FabSwingers.com forum: Whiskey.

By *RF12 OP Couple
over a year ago

Colchester

What's your favourite?

And what would you recommend to a novice?

Fire away!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Middleton Rare number one, Then Red spot, Jameson is great to start off with

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *orraine999Woman
over a year ago

Somewhere

I like Jameson or Macallan.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ustbelfastMan
over a year ago

Belfast

Depends on your taste buds.

I'm a peaty Scotch fan but then have midweek sippers

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *yrdsisWoman
over a year ago

Gleam Street

Laphroaig is delightful

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ENGUYMan
over a year ago

Hull

"What's your favourite?

And what would you recommend to a novice?

Fire away!"

Note, there are differences between Whisky and Whiskey.

Whisky is usually Scottish, though can be attributed to Japanese or Canadian brands.

Whiskey is either of Irish origin, or Bourbon / Rye varieties.

With my past expertise in Bar work, my recommendation to people has been, if they wish to try a softer taste on the palate, is Balvenie 12 year old.

It doesn't have the often more peaty aftertaste but is much smoother and very palatable for a beginner.

I've also "surprised" seasoned Whisky drinkers who'd never considered it as an option.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *orraine999Woman
over a year ago

Somewhere

I’d like to try some of the Japanese Whiskys. Has anyone tried them? Recommendations?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I knew there’d be a whiskey geek

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

didnt even know they made whiskey lol

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *erces LetiferMan
over a year ago

Somewhere off the edge of the map... 'ere there be monsters

There are several differnt types of whisk(e)y, with the main / most popular type being scotch (has to come from a Scottish distillery), which can range from light and floral, sweet and spicy, or smokey and challenging (and everything inbetween). My favourite scotch (so far) is Highland Park 12 single malt.

Next up is bourbon. Comes from the US (mainly Kentuky), tends to be sweeter but also less 'smooth' or 'complex', instead having a slighly more punchy or harsh finish. Mostly due to having to be distilled in brand new charred oak barrels, whereas scotch can be aged and finished in a wide variety of barrels for additional layers and flavourings (like cherry casks). My favourtie bourbon (so far) is Maker's Mark, or Woodford Reserve.

Irish whiskey used to rule the world until it all but disappeared and the Scots took over... thankfully they've had a revival since and have come back swinging. Irish is maybe my favourite whisk(e)y overall so far. It can be as simple and sweet as the most basic bourbon or it can be as deep and complex as a single malt scotch. My favourites (so far) are Red Breast 12 followed closely by Green Spot.

Then there's Canadian, Rye, Japanese, even English whiskies have started to emerge... there's never been as many distilleries as there are today, and more spring up every day, it seems. I've not got into Japanese whiskey yet, but what little I've researched is that they started by imitating single malt scotch as closely as possible, before making it their own, but still very floral or fruity or peaty. You pay a premium for it over here, though, which is the reverse of Japanese folk getting scotch in, I guess.

I'd happily recommend any of my favourites I mentioned above, alongside any that you'd find in the supermarket. Just get some and try them out, everyone's different with their own tastes, etc. Drink it neat, with ice, in a cocktail, whatever you want. Don't let anybody tell you you're wrong for enjoying it the way you want to, or that there's one twue way to drink it, or that there's only one twue type or brand, etc.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Agree with the post above, Highland Park is good. I also like Balvenie or Johnny Walker black label

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *osco78Man
over a year ago

Sheffield

Talisker ,love the stuff

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ommenhimCouple
over a year ago

wigan

"I like Jameson or Macallan. "

I don’t know if I can forgive it but it’s The Macallan. My choice op is The Macallan nothing else comes close x

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *olarbear73Man
over a year ago

Glasgow

Scotch Whisky - Aberlour A'bunadh

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I personally don’t like whiskey but will drink Irish or Bourbon with an American Dry mixer, probably because they are sweeter.

An ex only liked to drink Chivas Regal.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *lim and louiseCouple
over a year ago

dromore

Sheep dip for me one of a few whiskeys I like

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Love a good single malt or gentleman jack

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Bushmills Black Bush, Irish whiskey.

I'm sure we have all tried a black bush

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *hatawasteMan
over a year ago

stafford

As a beginner I would recommend you avoid what everyone else seems to do when they want to ' try' whiskey/y

Blended supermarket own brand stuff . Some people might get like it but it's not to my taste .neither would I recommend anything blended to begin with

I'd suggest ..

something like a Glenlivet or Jura or aberlour ..something lightish from one of the Speyside distilleries to begin the journey .

If you want to go in the deep end and try to the ' peaty ' ones .. they taste smokey and are something to get used to in my opinion then something like a tallisker, ardbeg or similar is good .. but you need to be cautious as the taste is something you have to get used to .

And as everyone says ( or should have done already ) it's a journey ..Whisky isn't just a ' short' you throw down your neck without tasting it ..also it's not that cheap to buy so I would suggest doing some reading up on it how it's kept ,aged and different barrels sherry , bourbon etc and maybe then buying smaller size bottles to try out first ..unless you want to go off the deep end of course .

Once you have a few tastings under your belt you will know what you like and learn to appreciate it for what it is ..

Once lockdown is over maybe plan a short break to a distillery area and try a good few ..that's the best way to learn

Also same rules for Irish whiskey .

Try powers ,red breast or something more commercial Jameson's ,Black bush

Bottoms up!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ottoncandy42Woman
over a year ago

Northampton

Jura for sure, enjoy

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Jack Daniels for Mixing

Jura, Haig Club & Dalmore for the Rocks

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *oiluvfunMan
over a year ago

Penrith

The Balvenie, 14 years matured in Caribbean Rum casks

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ottoncandy42Woman
over a year ago

Northampton

[Removed by poster at 31/01/21 11:47:47]

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"The Balvenie, 14 years matured in Caribbean Rum casks

Ooooooo. Going to have to try that. What are the notes like?

Been tempted to buy Glendvich IPA which is in a IPA barrell

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ottoncandy42Woman
over a year ago

Northampton

"Jack Daniels for Mixing

Jura, Haig Club & Dalmore for the Rocks "

Jura’s ruined with rocks, try it neat..

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Ment on the Rocks (Ice) sorry.

But good to know

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I’d like to try some of the Japanese Whiskys. Has anyone tried them? Recommendations?"

Yoichi single malt is incredible.

Most Japanese whiskey is good with strong flavour, but I find many a bit hot/harsh/young.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Do you prefer sweet, smokey/peaty, or balanced OP? Xx

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *orkshire 123Man
over a year ago

Bradford

Love a glass of glenmorangie

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *yantico86Man
over a year ago

drumchapel

American smoked wood Is lovely

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *parkle1974Woman
over a year ago

Leeds

Being Scottish then it has to be Cardhu x

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ust4funcoupleCouple
over a year ago

Moira

The Woodsman is my current triple of choice.. Tullamore Dew then Haig Club

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *oiluvfunMan
over a year ago

Penrith

"The Balvenie, 14 years matured in Caribbean Rum casks

Ooooooo. Going to have to try that. What are the notes like?

Been tempted to buy Glendvich IPA which is in a IPA barrell"

It’s lovely, definitely my go-to treat when I see it on offer in Sainsburys

I only ever drink it straight with ice, it’s very smooth, and quite sweet, similar to a Glenmorangie, just a fuller flavour with that extra ageing

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *renzMan
over a year ago

Between Chichester and Havant

"Sheep dip for me one of a few whiskeys I like"

Totally agree. That or pigs nose.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"The Balvenie, 14 years matured in Caribbean Rum casks

Ooooooo. Going to have to try that. What are the notes like?

Been tempted to buy Glendvich IPA which is in a IPA barrell

It’s lovely, definitely my go-to treat when I see it on offer in Sainsburys

I only ever drink it straight with ice, it’s very smooth, and quite sweet, similar to a Glenmorangie, just a fuller flavour with that extra ageing

Sounds sexy. Will give it a try

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *risTheHornyBikerMan
over a year ago

Bristol

A bit harder to find in the UK but 4 roses is a nice bourbon. But if its everyday drinking I like a bit of Jameson's.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *erces LetiferMan
over a year ago

Somewhere off the edge of the map... 'ere there be monsters

"The Balvenie, 14 years matured in Caribbean Rum casks

Ooooooo. Going to have to try that. What are the notes like?

Been tempted to buy Glendvich IPA which is in a IPA barrell"

Mmm, that does sound very nice. Jameson do some interesting ones that I've not tried either, likt Stout and IPA finishes. Their Black Barrel is delicious, though. Would also recommend that one.

"A bit harder to find in the UK but 4 roses is a nice bourbon. But if its everyday drinking I like a bit of Jameson's."

I've been wanted to get hold of Four Roses for a long time now. Definitely a gap in my bourbon collection. I've read about how a bar / resturant somewhere in New Orleans cook up a whole packed of maple cured bacon in a giant pan and then pour an entire bottle of Four Roses into the pan before taking out all the meat, fat and oil and filtering it back into the bottle again and hey presto - a maple bacon infused bottle of Four Roses to use for their drams and cocktails. Yummy!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *urham 3 riversMan
over a year ago

Co. Durham

Cutty Sark is a good Scotsh

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *asygoingguy82Man
over a year ago

bognor

If you can find it Oban is a lovely single malt

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

as a session drink I recommend grouse as a sipper i recommend glenfiddich

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

For a beginner try auchentoshan, or however you spell it

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

Post new Message to Thread