i have a whiskey question re. 'burn'

[nynor]

Originally Posted by Outback Porsche

D, recommend anything by The Glenrothes if your looking for a smooth single malt. Cheers

as i like glenlivet, and having looked at the taste profile for glenrothes, i bet i would like this single malt. i'll keep an eye out for it. thanks!

[maxnine11]

I don't always drink whiskey, but when i do, I drink White Owl.

A white, (or clear) whiskey:

[Head416]

This will treat you right:
BevMo! - Macallan Scotch 18 Year

[72doug2,2S]

Much is down to personal preference. Use a whisky sniffer glass and pour in a finger's worth. Take a sniff. If it burns the nose, add a drop or two of water. Keep adding drops of water until the burning sensation is gone. Now you can use your nose to enjoy the liquid sunshine. I recommend warming the whisky with you body (your hands mainly), the drink changes with temperature changes.

My advice is to buy several bottles; bourbons, scotch, blended, single malts, and have weekly tastings with a friend or two. Each Friday I have whisky tastings with an attorney friend at his office. We rate each whisky on a 1-100 scale, we usually watch the Isle of Mann video blogger, Ralfy on YouTube for tasting notes and general info.

Two personal bourbon favorites are Maker's and Corner Creek. Bushmills scotch is a standard at our tastings. Of course it gets expensive when the single malts are on the list, but that is where the best whisky is.

If it turns out you just don't have a very good whisky, throw an ice-cube or two in the glass to mask the shame of the distillery and drink chilled.

Cigars should not be overlooked here either, they can pair nicely with scotch.

[scottmandue]

I have fallen for Woodford Reserve also...

However I stumbled over Johnny Walker Black label at Trader Joes' for $39 and picked up a bottle. (Just checked and can be had at BevMo for $29... DOH!!!!)

For medicinal purposes only of course!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Head416

This will treat you right:
BevMo! - Macallan Scotch 18 Year

I have tasted this and yes it is nectar of the gods... at $160 a bottle it should be

[Head416]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

...My advice is to buy several bottles; bourbons, scotch, blended, single malts, and have weekly tastings with a friend or two....

Cigars should not be overlooked here either, they can pair nicely with scotch.

This may be the best advice I've ever seen.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

Much is down to personal preference. Use a whisky sniffer glass and pour in a finger's worth. Take a sniff. If it burns the nose, add a drop or two of water. Keep adding drops of water until the burning sensation is gone. Now you can use your nose to enjoy the liquid sunshine. I recommend warming the whisky with you body (your hands mainly), the drink changes with temperature changes.

My advice is to buy several bottles; bourbons, scotch, blended, single malts, and have weekly tastings with a friend or two. Each Friday I have whisky tastings with an attorney friend at his office. We rate each whisky on a 1-100 scale, we usually watch the Isle of Mann video blogger, Ralfy on YouTube for tasting notes and general info.

Two personal bourbon favorites are Maker's and Corner Creek. Bushmills scotch is a standard at our tastings. Of course it gets expensive when the single malts are on the list, but that is where the best whisky is.

If it turns out you just don't have a very good whisky, throw an ice-cube or two in the glass to mask the shame of the distillery and drink chilled.

Cigars should not be overlooked here either, they can pair nicely with scotch.

it turns out that my palette prefers bourbons. makers is at the top of the list. also, although not a bourbon (strictly speaking), jim beam rye.... ah the HORROR.... it is smooth and delicious. go figure.

[Head416]

I'll throw another +1 at Woodferd Reserve then, nice and easy to sip on. I'm also quite fond of this:
Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

[matthew-s]

I like Knob Creek and Booker's. I'd like to expand my horizons further - although I only drink Bourbon in fall and winter.

Best I've ever had is Jefferson's Presidential Select: Buy Jefferson Jefferson's Bourbon Presidential Select 18 Years Single Barrel online for less at Wine Chateau

I gave it to my dad as a gift for his retirement, he was kind enough to share. Not sure if it can be found anymore. . . .

[E38Driver]

Costco has their Kirkland brand small batch bourbon that is pretty tasty. I heard that it is Bookers with a different bottle. Don't know that for sure but I like it.

Dave

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by Christien

There are many reasons why one is "harsher" than another, but you can boil most of it down to quality. A better whisky will be (or at least should be) smoother.

Try some blended scotches next - you'll probably find them a little more harsh, but it's a different flavour. Then step up to a single malt - that's where you're really going to find the ultimate smoothness, but with that comes price.
.

I'm going to disagree a little on this. Blended is made for consistent taste year to year. Single malts while mostly very good and smooth aren't always.

Most blended by definition, started out as single malts that weren't that good to begin with. Lots of singles you've never heard of that were sold to Dewers or whomever to blend.

[Shuie]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

Much is down to personal preference. Use a whisky sniffer glass and pour in a finger's worth. Take a sniff. If it burns the nose, add a drop or two of water. Keep adding drops of water until the burning sensation is gone. Now you can use your nose to enjoy the liquid sunshine. I recommend warming the whisky with you body (your hands mainly), the drink changes with temperature changes.

^ this is great advice. Spot on for bourbon. Adding a couple of drops of water removes the burn, and if you have a decent nose, it really opens up the aroma.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by madmmac

Dump them all and move to vodka. Recommend Crystal Head for starters.

Vodka, souless. It's for heathen commie bastards. Whisky is a gift from GOD.

[nynor]

i like vodka, too. tito's.

[James Brown]

for a smooth irish whiskey, try redbreast neat of course.

[911-32]

Every whiskey tasting I have been to (Scotch), highly recommends adding water to the whisky. So while it may be very manly to drink it neat and "never add water", you are actually missing out on a lot of the flavours, complexities and subtleties. Coincidentally, with water there is no burn.

[slakjaw]

I call it "Spice"

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Vodka, souless. It's for heathen commie bastards. Whisky is a gift from GOD.

^^^ This man is good.

[Drisump]

I was on the "Whisky Trail" in Scotland a number of years ago while on tours of the distilleries I found out that "blended" scotch"is not simply a blend of single malts. To reduce the cost of production and standardize the flavour year after year, they are allowed to use whiskies made from grain other than simply barley, notably corn. I believe premium blends such as Johnny Walker "black" usually have a higher percentage of single malt. Cheers