What distilled beverage are you drinking?

Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 year old Solera

Maker's Mark; 45% alcohol, thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
I don't understand the decision by Makers Mark to consider diluting their bourbon.

If increased demand is making the product scarce, it seems to me that the simple solution for the company is to raise the wholesale price accordingly, not to dilute the product.

Beam Inc won't do that as it will cannibalize on their product pricing ladder - directly competing with Knob Creek.

Tito's vodka tonic - Getting ready for the weekend!!!

Titos rocks! (meaning that I think Titos rocks, not that I'm having a Titos Rocks).

Just got an email from a retailer saying that some Woodford Reserve Master's Four Wood Finish is available. Has anyone tried it? Worth a C-note?

A son-in-law served me Woodinville Whiskey Co. 100% Rye. Intriguing stuff. Wild and sappy, with multiple dimensions.
I highly recommend that the locals give a try. I doubt that it is available elsewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by pape du neuf:
A son-in-law served me Woodinville Whiskey Co. 100% Rye. Intriguing stuff. Wild and sappy, with multiple dimensions.
I highly recommend that the locals give a try. I doubt that it is available elsewhere.

I have tried their Bourbon, it was decent. I'll have to give the rye a shot.
Have you seen their white whiskey that comes with a micro barrel to age it in?

Chabasse XO

Boulard Calvados Pays d'Auge XO

Rowan's Creek Kentucky Bourbon

I was jonesing for a really good Manhattan, so I bought this not having ever tried it. Glad I did - really good stuff. I also bought a nicer sweet vermouth so as to not "dumb" down good Bourbon...well, at least, not more than having it in a Manhattan, that is!

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
Rowan's Creek Kentucky Bourbon

I was jonesing for a really good Manhattan, so I bought this not having ever tried it. Glad I did - really good stuff. I also bought a nicer sweet vermouth so as to not "dumb" down good Bourbon...well, at least, not more than having it in a Manhattan, that is!

Hmmm, what is a nicer sweet vermouth?

quote:

Originally posted by aphilla:

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
Rowan's Creek Kentucky Bourbon

I was jonesing for a really good Manhattan, so I bought this not having ever tried it. Glad I did - really good stuff. I also bought a nicer sweet vermouth so as to not "dumb" down good Bourbon...well, at least, not more than having it in a Manhattan, that is!

Hmmm, what is a nicer sweet vermouth?

Not sure I get what you're asking, aphilla...can you clarify? Or, you might be poking fun...which is just fine!

Laphroaig 10 cask strength

Woodford Reserve.

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:

quote:

Originally posted by aphilla:

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
Rowan's Creek Kentucky Bourbon

I was jonesing for a really good Manhattan, so I bought this not having ever tried it. Glad I did - really good stuff. I also bought a nicer sweet vermouth so as to not "dumb" down good Bourbon...well, at least, not more than having it in a Manhattan, that is!

Hmmm, what is a nicer sweet vermouth?

Not sure I get what you're asking, aphilla...can you clarify? Or, you might be poking fun...which is just fine!

No, I'm sorry but I'm being entirely serious. I only ever see 1 or 2 brands of vermouth of various types, both about the same price - cheap.

Current Bourbon is Four Roses Small Batch. Down to my last bottle of whiskey in the house. I need to make a run one of these days to restock. Out of Scotch and damn near out of Bourbon.

Any cask strength single malt out of curiosity (slowly adding more water).

Standard singe malts: Lagavulin 16 years, Laphroaig 10 years.

There are some interesting Spanish Orujos.

Unfortunately the old bottle of Matusalem rum from Cuba is now empty (these days Matusalem seems to be produced in the Dominican Republic, didn´t get a chance to sample one of those yet).

Unterthurner Waldler (from South Tyrol).

Saffron-infused Gin.

quote:

Originally posted by aphilla:

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:

quote:

Originally posted by aphilla:

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
Rowan's Creek Kentucky Bourbon

I was jonesing for a really good Manhattan, so I bought this not having ever tried it. Glad I did - really good stuff. I also bought a nicer sweet vermouth so as to not "dumb" down good Bourbon...well, at least, not more than having it in a Manhattan, that is!

Hmmm, what is a nicer sweet vermouth?

Not sure I get what you're asking, aphilla...can you clarify? Or, you might be poking fun...which is just fine!

No, I'm sorry but I'm being entirely serious. I only ever see 1 or 2 brands of vermouth of various types, both about the same price - cheap.

I'll look a specific name tonight when I get home, but it was a 750 ml bottle and about $17 or so.

Glenfiddich "Excellence" 18 year - very nice

quote:

Originally posted by aphilla:

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:

quote:

Originally posted by aphilla:

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
Rowan's Creek Kentucky Bourbon

I was jonesing for a really good Manhattan, so I bought this not having ever tried it. Glad I did - really good stuff. I also bought a nicer sweet vermouth so as to not "dumb" down good Bourbon...well, at least, not more than having it in a Manhattan, that is!

Hmmm, what is a nicer sweet vermouth?

Not sure I get what you're asking, aphilla...can you clarify? Or, you might be poking fun...which is just fine!

No, I'm sorry but I'm being entirely serious. I only ever see 1 or 2 brands of vermouth of various types, both about the same price - cheap.

It's this stuff: Cocchi Vermouth di Torino. Good stuff, although I certainly didn't have it by itself.

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
It's this stuff: Cocchi Vermouth di Torino. Good stuff, although I certainly didn't have it by itself.

I see Total Wine has this both in the 375ml and 750ml. I'll have to give it a shot.

Let me know what you think, mneeley490. I was cooking something not long ago and needed some wine to deglaze, but didn't have an open bottle handy (gasp!), so I grabbed the half used bottle of Martini Rossi Dry Vermouth (the really cheap stuff), which worked fine. But then I decided to taste it plain....

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
It's this stuff: Cocchi Vermouth di Torino. Good stuff, although I certainly didn't have it by itself.

I see Total Wine has this both in the 375ml and 750ml. I'll have to give it a shot.

Carpano Antica Formula. Yum.

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
Let me know what you think, mneeley490. I was cooking something not long ago and needed some wine to deglaze, but didn't have an open bottle handy (gasp!), so I grabbed the half used bottle of Martini Rossi Dry Vermouth (the really cheap stuff), which worked fine. But then I decided to taste it plain....

BRR, I was at a friends house last Friday, and he offered to make me a Manhattan. He says, "Hey, have you tried this?" and holds up a bottle of the Cocchi. Very good stuff. Beats that Martini Rossi sweet (which is in my house) all to heck.
I hear TW will be putting in a store @ Alderwood, but in the meantime, I have to shag my butt down to Bellevue.

Ha! That's pretty funny coincidence, mneeley490. I found it at a new, small liquor store in Crown Hill and bought it on a whim.

- Ardbeg Uigeadail

Good, but really big scotch. I feel that this might be the "Parkerized" equivalent to single malts.

quote:

Originally posted by Shane T.:
- Ardbeg Uigeadail

Good, but really big scotch. I feel that this might be the "Parkerized" equivalent to single malts.

Good one. I thought the Arbeg was more like a terroir-driven old-school Burgundy, hit by brett, beautiful and ugly at the same time. Not enough fruit for Parker
Wait until you tried the Ardbeg Supernova.

quote:

Originally posted by Shane T.:
- Ardbeg Uigeadail

Good, but really big scotch.

How does it compare in "size" to other Islays? (I have a great fancy for them, but did not try that one yet - worth running into the cold immediately to get one?)

quote:

Originally posted by wineimages.com:

quote:

Originally posted by Shane T.:
- Ardbeg Uigeadail

Good, but really big scotch.

How does it compare in "size" to other Islays? (I have a great fancy for them, but did not try that one yet - worth running into the cold immediately to get one?)

It makes Lagavulin 16 look like a Lowland imho , less medicinal than Laphroaig though, but bigger. The late Mr. Michael Jackson (the Whisky expert/author) qualified Uigedail as "a shock to the system"
Run for it!

... on the way...

quote:

Originally posted by MoselleLuxemburg:

quote:

Originally posted by wineimages.com:

quote:

Originally posted by Shane T.:
- Ardbeg Uigeadail

Good, but really big scotch.

How does it compare in "size" to other Islays? (I have a great fancy for them, but did not try that one yet - worth running into the cold immediately to get one?)

It makes Lagavulin 16 look like a Lowland imho , less medicinal than Laphroaig though, but bigger. The late Mr. Michael Jackson (the Whisky expert/author) qualified Uigedail as "a shock to the system"
Run for it!

+1

Throw any notion of a "Light & Peaty" Islay out the window with this Ardbeg. This one is just plain huge in every way. I'd recommend seeking it out. For my palate however, I'm still a bit partial to bottlings a from Caol Ila & Bruichladich.

Laphroag Quarter Cask

Johnny Drum 101 Bourbon. Very smooth and not hot despite its proof. Buy it if you see it. Not sure if available outside of KY

Kah Reposado Tequila, 110 proof.

Pappy van Winkle 12 Year Bourbon

Balvenie Doublewood 12 yr.

High West Distillery tasting dinner tonight.

- Double Rye (mashbill of a 2 year old 95% rye and a 16 year old 53% rye) Spicy, caramel, robust.

- Rendezvous Rye (a 6 year old 95% rye and a 16 year old 80% rye) This is a Christmas whiskey if I ever had one.

- Son of Bourye (mashbill: a 5 year old 75% corn bourbon, a 3 year old 95% rye) Very much like.

- American Prairie Reserve (mashbill is a 6-year 75% corn bourbon and a 10 year 50% corn bourbon)
Sweeter, more delicate, with softer vanilla.

- Campfire (a mashbill consisting of a 75% corn bourbon, a 95% straight rye, and an 100% malted barley peated scotch) A much, much better product now that they're aging the whiskey in French oak for a period to temper the peat into balance. Quite good, if you ask me (but no one did!)

Templeton Small Batch Rye

a couple Finlandia martinis with blue cheese olives at Morton's happy hour... not bad for their happy hour vodka!