What are you currently drinking?

[gaara4158]

Cleansing from alcohol this month, it’s something I do every year and I didn’t want to skip October again. So instead of my usual bourbon or rum, it’s performatively masculine water cans for me these days!

 

[Tinker Grey]

Going to a Whiskey and Chocolate tasting today.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Going to a Whiskey and Chocolate tasting today.

So they had three whiskeys. 1) Buffalo Trace, 2) 1792 barrel proof and 3) Woodinville 100% Rye.

These were paired with various single sourced chocolate from Brazil, Madagascar, Hawaii, and perhaps some other place.

While chocolate and whiskey tasted good together and while letting the chocolate melt in your mouth just before taking a sip was interesting, all in all I'd rather have the chocolate and the whiskey by themselves.

But, the expert was knowledgeable, informative, and entertaining. It was a nice experience and the entire family (we're all adults) enjoyed themselves.

 

[Robban]

So they had three whiskeys. 1) Buffalo Trace, 2) 1792 barrel proof and 3) Woodinville 100% Rye.

These were paired with various single sourced chocolate from Brazil, Madagascar, Hawaii, and perhaps some other place.

While chocolate and whiskey tasted good together and while letting the chocolate melt in your mouth just before taking a sip was interesting, all in all I'd rather have the chocolate and the whiskey by themselves.

But, the expert was knowledgeable, informative, and entertaining. It was a nice experience and the entire family (we're all adults) enjoyed themselves.

Nearest I have come to whiskey and chocolate is liquer filled chocolates.

Not sure if they are the real McCoy though.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Nearest I have come to whiskey and chocolate is liquer filled chocolates.

Not sure if they are the real McCoy though.

They could have been though there are chocolates that simulate the taste.

 

[Robban]

They could have been though there are chocolates that simulate the taste.

I know there are extracts that can be added to moonshine,

something similar?

 

[Tinker Grey]

I know there are extracts that can be added to moonshine,

something similar?

I don't really know. I know some are real and some are fake. My mother used to make things using vanilla extract and almond extract. She had a "fake" creme de menthe that she used for grasshopper pie (a mint pie with oreo cookie crust)

 

[Robban]

I don't really know. I know some are real and some are fake. My mother used to make things using vanilla extract and almond extract. She had a "fake" creme de menthe that she used for grasshopper pie (a mint pie with oreo cookie crust) View attachment 320795

Looks very tempting.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Looks very tempting.

I have fond memories of it even with the non-alcoholic creme de menthe

 

[jayem]

So they had three whiskeys. 1) Buffalo Trace, 2) 1792 barrel proof and 3) Woodinville 100% Rye.

Buffalo Trace is OK. But I like Maker's Mark better.

BTW: What's the deal with Pappy Van Winkle? I know it's a Buffalo Trace brand. And somehow it acquired an aura of excellence and prestige. But how much of this marketing hype? Is it really worth the price and the obstacle course it takes to score a bottle?

 

[Tinker Grey]

Buffalo Trace is OK. But I like Maker's Mark better.

BTW: What's the deal with Pappy Van Winkle? I know it's a Buffalo Trace brand. And somehow it acquired an aura of excellence and prestige. But how much of this marketing hype? Is it really worth the price and the obstacle course it takes to score a bottle?

I think I agree with you on BT and MM. But, I did a sort-of blind test the other night and I was told that the one I thought was MM was BT. So, I don't know. But the one I thought was MM was better. I think it has stronger cherry notes. Seems like more going on. But after a number of sips, each had something to recommend it.

I've never had any Pappy Van Winkle. I'd have to agree that it must be hype. I've had a lot of bourbons up to $100 (USD) and 1 or two for more. The max was a gift of a bottle for around $230. I gotta tell you that 230 didn't buy a better bourbon than I've had for 50-60 (though I certainly appreciated the gift/thought). So I simply can't imagine that PVW from $400 to a couple grand on the secondary market is that good. (But I've at least one $200+ scotch and it was special and different and, I'm pretty inclined to add, worth it -- though I only bought a taste at the bar mentioned up-thread.)

 

[jayem]

I think I agree with you on BT and MM. But, I did a sort-of blind test the other night and I was told that the one I thought was MM was BT. So, I don't know. But the one I thought was MM was better. I think it has stronger cherry notes. Seems like more going on. But after a number of sips, each had something to recommend it.

I've never had any Pappy Van Winkle. I'd have to agree that it must be hype. I've had a lot of bourbons up to $100 (USD) and 1 or two for more. The max was a gift of a bottle for around $230. I gotta tell you that 230 didn't buy a better bourbon than I've had for 50-60 (though I certainly appreciated the gift/thought). So I simply can't imagine that PVW from $400 to a couple grand on the secondary market is that good. (But I've at least one $200+ scotch and it was special and different and, I'm pretty inclined to add, worth it -- though I only bought a taste at the bar mentioned up-thread.)

Re. extravagance: I remember reading about this years ago. A bottle of Louis XIII cognac was bought for $22,000 by the Beverly Hills Four Seasons hotel in 2013. It was blended from very old and rare casks that were found in the Remy Martin cellars. (Supposedly, no one knew they existed.) Shots were priced at $1000 each. Crazy. No liquor on earth is worth this.

A bottle of $22,000 Cognac arrives at the Four Seasons

 

[Tinker Grey]

Re. extravagance: I remember reading about this years ago. A bottle of Louis XIII cognac was bought for $22,000 by the Beverly Hills Four Seasons hotel in 2013. It was blended from very old and rare casks that were found in the Remy Martin cellars. (Supposedly, no one knew they existed.) Shots were priced at $1000 each. Crazy. No liquor on earth is worth this.

A bottle of $22,000 Cognac arrives at the Four Seasons

Look up Macallan M. The youngest whiskey in it is around 23 years old, and some of it is as old as 70+ years. It runs from $4500 to $7000. But on the plus side it comes in a hand-blown crystal decanter.

Still, that's much less than $22,000. Rare Books Bar had a shot for $900. Too rich for my blood.

 

[Tinker Grey]

So, I've recently changed jobs. As a going away gift, my coworkers had a tasting party with this as the center piece (now in my cupboard):

 

[RileyG]

I've been able to cut back but had some vodka cocktails last night

 

[RileyG]

The other night I had some Johnnie Walker Scotch

 

[Tinker Grey]

The other night I had some Johnnie Walker Scotch

Johnnie Walker is passable. There's nothing offensive about it. And in the absence of something better, why not.

But IMHO, it lacks character. OTOH, Christopher Hitchens drank almost nothing but. His reasoning is that you can always trust it to taste the way it tasted the last time. As a world traveler, he found life too short to accidentally drink something bad.

Me, OTOH, finding a new drink, trying a new drink, is part of the adventure.

 

[durangodawood]

Its the macro brew of micro brews. But truly excellent. Tasty, clean, well balanced... and not over hopped or over strong.... nor too thin.

Tired of over hopped beers and stunt beers.

 

[Moral Orel]

This is what I'm drinking tonight and every night:

Ya'll are a buncha alcoholics! Try getting high on life!!!!

 

[revybub]

Water and ice tea