Oh, you're one of those I'm a bourbon guy, but I can enjoy a peaty scotch on occasion. My brother and I go mountain biking in Colorado every summer and make a stop at the Stanley Hotel. They have very friendly bartenders who give nice discounts to out-of-towners. We've gotten some excellent 18+ year scotch for half off every time we stop in Last year we tried some Japanese whiskey that was surprisingly good along with some Whistle Pig Black Prince and some kind of scotch we both liked but whose name I didn't take down because I would never spend the money for a full bottle.Whisky from Heaven for me is called Scotch
Oh, you're one of those I'm a bourbon guy, but I can enjoy a peaty scotch on occasion. My brother and I go mountain biking in Colorado every summer and make a stop at the Stanley Hotel. They have very friendly bartenders who give nice discounts to out-of-towners. We've gotten some excellent 18+ year scotch for half off every time we stop in Last year we tried some Japanese whiskey that was surprisingly good along with some Whistle Pig Black Prince and some kind of scotch we both liked but whose name I didn't take down because I would never spend the money for a full bottle.
As an aside, if you're ever in Colorado, I highly recommend a bottle of Distillery 291 single barrel. That's some good stuff. We get a bottle each year to sip around the fire at whatever campground we go to while we swap stories, bullshit each other, and solve all the world's problems.
Lucky bastardIts 18 year aged Jameson Irish Whiskey for me. I am a " certified official taste tester" since 1981.
Whisky from Heaven for me is called Scotch
I drink all whisky actually, but scotch is my favorite. Highland scotch, not a huge fan of peated, unless there is snow on the ground. Drink lots of bourbon, reg whiskey and aged rum. Scotch is my go to favorite thoughOh, you're one of those I'm a bourbon guy, but I can enjoy a peaty scotch on occasion. My brother and I go mountain biking in Colorado every summer and make a stop at the Stanley Hotel. They have very friendly bartenders who give nice discounts to out-of-towners. We've gotten some excellent 18+ year scotch for half off every time we stop in Last year we tried some Japanese whiskey that was surprisingly good along with some Whistle Pig Black Prince and some kind of scotch we both liked but whose name I didn't take down because I would never spend the money for a full bottle.
As an aside, if you're ever in Colorado, I highly recommend a bottle of Distillery 291 single barrel. That's some good stuff. We get a bottle each year to sip around the fire at whatever campground we go to while we swap stories, bullshit each other, and solve all the world's problems.
That may well have been it. I remember the bartender talking so highly of it we got it first to make sure we were stone sober and able to fully experience it. It was great stuff.I love single malt myself...although until I get my elective heart surgery, I can't partake. Oh well, my collection is just continuing to age!
"some Japanese whisky" - Yamazaki? GREAT stuff, won the world whisky competition a few years back. Amazing. Full, smooth, crisp, good nose and a nice finish. Love it. Have (the remains of) a bottle of it (18 year old) in my collection. Yummy.
There's nothing wrong with that. Jim Beam is our hunting whiskey. We've spent many a night around the fire, keeping warm inside with pulls of old Jim.When I was able to drink bourbon, I kept things simple, and just bought regular Jim Beam off the shelf. Oh, and I mixed it with Pepsi. No ice.
Lagavulin is peated.. islay(island scotch)Single malt with water or go home. Anyone tried Lavagulin? It’s like a glass of wet campfire. I bought a bottle - pretty expensive - had one glass and I swear I could smell it coming out of my pores for a week!
Oh, .... water just changes the make up of taste profile. All alcohol has natural oils, so all water does is separate the flavors and flip them around. Oil and water separates as we all know. Same with your hooch. Yes, distilled alcohol is made with water, but it is distilled with it and blends in. Adding water after the fact, ever from a pure bottle, will change its taste profile.Single malt with water or go home. Anyone tried Lavagulin? It’s like a glass of wet campfire. I bought a bottle - pretty expensive - had one glass and I swear I could smell it coming out of my pores for a week!
VERY interesting indeed ! Thanx for sharing those pics !!!I like my Scotch
pics of me throwing grain to turn it over for drying during the smoke process we discussed. Its laid out on the floor or racks to dry. Fire at one end. Windows open at the other to suck the heat and smoke thru to dry. Wet grain will mold in a couple days like your shower towel on the floor, so the need for heat and smoke. Like drying fish on a rack.
Some of my consumed collection:View attachment 14994View attachment 14995View attachment 14997View attachment 14996
That is great info Killer !Lagavulin is peated.. islay(island scotch)
Most others are highland ..
Quick ed: im a former whisky(ey) instructor by profession.
The Scottish islands have few trees. Not much wood to dry the grain(barley) with heat so the locals hundreds of years ago used the peat bogs. Kinda like Alaska tundra but warm climate. Basically the bog, cut into chunks and then dried out in the air like Native Americans did with cow patties for fuel. They then throw the peat chunks in to get a fire going. Peat is a viscous oily, sooty, smoke. Thus it leaves a soot film on the grain as it dries. = the ashtray, soot taste and smell of island (Islay) scotch like Lagavulin.
Highland scotch: upper part of country.
lots of trees. Firewood & charcoal like normal fires and quite similar to us doing a bbq dinner. Smoke is sweeter smell and not as viscous or oily. Just like we like oak for bbq cooking or campfires.
Thus, Highland Single malt is lighter and more approachable.
Scotch distillers learned in the 1970’s 1980’s that American Whiskey and Bourbon was hugely popular worldwide and their Scotch share was shrinking globally. They started using American Oak casks to age the scotch and capture the world market with a lighter flavor that was not the WW2 scotch of old.
now, American oak just gives a lighter flavor, so Islay aged in American Oak will still be peated, smoky, but not as much as what Churchill drank .
we can discuss bourbon tomorrow