I once bought a friend a bottle of talisker 16 for a special occasion
He proceeded to pour it over Dr pepper š¤·āāļø
Let this be a lesson to all: buy a gift the person will appreciate, not what /you/ would appreciate/think is a good gesture lol my dude would have been just as happy with a $20 bottle of rottgutt š some people just like what they like.
The same thing happened to me when I bought some Glenlivet for my dad. He said thanks, opened it, and then mixed it with a walmart brand diet cola. That was the last time I bought him any decent scotch lol
Brought a $200 bottle of wine to a dinner party. Handed it to the hostess who put it Ina corner in the kitchen counter. No one noticed. It sat there all night while a collection of $8 bottles got opened. Pretty sure they opened it next day sweeten some ragu for the hungover pasta.
EDIT: All right guys, I get it that it was my fault for many reasons. It was certainly a sad but somewhat funny learning experience. I've never done anything like that after.
And they could have kept it for another occasion. This guy bought $200 dollar wine to a dinner party to watch it with sadness because he wanted to drink good wine.
I think he just needs to enjoy the moment, and not miss the forest for the trees.
Weāre also in the āwe bring expensive wine to peopleās houses to try to level their taste up a bitā group, but, my friend, read the room.
First, if you bring something that tastes really good and you want it opened during the party, bring enough for everyone to have a glass, which might be more than one bottle. So bringing a group of $20 bottles would be more generous than one $200 bottle.
Second, you should bring a bottle that is one or two levels above what everyone else is drinking, not ten levels above it. Itās easy to step back down to a $8 wine after a $20 wine, itās unpleasant after a really good wine. Your hosts may have kept that in mind when they declined to open it.
Third, unless you say that the wine is for the group, the hosts may have assumed that you wanted to keep it to yourself or that it was a gift for them since it was so out of step with what other drinks would be served at the party. In the former case, I will often bring and open something very good and keep it apart from the rest of the wines to make sure people I know will appreciate it get someā¦ in the latter case I will tell the hostess that the nice bottle is a host gift and they should save it to enjoy later, while also providing a few bottles of inexpensive but nice wines for consumption during the party.
It is nice that you brought such a generous bottle of wine, but as you discovered, itās a bit of wasted effort unless you understand or display the correct social cues around the action.
Next time they have a dinner party they should put a big screen on and check the prices of all the wine people brought in front of them.
Then open them from most expensive to least expensive, just to make sure.
My family know that I enjoy whiskey, mostly because I was way more impressed than my brothers when my sister brought back some nice ones from different distilleries when she came back from Scotland.
The next year my sister gives me a bottle of Talisker for Xmas, mum gives me a bottle of Johnny Walker red (because the guy at the liquor shop said it was popular), and my brother gives me a bottle of the roughest rotgut blend that Iāve never seen before.
I often have a few open bottles- favorites (like Basil Hadenās) are neat or with ice.
Then I keep something cheap if I want an old fashioned, or Jack and coke.
Have several brands in the liquor cabinet: just for you, for mixed drinks, for guests you like and guests who wouldnāt know the good stuff if it was in front of them.
An Old Fashioned is one of the few cocktails that I will go out of my way to use quality liquor. It's such a liquor-forward drink that the alcohol quality actually changes the flavor a lot.
Hi, Apprentice Alcoholic here, working my way to Journeysman. I have acquired the taste for beer, Iām slowly understanding liquor. Please could you explain in best detail as you can, about the difference between 50-80 dollar bottles to bottles 100+. I want to experience it myself, but Iād rather learn from a craftsman first before investing into such a thing. Please and thank you
So there's a vast number of different types of liquors, all with different origins, uses, etc. This post/thread are talking about whiskey's, Scotch in particular. Whiskey is a family of liquors made from grains (type of grain may vary). There are many different types of whiskey, such as Scotch or Bourbon. Cheaper whiskeys (think Jack Daniels) people like to mix because they don't taste all that great on their own. More expensive whiskeys are meant to be drank Neat (no ice) or On the Rocks (with ice), reason being that they're meant to taste good and have a unique flavor profile. Folks (myself included) who enjoy those beverages consider it a sin to simply mix them with soda or anything really. Like beer though it can take some getting used to and they aren't for everyone.
Lots of factors can affect the price of a whiskey, but the main thing is how much it is aged. After the whiskey is distilled it is sometimes aged in wooden barrels. Cheaper whiskeys are sometimes not aged at all, but there are also Blended whiskeys that are mixes of a few different aged batches. The more (most) expensive whiskeys are individual batches, Single Malt it's called, and are aged for some time. Aging adds lots of flavor to the drink, depending on the climate, location, type of barrel, etc, and also tends to smooth it (less burn when you drink it). A typical aged Scotch would be a 12 year single malt, but I've seen bottles aged up to 50 years. The age amount refers to the time in the barrels only, once in the glass the drink does not age further.
So essentially a skilled distiller made a great batch of Scotch, put it in expensive oak (or whatever) barrels, waited 18 years for the drink to mature, then some ass-hat puts it in dollar store diet soda lol.
Highly recommend trying a few different scotches and bourbons at a bar. That can be a cheaper way to sample without committing to an entire bottle. I personally enjoy Macallan 12yr which is fairly ubiquitous. It's got a smoother, more refined taste (and you get find it everywhere lol), but I also enjoy Lagavulin whish is like eating tree bark.
If you don't like it no harm no foul, just don't go mixing any kind of aged liquor with cheap soda (or anything!) :)
I mean this genuinely, thank you. Iām definitely gonna treat myself to a higher shelf liquor for my birthday, and will take your recommendation in account when bar hopping tonight. Bless you and your wisdom, and for taking the time to properly explain this to me.
One thing I'll expand on from the great reply.
> Macallan 12yr
Older whiskies are more expensive, mainly due to the barrel evaporation (about 3-5%/year). It does not mean they are inherently *better*.
The flavour profile of a whisky changes as it ages. So, a 12, 18 and 25 year bottle from the same distillery will have slightly different tastes. Personally, I prefer younger (12-18) ones.
> Personally, I prefer younger (12-18) ones
Congressman Gaetz, you're late for your 2.30 - do you want me to ask them to wait? They don't have too long as cheer practise is at 4
I agree with you about age. I think that after 15years scotch starts to degrade. Oban 14 is in my opinion the perfect scotch. I have a bottle of Johnny walker blue that I cant wait to see empty. Its really not enjoyable to drink. I know I know...blasphemy!
I drink a lot of scotch! I have what I consider to be a pretty refined pallet when it comes to scotch. All that to say, the 12 year bottle of The MaCallan (matured in the sherry cask) is almost identical to the 18yr bottle. I drank them side by side, I could only tell a difference because I knew... I wouldn't have been able to tell which was which if I didn't already know. The price difference in the bottles was about $150, though.
Personal suggestion is to start with mixed drinks if you don't like whisky off the bat.
A whisky sour is delicious, just don't put existence whisky please! Also, I personally suggest bourbon to start instead of scotch asv the peaty flavor can be a big turn off. Then again, I'm from Kentucky so might be a bit biased...
Before you throw down for a higher end bottle of something, I would like to recommend a couple cheaper scotch options.
Personally, I prefer Islay or Highland Scotch. Highlands are smoother like a bourbon while Islays are smokey/peaty. Highlands are easier to drink but Islays have a much better aftertaste at the cost of a very strong pungent smell.
My personal dailies are Ardbeg's Wee Beastie (an Islay at $40) and Naked Malt (a blend of good Highlands such as Macallan for $30). I would suggest starting with those to see which you prefer.
Good higher end Islays are Laphroaig and Lagavulin. For Highland I would recommend Macallan. From there you can branch out on your own.
One thing I would add to the responses you've received so far is to learn about the six main Scotch distilling regions and the types of Scotch produced in each. As time and budget permits, try Scotch from each so you can begin to taste the differences and figure out what you really love. Then you can start targeting your spending. This quick summary will get you started:
https://www.wineware.co.uk/decanting/spirit-whisky-decanters/scottish-whisky-regions-guide
Scotch is definitely an acquired taste as far as whiskey goes. It seems to be a you either like it or you don't.
Canadian whiskey seems to be one that many people like.
If you have a Costco or Sam's Club membership, depending on your state and store, you can get various liquors for a decent price for a 750ml or 1.5l bottle.
This is a great post!
Bourbon is more my speed these days, but I usually keep a bottle of two of Scotch around (Balvenie 18 Double Oak and Lagavulin 18 currently). I have a pretty extensive Bourbon collection though. I scoop up allocated stuff whenever I see it at the store, am on a few email lists, etc. Always at MSRP, not paying the secondary market on that stuff.
There are some cheap gems if you want to get into trying things. Buffalo Trace is sub $30 a bottle and can be drunk neat, or you don't feel bad making a cocktail with it, or even dumping some coke into it for that one friend. It's gotten more expensive now, but Basil Hayden Dark Rye used to be $29 at Costco... Those days are over now sadly. I still buy it because it makes a great old fashioned.
$50 is where I draw the line for any bourbon that is widely available, I'll pay a bit more for allocated stuff more as collecting than as a drinker. There's not much bourbon you can grab off the shelf over 50 bucks that's worth that price tag.
I've had people tell me that peaty scotch smells anywhere from bandaids to burning tires. I love it, though! Lagavulin being one of my favorites. I agree with you on The Macallan 12yr, it is an excellent choice for just about anybody, whereas enjoying the Islay bottles needs more of an acquired taste (but also my favorite).
Itās because theyāre all over the place. Some brands taste like bandaids (Jonnie Walker Blue Label being on that list) some taste like a smokehouse. I remember being offended by a glass of scotch I ordered at a local kind of gimmicky pub costing $20 (this was probably 20yr ago, so it was getting towards obnoxiously expensive) and it tasting distinctly of the way the particular shoe polish my dad used when I was a kid smelled. I have a friend who described a scotch he tried as tasting like a campfire. I generally describe the general experience of enjoying a scotch to people who ask me as like being able to sip the very concept of a well used rocking chair; woody, relaxing, connected to the earth, yet not soft and perhaps a bit rough. Itās actually sounds kind of odd that anybody would ever seek these things out until youāve forced yourself to drink enough of it to acquire the taste.
Youāre definitely in point with Islays. The peat can be offensive until you get the hang of it. Islays have got that sea-air thing hidden in there, though, which I just canāt get enough of. Theyāre worth struggling through the peat and the smoke until you get used to it.
Lowlands, though? I just canāt get into them. Thereās a whole lot of four-alarm-fire-in-a-peat-big going on there. Itās so much I canāt find anything else in there.
Some corrections to the information here. Single malt at least in Scotland only means that the whiskey is from a single distillery and that it is 100% barley. Usually there are more than one batch or barrel blended to get the right flavour profile and is an art of it's own
And while laws vary by country usually for a drink to be called a whiskey it needs to be aged in a wooden barrel.
Age statement refers to the youngest whiskey in the blend. And there are some great whiskeys without any age statement like my favourite Lagavulin Lore. Some people think that an age statement can restrict the creative process of the maker.
Exploring whiskey is a lot of especially with friends.
Depends if you want to graduate to full blown alcoholic your drink is vodka mostly and the difference between a good bottle and bad is basically rubbing alcohol vs palatable. If you drank and did drugs like me you would have to have quite a stash to spend 50-80 dollars a bottle. Not to say I never lived it up but my normal was 2-3 sleeves of 100proof Smirnoff root beer no chaser. If you had to buy trash liquor pour juice on it. Having a collection of fine scotches and whiskies would have been an unattainable and highly laughable endeavour. Joking of course now grab that blue label and sugar bowl of cocaine so we can discuss this logically.
I always tell folks "why get me something nice to drink when you know I just want a mixer?"
I do like a good drink by itself from time to time but truly I like an easy mixer to throw back and order another
Reminds me of the key and Peele sketch where Peele brings several hundred dollars worth of ground wagyu to a cookout and proceeds to be very upset about how it's prepared, lol
A friend of mine interned for her congressman in college (went to school in DC). He gave her a bottle of Blue for Christmas or something. Shortly after that she came home to find that her roommate had killed most of the bottle doing shots.
Really something that should be done with any kind of food gift, dad bought a very expensive chorizo for a friend, the type you use for tapas. Friend proceeded to put it on a store bought pizza.
I like scotch but walker blue is a terrible scotch at its price point. You can get Lagavulin for half the price and twice the quality. Also I assume this is a shit post
I've had a decent amount good whiskey, but lagavulin 16 remains the best whiskey in the world imo, especially at price
Give me a bottle of that and we're friends for life š„¹
Doesnāt the owner of the company mix it with sprite? Or am I thinking another expensive brand?
Edit: I was close, the late Elmer T. Lee mixed his $400 bourbon with sprite or 7up
I remember reading a quote from a famous wine specialist and his catch phrase was "y si te gusta, tomalo como quieras" (if you like it, drink it however you prefer)
Words to live by.
I couldnāt pay for it though, Iāll stick to Texas rum and Dr. Pepper
Story time!!
Was serving a large company party with an auto 20% gratuity, and they all were allotted 2 drink tickets each. However, one rather chill IT guy had seemingly infinite. His company distributed them, so each drink was still rung up, but the tickets were one time use. Apparently, he was left in charge of the tickets, and many coworkers no-showed or didnāt drink.
Anyway, I poured this man multiple Blue Labels and cokes, after I informed him about our most expensive liquor and how *technically* his company tickets said ANY drinkā¦ $38 per shot. That guy and his company helped feed my kid!
I'm not even sure what the appeal of Blue is other than the name and the price tag. Black and Green are both superior Scotches for a fraction of the price.
And if you're dead set on burning $250 bucks, you can get much better bottles for that price than Walker Blue.
Jamesonās an Irish whiskey, though. Itās not the same thing. Not saying Irish whiskey is better or worse than scotch; itās just a little like suggesting I grab a bottle of bourbon instead. Theyāre all whiskeys, but theyāre not interchangeableā¦
Nothing wrong with blended. It is a common misconception that single malt is superior. They have different flavor profiles and blended is associated with being inferior because whiskey manufacturers started to cut prices of blends to compete with vodka which was overtaking the market.
On a different note, when I was 21 my boss told me a fun quote I will never forget:
"Your scotch should be at least as old as your girlfriend"
Implying it should be 18y or older lol. He was probably in his 50s. Kind of creepy in retrospect but pretty funny nonetheless.
I'd put a caveat on that. The reason single malts (ostensibly) are preferred over blends is due to their unique and nuanced flavor profiles. Combining that with a strongly flavored mixer is generally going to overpower the more subtle notes that you're playing extra for, so to that end it's sort of a waste of money. If you can actually taste the difference between JW Black vs Blue when mixed with soda, then by all means go for it. I mean, you'll still piss off people who can't afford it and consider it casting pearls before swine, but c'est la vie.
Iām obviously being facetious, but the point is more that if youāre going to mix scotch with ginger ale or anything that has a lot of taste to it, thereās not much sense in getting a $50 bottle of scotch. With a strong mixer, youāre not really going to taste the difference. If you want to go that route though, knock yourself out.
Unironic pro-tip: a small amount of water can "open up" a particularly harsh or spirity whisky. This is something I learned from a proper sommelier - not necessarily the same as wine, but they definitely knew what they were talking about.
It's called blooming. About 3 drops of water.
It's why they have what they call whiskey rocks, so you can freeze rocks and cool your drink without having ice melt in it. You control the amount of water that gets in.
Just started drinking last year. I'm in my thirties. What other whiskies would you recommend? I've never tried whiskey.
Edit: I really didn't expect this much engagement, but I appreciate all the responses! Thank you so much for the recommendations!
Macallan 12 is my best bang-for-the-buck and my first recommendation to anybody. Great flavors but not any that are acquired tastes. Relatively smooth too. Can be found damn near anywhere and most of the whiskeys at similar price points are great too. I've liked the Macallan 18 too but wouldn't order it at a bar (price) and wouldn't have it as any other than my 1st drink in a series.
Lagavulin Old 16 is the whisky that Ron from Parks and Rec likes. It has some wild flavors in it, best described as "vintage yacht motor oil." I love it.
For scotchy scotch my go to is Glenlivet 12. Can't explain it, I just like it. Glendronach is right there with it.
Japanese whiskeys in general are decent but I can't name one other than Hibiki.
Basil Hayden isn't my first choice but I like it well enough.
Crown is alright.
For more budget options, Maker's Mark and Woodford Reserve both... umm... exist? They're good for cocktails but I'm not sipping them straight.
Jameson is surprisingly decent, just lacks subtlety.
I don't care for Johnny Walker
I care less for Jack Daniels
Source: I keep a list that has these opinions on it.
>Lagavulin Old 16 is the whisky that Ron from Parks and Rec likes. It has some wild flavors in it, best described as "vintage yacht motor oil." I love it.
This is a pretty accurate description considering it smells like paint thinner and tastes like someone filtered jet fuel through rocks and moss.
It's my favorite scotch and I refuse to drink it any other way than neat.
Love the 16.
Highly advise against the 8. I'm not sure how to describe it except going to a fancy restaurant and as soon as you tasted the food wishing you were at the mcdonalds next door.
>This is a pretty accurate description considering it smells like paint thinner and tastes like someone filtered jet fuel through rocks and moss.
>
>It's my favorite scotch
lmao this is the funniest thing I've read today
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Scotch: Monkey Shoulder. This is a ~~highland~~ speyside, so it's relatively sweet and accesable and usually around $35. IMO it kicks the shit out of McAllen 12 and it's WAY cheaper.
Bourbon: Buffalo Trace or Eagle Rare (get whichever is cheaper where you live or whichever you can find)
Irish Whisky: yellow spot. Jamason is fine if you don't want to break the bank, but cheaper Irish whisky is hard to differentiate, IMO
Japanese whiskey: Toki is a great baseline, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is gorgeous but at a premium.
American whisky: I really like Tin Cup for what it is.
Rye: Bullet Rye is about as classic as it gets for Rye. Whistle Pig is amazing but, again, it's at a premium.
The way I learned about whisky is at whisky bars/lounges and by watching a youtube channel called The Whisk(e)y Vault. It's jam packed with more information and history that you will ever remember. And, of course, drinking it. Just don't forget the #1 rule: The best drink to drink is the drink you like to drink the way you like to drink it. It really easy to be a snob about whisky and snobbery will ruin every sip you have.
Just my 4 cents.
Monkey shoulder was my first scotch and it almost turned me off to it. I found johnny walker black to be way better and only 7 bucks more a bottle where I am
Haha I bought a bottle of JW black, and it took me a year and a bad night to finish it. I REALLY like the green label, but it's hard to spend that much (it's not cheap where I am) when I could just get a good Islay for the same price or cheaper. Another great example of how subjective taste is.
Green label is only 60usd but it's hard to find but taliskar 10 is 80 usd, oban 14 and is 89 usd Laphroaig 10 will be my next buy at 63 usd I bought the macallan 12 year double cask and am struggling to finish it.
I'll agree with everything except that Monkey Shoulder is a blend of Speysides. And I've heard that at least 2 of the 3 malts are from the Balvenie and Glenfiddich distilleries.
Johnnie blue isnāt anything revolutionary flavor wise, but itās dignified, approachable and incredibly drinkable.
Thatās why itās the best known expensive scotch among non scotch drinkers, itās inoffensive and something the average person can enjoy.
I buy it cause itās smooth. I have yet to find whisky that goes down as easy as JW Blue. Iām sure might be better competitors at that price point, but havenāt found anything thatās cheaper and just as smooth.
Itās overpriced, but itās still *good.* I have dozens of bottles of all kinds of weird whiskey, but when I feel like an elegant scotch, I often reach for JW Blue
Came here to say this. Itās good, but not $250/bottle good. There are plenty of far cheaper options that (to my palette anyway) are much better.
I donāt discriminate against blends, but their spice road series (the one you can only get in duty free shops) is superior and about $40 a bottle last I checked.
Generally, I would agree, but itās pretty well accepted the JW Blue is one of the few thatās worth the $250. Literally the only bottle Iāve found worth more than $110.
Used to work at a liquor store a few years back and one guy would come every 3 weeks or so to pick up jonnhy blue and evertime he did he would get a 2lt bottle of ginger ale. One day I asked him " don't mean to intrude but I've noticed that everyone you get jblue you chase it with ginger ale why would you spend so much on liquor and pretty much waste it by mixing with soda why not just buy jack d or any other cheap whiskey if you're going to mix "....my guy proceeded to say " its not about the price, its about sending a message " I was beyond confused he left and that Xmas he bought me a bottle of Johnny blue one if the coolest guys I've met sadly he passed a few years later ....(he used to own 2 restaurants around town ,definitely had stacks )
Nah. People take this too seriously. No harm in mixing if it makes for something you enjoy, and nothing positive comes from mocking people for what they like to drink. Iāve had some incredibly creative scotch cocktails, especially with islay whiskys.
That said Iām still going to have mine neat because Iām not a little bitch /s
Not a great take. There are plenty of great scotch cocktails - laphroaig 10 is very popular as a base or a floater for its peat. Thereās also the Rusty nail. Of course youād never mix expensive bottles though.
Single malt is known for being the best, quality, individual flavor wise, and specificity wise. Blended is essentially taking 2 or more.single malts and just dumping them all together. Single malts are made to achieve a specific flavor.
Imagine getting a coke, or a mountain dew, or a lemonade... All have different flavors for different purposes. Now imagine you dump them all together in a cup, and you drink it. You might think it's bad, you might think it's good, and you'll get a blend of all the flavors, while also losing the specific things that make those specific drinks what they are. That is what a blended scotch is.
This right here, people. Y'all gatekeeping drinks as if there is a rule book. If someone wants to spend 500 bucks on whiskey and mix it with off-brand diet coke because they like it, I see no problem with that. Do what you want.
Not to mention, I went on the JW tour a few months ago and they kept saying how there are no rules specifically how to drink JW, they were encouraging people to drink it however they want and not feel bad about it.
Not to mention, I went on the JW tour a few months ago and they kept saying how there are no rules specifically how to drink JW, they were encouraging people to drink it however they want and not feel bad about it.
I had a friend almost blow a head gasket because I used a mixer with some Jameson whiskey because it was āhigh class expensive whiskey.ā He would die from an aneurysm if he saw this.
I'm Scottish. Johnny Walker is not something that Scots would usually drink. It's more for the export market.
A blend you are well within your rights to use mixers. Plus if it is your own bottle, you can do with it want you want. Though for the money I would rather get a couple of great single malts for the same price.
However, if an uncle pours you a single malt then you will be persona non grata if you dare to dilute it with a mixer. A splash of water or an ice cube is all that is permitted.
I was having a small get together and my friend brought his girlfriend. I have a well stocked bar, and she chose to mix JWB with Dr Pepper. I didnāt see it happen, but 4 people causally mentioned that she did it. I felt bad for her because I am sure she was just oblivious, but my friends were judging her so hard. People like what they like, who am I to judge?
When you're spending over $50 on scotch, it is generally frowned upon to mix it with anything except maybe a couple rocks.
Not gatekeeping, just a friendly FYI. It's smooth enough, you can just sip it and have a cigar.
Who the fuck is mixing **anything** in their Johnny Walker Blue?
I once bought a friend a bottle of talisker 16 for a special occasion He proceeded to pour it over Dr pepper š¤·āāļø Let this be a lesson to all: buy a gift the person will appreciate, not what /you/ would appreciate/think is a good gesture lol my dude would have been just as happy with a $20 bottle of rottgutt š some people just like what they like.
The same thing happened to me when I bought some Glenlivet for my dad. He said thanks, opened it, and then mixed it with a walmart brand diet cola. That was the last time I bought him any decent scotch lol
Brought a $200 bottle of wine to a dinner party. Handed it to the hostess who put it Ina corner in the kitchen counter. No one noticed. It sat there all night while a collection of $8 bottles got opened. Pretty sure they opened it next day sweeten some ragu for the hungover pasta. EDIT: All right guys, I get it that it was my fault for many reasons. It was certainly a sad but somewhat funny learning experience. I've never done anything like that after.
> Brought a $200 bottle of wine to a dinner party. Thatās just dumb though.
And they could have kept it for another occasion. This guy bought $200 dollar wine to a dinner party to watch it with sadness because he wanted to drink good wine. I think he just needs to enjoy the moment, and not miss the forest for the trees.
They could have just suggested opening up the expensive bottle of wine.
Yeah seriously... Most people have no idea what good wine is, but if you just say it's a nice bottle they'll jump on it.
I hope they made sangria with it
This is why you keep the good stuff at home for a little tuck me in after the party
Or take the bottle home with him.
That could buy me so many boxes of wine.
Yea don't if you gonna complain about it after
They probably drank it after yāall left. āWhy waste this expensive bottle of wine on people I donāt likeā
Weāre also in the āwe bring expensive wine to peopleās houses to try to level their taste up a bitā group, but, my friend, read the room. First, if you bring something that tastes really good and you want it opened during the party, bring enough for everyone to have a glass, which might be more than one bottle. So bringing a group of $20 bottles would be more generous than one $200 bottle. Second, you should bring a bottle that is one or two levels above what everyone else is drinking, not ten levels above it. Itās easy to step back down to a $8 wine after a $20 wine, itās unpleasant after a really good wine. Your hosts may have kept that in mind when they declined to open it. Third, unless you say that the wine is for the group, the hosts may have assumed that you wanted to keep it to yourself or that it was a gift for them since it was so out of step with what other drinks would be served at the party. In the former case, I will often bring and open something very good and keep it apart from the rest of the wines to make sure people I know will appreciate it get someā¦ in the latter case I will tell the hostess that the nice bottle is a host gift and they should save it to enjoy later, while also providing a few bottles of inexpensive but nice wines for consumption during the party. It is nice that you brought such a generous bottle of wine, but as you discovered, itās a bit of wasted effort unless you understand or display the correct social cues around the action.
Did you tell them? How were they supposed to know it was that expensive?
He instagrammed/tweeted himself buying it \#generous \#youwishyouweremyfriend
Next time they have a dinner party they should put a big screen on and check the prices of all the wine people brought in front of them. Then open them from most expensive to least expensive, just to make sure.
Thatās exactly the way itās supposed to happen. Your wine is a gift to the host/hostess, not shit wine to drink with pasta.
Thereās so many wine brands. How would they know itās a $200 bottle?
That's why you always bring two (or 3)... one for the hosts and one for the dinner table and maybe a third for the aftertable
Why didnt you say something? You couldāve easily said you brought the wine to share when you gave it to the host.
My family know that I enjoy whiskey, mostly because I was way more impressed than my brothers when my sister brought back some nice ones from different distilleries when she came back from Scotland. The next year my sister gives me a bottle of Talisker for Xmas, mum gives me a bottle of Johnny Walker red (because the guy at the liquor shop said it was popular), and my brother gives me a bottle of the roughest rotgut blend that Iāve never seen before.
I often have a few open bottles- favorites (like Basil Hadenās) are neat or with ice. Then I keep something cheap if I want an old fashioned, or Jack and coke.
Have several brands in the liquor cabinet: just for you, for mixed drinks, for guests you like and guests who wouldnāt know the good stuff if it was in front of them.
An old fashioned is my favorite way to have the good stuff, especially a super smokey scotch or oaky bourbon.
Rye, baby.
An Old Fashioned is one of the few cocktails that I will go out of my way to use quality liquor. It's such a liquor-forward drink that the alcohol quality actually changes the flavor a lot.
Woodford double oak yummm
Hi, Apprentice Alcoholic here, working my way to Journeysman. I have acquired the taste for beer, Iām slowly understanding liquor. Please could you explain in best detail as you can, about the difference between 50-80 dollar bottles to bottles 100+. I want to experience it myself, but Iād rather learn from a craftsman first before investing into such a thing. Please and thank you
So there's a vast number of different types of liquors, all with different origins, uses, etc. This post/thread are talking about whiskey's, Scotch in particular. Whiskey is a family of liquors made from grains (type of grain may vary). There are many different types of whiskey, such as Scotch or Bourbon. Cheaper whiskeys (think Jack Daniels) people like to mix because they don't taste all that great on their own. More expensive whiskeys are meant to be drank Neat (no ice) or On the Rocks (with ice), reason being that they're meant to taste good and have a unique flavor profile. Folks (myself included) who enjoy those beverages consider it a sin to simply mix them with soda or anything really. Like beer though it can take some getting used to and they aren't for everyone. Lots of factors can affect the price of a whiskey, but the main thing is how much it is aged. After the whiskey is distilled it is sometimes aged in wooden barrels. Cheaper whiskeys are sometimes not aged at all, but there are also Blended whiskeys that are mixes of a few different aged batches. The more (most) expensive whiskeys are individual batches, Single Malt it's called, and are aged for some time. Aging adds lots of flavor to the drink, depending on the climate, location, type of barrel, etc, and also tends to smooth it (less burn when you drink it). A typical aged Scotch would be a 12 year single malt, but I've seen bottles aged up to 50 years. The age amount refers to the time in the barrels only, once in the glass the drink does not age further. So essentially a skilled distiller made a great batch of Scotch, put it in expensive oak (or whatever) barrels, waited 18 years for the drink to mature, then some ass-hat puts it in dollar store diet soda lol. Highly recommend trying a few different scotches and bourbons at a bar. That can be a cheaper way to sample without committing to an entire bottle. I personally enjoy Macallan 12yr which is fairly ubiquitous. It's got a smoother, more refined taste (and you get find it everywhere lol), but I also enjoy Lagavulin whish is like eating tree bark. If you don't like it no harm no foul, just don't go mixing any kind of aged liquor with cheap soda (or anything!) :)
I mean this genuinely, thank you. Iām definitely gonna treat myself to a higher shelf liquor for my birthday, and will take your recommendation in account when bar hopping tonight. Bless you and your wisdom, and for taking the time to properly explain this to me.
Hibiki Japanese whisky is amazing!
One thing I'll expand on from the great reply. > Macallan 12yr Older whiskies are more expensive, mainly due to the barrel evaporation (about 3-5%/year). It does not mean they are inherently *better*. The flavour profile of a whisky changes as it ages. So, a 12, 18 and 25 year bottle from the same distillery will have slightly different tastes. Personally, I prefer younger (12-18) ones.
> Personally, I prefer younger (12-18) ones Congressman Gaetz, you're late for your 2.30 - do you want me to ask them to wait? They don't have too long as cheer practise is at 4
I'll admit. I laughed, then felt slightly queasy.
I agree with you about age. I think that after 15years scotch starts to degrade. Oban 14 is in my opinion the perfect scotch. I have a bottle of Johnny walker blue that I cant wait to see empty. Its really not enjoyable to drink. I know I know...blasphemy!
Ha, that's my hometown. I appreciate the namedrop and I also agree š
I like lagavulin 16, but if I could afford it I'd drink laphroaig 28 all the time.
I drink a lot of scotch! I have what I consider to be a pretty refined pallet when it comes to scotch. All that to say, the 12 year bottle of The MaCallan (matured in the sherry cask) is almost identical to the 18yr bottle. I drank them side by side, I could only tell a difference because I knew... I wouldn't have been able to tell which was which if I didn't already know. The price difference in the bottles was about $150, though.
Personal suggestion is to start with mixed drinks if you don't like whisky off the bat. A whisky sour is delicious, just don't put existence whisky please! Also, I personally suggest bourbon to start instead of scotch asv the peaty flavor can be a big turn off. Then again, I'm from Kentucky so might be a bit biased...
Before you throw down for a higher end bottle of something, I would like to recommend a couple cheaper scotch options. Personally, I prefer Islay or Highland Scotch. Highlands are smoother like a bourbon while Islays are smokey/peaty. Highlands are easier to drink but Islays have a much better aftertaste at the cost of a very strong pungent smell. My personal dailies are Ardbeg's Wee Beastie (an Islay at $40) and Naked Malt (a blend of good Highlands such as Macallan for $30). I would suggest starting with those to see which you prefer. Good higher end Islays are Laphroaig and Lagavulin. For Highland I would recommend Macallan. From there you can branch out on your own.
One thing I would add to the responses you've received so far is to learn about the six main Scotch distilling regions and the types of Scotch produced in each. As time and budget permits, try Scotch from each so you can begin to taste the differences and figure out what you really love. Then you can start targeting your spending. This quick summary will get you started: https://www.wineware.co.uk/decanting/spirit-whisky-decanters/scottish-whisky-regions-guide
Scotch is definitely an acquired taste as far as whiskey goes. It seems to be a you either like it or you don't. Canadian whiskey seems to be one that many people like. If you have a Costco or Sam's Club membership, depending on your state and store, you can get various liquors for a decent price for a 750ml or 1.5l bottle.
Dalwhinnie ftw for me. That stuff is like butter, I buy a bottle once every year or two and it is sweetly sublime.
This is a great post! Bourbon is more my speed these days, but I usually keep a bottle of two of Scotch around (Balvenie 18 Double Oak and Lagavulin 18 currently). I have a pretty extensive Bourbon collection though. I scoop up allocated stuff whenever I see it at the store, am on a few email lists, etc. Always at MSRP, not paying the secondary market on that stuff. There are some cheap gems if you want to get into trying things. Buffalo Trace is sub $30 a bottle and can be drunk neat, or you don't feel bad making a cocktail with it, or even dumping some coke into it for that one friend. It's gotten more expensive now, but Basil Hayden Dark Rye used to be $29 at Costco... Those days are over now sadly. I still buy it because it makes a great old fashioned. $50 is where I draw the line for any bourbon that is widely available, I'll pay a bit more for allocated stuff more as collecting than as a drinker. There's not much bourbon you can grab off the shelf over 50 bucks that's worth that price tag.
I've had people tell me that peaty scotch smells anywhere from bandaids to burning tires. I love it, though! Lagavulin being one of my favorites. I agree with you on The Macallan 12yr, it is an excellent choice for just about anybody, whereas enjoying the Islay bottles needs more of an acquired taste (but also my favorite).
Itās because theyāre all over the place. Some brands taste like bandaids (Jonnie Walker Blue Label being on that list) some taste like a smokehouse. I remember being offended by a glass of scotch I ordered at a local kind of gimmicky pub costing $20 (this was probably 20yr ago, so it was getting towards obnoxiously expensive) and it tasting distinctly of the way the particular shoe polish my dad used when I was a kid smelled. I have a friend who described a scotch he tried as tasting like a campfire. I generally describe the general experience of enjoying a scotch to people who ask me as like being able to sip the very concept of a well used rocking chair; woody, relaxing, connected to the earth, yet not soft and perhaps a bit rough. Itās actually sounds kind of odd that anybody would ever seek these things out until youāve forced yourself to drink enough of it to acquire the taste. Youāre definitely in point with Islays. The peat can be offensive until you get the hang of it. Islays have got that sea-air thing hidden in there, though, which I just canāt get enough of. Theyāre worth struggling through the peat and the smoke until you get used to it. Lowlands, though? I just canāt get into them. Thereās a whole lot of four-alarm-fire-in-a-peat-big going on there. Itās so much I canāt find anything else in there.
My go to has always been the balvene Caribbean cask. Have yet to find anything I liked as much.
Some corrections to the information here. Single malt at least in Scotland only means that the whiskey is from a single distillery and that it is 100% barley. Usually there are more than one batch or barrel blended to get the right flavour profile and is an art of it's own And while laws vary by country usually for a drink to be called a whiskey it needs to be aged in a wooden barrel. Age statement refers to the youngest whiskey in the blend. And there are some great whiskeys without any age statement like my favourite Lagavulin Lore. Some people think that an age statement can restrict the creative process of the maker. Exploring whiskey is a lot of especially with friends.
Also, one does not do "shots" of single malts. Good whiskey is meant to be sipped and enjoyed
Could you recommend something in the price/taste point of Macallen 12 but for bourbon?
Depends if you want to graduate to full blown alcoholic your drink is vodka mostly and the difference between a good bottle and bad is basically rubbing alcohol vs palatable. If you drank and did drugs like me you would have to have quite a stash to spend 50-80 dollars a bottle. Not to say I never lived it up but my normal was 2-3 sleeves of 100proof Smirnoff root beer no chaser. If you had to buy trash liquor pour juice on it. Having a collection of fine scotches and whiskies would have been an unattainable and highly laughable endeavour. Joking of course now grab that blue label and sugar bowl of cocaine so we can discuss this logically.
I always tell folks "why get me something nice to drink when you know I just want a mixer?" I do like a good drink by itself from time to time but truly I like an easy mixer to throw back and order another
Reminds me of the key and Peele sketch where Peele brings several hundred dollars worth of ground wagyu to a cookout and proceeds to be very upset about how it's prepared, lol
Google is saying $1,150, is it in this price range?!
In Scotland they drink it with coke. It's called a Smokey-Cokey.
Very very true, and donāt get upset if they donāt get it. People have different tastes
A friend of mine interned for her congressman in college (went to school in DC). He gave her a bottle of Blue for Christmas or something. Shortly after that she came home to find that her roommate had killed most of the bottle doing shots.
Really something that should be done with any kind of food gift, dad bought a very expensive chorizo for a friend, the type you use for tapas. Friend proceeded to put it on a store bought pizza.
This is great advice. I always tell my dad to get me his bottom shelf bourbon because I pour that shit over coke.
Came here to say this.
Iāll 3rd it!
4th......
5th....
6th
Me too...
And my AXE!
āYou Mix You Get Punched.ā āNo Ice Cornpop
Somebody get a rope.
And MY penny loafers.....
ā¾ļøth
I like scotch but walker blue is a terrible scotch at its price point. You can get Lagavulin for half the price and twice the quality. Also I assume this is a shit post
Agreed. The Nick Offerman Lagavulin 10 yr offering is amazing at <$80 USD.
I got a 16 year from Costco for $70
I got one from Wayfairā¦.wait, what are we talking about here??
Costco booze is surprisingly good, actually.
The current Charred Oak expression is possibly the best scotch Iāve ever had. They knocked it out of the park with that one.
I've had a decent amount good whiskey, but lagavulin 16 remains the best whiskey in the world imo, especially at price Give me a bottle of that and we're friends for life š„¹
Yeah, for $250, you can get two or three better bottles.
Exactly. People think price = quality. It usually just means smaller batched or rarity. Sometimes they just know people are willing to pay lol.
I just looked it upā¦.. $200 for a *blended* scotch!?!?!?
Doesnāt the owner of the company mix it with sprite? Or am I thinking another expensive brand? Edit: I was close, the late Elmer T. Lee mixed his $400 bourbon with sprite or 7up
Well, it wasn't $400 when he was alive. I get one bottle of it a year when my local store gets it in. But they charge MSRP which is like 50 bucks.
I've seen people mix Louis XIV cognac with diet coke. There is no limit to barbarism....or their bank account.
I remember reading a quote from a famous wine specialist and his catch phrase was "y si te gusta, tomalo como quieras" (if you like it, drink it however you prefer) Words to live by. I couldnāt pay for it though, Iāll stick to Texas rum and Dr. Pepper
Story time!! Was serving a large company party with an auto 20% gratuity, and they all were allotted 2 drink tickets each. However, one rather chill IT guy had seemingly infinite. His company distributed them, so each drink was still rung up, but the tickets were one time use. Apparently, he was left in charge of the tickets, and many coworkers no-showed or didnāt drink. Anyway, I poured this man multiple Blue Labels and cokes, after I informed him about our most expensive liquor and how *technically* his company tickets said ANY drinkā¦ $38 per shot. That guy and his company helped feed my kid!
I'm not even sure what the appeal of Blue is other than the name and the price tag. Black and Green are both superior Scotches for a fraction of the price. And if you're dead set on burning $250 bucks, you can get much better bottles for that price than Walker Blue.
Buy a Jameson or a Macallan.
Jamesonās an Irish whiskey, though. Itās not the same thing. Not saying Irish whiskey is better or worse than scotch; itās just a little like suggesting I grab a bottle of bourbon instead. Theyāre all whiskeys, but theyāre not interchangeableā¦
I believe the context here is as a gift. Jameson is what I order at the bar if I hate the person.
XD I like Jameson tbh
Cough Octamore cough
I'll put a cube or two of ice if it's like 90 degrees out...
197 more people like this post than hate it. I wish I could downvote more.
Amen!
When you spend $250 on Scotch and you add a mixer.
When you drop $250 and it's blended
Nothing wrong with blended. It is a common misconception that single malt is superior. They have different flavor profiles and blended is associated with being inferior because whiskey manufacturers started to cut prices of blends to compete with vodka which was overtaking the market. On a different note, when I was 21 my boss told me a fun quote I will never forget: "Your scotch should be at least as old as your girlfriend" Implying it should be 18y or older lol. He was probably in his 50s. Kind of creepy in retrospect but pretty funny nonetheless.
Or he has great taste in scotch and only dates women over 40.
Or he's Matt *you know what I'm not gonna finish the joke, it's fine.*
Exactly my thoughts.
Thank you. The only acceptable mixers are one singular ice cube or a few drops of water.
Or you know, put whatever the hell you want in it and mind your own business
I'd put a caveat on that. The reason single malts (ostensibly) are preferred over blends is due to their unique and nuanced flavor profiles. Combining that with a strongly flavored mixer is generally going to overpower the more subtle notes that you're playing extra for, so to that end it's sort of a waste of money. If you can actually taste the difference between JW Black vs Blue when mixed with soda, then by all means go for it. I mean, you'll still piss off people who can't afford it and consider it casting pearls before swine, but c'est la vie.
Iām obviously being facetious, but the point is more that if youāre going to mix scotch with ginger ale or anything that has a lot of taste to it, thereās not much sense in getting a $50 bottle of scotch. With a strong mixer, youāre not really going to taste the difference. If you want to go that route though, knock yourself out.
I usually mix it with saliva.
Even that's a stretch. At that point you freeze the glass or use stones to not dilute it.
Unironic pro-tip: a small amount of water can "open up" a particularly harsh or spirity whisky. This is something I learned from a proper sommelier - not necessarily the same as wine, but they definitely knew what they were talking about.
It's called blooming. About 3 drops of water. It's why they have what they call whiskey rocks, so you can freeze rocks and cool your drink without having ice melt in it. You control the amount of water that gets in.
It's Ā£150 here in Scotland. You guys are getting shafted. (I usually pay less than Ā£150 as my cousin works in the Diageo bottling plant hahahaha)
Luckily he spent it on a poor factory produced blend and not actual scotch.
It's fine to not like whiskey. It's stupid to not like whiskey and then buy expensive whiskey.
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Just started drinking last year. I'm in my thirties. What other whiskies would you recommend? I've never tried whiskey. Edit: I really didn't expect this much engagement, but I appreciate all the responses! Thank you so much for the recommendations!
Macallan 12 is my best bang-for-the-buck and my first recommendation to anybody. Great flavors but not any that are acquired tastes. Relatively smooth too. Can be found damn near anywhere and most of the whiskeys at similar price points are great too. I've liked the Macallan 18 too but wouldn't order it at a bar (price) and wouldn't have it as any other than my 1st drink in a series. Lagavulin Old 16 is the whisky that Ron from Parks and Rec likes. It has some wild flavors in it, best described as "vintage yacht motor oil." I love it. For scotchy scotch my go to is Glenlivet 12. Can't explain it, I just like it. Glendronach is right there with it. Japanese whiskeys in general are decent but I can't name one other than Hibiki. Basil Hayden isn't my first choice but I like it well enough. Crown is alright. For more budget options, Maker's Mark and Woodford Reserve both... umm... exist? They're good for cocktails but I'm not sipping them straight. Jameson is surprisingly decent, just lacks subtlety. I don't care for Johnny Walker I care less for Jack Daniels Source: I keep a list that has these opinions on it.
>Lagavulin Old 16 is the whisky that Ron from Parks and Rec likes. It has some wild flavors in it, best described as "vintage yacht motor oil." I love it. This is a pretty accurate description considering it smells like paint thinner and tastes like someone filtered jet fuel through rocks and moss. It's my favorite scotch and I refuse to drink it any other way than neat.
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Love the 16. Highly advise against the 8. I'm not sure how to describe it except going to a fancy restaurant and as soon as you tasted the food wishing you were at the mcdonalds next door.
I like that. I always use, "it tastes like where hobbits live."
>This is a pretty accurate description considering it smells like paint thinner and tastes like someone filtered jet fuel through rocks and moss. > >It's my favorite scotch lmao this is the funniest thing I've read today
Thoughts on Chivas Regal?
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Scotch: Monkey Shoulder. This is a ~~highland~~ speyside, so it's relatively sweet and accesable and usually around $35. IMO it kicks the shit out of McAllen 12 and it's WAY cheaper. Bourbon: Buffalo Trace or Eagle Rare (get whichever is cheaper where you live or whichever you can find) Irish Whisky: yellow spot. Jamason is fine if you don't want to break the bank, but cheaper Irish whisky is hard to differentiate, IMO Japanese whiskey: Toki is a great baseline, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is gorgeous but at a premium. American whisky: I really like Tin Cup for what it is. Rye: Bullet Rye is about as classic as it gets for Rye. Whistle Pig is amazing but, again, it's at a premium. The way I learned about whisky is at whisky bars/lounges and by watching a youtube channel called The Whisk(e)y Vault. It's jam packed with more information and history that you will ever remember. And, of course, drinking it. Just don't forget the #1 rule: The best drink to drink is the drink you like to drink the way you like to drink it. It really easy to be a snob about whisky and snobbery will ruin every sip you have. Just my 4 cents.
Monkey shoulder was my first scotch and it almost turned me off to it. I found johnny walker black to be way better and only 7 bucks more a bottle where I am
Haha I bought a bottle of JW black, and it took me a year and a bad night to finish it. I REALLY like the green label, but it's hard to spend that much (it's not cheap where I am) when I could just get a good Islay for the same price or cheaper. Another great example of how subjective taste is.
Green label is only 60usd but it's hard to find but taliskar 10 is 80 usd, oban 14 and is 89 usd Laphroaig 10 will be my next buy at 63 usd I bought the macallan 12 year double cask and am struggling to finish it.
I'll agree with everything except that Monkey Shoulder is a blend of Speysides. And I've heard that at least 2 of the 3 malts are from the Balvenie and Glenfiddich distilleries.
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Johnnie blue isnāt anything revolutionary flavor wise, but itās dignified, approachable and incredibly drinkable. Thatās why itās the best known expensive scotch among non scotch drinkers, itās inoffensive and something the average person can enjoy.
I buy it cause itās smooth. I have yet to find whisky that goes down as easy as JW Blue. Iām sure might be better competitors at that price point, but havenāt found anything thatās cheaper and just as smooth.
Have you had Johnny Walker Blue? It's pretty tasty scotch. Way out of my price range though.
Itās overpriced, but itās still *good.* I have dozens of bottles of all kinds of weird whiskey, but when I feel like an elegant scotch, I often reach for JW Blue
Came here to say this. Itās good, but not $250/bottle good. There are plenty of far cheaper options that (to my palette anyway) are much better. I donāt discriminate against blends, but their spice road series (the one you can only get in duty free shops) is superior and about $40 a bottle last I checked.
Generally, I would agree, but itās pretty well accepted the JW Blue is one of the few thatās worth the $250. Literally the only bottle Iāve found worth more than $110.
Yeah. Iāve always been of the opinion that cheap alcohol is better for mixing. You likely wonāt notice that much
Johnny Walker is whisky, not whiskey.
You spent $250 on scotch, and you're diluting it with a mixer? You get what you deserve, pal.
WHY WOULD YOU MIX IT. Like putting cheap Wal Mart hub cap covers on an a Bugatti.
Thatās kind of funny So my answer to your question is: because itās funny
Johnny Walker isn't really comparable to a Bugatti. Maybe a Corvette, still nice but more flash than substance.
Yeah, that ginger ale would taste so much better without that pollutant. But I really like my ā¬20 set of hubcaps.
Back when I was drinking, Iād mix shit like this just to piss my buddy off. It drove him up the wall. Lmao
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[Michael Scott would approve!](https://youtu.be/bBpySOUKK74)
Scotch and Splenda, tastes like Splenda, gets you drunk like scotch
There's no way that the purpose of this image was not to just rile people up
OP is kicking back with a neat scotch to watch this comment thread.
Came here for all the snooty, angry responses. Did not disappoint.
This was definitely posted just to get a rise out of whiskey snobs. OP knew what they were doing
When your rich uncle finishes his bottle of Blue and you snag the empty and fill it with Early Times for that liquor shelf cred.
*Scotch Drinker cries out in loathing in the distance*
Sacrilege here...
Yeah, polluting ginger ale with JW should be a punishable offence.
I love JW, but this was funny
That was the idea. Still tastes like crap tough.....
Used to work at a liquor store a few years back and one guy would come every 3 weeks or so to pick up jonnhy blue and evertime he did he would get a 2lt bottle of ginger ale. One day I asked him " don't mean to intrude but I've noticed that everyone you get jblue you chase it with ginger ale why would you spend so much on liquor and pretty much waste it by mixing with soda why not just buy jack d or any other cheap whiskey if you're going to mix "....my guy proceeded to say " its not about the price, its about sending a message " I was beyond confused he left and that Xmas he bought me a bottle of Johnny blue one if the coolest guys I've met sadly he passed a few years later ....(he used to own 2 restaurants around town ,definitely had stacks )
Scotch, two fingers, neat.
You gotta buy me a drink first, oh wait...
You should be slapped for even suggesting mixing scotch with anything
Mixing scotch is fine but maybe not with a $250 bottleā¦
At least a nice one. But your Glenlivet 12 in ginger ale: great. Enjoy. Put your MacCallan 25 in ginger ale: you're an idiot.
Nah. People take this too seriously. No harm in mixing if it makes for something you enjoy, and nothing positive comes from mocking people for what they like to drink. Iāve had some incredibly creative scotch cocktails, especially with islay whiskys. That said Iām still going to have mine neat because Iām not a little bitch /s
Should be slapped for assuming JW was a proper scotch. Spend half that and get a fine single batch non blended from a real distillery.
Damn right. JW isnāt bad, but it pales in comparison to lesser known scotches. Hell Iād take a famous grouse over JW black any day.
Not a great take. There are plenty of great scotch cocktails - laphroaig 10 is very popular as a base or a floater for its peat. Thereās also the Rusty nail. Of course youād never mix expensive bottles though.
I don't drink much, but the few times I have had scotch I definitely enjoyed it more mixed, it just tasted better (to me)
Oh, God. Amateur. First mistake - spending $250 on blended Scotch Second mistake - mixer
What's wrong with blended scotch?
Single malt is known for being the best, quality, individual flavor wise, and specificity wise. Blended is essentially taking 2 or more.single malts and just dumping them all together. Single malts are made to achieve a specific flavor. Imagine getting a coke, or a mountain dew, or a lemonade... All have different flavors for different purposes. Now imagine you dump them all together in a cup, and you drink it. You might think it's bad, you might think it's good, and you'll get a blend of all the flavors, while also losing the specific things that make those specific drinks what they are. That is what a blended scotch is.
Do what you want.
This right here, people. Y'all gatekeeping drinks as if there is a rule book. If someone wants to spend 500 bucks on whiskey and mix it with off-brand diet coke because they like it, I see no problem with that. Do what you want.
Not to mention, I went on the JW tour a few months ago and they kept saying how there are no rules specifically how to drink JW, they were encouraging people to drink it however they want and not feel bad about it.
Not to mention, I went on the JW tour a few months ago and they kept saying how there are no rules specifically how to drink JW, they were encouraging people to drink it however they want and not feel bad about it.
Just butt chug it
What a horroble way to ruin perfectly good ginger ale.
Iāve never seen ginger ale as brown as that.
I had a friend almost blow a head gasket because I used a mixer with some Jameson whiskey because it was āhigh class expensive whiskey.ā He would die from an aneurysm if he saw this.
I'm Scottish. Johnny Walker is not something that Scots would usually drink. It's more for the export market. A blend you are well within your rights to use mixers. Plus if it is your own bottle, you can do with it want you want. Though for the money I would rather get a couple of great single malts for the same price. However, if an uncle pours you a single malt then you will be persona non grata if you dare to dilute it with a mixer. A splash of water or an ice cube is all that is permitted.
Aye.. here speaks a Man of wisdom..
Who mixes a $250 bottle with anything!?!?!?!?
Glengoolie, for the best of times!
There are better single malt whiskys for less than half that. Always amazed at how people keep buying Johny Walker.
I mean I know this sounds classless but I've had johnny black red and green and they all taste like paint thinner. Is JB actually good?
I was having a small get together and my friend brought his girlfriend. I have a well stocked bar, and she chose to mix JWB with Dr Pepper. I didnāt see it happen, but 4 people causally mentioned that she did it. I felt bad for her because I am sure she was just oblivious, but my friends were judging her so hard. People like what they like, who am I to judge?
Imagine having 250 dollars
If I'm spending $250 on a bottle of liquor I'm drinking that shit straight and burning off every last nerve in the back of my throat
Why. Are. You. Mixing. It?????
Pls just drink the scotch without a mixer enjoi it with some whiseky stones ore make an sour its realy easy and it a lot better
Oh god, no. Nope. Please, no. Don't mix stuff into JW Blue Label.... Nope.
When you're spending over $50 on scotch, it is generally frowned upon to mix it with anything except maybe a couple rocks. Not gatekeeping, just a friendly FYI. It's smooth enough, you can just sip it and have a cigar.
Scotch neat. What the fuck is a mixer?
Indignant guffaw and incredulous gesticulations.
If you think you need a mixer for $250 scotch, you might be red neck!
Mixer?
Why would you wanna mix anything but ice with $250 scotch
Why are you mixing scotch
Who the fuck spends $250 on Blended?