Posted on 12/16/2020 11:45:31 AM PST by mylife
I can only speak for myself, but after the historic awfulness of 2020, I’d appreciate a gift of great whiskey wrapped up in a bow. I suspect I’m not alone. So I made sure my annual tradition of suggesting several bottles for the holidays was undertaken this year with extra rigor and, of course, adhering to stringent social distancing guidelines for my team of tasters to sniff, sip, and banter our way through the 30-plus candidates to land on this final list of 16.
As always, there’s a range of styles, prices and origins, from Europe to Asia, Kentucky, Philly, and Mexico (yes, for El Whisky). Each has their own virtues. But shared with a special person in your bubble, each can offer a taste to traverse the world, transcend the moment, and warm the mood with a sip of cheer.
BOURBON, TENNESSEE WHISKEYS, AND LOCAL STARS
Old Forester Straight Bourbon. Old Forester has been distilled continuously since 1870 and was the first American whiskey sold by the bottle. There are more complex editions of the brand, but the 86-proof standard remains a great value. This 72% corn-based spirit has bourbon’s classic profile of praline sweetness, fruit and grain, with a back note of tobacco. It’s also about as close to drinking a chocolate-cherry cordial as it gets. 86 proof, $21.99, (PLCB item #3290)
(Excerpt) Read more at cantonrep.com ...
The only whisky on this list that I've heard about is Old Forester. I have some in my cupboard now and it is very fine.
I also have some Lagavulin 16 that I'm not so happy with. The smokiness doesn't quite mix with the sweetness from the sherry casks. I prefer Ardbeg. Ardbeg An Oa is very good. Its smokiness and sweetness combine to hint at licorice.
I also have a bottle of Old Midleton. It's mostly just a burn with a hint of apricot in the finish. Very unique but I don't know if it is worth the price I paid.
I also have some Makers 101. It still has the sweetness with a bit more bite than Makers or Makers 46. It makes great Old Fashions.
Here's a list of other whisky's I've sampled and can recommend since binging on YouTube whisky channels and suffering through the lockdowns:
Buffalo Trace
Angel's Envy
Elijah Craig Small Batch and Barrel Strength
Jack Single Barrel and Gentleman Jack
Glenfiddich and Glenfiddich 15
Four Roses Small Batch
Wild Turkey 101
And no, I'm not an alcoholic, but a Joe/Ho Whitehouse may very well turn me into a drunk.
What pretentious lurid prose! Sounds like ditch water a week after the county fair closed...or a pig trough. Whiskey is not supposed to taste like a third grade party punch bowl spiked with Everclear with earthiness supplied by the fat boy adding a cup of dirt.
That said, Knappogue Castle 14 year old single malt Irish whiskey, 92 proof is a very fine, very smooth sipping whiskey at about the same price if you can find it. My first taste was from a gift direct from the Old Sod. The 12 year old has just a tad more bite.
I told a friend of mine about Tullamore Dew. After one bottle he had to swear off it. He liked it so much he was drinking it by the glass and not the shot.
may you always have a chicken in your pot, an eagle in your pocket and Old Crow in your glass.
that will get your attention really fast.
HA! Old Forrester 86 proof at $21.99 is still just as crappy as it was at about $15.00 when I was in college. Try Woodford reserve at $37.00 for a good bourbon and Woodford Reserve double oaked at $54.00 for an outstanding bourbon. Or if money is tight even Buffalo Trace is better at $26.00
He's basically messing with the whisky snobs.
What pretentious lurid prose!
LOL I am surprised they don’t do it for fruit drinks.. “a marvelous mango with hints of bourbon, tobacco and bacon”...
Caskmates Stout edition
I like Woodford, but I tried Woodford Double Oak and it tasted like I was gnawing on plywood.
Now here is a post I LOVE!!!
Manatawney Still Works is not far from me...and their stuff is good!
Oban is amazing. I wish I had bought a case when it was around $40/bottle. It’s been creeping up and now the best I saw was $70/bottle on sale if you buy two.
Back around 2007 - I discovered 2 bottles of ‘Lot B’ hiding in back of other whiskeys at a local liquor store. 40 bucks a piece and I gave one to a friend for his birthday present.
The very best bourbon I’ve ever drank.
something we can all agree on. Few things better in live than a good drink.
I’ve had Wild Turkey 101. Rare Breed is now on my short list.
something we can all agree on. Few things better in life than a good drink.
I bought a bottle of Woodford Reserve because a friend drinks it and he hasn’t been able to come over due to Covid. I’m trying to struggle through it.
Dewars 12 year old is good even though I don’t like Dewars. I slummed and got some Johnny Walker Red.
Problem with the good stuff is too expensive and goes down too fast.
I took a bottle to the March for Justice in 1998. It was popular
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