Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: peteinct on September 02, 2019, 03:39:04 PM
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everyone, I am a whisky newbie who would like some brands to try. I like jack daniels for the infrequent times I have had whisky. I didn't like sweet flavors i.e. wild turkey or southern comfort. Does anyone have some suggestions for me? Cheaper ones would be better for me as I wont buy an expensive bottle just for a taste. Thanks, Pete
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So as a newbie you're not expected to know, but you're looking at a wide array of whiskies. Bourbons, Ryes, Scotch, Irish single malts, etc. If you have an idea of category, that would help us with recommendations.
To start, as I often say around here, High West whiskies have become my favorite go-tos in the American whiskey scene. Their double rye (a mix of young and old ryes) is only ~$30/bottle and tastes better to me than many $60 whiskies I have had.
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Kirkland (Costco) Canadian whisky is the best deal out there. It's good (tastes about like Crown Royal) and it's relatively cheap; about $20 for a handle.
Elijah Craig is a very good American whiskey. I don't remember exactly what style it is, but I don't think it's bourbon. [edit: it is bourbon]
My favorite is Wild Turkey 101 proof Rye. I like it better than some much more expensive ones. Alas, they don't make it anymore. :'(
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How do you like your whiskey? Neat, rocks, mixed, cocktails?
Try a few videos from these guys. Educational and entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoeIPrIXUOw
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Makers Mark. (It's a Bourbon)
High West was fine, but it's Makers Mark 46 that is the best to my taste.
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My sippin' Scotch whisky at the moment is a 12 year old Speyside single malt called Glen Moray. It runs about $35 a fifth here in NC at the area ABC stores.
Smooth and flavorful, especially after it's been open a week or so. A number of the reviews I've read say it is a good Scotch whisky for beginners. Since I am also a beginner Scotch drinker, I tend to agree with that assessment.
I've also had a few more expensive single malts, Glenmorangie The Original being one of them. It runs about $75 a fifth here in the ABC stores. Not bad at all, worth the money to this newbie. Glenmorangie also makes The Lasanta, a few dollars more, and very nice.
Their Nectar d'Or is in the same price category as The Lasanta, and is also quite good.
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Ben, Is there an overview of the different styles and how they should taste? When I drink whisky it is either on the rocks or as a shot. It just happens that sometimes
I like a shot or a glass of some. Pete
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Here's a start:
http://whiskeymuse.com/whiskey-for-beginners/
Sippin' whiskey is gonna be a whole new ball game for you. There are plenty of whiskies I'll happily drink mixed, and even bad whiskey is pretty easy to get down with a quick shot. Taking your time makes the good, or bad, flavors really come out. Good and bad being kinda subjective. I love smoky Islay Scotches, while others can't stand them.
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Not much of a hard liquor guy but my buddies who are keep mentioning Eagle Rare.
Brad
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For Scotch, I favor the islay variants over the highlands types. Costco is currently carrying Laphroaig at $30 a bottle, which is a screaming deal. "Like kissing a mermaid that just ate BBQ" is the schtick, and it's an apt description. Very peaty, dark, rich and complex.
For Japanese, I like Iwai Traditions (white label, not the blue label). This is a bit more expensive at about $50 a bottle at most liquor stores. Japanese whiskey lacks consistency (to my palate, at least). There's not really a theme to it as a national class of whiskey, unlike Irish/Scotch/Bourbon/etc. I can't stand Suntori Toki, for instance. Way too sweet, to much corn polish flavor to it (at least as I perceive it).
Have you tried Rye? Bulleit Rye is pretty trustworthy for an unadulterated, straight Rye for a good value. Some Ryes wind up with too much after-flavoring... Pendleton is vanilla-syrupy to me. Templeton is good, too... and Dickle. Neither is too expensive.
Being that everything tastes better at 7000 feet elevation and colder weather, I do most of my really cheap whiskey drinking while camping. Evan Williams, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels. Beam tends to give me a headache that the other two don't. I can't say I've explored the Bourbon world so far.
Irish: I favor Jamison over Bushmills. Probably my favorite Irish I've come across thus far though, is Red Breast. Tullamore Dew is decent for the price.
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When a kraut relative was visiting last year, her boyfriend turned me onto Sexton Irish Single Malt. Very, very smooth, and only $30-something a bottle.
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For inexpensive bourbon, try Four Roses.
For Scotch, it's hard to go wrong with Glenmorangie 10 year. Nice easy going Highland single malt.
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Redbreast
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Currently sipping on a small glass of Woodford Reserve.
My son recently turned me on to it.
Is good.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Kirkland (Costco) Canadian whisky is the best deal out there. It's good (tastes about like Crown Royal) and it's relatively cheap; about $20 for a handle.
Elijah Craig is a very good American whiskey. I don't remember exactly what style it is, but I don't think it's bourbon. [edit: it is bourbon]
My favorite is Wild Turkey 101 proof Rye. I like it better than some much more expensive ones. Alas, they don't make it anymore. :'(
+1 on the Kirkland Canadian. I also have a taste for the Kirkland Scotch at about $18 for a handle. I keep an old-fashioned tumbler with whiskey stones in the bedroom bar fridge filled with either the Scotch or the Canadian. After work, it's drink, refill, and chill for the next night. They are a good, solid day to day night cap.
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Huh !
https://www.homewetbar.com/blog/what-are-whiskey-stones/
You learn something every day.
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We got a public house here called "Brix", just opened recently and you can get whisky or wine flights. A whisky flight is 3 to 4 glasses of .5 oz whisky each, price varies on the whisky selection. Great way to try different whiskies without popping for a $80 bottle.