NationStates Jolt Archive

What is your favorite whiskey?

I prefer Macallan 12 y.o. or good old Johnny Walker black. Sometimes I'll get Laphroaig for that nice smokey flavor.

Jameson 12 y.o. for Irish whiskey.

Maker's Mark for US bourbon.

Johnny Walker. All the way.

I prefer Macallan 12 y.o. or good old Johnny Walker black. Sometimes I'll get Laphroaig for that nice smokey flavor.
None of which are actually whiskey. :p

Eh...Bushmills I suppose. Don't like many others.

Ahhh this again.

I have many

Ursquebach
Glen Rothies
Isle of Jura
Ardbeg
Dalwhinnie
GlenMorangie
BlackBush

There are others.....

my favorite whiskey?

whatever kind the tall dark handsome stranger offers me in his (hopefully successful) attempt to seduce me.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask.

I only drink whiskey if I want to get wasted. That said there’s nothing that beats a couple shots of Wild Turkey. It’s vile yet numbing.

If I want to enjoy a drink it's always beer.

my favorite whiskey?

whatever kind the tall dark handsome stranger offers me in his (hopefully successful) attempt to seduce me.

Hmmmm?

Now where's that bottle of Dalwhinnie? ;)

I only drink whiskey if I want to get wasted. That said there’s nothing that beats a couple shots of Wild Turkey. It’s vile yet numbing.

If I want to enjoy a drink it's always beer.

Ugh! I can't stand the stuff anymore!

I once got pissed at a girl and decided to take it out on a bottle. Ugh I was miserable the next day.

Can't even stand the smell of it....

None of which are actually whiskey. :p

Eh...Bushmills I suppose. Don't like many others.


Scotch is catagorized as a whiskey or whisky. Just so you know.

Scotch is catagorized as a whiskey or whisky. Just so you know.
Nah, it's not. Scotch is always "whisky". Anything else is probably fake.

Johnny Walker. All the way.
yeah

Talisker
Tullamore Dew
The Dalmore
Jack Daniels (Gentleman Jack)

Nah, it's not. Scotch is always "whisky". Anything else is probably fake.

Most well-known dictionaries give both spellings. The Oxford English Dictionary points out that ‘in modern trade usage, Scotch Whisky and Irish Whiskey are thus distinguished in spelling’. American-made whiskey is usually spelt with an ‘e’.

So, get off my back because I forgot to leave out the 'e'.

Most well-known dictionaries give both spellings. The Oxford English Dictionary points out that ‘in modern trade usage, Scotch Whisky and Irish Whiskey are thus distinguished in spelling’. American-made whiskey is usually spelt with an ‘e’.

Well, there you go. Irish Whiskey is not Scotch, so Scotch shouldn't be spelt whiskey.

So, get off my back because I forgot to leave out the 'e'.
Sorry, it's just one of those things that annoys me :)

Lagavulin, or Macallan 25 yr old.

Really, I mostly drink blends. Queen's Choice or Johnny Walker.

Glenfiddich if I am drinking scotch

But personaly mixed I preffer kentuky

Though latly for drinking it strait I like philips union cherry

Kind of like a very good manhatan

Most well-known dictionaries give both spellings. The Oxford English Dictionary points out that ‘in modern trade usage, Scotch Whisky and Irish Whiskey are thus distinguished in spelling’. American-made whiskey is usually spelt with an ‘e’.

The actual, legal difference between the spellings:

Whisky =Canadian or Scotch
Whiskey = American or Irish

There are a few exceptions, such as Maker's Mark. Made in America, but spelled without the e. But the founder of the brand was Scottish born, and petitioned to be allowed to use the alternate spelling. There are also some crappy brands which refuse to abide by the rules. There isn't really a way to enforce spelling regulations across national borders, so they are just looked down upon, kinda like american sparking wine that is labled "champagne", even though it isn't really Champagne.


Oh, and to answer the op's question, my favorites (since the different kinds are actually very different things) are....

American Whiskey: Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Irish Whiskey: meh, they're all crap
Canadian Whisky: Wiser's 18yr
Scotch (blended): J. Walker Green Label
Scotch (SM): Argbeg Providence

Vat 69.

The actual, legal difference between the spellings:

Whisky =Canadian or Scotch
Whiskey = American or Irish

There are a few exceptions, such as Maker's Mark. Made in America, but spelled without the e. But the founder of the brand was Scottish born, and petitioned to be allowed to use the alternate spelling. There are also some crappy brands which refuse to abide by the rules. There isn't really a way to enforce spelling regulations across national borders, so they are just looked down upon, kinda like american sparking wine that is labled "champagne", even though it isn't really Champagne.


Oh, and to answer the op's question, my favorites (since the different kinds are actually very different things) are....

American Whiskey: Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Irish Whiskey: meh, they're all crap
Canadian Whisky: Wiser's 18yr
Scotch (blended): J. Walker Green Label
Scotch (SM): Argbeg Providence
my, how comprehensive. I'm impressed.

never tried walker green...I'll have to get me a sample. whats the price on it compared to the other walkers?

Laphroaig is my personal fave. Though Lagavulin is second by mere one hundreths.

Well, there you go. Irish Whiskey is not Scotch, so Scotch shouldn't be spelt whiskey.


Sorry, it's just one of those things that annoys me :)


Perhaps one day I'll make it over to Ireland and we can argue about the 'e' over a bottle of your favorite scotch and the first to pass out wins. What do you say to that?

Jameson 12 y/o is great stuff.

Tully is pretty good too.

Perhaps one day I'll make it over to Ireland and we can argue about the 'e' over a bottle of your favorite scotch and the first to pass out wins. What do you say to that?
I'd probably be sick first, I'm not a big fan of the taste of any whisky :p

The Balvenie 12 yr old is one of my favorites.

I also have 3/4 of a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label left, which I've only shared on special occaisions, due to its price.

I'd probably be sick first, I'm not a big fan of the taste of any whisky :p


Pints of beer then?

The first whisky I ever had was Glenfiddich 30 yr, $230 bucks for the bottle, which was a hell of an introduction. It was absolutely heaven. Glenmorangie is going to be the next one, then some Islay whiskies. On that note, how do you pronounce Islay?

Pints of beer then?
At'll do :)

The first whisky I ever had was Glenfiddich 30 yr, $230 bucks for the bottle, which was a hell of an introduction. It was absolutely heaven. Glenmorangie is going to be the next one, then some Islay whiskies. On that note, how do you pronounce Islay?


There are two: Islay and Islay Mist. Both I assume from the Island of Islay off the Scottish Coast. I do believe you pronounce it I-lay. The 's' is silent.

my favorite? HA! NOTHING (excuse me from being rude, but you see, is just a joke. i hope you dont take it seriously. and i was never fond of alcohols. believe me, i have tasted it.)

Maker's Mark for US bourbon.

All bourbon is US, by definition. There's also people who'll tell you that if it wasn't made in Kentucky, it ain't bourbon. ;) BATF regulations also state that Kentucky is the only State allowed to put its name on bourbon.

And Jack Daniels should be on your list. :p

All bourbon is US, by definition. There's also people who'll tell you that if it wasn't made in Kentucky, it ain't bourbon. ;) BATF regulations also state that Kentucky is the only State allowed to put its name on bourbon.

And Jack Daniels should be on your list. :p


I was originally going to put JD on the list, but I decided only to add the makers that are recommended by Whisky Magazine. Maker's Mark is not recommend and it was a personal choice that I added it to the poll over JD.

As regards to Bourbon Whiskey, the United States Regulations provide:

(i) that Bourbon Whiskey must be produced from a mash of not less than 51% corn grain;

(ii) that the word ‘Bourbon’ shall not be used to describe any whiskey or whiskey-based distilled spirits not produced in the United States.

The kind my family used to make........short of that I have to be redneck and say Jack Daniels.

This stuff (http://www.crownroyal.com/agecheck/?source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crownroyal.com%2F) is pretty damn good.

This stuff (http://www.crownroyal.com/agecheck/?source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crownroyal.com%2F) is pretty damn good.
ah, crown and coke......very nice. ;)

ah, crown and coke......very nice. ;)

Agreed!

I think I'm gonna put my order in for a case of this (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060227/ap_on_fe_st/britain_whisky_galore).


I should get delivery about my 55th birthday.

I'm surprised that there aren't more bourbon drinkers represented here. That mouth o' peat just isn't my favorite way to relax. On the other hand, a drink like Small Batch Bourbons from Jim Beam is nice and light and pretty darned good. For those of you on a budget, although from all the talk about single malts, no one seems to be, Old Forester is another nice light bourbon that isn't going to break you.

I think I'm gonna put my order in for a case of this (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060227/ap_on_fe_st/britain_whisky_galore).


I should get delivery about my 55th birthday.


Yea, after one glass it can go in the will, eh?

The kind my family used to make........short of that I have to be redneck and say Jack Daniels.
Mmmm, corn liquor.

Mmmm, corn liquor.
wheat actually. They had thier own still. ;)

pretty much you could walk near it and get drunk, I snuck some when I was about 9, after half a drink I thought I was going to die......it was great:p

wheat actually. They had thier own still. ;)

pretty much you could walk near it and get drunk, I snuck some when I was about 9, after half a drink I thought I was going to die......it was great:p
I guess grain is grain. We made ours from corn because it was easier to steal ... I mean find, yeah we found it.

There are two: Islay and Islay Mist. Both I assume from the Island of Islay off the Scottish Coast. I do believe you pronounce it I-lay. The 's' is silent.

Actually, there are several Islay distilleries, my favorite being Ardbeg. And it is pronounced I-la. As in eye and luh, like duh.

I used to run a liquor and wine store, and I had a great Single Malt Scotch selection.

The local soil, water, and peat are the determining factors in what a single malt tastes like, so they are categorized by region. Single malts can be divided into three main categories: Islay, Highland, and Lowland. There are also a few other sub-categories: Speyside (a very popular Highland section), Campbeltown (formerly a good area, but almost all closed down now), and the other islands. Jura is an island whose entire population revolves around its one distillery, and is usually lumped in with Islay category-wise. The rest of the islands are usually lumped in with the Highlands.

A few brand examples-
Highland: Glenmorangie
Lowland: Glenkinchie
Islay: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Laphroaig
Speyside (Highland): Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet
Other Islands (Highland): Highland Park
Campbeltown: Springbank

My favs are Highland Park, Macallan, and almost all the Islay scotches, especially Ardbeg.

Actually, there are several Islay distilleries, my favorite being Ardbeg. And it is pronounced I-la. As in eye and luh, like duh.



The original poster was only wondering what brand had the Islay name and not how many distillers there are in the Islay region. At least that is the way I took the question. Anybody that knows the basics of scotch should know there are many distillers there. As for the pronunciation I was told by my Irish friend William that it's I-lay, but if you're from Scotland you might know better than he. Being American I want to pronounce it with the 's'.

Ardbeg Kildalton is a very fine single scotch as is Laphroaig 17 y.o. cask strength.

For Irish Whiskey, either a simple, but perfect Jameson, or Powers 12 yo
For Scotch, Glendronach.

For burbon... well, a very wise person once said that burbon is for people who like to drink perfume. I don't. :D

For Irish Whiskey, either a simple, but perfect Jameson, or Powers 12 yo
For Scotch, Glendronach.

For burbon... well, a very wise person once said that burbon is for people who like to drink perfume. I don't. :D
It's funny how we will find analogies to belittle whiskey that we don't like. My favorite way of describing Scotch is a 'mouth o' peat'. I'd never heard of bourbon compared to perfume, though.

It's funny how we will find analogies to belittle whiskey that we don't like. My favorite way of describing Scotch is a 'mouth o' peat'. I'd never heard of bourbon compared to perfume, though.

Heard that one from an Irishman... and couldn't help but agree.
Burbon tends to have a nice smell, but the "taste"... well, that's something I'd rather forget.

Heard that one from an Irishman... and couldn't help but agree.
Burbon tends to have a nice smell, but the "taste"... well, that's something I'd rather forget.
I think a taste for any variety of whiskey tends to be an acquired one. Stuff like Seagrams Seven and Crown Royal are about the most mild and thus tasteless. Aside from those, I'm not sure it's a natural thing to go out and drink any hard liquor without some sort of mixer on one's first attempts.

I think a taste for any variety of whiskey tends to be an acquired one. Stuff like Seagrams Seven and Crown Royal are about the most mild and thus tasteless. Aside from those, I'm not sure it's a natural thing to go out and drink any hard liquor without some sort of mixer on one's first attempts.

To be honest, I don't remember.
My grandfather would distill his own Slivovic, the adults would drink it, and us kids would try to lick the very last droplets out of the glasses, mainly because we loved the smell so much. I don't remember at what age I had my first glass of hard liquor, I don't even remember if I already was in my teens or not.

Whiskey was something different again, and I found my way via Jameson, just because it's so incredibly smooth but still very aromatic. Maybe I was spoiled rotten by my grandfather's very good tastes when it came to liquor, but I just can't stand burbon, sorry. It's all smell and no taste.

To be honest, I don't remember.
My grandfather would distill his own Slivovic, the adults would drink it, and us kids would try to lick the very last droplets out of the glasses, mainly because we loved the smell so much. I don't remember at what age I had my first glass of hard liquor, I don't even remember if I already was in my teens or not.

Whiskey was something different again, and I found my way via Jameson, just because it's so incredibly smooth but still very aromatic. Maybe I was spoiled rotten by my grandfather's very good tastes when it came to liquor, but I just can't stand burbon, sorry. It's all smell and no taste.
No problem here, we all have our favorite vices. We North Georgia boys all know how to brew up a batch of corn liquor, so it's just natural to buy bourbon when we get tired of making it ourselves. I suspect that if we grew up distilling peat, we'd all have a taste for Scotch.