The FYM Bar - All Alcohol Discussion Here

[Diemen]

Bringing this thread back from the dead, because... let's face it, given recent events, many of us feel more of a need to drink lately.

I've been full time self employed for a couple years now, so each year for Christmas, management has been gracious enough to give me a bottle of scotch as my Christmas bonus.

Last year it was a Lagavulin 16, one of my desert island alcohols (and choice of Ron Swanson). This year I decided to branch out and try something totally new to me, a Clynelish 14 (chose this because it was a good price (<$60) and the #2 favorite scotch on that scotch tasting post I linked in this thread years ago). It's much brighter than the Lagavulin, citrusy and grassy compared to the peaty/smoky/saltiness of the Lagavulin, but it's balanced, interesting and leaves a nice lingering sweetness.

[bono_212]

I have only recently started delving into scotch, thanks to a Christmas party where I was sitting with a group of people who were about to be layed off. They saw open bar, and 30 year old scotch, and went to town.

I've only made one scotch purchase for myself, but it was excellent, in my very humble opinion: a glenfidditch 12. Any advice on where to go next?

[BEAL]

Ok, I really have no idea on scotch.

How would you recommend someone try it?

Straight/neat

Mixed with something?

I've a beer person for a while, and San Diego has some awesome micros

But have always wondered about scotch. Seems like something I could dig


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[iron yuppie]

Neat is the best way IMO, assuming what you are drinking is high quality. If it's cheap, you might want to cover it with something.

[BEAL]

Hawaiian Punch!

Any good recs on quality scotch? For a newbie


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[Irvine511]

I'm presently drinking Stella from a plastic cup in a bar where most patrons aren't wearing a shirt.

The Resistance starts here and now.

[Diemen]

Originally Posted by BEAL

Ok, I really have no idea on scotch.

How would you recommend someone try it?

Straight/neat

It depends on the scotch, really. If it's single malt, I wouldn't mix it with anything else unless you're making a fancy cocktail (a Blood & Sand is pretty delicious...). Most scotches I prefer neat, but some scotches that can be a bit strong (Talisker or Ardbeg 10) benefit a lot from a little water added - maybe 4:1 scotch to water. It lightens the heat from the alcohol and lets some of the subtler flavors come out.

If you're new to scotch, I'd recommend finding a local bar that has a good scotch list, and just tell the bartender you're new to it and want to try it out. At the least they should give you a taste from some representative distillers from the different regions (Islay, Speyside, Highlands & Lowlands are the most common, but there are a few other distinct areas too).

If you just want to buy something to see if you like it, it's hard to go wrong with a Macallan 10 or 12, both of which can be had for at or under $50. It's pretty easy drinking, without too much heat and a lot of nice vanilla/caramel flavors going on. Some say it's pretty simple, but it's tasty.

I prefer the peatier, smoky/salty flavors in a lot of Islay malts - a good intro to that is Caol Ila 12 at around $50, or Laphroaig 10 (<$50). My next scotch will probably be the Bowmore 15 - it's a bit pricier ($70ish), but it is super smooth and caramelly and smoky and peaty and delicious.

[kiwilad]

Diemen you must be one of those with a mouth lined with crocodile hide. Islay is... strong! I compare it to licking a sweaty sailor's testicles. Not that I have practise at that.
For beginners I'd strongly recommend a lowland and have it neat. Otherwise a Speyside. They tend to be the 'easiest'. Drink it super slow. A bartender in Edinburgh once told me a dram is supposed to take as long to drink as a pint. Put a bit on your bottom lip and breath it in. Yum!
And if you're brave follow Diemen to those sweaty peaty salty Islay malts. They're good. But I wouldn't start with them!

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[Irvine511]

Nm

[cobl04]

I LOVE scotch & whiskey.... but only mixed with coke. Cannot stand it straight, no matter the quality.

I've also almost entirely gone off beer this year. I drink wine all the time now.

[Diemen]

Originally Posted by cobl04

I LOVE scotch & whiskey.... but only mixed with coke.

Jesus wept.

Friggin'...

[cobl04]

Oh all my friends hate me for it. Maybe in 10 years time I'll come to love it. After all if you'd told me three years ago that my most-consumed alcohol would be wine I'd have laughed for days.

[iron yuppie]

With whiskeys the quality really does make a difference in drinking it straight. A rail whiskey will go down very rough, but a quality one will be smooth, with limited burning.

It's the same thing with tequila. A lot of people will talk about how bad it rips them up, but that's probably because they are doing shots or margaritas with shit tequila.

[LemonMelon]

I'm new to brown liquor on the rocks and I enjoy it. Jameson or the aforementioned Glenfiddich 12 taste very nice straight. It's great with soda too, of course; I don't consider it wasting good whiskey as long as you're enjoying what you're drinking.

I was at an open bar the other night and Redbreast was on the menu, but I already had a beer and an Eastside and I usually stop myself at two drinks unless I'm at home. It was a pleasant buzz.

[KhanadaRhodes]

don't give cobbler such a hard time. i got a real friggin' for you: my go to alcohol is viniq ruby. it's basically freaking alcoholic punch kool-aid that's shimmery.

i also don't drink that much. it takes me like 7-8 months to go through a bottle (yes it's sickeningly sweet, i fully admit i don't want my alcohol to taste like alcohol, but it takes me so long to go through it because i'll have one drink maybe once every other month at the most). and i still cut it with water.

[mama cass]

(one of) my guilty (friggin') pleasure(s) is Captain Morgan's spicy rum with (diet) coke - so good haha

otherwise, my tipple of choice is Sipsmith gin (with tonic and a huge chunk of lime) - omg it is amazing and the only gin that doesn't give me an instant headache... if there's any gin lovers here, you have to try it if you haven't already!

fizzy is always good too - we're lucky here as we have so many good local wines and fizz, a reaaaaaally good sommelier from a michelin starred restaurant down the road who keeps his own wine cellar and his own wine/fizz list, and sells to locals at really reasonable prices, so much better value for money than in the stores... just bought our Christmas champagne from him last week... plus can also get really good stuff direct from the vineyards - going up soon with friends to buy wine for New Year's Eve...

honestly, i don't actually drink much though, only a couple of drinks for aperitifs/dinner on a Friday and Saturday night as a treat and when having dinner with friends (am a lightweight really - not as my screen name suggests lmfao), but really do appreciate having all this lovely local stuff within reach... i love the Frenchie way, it's almost like a ritual with French friends at meal times, taking out a different bottle of wine for each part of the meal, and talking about it, where it came from, the year, the weather that year, i love that...

[Diemen]

Originally Posted by mama cass

i love the Frenchie way, it's almost like a ritual with French friends at meal times, taking out a different bottle of wine for each part of the meal, and talking about it, where it came from, the year, the weather that year, i love that...

My wife and I had several meals like that when we were in France this summer - it was lovely. I like how meals are never rushed - plenty of time to savor and enjoy and have good conversation.

I don't actually drink all that much these days, either. Usually only have maybe a couple beers and a glass or two of wine a week. Okay, and now a dram of scotch once a week, too.

[cobl04]

I drink too much

Re: France - I'm here now, for the second time in six months. My girlfriend has lived here since April, though she's coming home in February, just after me. It's great but I do hate how late everyone eats in Europe. If you're hungry at 6pm, bad fucking luck.

[Diemen]

Yeah, starting dinner at 9pm was definitely an adjustment.

Where in France are you?

[cobl04]

Le Marais. Awesome location. Very close to the 1 so it's very easy to get to all the touristy spots and the airport. And there's just a million awesome food joints everywhere. It's brilliant. Only drawback is my girlfriend's on the fifth floor of an apartment with no elevator