What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[unclebunk]

With all the news about Japan this week, I broke out the Yamazaki 12 last night and it continues to really impress.

[Hawg73]

Tonight I will be pouring a Redbreast 12 yo in honor of St Patrick's Day!

[squire]

Tonight it will be Irish, which is yet to be decided.

[unclebunk]

We'll start with Powers Gold. Next up will be Black Bush. Redbreast and Green Spot will close out the evening, along with too much Guinness and/or Murphy's Stout.

[squire]

Powers 12 advanced to the front shouldering the others aside.

[ebo]

Tonight, I will partake of all the Irish I have. Starting with Jameson 12, then Black Bush, followwed by Tullamore Dew 12, and finishing with Red Breast 12. It might be a rough morning. :slappin:

[cigarnv]

We'll start with Powers Gold. Next up will be Black Bush. Redbreast and Green Spot will close out the evening, along with too much Guinness and/or Murphy's Stout.

Hank, I suspect the Green Spot did not come from Binney's:grin:

[unclebunk]

Hank, I suspect the Green Spot did not come from Binney's:grin:

You're right about that. I have my "mule" bring me a couple of bottles whenever he's on business in Dublin and then I drink it slowly to make it last.

[JamesW]

Last night I had some friends over and one was a scotch newbie. I treated him to Caol Ila 12, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte an turas mor, Lagavulin 16, Bowmore Tempest, and lastly, Lagavulin 12 CS. Very nice night.

[Megawatt]

Last night I had some friends over and one was a scotch newbie. I treated him to Caol Ila 12, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte an turas mor, Lagavulin 16, Bowmore Tempest, and lastly, Lagavulin 12 CS. Very nice night.

[JamesW]

So would you recommend that Port Charlotte?

While I do enjoy it in the rotation, I would say it's a bit overpriced. I'd pass on another bottle.

[Megawatt]

Crown Royal Black with a single ice cube. This whisky is immensely improved by the slight chilling and dilution.

[unclebunk]

A nice pour of Scapa 14 along with a Scotch ale from Michigan's Arcadia Brewery.

[ebo]

Sipping on Auchentoshen Three Wood, right now. Nice malt, this one.

[DanG]

Laphroiag Murray McDavid from Chateau Lafite casks... amazing! Going away present from my coworkers. Needless to say, I love them even more now.

I had only tried normal Laphroiag 10 before, which I had also liked. This one seems to have as much smoke as the 10, but it just tastes more balanced. Not "smoother," though it does go down a bit easier, it's just that the other flavors come out better to give more support to the smoke, I guess. The differences come, presumably, from it being non-chill-filtered and the Lafite casks, as it's also 10 years old and also starts out in bourbon barrels.

It's probably the best scotch I've ever had, though it is also the most expensive!

[squire]

Forty Creek Barrel Select rounds out the choices of the day.

[bgast1]

Tonight, I started with a Laphroaig 10 year old. Whoa!!!! I was not prepared for the taste. It is a bit challenging for me. I only recently (within the last month) developed a taste for Whisk(e)y of any kind. It started out with Canadian Club, then moved to Maker's Mark, then I tried a miniature of Famous Grouse (the second level up from the basic) and I enjoyed it and the smoky aftertaste. So here I go thinking alright, I want smoke so I go for the Laphroaig based what a friend of mine told me that he likes to drink. Had I known what I was in for I would have gone for probably Johnnie Walker Black and eased into the Laphroaig. Oh well, I have a whole bottle of it, paid good money for it, guess I will have to learn to enjoy it.

Actually, I do like the smoke but I didn't expect it to be so powerful.

Question....Would it be fair to compare Laphroaig as compared to other scotches like say Miller to Sam Adams. Sam being a bit more full flavored? Maybe that is a bad choice for beers but I think you know what I mean.

By the way, I switched to Buffalo Trace and I still taste the smoke. Buffalo Trace taste wise was like going to soda pop.

[squire]

You picked a powerful one there bgast1, I'd say your beer analogy is good but the range is much wider than Miller vs Sam Adams. Laphroaig is one of the Island Whiskys, those distilled in the Islands off the coast of Scotland, which as a group are the heaviest in smoke and peat.

There are a lot of Scottish brands in the mid range of flavor and power, Grouse being one that has long held the spot as the largest seller in Scotland, and the other major brands such as Grant, Teachers, Buchanan, Bells are also in the middle. Walker is on the heavier side and J&B might be called the Miller of the bunch.

With the single malts the heavy hitters start with the Islands off the North Coast of Scotland and as you proceed South the whiskys grow lighter in taste and body until you get to the Southern Borders (Lowlands) where they are lightest of all.

[bgast1]

So then does that mean that the Laphroaig may not like the lighter scotches or do all scotches have a bit of smokey flavor? I know that the Famous Grouse was not even close to as pronounced as Laphroaig. I am going to have some tomorrow again but I will be prepared for the taste.

Everyone I know that drinks Laphroaig says that it should be enjoyed neat or with just a few drops of water. with Bourbon, I like it with ice cubes. At first I mixed with water but now I can drink it neat as well if I want, but I still like the coolness of the ice.

[squire]

Smoke from heavy to just a whiff is one of the elements of Scottish Whisky, whether blend or single malt. Discovering which one you like is part of the fun.

The way to appreciate whisky is how it tastes best to you. Neat is not the best way for me because I find the alcohol conceals much of the subtleties. Ice cuts the burn and water brings out the nuances so that's how I take it.

[Happyhour24x7]

Bgast, squire hit it on the nose-let your taste dictate how you take it. When I try a new whiskey, I start neat. Add a little water or an ice cube and try again. Add a little more if that improved the flavor. You may find, as I do, that how you drink it varies from whiskey to whiskey. Some are drastically improved with a little water, some are ruined; but working through the variations to get the perfect dram is worth it....and fun.

[bgast1]

Thanks. I am going to try the way that I traditionally learned to drink whisky tonight with the the Laphroaig. The ice and water I am only now learning to drink some bourbons neat and that isn't my preference yet but I am getting there and I am finding that the flavor is much stronger neat. I'll report back tonight after I try the Laphroiag the way I usually drink whisky. I also supposedly will have some miniatures of JWB and Chivas Regal stocked in the Liquor store that I go to.

I am going over to the scotch recommendations thread and read that and maybe post in there as well.

[bgast1]

Wow!!!! What a difference a little ice and water make. I couldn't wait until this evening:slappin: This Laphroaig that I am enjoying is superb!!!!!! Not nearly as overpowering as neat and great smokey flavor. I love it. Next time I am going to go with a little less water though.

[bgast1]

Wow!!!! What a difference a little ice and water make. I couldn't wait until this evening:slappin: This Laphroaig that I am enjoying is superb!!!!!! Not nearly as overpowering as neat and great smokey flavor. I love it. Next time I am going to go with a little less water though for more flavor

Sorry for the double post. I don't know what happened.

[bgast1]

Grants The Family Reserve. Inexpensive and acceptable but certainly no Laphroaig.

Edit..Further note. I am now almost done with my drink of Grants. It isn't all that impressive to me. But maybe that is because I had a sip of Laphroiag earlier and the smoke is still lingering. I don't know what to do for later today. Whether to go back to the Laphroaig (sp) or just drink the Grants. Going back to bourbon might be a waste as I probably will not be able to discern the flavors of the Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey 101 that I have as long as the smoke is over powering. If anyone knows how to refresh the palate so that the smoke is not overpowering so that I can attempt to enjoy other things, I am all ears.