Whisky

[.....]

I don't like whisky (whiskey, bourbon, scotch etc) but like the idea of liking it, if you see what I mean.

The fact that there's so many varieties each with their district flavours appeals to me, it seems like a hobby I'd like.

When I drink whisky all I can taste is the alcohol - is it an acquired taste? For those that drink it, did you taste it and think "This is bloody lovely" or did you have to power through and learn to love it.

Also, has anyone been to a taster session and try a few different varieties and how did it go? I'm considering trying one before accepting the fact that I just don't like the stuff.

Cheers

[owl]

There's a few whiskey threads, but a recent'ish one is here...

Whisky tasting
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Observation is the greatest source of wisdom.

[Rogerborg]

Try a peaty Islay malt - they're all decent, you won't go far wrong with any of them - and spend some time inhaling. If it still tastes like paintstripper, then I'd give up on it.
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[Andy_Pagin]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that good malts are best appreciated with a little water.
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[weasley]

I was exactly where you are 3 years ago. I wanted to like whisky and tried to like it, but didn't. I then spent a couple of weeks in Glasgow with a Scottish colleague who made it a mission to get me 'into' whisky. His (ultimately successful) approach was the polar opposite of Rogerborg's.

He ordered me a 'beginner's whisky' one evening and insisted I took it with a splash of water. It was a Glenmorangie, so a lighter type, and I got it. At the same time he was having some pungent, west isles peaty thing which I tried and could only taste phenol. This is, apparently, characteristic and part of the charm.

I now enjoy a 'lighter' style, with a splash of water, and can taste what's going on (rather like wine). I'm still no connoisseur but I can at least join in with a whisky round at the end of the night.
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[Howling Terror]

This is one of the few whiskeys I don't drop into a cup of tea. It's nice with water (room temperature).

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[struan80]

Being Scottish, and our religious views on whisky, my daughter thought kind to buy me a rather expensive 18 year old Ladaig whisky for Christmas.....supposedly peaty tasting is this fancy whisky

To me it tasted horrendous like sucking on a lump of coal for any possible hydrocarbon liquid that may be inside....!

Give me a double grouse and coke anyday.

My father was embarrassed by my views on whisky. He's died of cancer by drinking malt though. Whisky with coke for the win! With a joint that protects me from cancer and the coke giving me the will to live, I'm sorted.

I'm half pissed this afternoon drinking bucket loads of Irish coffee, would you bargain on it.

[Pigeon]

It's tricky to find what you like in a spirit, just because of the price + size of bottle. Wine is easier, if you don't like it you can smash through the bottle in an evening and move on.

With Whiskey, tastings are surely a good idea.

Recently tried Jura Origin. Honey + toffee. Kept the bottle in the freezer, just poured a glass, gave it a few mins and drank neat.

I drank bottles of Glenmorangie Madeira 15 years ago. About £25 a pop. Now going for £265

[struan80]

Apparently at Gleneagles Hotel there is whisky for sale at hundreds of pounds per nip. Crazy.

[pepperami]

[recman]

[Howling Terror]

@pepperami
Although it leaving you with a typing impediment.
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[.....]

[.....]

I've got a bottle of 17 year old Glengoyne tucked away in the back of the booze cupboard that's more like 20+ years old by now, where does that fit on the whisky spectrum?

[pepperami]

[sickpup]

[.....]

I've had a look online and it's well over £100 a bottle - I've just done a bottle over Christmas adding to to my coffee, should have flogged it instead and used the ancient bottle of Jim Beam I've got.

[stinkwheel]

Some whisky is just nasty (I'm looking at you Bells!), some takes getting used to. Think curries. If your first curry was a phaal, you'd never have a second.

Worth trying a few different types because they are all very different.

When tasting it, have a sip, swirl it round your mouth, swallow then take a tiny second sip.

In terms of Soctch single malts, there are some broad regional differences as well as differences between the individual malts.

A taster session would normally introduce you to the differences between the different regions. By the end, you ought to have some idea what they're on about.

If I was to give you a glass of a lowland malt like Auchentoshan and a glass of an Islay Malt like Ardbeg, you'd be able to tell the difference between them. As it happens, even when I drank a fair bit of whisky, I wouldn't have chosen either, I find the lowland ones insipid and the Islays (with the exception of Bruichladdich) lack subtlety.

I always liked Old Pultney if I could get it or Scappa or Tamdhu.
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[tatters]

Since moving to Western Canada a few years ago l picked up drinking Canadian Rye Whiskey which is very popular here, Never liked Bourbon or Scotch and Rye has a better taste.

Avoid Candian club its shit. Wiser's and Gibsons is what l normally drink.


https://sr1.wine-searcher.net/images/labels/43/52/gibson-s-finest-12-year-old-whiskey-canada-10344352.jpg

https://specsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/004841552018.jpg
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[owl]

This will probably irk some on here but sipping on this at the moment

Yamazaki 12 single malt and it is splendid



https://cdn4.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-2813/yamazaki-12-year-old-whisky.jpg
____________________
Observation is the greatest source of wisdom.

[Pjay]

I love a Macallan, but the prices kill me and I drink it too fast.
I settle for the cheaper 12 year old, but hanker for the more expensive stuff.
I'd much prefer to like Jack Daniels more, but that's garbage.

My advice is to stay not liking it, it can get expensive when you get a taste for the good stuff.

[Poundshop Dave]

I prefer Tobermory Whisky with a cap full of cold tap water.
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[recman]

[Pjay]

[.....]

And this thread proves the problem I'm facing - there's so much to choose from before deciding on what my tipple would be.

I need to sort a taster session somewhere