Posted on 09/04/2009 4:07:49 PM PDT by JoeProBono
It is the era of designer drinks: bubblegum martinis, vodka essences, caffeinated schnapps. You name it. In spite of all their flair and fun, when you sit down to really enjoy a drink for the craftsmanship and complexity, you really only have a few good choices, and they were usually created over a decade ago.
For years I had been a wine guy (not whinny, mind you). I took the classes, began to dig into certain vintages and the regions and vineyards around the world, and I developed a taste for the European wines, which tended to be drier and have more varied, less fruity flavors. Yet in the midst of all the serious study of the art of wine, it cracked me up when a sommelier remarked that a wine had a "certain pee de chat aroma" (a fancy way of saying it smells like cat pee) with a straight face.
Try reading a review of a good wine as you walk down the isles of your favorite liquor store and you will see flavors like "tar," "tobacco," and "sulfur." Mmmmm.(?) While tasty and amusing, wine didn't quite do it for me.
My father was once told by his physician to have some wine or a beer in the evenings to calm himself down. I took note, having suffered from being unable to control my stress levels at times, and began to search for a nightcap of my own to help me relax in the evenings. Naturally, I started with wine. It didn't quite satisfy, so I moved on to trying different cognacs. Again, not quite what I was looking for.
Then I remembered my 100 year-old grandmother. Her nightcap of choice was an affordable Scotch. So I bought a bottle of Glenmorangie at my local Costco (the cashier remarked that his customers were happily surprised to find it on hand) and thoroughly enjoyed every drop. Now I fully expect to live to be 100. So why is Scotch the perfect drink? It has a complexity similar to what a good wine will have. The vast array of flavors is always surprising. The bite of the alcohol is wonderful. The variety of good Scotches is enough to last a lifetime. The history of the spirit is rich. It does wonders for a good night's sleep. And a flask of good Scotch seems to improve one's poker playing skills, I've found.
With any new endeavor, such as striving to become a connoisseur of Scotch Whisky, questions arise that beg to be answered:
My husband’s current favorite Edradour (sp)
I personally find whisk(e)y, and bourbon too "sweet" and really love the smokey, bitter chocolate, coffee, flavors you (or I) find in a good single malt Scotch....
One big FYI about single malt Scotch, like good wine it's not blended for flavor, what you get in the bottle is what came from that keg ... the flavor of a single malt Scotch can vary from bottle to bottle
The only trouble with good scotch is the next morning.
These days I stick with the vino.
I wish the taxes on a bottle of scotch was only $12 in Ohio.
2 rocks and a splash of water in mine, please...
My name is Paul. I drink scotch.
I chill Dewars in the freezer and sip it while I post on FR.
Just kidding - I’m from Washington (state) where we have the highest taxes on alcohol in the nation. I can buy Washington wine cheaper in Ohio (where my grandmother lives) than here. I saw a pint of vodka selling for $2.95 in Ohio where it costs almost six here.
www.johnniewalker.com/
There ya go, that’s my drink! Only thing I buy, I don’t like fruity, sweet drinks. All my friends order ‘tinis with candy colors, and sweet drinks but just give me my JD and I’m a happy camper.
OooKAY
LOL! Not enough skin ‘for the ladies’ in that one, though!
I don’t get it.
Neither do I
I am currently enjoying a Partagas 1845 red label and a second serving of Jameson.
Sorry, I’m still prefer Irish to Scotch.
Exactly! Oh yeah...smooooth!
ping
2009 is the year of my affair with 12 yr old Glenmorangie.
It is my scotch whisky of choice.
Got some o' this for my boss as a housewarming/suck-up gift.
Haven't been fired yet, so maybe it was OK.
Or he hasn't tasted it yet.
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