Posted: 8/31/2008 5:12:42 PM EDT
| How long does it last once the bottle is opened? Also, any suggestions? I'm partial to Crown, but I'm looking to branch out. |
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Don't know on the question of how long but I have a suggestion if you enjoy Crown and want to try something else. It's called Forty Creek. A friend turned me on to it, it's a very good blended Canadian whisky. Give it a try ! http://www.fortycreekwhisky.com/history/patiencetimetalent.asp |
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Did anyone see the FOX morning show (Friday IIRC)?? They were talking to a chef from some swanky resteraunt down the street from the RNC....and hes showing off their signature dishes  He had a bottle of Maccallan Lalique that was aged 55 years  in rosewood sherry casks!!The stuff was $550 a shot !!!  (yes......five hundred fifty a shot)ETA.......LUXIST......$12,000 a bottle (YIKES!) |
And I thought crown was expensive |
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Time out guys. In the old days, my mother would make steak, fries and a tossed salad on Sunday. Then we kids would drink Old Grand Dad on the rocks. Yep. age 12. Old fashioned family. If you did stuff, you did it at home. Thanks for reminding me. Once, I bought my older brother a case of Old Grand Dad because he liked to eat laced Pecan Pie. I guess I have to go out and order a case. |
I got a bottle of Bushmills in the cabinet I need to try. I really like Jim Beam. |
Bushmills is Northern Ireland... practically England! |
Unlike wine, whiskey (as spelled by American's and the Irish), or whisky (Canadian and Scottish spelling) stops aging the instant that it is bottled. So anyone thinking that if they save a fifth of VO or Jack Daniels for 25 years and think it will be worth something, should just drink that bottle you are saving. After only a few months of a bottle being opened, the product will begin to break down. However, this break down is negligible for taste purposes, unless you are a beverage connoisseur. With that said, if you stock a liquor cabinet at home, etc., I would limit a bottle being open for no more than two years. If you are looking to branch out, I would suggest a different type of whiskey. If you like Crown Royal, perhaps you may like a good bourbon, such as Maker's Mark, or Knob Creek. I prefer Scotch whisky, and a very smooth tasting bottle would be the single malt scotch, The Glen Livet. It is a bit expensive, but if you drink it for the taste, instead of trying to get hammered, it is very flavorful and smooth. A cheaper blended scotch would be Johnny Walker Red / Black. These are blended, but for someone new to scotch, they would be a fine jumping off point. Chivas Regal is also a good scotch whisky. Also, there are some great brands of Irish whiskey, such as Midleton and Jameson. The trick to drinking scotch is to drink it neat (in a glass by itself, with no ice), or on the rocks. You can add a bit of water to the cocktail to bring out the flavor of it more, but I prefer it just straight on the rocks. I do not recommend mixing pop or cola with scotch, like you would with a Crown and coke, etc. The flavor of scotch is best drank by itself, or with water. Adding a cola does not go with the flavor and taste of scotch. If you have to add a carbonated beverage to the scotch, I would recommend ginger ale, as it compliments the flavors and makes a smooth, refreshing mixed drink. Cheers. |
It's probably not fit for a tasting competition after a few days and not fit for sale to discriminating customers after a few weeks. It may be less than ideal for the more sophisticated palate after a few months. To reach an undrinkable state would take decades, maybe longer. Canadian is my least favorite, by far. I prefer Bourbon (Jack Daniels is not bourbon, but it's still an acceptable spirit for me) followed by Irish then Scotch. Scotch just doesn't turn me on like it does some folks. In any case, find one or three that you like and try a new one every tenth bottle or so. Of the small batch, high end brands I like Basil Hayden's and Woodford Reserve. For everyday drinking I prefer the fairly cheap Evan Williams over Jim Beam. Rebel Yell is also good, IMO. When it's time for Irish, I almost always go Bushmill's. Of course, tastes vary. Hence the wondrous variety at the liquor store. |
Well said. |
I havent heard of that before, or seen it on the shelves. How much per bottle? |
shansen is absolutely right! Here's a fun "experiment" I do to introduce friends to Scotch. - Poor a "neat" shot of good Single Malt. - Have them take a a few sips, holding each in the mouth for a bit. - Let the flavor settle on the tounge and in the mind... - Now add a half teaspoon of good water and repeat the 2nd step. - It opens up a whole new set of flavors. Even people who normally only drink beer can taste the differences. Scotch Whiskey is truly a wonderful thing! However, in consideration of finance, I suggest that after a few shots of the good stuff (that was savored, not gulped) go ahead and switch to the cheaper stuff. By then your taste buds are numb and you are no longer serving the pallet only the ego.  ...hmmmm...I'm thirsty. Now...where are those Glen boys? |
Usually around $45. |
Nice post. I've been sipping on the '99 vintage sake since... well, '99, and it hasn't degraded noticeably. I just got the JW Black and can't seem to get my taste buds to like it. I had a bad experience with Cutty Sark blended scotch whisky a long time ago and each time I take a sip I get flashbacks. The odd thing is, I absolutely love Cognac. I didn't think the jump to scotch would be that noticeable. Any suggestions on how to warm up to the scotch? 
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Never been a huge fan of sake, but I will drink it if I am eating sushi, just for the full experience. Even though scotch and brandy are usually bottled around 80 proof, brandy has a much different aroma and taste than scotch, as brandy is distilled from wine, where single malt scotch is 100% malted barley. Johnny Walker Black is a blended scotch, which has single malt blended with other grain whisky. For beginners, I usually recommend starting them off on a blended scotch, like you said you bought, and try it. There are two reasons for this: it is cheaper than single malt scotch, and usually they have never tried scotch, and have no clue what it tastes like. In your case, you had a bad experience with Cutty Sark, and it is still apparently uneasy for you to drink the Johnny Walker Black. Since you love Cognac (while many do not) it appears you have developed and acquired a taste for something somewhat more sophisticated than beer, cheap whiskey, etc. I would suggest that you go buy a fifth of The Glen Livet, and sip it for a while (neat or on the rocks). It is a good single malt scotch that I recommend for people who already have tried scotch, and want to explore what a premium scotch tastes like. It is not too expensive (around $35 – $40), and is a good starting point for someone wanting to take up scotch drinking seriously, as the blended scotch (JW, Cutty, etc.) will not even offer close to the smoothness and aroma a single malt would do. This is my opinion, but based from the facts that you have tried scotch before, you want to, or have a desire to drink more of it, and already have an acquired taste for brandy. With that said, to warm up to it, just pour yourself a glass every few days per week, and just sip it, and savor it, and just get an acquired taste for it. It takes time to appreciate the flavors and differences in scotch, so take your time and enjoy. |
+1 Always was a Scotch ( Glenfiddich ) type, but my WIFE did the Jamison tour at the factory and they convinced HER. She convinced ME! Glenfiddich is 1/3 in new casks, 1/3 in old casks, 1/3 in ex Sherry casks. Jameson is 100 % (?) in ex Sherry casks. You can taste the grapes! Really. Hermann |
| Just got back from the liquor store with a bottle of Jameson's. I was thinking about getting a bottle of Canadian Mist for shits and giggles, but I figured it must be so cheap for a reason. Ol' Grandad looked tempting too. I also saw something which looked like moonshine, and I had heard about it being made legal, but i'll have to pick up a bottle on my next trip. |
I'm not sure it'd qualify as good whiskey, but Paddy's is my first choice for hot whiskeys. A little smoother than Jameson's, in my opinion, but missing some of the more subtle undertones (making it good for mixing since nothing important will be covered up). Of course I don't drink much, despite my "3 hours" crack earlier, so I'm not an expert on such things. |