What Are You Sipping on Lately? (Spirits Thread)

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

just go to the liquor store and look on the bottom shelf.

Truf!

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by FuriouslyFast

Who wants to recommend some new whiskeys and/or vodkas for me to try? Nothing expensive.

I don't personally buy much of anything under $40. But I can say that Russian Standard is your best bet for Vodka and Crown Royal for Whiskey.

[TXSTYLE]

Grabbed this tonight whilst grocery shopping. I love Peach and Apricot so I had to try...

[M_Six]

I'm beginning to warm up to this Black Barrel. Still not sure I'd buy another bottle, but I am developing a "tolerance" for it.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I'm beginning to warm up to this Black Barrel. Still not sure I'd buy another bottle, but I am developing a "tolerance" for it.

You've had 17 or 18 by now

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

You've had 17 or 18 by now

Not that many yet. 17 shots in a bottle. About half way through at this point.

[Uber Commuter]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I'm beginning to warm up to this Black Barrel. Still not sure I'd buy another bottle, but I am developing a "tolerance" for it.

Try it with a splash of water, just a few drops should release more of the sweetness to balance the smoke.

Unless you already have, then just keep sipping...

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by FuriouslyFast

Who wants to recommend some new whiskeys and/or vodkas for me to try? Nothing expensive.

Depends on what you consider cheap.
Under $30 I would probably say Old Granddad 114, Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig Small Batch

Under $40 a few more options open up, namely Four Roses Single Barrel, Old Forrester single barrel, 1792 Bottled in Bond, pretty much any Knob Creek store pick (might be a buck over $40)

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

I don't personally buy much of anything under $40. But I can say that Russian Standard is your best bet for Vodka and Crown Royal for Whiskey.

meh, I would only use crown to mix, it is over-price and over-rated.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Depends on what you consider cheap.
Under $30 I would probably say Old Granddad 114, Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig Small Batch

Under $40 a few more options open up, namely Four Roses Single Barrel, Old Forrester single barrel, 1792 Bottled in Bond, pretty much any Knob Creek store pick (might be a buck over $40)


meh, I would only use crown to mix, it is over-price and over-rated.

Not really sure I like or not the Four Roses. Right now it goes into the diet coke since Jack hasn't been opened.

Don't discount that Crown in the Rye mixture. I went back for a second bottle, and it wasn't because I needed to put another fishing reel in a pouch

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Depends on what you consider cheap.
Under $30 I would probably say Old Granddad 114, Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig Small Batch

Under $40 a few more options open up, namely Four Roses Single Barrel, Old Forrester single barrel, 1792 Bottled in Bond, pretty much any Knob Creek store pick (might be a buck over $40)


meh, I would only use crown to mix, it is over-price and over-rated.

We will agree to disagree. I've been drinking Crown since the early 90s. There is nothing as smooth for the money in Whiskey, period.
And I've sampled damn near everything in every price point.
Everything you mentioned isn't as smooth. Granted some may prefer bold flavors. For me, the smoother the better.

[Maynard]

For cheap drinking, the best advice I ever got was to go with a bourbon. Even if dirt cheap, they are still good quality whiskey (i.e. pot still, not column distilled pollution, and aged at least 2yrs). The 'scotch blends' and 'canadian' stuff is usually only about 10% pot still, the rest is fresh from the column and full of hangover-toxins. That said, for cheaper scotch I'm a fan of Ballantines (but haven't tried Crown since I was sneaking booze from parents' cabinets). Laphroaig Quarter Cask is probably the best value I know of in single malts, if you like peat - for me it is about as good as they make, but not their most expensive. If you don't like peat, stick with the bourbons. Some of the distilleries also sell to re-labellers, so you can sometimes find good stuff for less under a 'new name' (I think Costco does this w/ Lagavulin?).

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by Maynard

For cheap drinking, the best advice I ever got was to go with a bourbon. Even if dirt cheap, they are still good quality whiskey (i.e. pot still, not column distilled pollution, and aged at least 2yrs). The 'scotch blends' and 'canadian' stuff is usually only about 10% pot still, the rest is fresh from the column and full of hangover-toxins. That said, for cheaper scotch I'm a fan of Ballantines (but haven't tried Crown since I was sneaking booze from parents' cabinets). Laphroaig Quarter Cask is probably the best value I know of in single malts, if you like peat - for me it is about as good as they make, but not their most expensive. If you don't like peat, stick with the bourbons. Some of the distilleries also sell to re-labellers, so you can sometimes find good stuff for less under a 'new name' (I think Costco does this w/ Lagavulin?).

No peat for me

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Uber Commuter

Try it with a splash of water, just a few drops should release more of the sweetness to balance the smoke.

Unless you already have, then just keep sipping...

I always add a splash of seltzer.

[Orange fever]

Mixing tonight

[upstatedoc]

OK going back to that swanky Mexican joint tonight. Here is the list if you can see it

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

OK going back to that swanky Mexican joint tonight. Here is the list if you can see it

I think your camera was drunk.

[TXSTYLE]

Don't forget to Hydrate! One if the things that I strongly advise, especially for my middle-aged and older guys like myself, drinking/sipping some water while drinking alcohol.
Thought I'd try these to see what all the hype is about. Very good!

[M_Six]

I often have a full tumbler of seltzer between whiskey/seltzer drinks. It does work.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by FuriouslyFast

Who wants to recommend some new whiskeys and/or vodkas for me to try? Nothing expensive.

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond 101. White Label.

[Ejnobody]

the little guys are scotch filled chocolates

[bobowar135]

Originally Posted by Maynard

I'd recc decanting it someplace nicer than the bathroom (or you have the strangest barback collection I've ever seen). And kudos for the Bell gear.

Lol, that's my kitchen bench. I take photos there because the lighting is ideal, no other reason. Maybe I'm just a crappy photographer.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Last bottle of gin was from Boston, this time I'm keeping it local with some Jersey hooch..