Whisky and Whiskey recommendations

After a week of reading this thread, I bought a bottle of jameson..and a 750ml crown reserve and a bottle of makers mark, best 170 I spent in a while, granted it will take a long time for me to drink those, but I need to do a scientific experiment to determine the best, no beer tonight...

RABBIT_THUG wrote:

Knob Creek is one of my Favs for sure.... Gots a bite it does.....

This is my recommendation for bourbon. On the rocks. I can't drink it neat.

FBD wrote:

DjaxDjax6 wrote:

As far as single malt scotch whisky goes you can't go wrong with Balvenie 12 Year old Signature or Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood (reminds me better buy another bottle of that).

T

I've had the Balvenie 12 yo...good, but a bit smoky. I'm eyeing the Oban for my next single malt, but it is not cheap.

I've heard Rare Eagle is a good, smooth bourbon, anyone had that yet?

Balvenie and Oban are the other 2 I have had that I liked, but aren't they expensive?

Congrats on drinking for real. You were on that cheap beer kick for a bit, drinking the platinum after you had 2 bottles of something good...

Beer for the FBD Pool party- Founder's Breakfast Stout. Had a bottle the other week. Best thing I have drank is some time hands down and I like the beer.

Yeah after enjoying the smooth awesomeness of crown reserve last night, no hang over...feel great,...I still like some cheap beer on a hot day but never drink the cheap booze. Those were the days at ECU...I can only drink top shelf now.

cheap and neat.

Winicott1001 wrote:

Congrats on drinking for real. You were on that cheap beer kick for a bit, drinking the platinum after you had 2 bottles of something good...

Beer for the FBD Pool party- Founder's Breakfast Stout. Had a bottle the other week. Best thing I have drank is some time hands down and I like the beer.

I still love cheap beer...always will and the BL Platinum is still awesome sauce, but I just can't metabolize the additional 1200 calories I was taking in at night. 2 glasses of the brown liquid is filing the void very handsomely.

I still slam beer at a summer picnic, but weeknights, it's whisk(e)y.

BTW Balvenie and Oban are both very good, but spending $75 a week on whisky would have Mrs. FBD a little peeved. I'm finding some very good bourbons in the Upper $20 range right now and having a great time with my research!

Mrs ZP did not notice the 170 spent at the ABC store, she notice the new bottles at that gold bag the reserve comes in

I stated my favs earlier and I know we are talking about drinking it neat or on the rocks but I made up a great name for one of my favs and had to share.

George Dickel #12 and Coke Zero

I call it NO DICK!

zombiepatton wrote:

I buy crown reserve, that is a spectacular beverage

I hate you for recommending this.

Fbd...crown reserve= the nectar of the gods
It is great on ice or a splash of ginger ale. It is worth the price

Can't wait to hear this across the mic in the middle of a frag-fest.

Hey FBD, Let us know which ones you try and how they are.

I keep reading this thread even though I rarely drink anymore...now I'm craving scotch. Thanks guys...lol

Well, I've been on a Whisk(e)y tear, trying to sample as many as possible, for research purposes, of course.

Some recent tastes are:
Bourbon
Woodford Reserve 12 yo...Strong flavor, a little bitey for me. Much better when cut with a bit of water. Notes of smoke, charcoal.
Eagle Rare 12 yo- Very smooth, less alcohol burn, sweeter flavor..notes of honey, vanilla
Jim Beam Black- An FBD Best Buy. Very reasonable price, and VERY smooth. Just a little ice and it is almost too drinkable...a new regular for me. Found it at the PLCB store for $19 recently.
Buffalo Trace- Very mellow flavor, not bitey at all. Sweeter than most, subtle orange/citrus notes
Blanton's-Top Shelf, and worth the price of admission. This is a true treat amongst Bourbon's...very soft mouth feel, all the flavor without the burn...Not an everyday drink due to the price ($50 per bottle) but will keep in the rotation for special occasions
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel- Same flavor as the original with a smoother aftertaste. Original JD is a bit too burny for my likes, unless it's mixed, and the Single Barrel gives you the signature flavor

Whisky (Scotch and Canadian)
Crown Royal Reserve-Just too good. Honestly. I think I'd drizzle it over ice cream. Absolutely zero burn. Smoothest whisky I've ever had the treat to taste, with excellent flavor. Notes of butterscotch and vanilla. Too expensive for regular guzzling, but a must for true aficionados.
Crown Royal- AN FBD BEST BUY! Way too good for the price. A regular staple...just a few ice cubes.
John Walker Black- My favorite blended scotch. Slight smoke flavor...you can taste the peat, but the follow is very mellow, not burny.
Balvenie 12yo-VERY peaty and smoky...too much for me. Intense.
Dewar's White- Great flavor, a little on the harsh side, but great when mixed with a little soda. Good value.

I have some more on the hit list, and I'll keep you updated.

In summary, Jim Beam Black is probably my new go-to bourbon for value. Crown is the best blend value. Still searching for a good value scotch. JW Black is a little too pricey to be an everyday drink.

Fbd thanks for my new shopping list...well researched

Collingwood.....it is a maple whiskey I don't know if you can get it in the states but it is amazing....but then again us Canadians like anything that is maple flavored

Wow a non porn related mag I might look at!!

Great list FBD, +1

Another recent review:

Chivas Regal 12 yo. (Blended Scotch)- I know it's popular for people to turn their noses up at blends, but let me say this...blends are just that...blends...of single malts. I feel they are supremely more drinkable and that's what I go for when I want a nice glass of Scotch. I appreciate the intricacies of true luxury single malts, but when FBD has a few hours to himself at night, I want to drink a cocktail, not sip and savor. Chivas 12yo fits the bill expertly. Smooth and creamy on it's own, but it excels with a few tablespoons of ice water or a few ice cubes. Soft to the palate, hints of peat, vanilla, honey...one of the sweeter blends I've run across. At $29 per bottle, a very affordable option to be a daily drink. Less smokey than Johnny Walker Black. FBD rates it high on drinkability, mild finish, and low acidity. Add it to your rotation!

Maker's Mark Whisky- This is a review of the traditional Maker's Mark...not the reserve. I find it interesting they spell it Whisky, not Whiskey, as most other American Whiskies do. MM neat is a bit harsh to me...tons of bite and a wince inducing follow. The kind of shot that begs to be chased. I tried it again with ice, and found that chilling and diluting gives it far more balance. Where this whisky shines is in cocktails. I liken it to Johnny Walker Red in that regard...makes fast friends with Coke Zero and a few ice cubes...shines in an Old Fashioned, and performs admirably in a Manhattan where it's bold flavor doesn't yield to the other sweet ingredients. In short, a good candidate to replace Jack in the cabinet if your looking to step up a notch. A bristly shooter, but nice ingredient is how I would best describe MM.

Next Issue I'll try Dewar's 12 yo and Buffalo Trace bourbon...stay tuned and let me know if you want a review of anything in particular. I'll try to focus on 1 Scotch and 1 bourbon or canadian whiskey per review cycle (about 2 weeks).

Look forward to your feedback and please post your own reviews!!!

FBD wrote:

Another recent review:

Chivas Regal 12 yo. (Blended Scotch)- I know it's popular for people to turn their noses up at blends, but let me say this...blends are just that...blends...of single malts. I feel they are supremely more drinkable and that's what I go for when I want a nice glass of Scotch. I appreciate the intricacies of true luxury single malts, but when FBD has a few hours to himself at night, I want to drink a cocktail, not sip and savory. Chivas 12yo fits the bill expertly. Smooth and creamy on it's own, but it excels with a few tablespoons of ice water or a few ice cubes. Soft to the palate, hints of peat, vanilla, honey...one of the sweeter blends I've run across. At $29 per bottle, a very affordable option to be a daily drink. Less smokey than Johnny Walker Black. FBD rates it high on drinkability, mild finish, and low acidity. Add it to your rotation!

Maker's Mark Whisky- This is a review of the traditional Maker's Mark...not the reserve. I find it interesting they spell it Whisky, not Whiskey, as most other American Whiskey's do. MM neat is a bit harsh to me...tons of bite and a wince inducing follow. The kind of shot that begs to be chased. I tried it again with ice, and found that chilling and diluting gives it far more balance. Where this whisky shines is in cocktails. I liken it to Johnny Walker Red in that regard...makes fast friends with Coke Zero and a few ice cubes...shines in an Old Fashioned, and performs admirably in a Manhattan where it's bold flavor doesn't yield to the other sweet ingredients. In short, a good candidate to replace Jack in the cabinet if your looking to step up a notch. A bristly shooter, but nice ingredient is how I would best describe MM.

Next Issue I'll try Dewar's 12 yo and Buffalo Trace bourbon...stay tuned and let me know if you want a review of anything in particular. I'll try to focus on 1 Scotch and 1 bourbon or canadian whiskey per review cycle (about 2 weeks).

Look forward to your feedback and please post your own reviews!!!

Did you write this or cut and paste it? Start a new thread for this so we can find it again. Great review and I find the supremely helpful. If you did not like Bud Platinum so much I would almost trust you to review for the best IPA .

C'mon, man! I'm an advertising executive...I write for a living! Give a poor chap some credit!

FBD wrote:

C'mon, man! I'm an advertising executive...I write for a living! Give a poor chap some credit!

Yes yes, I know this, just checking. That must be why the review sounded like a classy ad... it because you write ads. Ha!

Seriously though this is the kind of thing you need to know when selecting a whiskey. There is so much out there and no way to tell if you will like it. Your description allows for me to determine this on my own.

Whiskey and wine (and for that matter craft brew) reviewers are a bunch of elitist dorks. I write reviews for the way the drinks are normally consumed. Casually...socially.

I mean, who the hell hosts tastings? I'm sorry, but having a selection of rare and expensive whiskies/wines on hand for such an event would be a bit prohibitive.

I also like to describe the flavors that I (and the readers) can relate to. I chuckle when I read "hints of elderflower, and dragonfruit...subtle notes of sandalwood and black truffle..."

I don't know about you, but I don't regularly chew on sandalwood.

Common tasting notes for me include things I collide with on a semi-regular basis...smoke, vanilla, honey, licorice, chocolate, etc.

I'm keeping it real for the masses!