Ya know, I see people talk about mead and it has its own thread. But what about us that also participate in the enjoyment of other libations? I think this thread here will let us post up beers and booze that we enjoy, are trying for the first time, or are interested in and allow us to comment on our thoughts and tastes and see what others think and recommend. So I'll start off with what I tried last night. Needed a whiskey to put into my new Skjaldborg flask designed by our very own Tearalum. Not wanting to possibly ruin a 21yr Jameson I did a bit of research and settled on trying a Scotch whiskey, Macallan 12yr. I had a 1 finger pour, neat. It's a nice golden whiskey with an amazing nose, especially after it has had a chance to open up. Upon first pour you can smell fruit and a bit of smokiness and as it has had a chance to breath you begin to detect a more fruity floral aroma and vanilla becomes much more prominent. Very pleasing to the nose and it makes you want to jump right in and take a drink. For the palate, there is a hint of sweetness behind the smokey flavor and as it rolls on your tongue and down your throat you get an oily and a creamy feel to the body of the whiskey. You can detect a slight bit of spice and fruit on the body that helps to ease the smokiness of it. The finish is very smooth, like butter smooth. It leaves a very warm and delicate trace on your tongue that seems to linger and lets you savor the drink in a way that seems most suited for an after-dinner drink. This being my first scotch I have little to compare to other than the Irish whiskeys I'm accustomed to drinking. Needless to say, I highly recommend this particular brand and year if you enjoy whiskey in general and are looking for something medium-bodied and would go great after a heavy meal. I can also see this as being a sipping whiskey as well.
Michael Jackson gave it a 91, FYI. That's a damn good score, especially for a 12 year. Also, all single malts should be sipped, and should never be swirled, for you neophytes out there. Unlike a wine, where swirling can open it up, due to the higher alcohol content, swirling scotch just makes it evaporate. If you do that, the Scotch Fairy will come in the night and punch you in the testicles.
I have a feeling I'm a little too low-brow for this subject My palette is very simple, I can't pick out all the different flavors and aromas that people talk about with wine/scotch/bourbon/other beverages/foods.
Don't worry, I'm a dumb brute about it too, but it's still fun. Still my reigning favorite (of my "every day" stuff), Bowmore Darkest 15 Year, an Islay Single Malt Their website is really slick and coo too. My ALL TIME favorite might just be Caol Ila Cask Strength. It's uncut, so its ABV is in the 60%ish range.
No reason why you can't participate and talk about booze/beer you like. Doesn't have to be as descriptive as what I've posted. Just mention what you like about it.
Probably my favorite beer is Newcastle, it has great flavor without being very heavy on the stomach. I don't get into the very dark beers much because to me it's like drinking a loaf of bread most of the time. I also enjoy German Lagers like Beck's and Heineken.
This should be fun as I continue my touring of beers and liquors, I recently tried my first IPA and really enjoyed the complexity over other beers so I think I will find myself continuing to try those with beer. But I have also recently decided to try out some new harder stuff as well to expand my palette there over my usual dark rum(s). Got a bourbon for my sons first birthday (yes we had a bar for the adults) but thinking of whiskey or scotch next. I know Taake highly recommended what he got so I might get that once I have the cash but we shall see. I look forward to seeing what everyone likes and recommends
You know, I read Michael Jackson and 12 year old in the same sentence, and just couldn't help but face-palm. On topic though, my drink of choice lately has been 2 parts Irish cream, 1 part Tennessee honey, on the rocks. I find it a good drink for the evenings. Any Absinthe drinkers here? My last bottle, I found I only had about half the amount I normally drink. Same for the Chartreuse I had. I poured them together, neat, and found I had a nicely anise flavored drink that had the same kick as absinthe, but with higher alcohol content. Expensive, but tasty.
I drink Absinthe. Have a bottle of Kübler in my booze cabinet and I've also drank Lucid Absinthe as well. I prefer the white Absinthe that is Kübler over the green Absinthe that Lucid is. But if someone offered me either, I'd not turn it odwn.
I found Lucid to be a bit too sweet honestly. I'll drink it, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't my favorite. I've been enjoying a bottle of Grande Absente lately though, and it is good stuff. Definitely not something I can drink often though.
From beers i enjoyed pilsner urquell, good lager though that cellar aftertaste is not something everyone would like, also black beers are delicious especially Koźlak superior to Guiness in almost every way.
Breckenridge Brewery Vanilla Porter. Highly recommended. The deep rich porter comes with a delightful finish of vanilla. They used enough that the flavor isn't masked by the other heavy notes of chocolate and nut within the beer. I'd take this over pretty well any stout I think. Augusta Brewery Hefeweizen. Okay, so, you can't get this in a bottle, it's a local place and it's only on tap. BUT, this is by far my favorite Hefe ever. It tastes like a light, refreshing, liquefied banana bread. Clove and banana are the dominant flavors at the finish, and it's given me a craving for some warm b-breads with a dollop of butter.
Breckenridge Brewery is quickly becoming my favorite brewery. I love vanilla porters and if it is anything like their Agave Wheat beer I'm sold!! I'll try to remember to get a full review when I get home next week to also review a couple of meads and sam adam's home brew winners.
For those of you who enjoy craft brews: http://local.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=33395122 Interesting article with some locals around the country that might be close to some of you.
