To Any Scotch or Bourbon drinkers.....

Aye, I love my Scotch, but I also really love a Brandy or Cognac with my vapor just before sleep.

The sense of smell is really incredible. Try sniffing your food before you dig in next time. I find myself fuller, faster this way.

I once had some delicious rum from iceland, based on icelandic moss.
a friend had been on vacation there and took back some(probably only 1 bottle, not really sure) and he had some with him in a flask, 1-2 years back this was I think. didn't really taste like other rum I've had(although I haven't had rum often), I actually don't rteally remember how it tasted, just that it was delicious.

"Based on Icelandic Moss" I like the sound of that...reminds me of why I enjoy this subject so much...it really is like a dark magic mixing and distilling all these ingredients, isn't it?

Alchemy....

Every time I read this thread my mouth mentally waters. In reality its pretty dry from cotton mouth cuz I like to vape before I read "whats New" .Inspired to take a trip to the U.K. to go Whiskey tasting,over Napa Valley wine tasting. Probably would like Napa Valley food more though. Maybe give Haggis a try, who knows, with the right drink.

I love gauging the drink in my palm, sipping and sniffing while taking mental notes of how long it takes to get to this particular scent and aroma. I picture the alcohol evaporating and the sugars concentrating. Drinking in that particular year's harvest of grains. Swirling and seeing the ring of syrup get thicker in time. MMM MMM good. Vaporing really makes all this so much more enjoyable too.

I'm sooooo glad I created this thread. The input you guys are providing is just making my recent experiences with this new endeavor sooo much more enjoyable and multidimensional and I hope it does for others as well.

Good stuff...........

I LOVES me some Old Weller--all kinds!! Their 7 year is one of the best bourbons for under $25, hands-down (IMO). I'm a thoroughbred Kentucky boy and lived there for decades, so bourbon is my true love when it comes to any kind of alcohol. All bourbons are whiskies, but not all whiskies are bourbons

In my ~25 years of savoring bourbons from all over, I must say Blanton's is my favorite so far. You can find more expensive bourbons, but for me (and I like my bourbon with a cube or two of ice) Blanton's is the all around best.

As for Scotch, I've tried a few and REALLY dig Oban (of course, it's ~$70 per bottle, wouldn't you know it).

Great thread!

Edit: Oh, and right now I'm sipping Woodford while fucking around with my music. (Yes, of course I'm vaped too)

So the first single malt I tried was the Glenlivet 12yr. Liked it a lot. Now trying out the Highland Park 12. For me, the Highland is just too smokey on the finish. Next up will either be the Dalmore 12, Balvenie 12 Doublewood, MaCallan 12, Laphroaig 10 or the Glenlivet 15.

I should probably scratch the Laphroaig off my list then. I heard that it to is pretty smokey.

Not too many bourbon drinkers in this thread yet, it appears, but perhaps you'd all be interested to know Maker's Mark just announced they were reducing alcohol content to meet increased demand for their bourbon (speculation is demand coming from emerging markets). Simply put, they're running out of bourbon and need to dilute to meet demand. I have long been burnt out on Maker's and for years have much preferred small batch and boutique bourbons over the mass-produced stuff. But I find this interesting, even slightly disturbing being a Kentucky boy.

Lame, I won't ever buy Makers again now.

I reserve the right to water down my own drinks, dammit!

I love single malts. McCallan is my absolute favorite producer. The sherry casks impart an amazing quality. They are very proud of that name so it will cost you, but once you try them i think you will agree.

I am a huge Sherry fan...so this sounds delicious.

Big Bourbon fan here! I saw that about MM and had the same reaction... Better products available for less $$$ anyway. That said, it is a great door opener for a lot of people starting their way down the "bourbon trail". Buffalo Trace is an exceptional value in my opinion. Woodford Reserve also at the top of my list as well. When our mint starts popping up in the garden in spring, I get excited for Julep season! I do love Scotch also. Tried many of the ones mentioned and enjoy them. Surprisingly, Dewar's White is not bad as a daily sipper that is very affordable. Throw down $$ for special occasions with anything from the good folks at Macallen's for me.

A word on adding water; many pro tasters do add water to open up the flavor. Less alcohol burn on the tongue allowing for more of the complex flavors to come through. Me? I will take it however you choose to pour it!

Amen, happyTrails!

Ok guys....so my glasses have arrived from Amazon and I just got back from the liquor store. At the suggestion of the proprietor I picked up a bottle of Blended Chivas Regal 18 and a bottle of Balvenie single malt 15. Let the tasting begin. Should be a good night. I'm gonna chill at my vaporization station later and sip on some spirits . let you guys know how it goes....

Sip AND smell. Actually, I do more smellin' than sippin'.... .

Anxious to hear your reviews............ You got some of the GOOD stuff there. Balvenie is on my short list.

Did ya get the Glencairn glasses? I ordered mine from Amazon as well. They're really nice.

They say that the enjoyment of scotch is an acquired taste, and I know for me, it took about 4 glasses over 4 days before I really was able to settle into it, so if your experience is not that great out of the chute, I suggest to do a repeat for 3 or 4 days and then see how ya like it.

I still nurse an ounce and a half over about 2 to 3 hours.

Btw, check these out. Really easy to measure without having to stoop down or lift up the glass. You can just look in from the top. E-Z Step Jigger (from Amazon as well):

Yes I probably have the same glasses as you, I saw the pic that you posted. Anyways I have begun sipping. I started with the single malt. I think you are right about the acquired taste thing. The first sip and I'm like... Blahh all I taste is strong alcohol. But after lightly letting it touch my lips and sipping more, the subtleties start to come out. I'm also noticing that after it sits in the glass for a while you really begin to smell and taste "things". I'm starting to taste a very identifiable vanillaness if you will. Very sweet tasting but in a honey sweet way....not sugary if that makes sense. Smooth smooth smooth....just glides down your palate. I'm liking this... !

On another note.....the taste of vapor right after a sip...Unbeleivable. Almost like the scotch awakens some hidden taste buds that allow you to taste even more flavors from your botanical. Will report back on the Blended when I crack it open.

Someone described the Balvenie 15 as follows:

Nose: Honey and peach, buttery baked goods, angel food cake, white port wine, honeysuckle and freshly-cut flowers. Butterscotch.

Palate: Rich with honey and marzipan, low-burn. Clear and unmuddied heather at the beginning, middle, and end. Like liquid candy, but not cloyingly so. Delicate and floral on the attack, growing more nutty and with darker cooked-fruit flavors… like peach pie.

Wow ... The sounds like poetry... That person obviously loves him or her some whiskey!

But yeah as I sip I do notice some of the above, albeit not so elegantly stated...

Edit: I'm thinking by my forth glass, I may be writing like that as well...

Edit: I just tried the Chivas and right off the bat I think I like the Balvenie more. More research needed.... I'm not finding anything in paricular jumping out like the single malt. Also a bit harsher going down. Kinda has a bite going down...spicy.

Edit: holy crap this is great. It must be like wine where you need to let it breathe for a few minutes for the notes to come alive. The longer I let it sit in the glass the more flavors I'm discovering. I also love a Guinness Draught. So I decided to have one while sipping and the bitterness perfectly offsets the whiskey notes. I'm noticing the sweetness even more. I'm thinking that I will be goIng down a long road of discovery with this new hobby... Thanks FC!

Edit: The Balvenie is just amazing... I wonder what the 21year old Balvenie Portwood tastes like.

As a matter of fact, I picked up a bottle of BT today. It was from a barrel that my local shop picked out.

^^BT is one of my favs!!! Def. can't beat it for the price.

Laphroaig has a distinct flavor. I was immediately intriqued upon my first sip. It wasn't love at first taste. But I grew very fond of it. Very 'peaty', but worth a try, even if you just get a glass at the bar instead of buying a 1/5th.