are like Aberfeldy, Dalmore, Most all “The Glens”, MacCallan etc. and are not peated as a rule.
Thanks for joining the forum and welcome from another Fuquavian.
 
Pops said:
Lite. Great first post. Just a slight clarification. You referenced smoky Highland whiskeys, I think you meant Islay. That region includes peated whiskeys like Laphroaig, Ardbeg, etc. Highland region whiskeys are like Aberfeldy, Dalmore, Most all “The Glens”, MacCallan etc. and are not peated as a rule.
Thanks for joining the forum and welcome from another Fuquavian.
Click to expand...
Yep. I caught that but didn't want to the 'that guy" on his first post.
 
I tried to be gentle.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom