Drinking Problems

originally posted by: NarcolepticBuddha
I'm overwhelmed. I just stare at the liquor shelf trying to figure out what the difference is between whiskey, bourbon, and scotch.

Strictly speaking, it's about place of origin. "Scotch" is from Scotland, and they spell it "whisky". "Whiskey" is the spelling that relates to the Irish version. "Bourbon" is an American thing.

I've never been a whisky drinker, but a Scotsman in my very first vacation job tried to impress on me the irrefutable logic of "It was made with water- it should be drunk with water".
This very morning, by coincidence, I was reading in Punch (issue of January 23rd 1864) of an important discussion on this subject among the civic authorities of Glasgow. The Water Committee was concerned about a great increase in the consumption of this vital fluid, up to ten per cent. The Lord Provost of the city presided over a meeting which decided to meet the problem by encouraging citzens to drink their whisky in a less diluted form. They resolved

That in order to set a good example to our fellow-citizens, and to prevent an entirely needless waste of the element, this Meeting pledges itself for the future to take its whisky in the form of drams, or as neat as convenient, and that in any case, after the fourth tumbler of toddy,the water shall be diminished to one half.

Punch entirely approved of this example of Scottish economy.

a reply to: Wide-Eyes

And here I thought Jack Daniels was the Pabst Blue Ribbon* stuff that I should avoid. I've tried Fireball and I don't understand why it was suggested to me 1,000 times. It's a kids drink sheesh.

*For the record I like PBR

originally posted by: NarcolepticBuddha
I see whiskey, bourbon, scotch is distilled corn.

Brandy is distilled fruit juice.

I think I like your idea better.

Scotch is malted barley.

Bourbon is malted corn, wheat and/or rye but to be actual bourbon it needs to be at least 51% corn.

Whiskey is the overall style of spirit made in the double distillation method.

originally posted by: NarcolepticBuddha
And here I thought Jack Daniels...

Jack Daniels is actually quite decent for what it is and consistently smooth.

You can thank Frank Sinatra for making it famous, he and the Rat Pack put it on the map.

Well, for whatever it's worth (coming from a long time (reformed) bourbon lover), true aficionados of whiskey/whisky gravitate towards scotch. As a general rule bourbons like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam are what I would characterize as "cheap whiskey", mass produced and of pretty low quality. The thing with bourbon though is, more expensive does not always mean better, it just means more expensive. To me Irish whiskey fits in between bourbon and scotch (although I'm sure some would violently disagree). But the thing with scotch is, scotch has a fairly involved grading system which makes it easier to tell what you're getting (flavor wise). Terms like 'blended' vs. 'single malt', along with 'aged xx years' and 'cask strength/grade'. There's also regional taste differences for scotch (highland vs. lowland, etc.).

Being of Irish descent I should probably like Irish whiskey best, and should probably loathe scotch, but that's not how it works and I follow my taste buds. Sadly though, I can't really drink any of them anymore, not in any quantity anyway.

I still like a good scotch now and then though.

Friend gave me a mixed drink last night, red wine and cola on ice
Anyway
My problem is I got given three bottles of scotch, valued at around $200.00 each, my problem is I just can't justify to myself drinking scotch worth $200 a bottle
Even worse, one day some one will break into my home and steal them and I would have never tried them

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
As a general rule bourbons like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam are what I would characterize as "cheap whiskey"...

The Beam distillery, now owned by Suntory, puts out Baker's, Booker's, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden's and quite a few other top line bourbons and ryes.

Jack Daniels is made under the Tennessee process which is even more stringent when it comes to quality than any other for bourbon.

I prefer bourbon for regular drinking.

- Buffalo Trace
- Woodford Reserve
- Eagle Rare
- Clyde Mays

Drink all of the above neat, 2 or 3 fingers in an old fashioned glass.

If you must mix:

- Jack Daniels
- Evan Williams Black Label

For celebratory drinking:

- Laphroaig
- Macallan
- Redbreast

All neat, 2-3 fingers in a whisky glass. Sip slowly and enjoy.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

Dayum!

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

A bourbon a day keeps the madness and the Great Old Ones away...

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

Dayum!

So I have to drink it with a fedora or a cowboy hat?

sheesh

i think I'm switching back to gin.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I hear ya, but I just don't think you can put bourbon in the same class as scotch when it comes to, I dunno, four fingers on the glass (as opposed to five). Maybe just me though. No argument on the ones you listed, but Beam in particular is horrible in my opinion. For one thing, it's 'thick'. Ever noticed that? It's almost like syrup in a way.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk


Bourbon has a different flavor profile than Scotch so it's really personal preference. I've had expressions of each that were well worth the money but also dogs too. I drink both, it really depends on my mood, so I have a nice collection of both types to pick from.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

But, you've already got the fedora covered, right?

No need to switch to a 100x Resistol now.

Gin????? Whoa now!

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Oh, I agree, and I'm sure many of them are delightful. I didn't put 'bourbon' in the cheap whiskey class, just Jack and Beam bourbons.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I can see I'm in way over my punching weight. I'll stick to cheap, easy, familiar.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk


They aren't though, Beam and Daniels both make fairly good Bourbon for the price point. People also need to understand that many of the 'high end' bottlings come from one of the major distillers.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: Flyingclaydisk


They aren't though, Beam and Daniels both make fairly good Bourbon for the price point. People also need to understand that many of the 'high end' bottlings come from one of the major distillers.

See: Heaven Hill

For a great different drink to get into...
I highly recommend Kraken... Spiced Rum.

Its perfectly smooth to drink neat and its a great mixer.

Outside of that... It really comes to personal preference to be honest...
Each visit to get grog, I recommend trying different things.

a reply to: Wide-Eyes

I'm sure it's just individual taste preference, but...yeah...it's that bad. Just for the record, Jack Daniels is some of the nastiest crap out there.
Take some water, pour it through the used charcoal in your grill, add some rubbing alcohol and you have Jack Daniels.