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Originally Posted by Eric Coffey
[Whiskey Snob]
You shouldn't take ice in your Whiskey no matter where you are.
Many Whiskeys do respond well when cut with water (depending on ABV), but 1/3 is a bit much, IMO.
More like a few drops to a healthy splash maybe (again, depending on ABV).
Too much water can often bring out an overpowering barrel char/creosote taste (and ruin your dram).
And it should be room-temperature water. [/Whiskey Snob]
Very true. If you are dumb enough to order an ICB at any pub in Ireland, you deserve what you get.
If you must order a B&T type pint for some reason, just ask for a "half-and-half" which is Guinness & Harp or a "special" which is Guinness & Smithwick's (pronounced "Smiddicks").
To look like less of a tourist on the Whiskey front, try ordering a Powers, Redbreast, or Knappogue ("Nah-Pogue") instead of a Jameson or Bushmills.
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When I was in Derry I was tickled to learn a new distillery opened up and was able to enjoy a couple of doubles at the hotel bar. It was called Quiet Man.
Re - Powers I am partial to the Johns Lane Reserve, the normal Powers is good, the Reserve is much better.
I have never tasted Jameson in my life.
We were shown at our distillery tour at Bushmills to cut the whiskey up to 1/3rd and I have been told by many this is the best way open it up. I have experimented with various whiskeys and found it to be true.
The water should be room temp to cool. At the bars and Puds I visited (many) while in the North the pitcher provided typically was sweating from being cool.
Just going with what the locals were doing.
I was not bashful to ask what local Whiskey they had on hand, that is how I discovered Quiet Man.
Oh and for the love of god, please to mot mix Guinness with anything, just enjoy it, it is on another level there, enjoy it.
I started every pub visit with a pint of Guinness then moved on to the Whiskey. I have a VERY good time there.
Quote:
Unless you are way out in the country, there should be something whithin reach that is open late (Tesco, Supervalu, Lidl, etc.).
There are even a couple chain shops that are open 24hrs (Mace, EuroSpar, etc.). 
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Our First night was in Belfast, we parked in a garage attached to a Tesco and it was closed up and locked down by 6PM.
There were some random retail open around the city, for the most part, everywhere we went in the North, everything closed by 6PM. I admired it.
Man, I want to plan another trip there, maybe in 2020 the next 2 years we have other plans.
Oh and the car scene is decent there, I saw quite a few classic Minis and some old Ford Cortina's.
I was actually surprised, most of the cars on the road are late model with exceptions, I saw quite a few old Defenders that looked long in the tooth.
I do not recall seeing a Porsche either now that I think of it.
My rental car sucked, I ended up with a Scoda Superb, the entire time I was driving I would only think this would be a name Clarkson would give to one of the cars he built.
Another interesting observation, the traffic lights go from Green to Yellow to Red then back to Yellow then Green, keep a keen eye on them, I never saw anyone sleeping at a red light. When that light turns green you better be on the gas.
The Motorway gas stations, do not have pay at the pump, you pump first then go in and pay. That blew my mind.