Whiskey Endorsement

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

As many whisky/whiskey lovers here know, I am a long time fan of Redbreast Irish - 12. I was fortunate to get in on it before the price skyrocketed, but I still love it.

About a year ago, Middleton introduced a new expression of Redbreast called Lustau. This is a NAS whiskey, which is a very hot trend in the malt industry. It is Aged in Lustau Amontillado sherry casks. I had tried to find it in Tulsa for some time, with little success, until last week when I saw it. I reluctantly did not buy it since I had just purchased a bottle of the Macallan 12 Double Cask the week before.

Well, last night, our group went to Valkyrie, in the Brady District, prior to the Jason Isbell show at Cain's Ballroom. My bride decided to order a Redbreast and I happened to mention my desire to try the Lustau version. Our waiter/mixologist brought me over a small sample glass and the bottle. It was sweet smoothness! You can really smell the sherry in the nose. Needless to say I ordered a double.

Also, if you had been to Valkyrie in the past, say 18 months ago or longer, and found them to be snobby hipster douchebags, that has changed radically. This is my 2nd time there in the past several months. They still take cocktails and whiskey quite seriously, but they are SUPER friendly and helpful. Our guy last night was the best I can remember in a long while.

Lastly, the Macallan 12 Double Cask -- good, solid, drinkable single malt. Nothing spectacular though.

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

Oh, and the show was great. Did Whipping Post as the final song in the encore. His wife is an amazing talent as well.

 

[mseabolt]

Lastly, the Macallan 12 Double Cask -- good, solid, drinkable single malt. Nothing spectacular though.

I feel that way with a lot of the Macallan's. Definitely going to look for the Lustau when I finish a bottle or two off.

 

[hollywood]

When I went back to law school for my LLM, I bartended part time at Kinkead's Restaurant at 2000 Penn Ave. The sommelier Michael was a certified "master" (one of only about 50 in the USA at that time) and in addition to wine, he had a remarkable knowledge of virtually all liquors. We had at least 15-20 Cadenheads* cask strength scotch and whiskys on hand at any given time.

The great thing is that when we got new things in, the bar staff got to try them. We also had a great selection of unusual Cognacs and Armagnac in addition to some very top end fruit brandies and liqueurs that were absolutely amazing.

After Kinkeads, Michael was beverage director and sommelier at the Mansion on Turtle Creek, but developed an absolute allergy to alcohol of all sorts and simply couldn't drink a drop of the stuff without having major breakouts of hives.

*Cadenhead is a company in Scotland who purchases scotch, whisky, gin and more direct from the top end distilleries and then chooses the method and manner in which they age them, from the choice of cask to length of time. This results in some really exceptional drink, that differs significantly from the more mainstream commercial stuff.

I definitely developed a taste for the scotch which was aged in used port wine casks, but I also liked the harsher Islay Isles produced scotch as well. Most of the Cadenheads were higher than 80 proof, so a drop or two of good spring water really brought out their flavors.

 

[Deepfork]

When I went back to law school for my LLM, I bartended part time at Kinkead's Restaurant at 2000 Penn Ave. The sommelier Michael was a certified "master" (one of only about 50 in the USA at that time) and in addition to wine, he had a remarkable knowledge of virtually all liquors. We had at least 15-20 Cadenheads* cask strength scotch and whiskys on hand at any given time.

The great thing is that when we got new things in, the bar staff got to try them. We also had a great selection of unusual Cognacs and Armagnac in addition to some very top end fruit brandies and liqueurs that were absolutely amazing.

After Kinkeads, Michael was beverage director and sommelier at the Mansion on Turtle Creek, but developed an absolute allergy to alcohol of all sorts and simply couldn't drink a drop of the stuff without having major breakouts of hives.

*Cadenhead is a company in Scotland who purchases scotch, whisky, gin and more direct from the top end distilleries and then chooses the method and manner in which they age them, from the choice of cask to length of time. This results in some really exceptional drink, that differs significantly from the more mainstream commercial stuff.

I definitely developed a taste for the scotch which was aged in used port wine casks, but I also liked the harsher Islay Isles produced scotch as well. Most of the Cadenheads were higher than 80 proof, so a drop or two of good spring water really brought out their flavors.

Love the Islay as well!

 

[BluegrassPoke]

I don't give 2 shits but I love Jack Daniels the best. Woodford Reserve is good, 4 Roses is good. Hence my name, I know my bourbons but if Jack was made 5 miles north it would be a bourbon. I am not as big a fan of the Irish Wiskeys.

 

[MajorMike_Ret]

Jack

Don't give that that American aint shit or this is or isn't bourbon or whiskey or claim it's toilet water, or whatever tea sip excuse you want to put it down.

It's always nice to taste the good foo-foo stuff to see how the aristocrats sip, but Jack is a real man's whiskey.

MERICA!

 

[Cowguy]

Jack

Don't give that that American aint shit or this is or isn't bourbon or whiskey or claim it's toilet water, or whatever tea sip excuse you want to put it down.

It's always nice to taste the good foo-foo stuff to see how the aristocrats sip, but Jack is a real man's whiskey.

MERICA!

Jack is to whiskey as fat tire is to beer.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

Jack isn't bourbon, and it has nothing to do with location. Four Roses standard is pure crap. The small batch and single barrel are better reps of a bourbon. Woodford is meh. You should save a lot of money and just get Old Fo.

 

[Ostatedchi]

Adverpoke, just wanted to say that I like Rye1. But the bottle is too damned tall. It doesn't fit on the shelf right. Might keep me from getting another bottle.

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

Blanton's and Makers are my bourbons of choice.

 

[100TonsofOrangeFury]

Jack isn't bourbon, and it has nothing to do with location. Four Roses standard is pure crap. The small batch and single barrel are better reps of a bourbon. Woodford is meh. You should save a lot of money and just get Old Fo.

These threads don't really mature into what they'll become until someone goes full-on liquor snob and gains groupies.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

Adverpoke, just wanted to say that I like Rye1. But the bottle is too damned tall. It doesn't fit on the shelf right. Might keep me from getting another bottle.

I'm 6'6." I made it to scale.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

These threads don't really mature into what they'll become until someone goes full-on liquor snob and gains groupies.

Two people declared some goofy alliance to a product that tastes like charcoal (because it is), and I'm the asshole?

I think I've earned some right to expert on this topic since I've been working on liquor brands for over a decade. Hell, I invented the name and look of one.

 

[100TonsofOrangeFury]

 

[Cowguy]

Jack isn't bourbon, and it has nothing to do with location. Four Roses standard is pure crap. The small batch and single barrel are better reps of a bourbon. Woodford is meh. You should save a lot of money and just get Old Fo.

Not a bourbon guy, for the most part, but like scotch ... palates are very individual.

 

[BluegrassPoke]

Jack isn't bourbon, and it has nothing to do with location. Four Roses standard is pure crap. The small batch and single barrel are better reps of a bourbon. Woodford is meh. You should save a lot of money and just get Old Fo.

I am not arguing with you but the state of Kentucky just pushes this narrative like no other. I was 22 when I moved to KY so bourbon and whiskey had quite the impression on me.

 

[Ostatedchi]

I'm 6'6." I made it to scale.

Should have made them in 50 ml bottles as well. For the rest of us.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

I am not arguing with you but the state of Kentucky just pushes this narrative like no other. I was 22 when I moved to KY so bourbon and whiskey had quite the impression on me.

Maybe. But the law governing bourbon is federal and is not bound by state lines. It IS bound by the borders of the US, however.

There are good bourbons outside of Kentucky. Kentuckians aren't far off, though. 95%ish percent of all bourbon comes from the bluegrass. There are more barrels of bourbon than people in Kentucky. There are other crazy stats, but those are ones I can remember from the info graphic I made for the KDA.

 

[BvillePoker]

I love rye whiskeys. Pikesville Rye is my favorite. For bourbon I have found the Old Forrester 1920 and have really liked it. I drink more 4 roses small batch and Buffalo Trace than anything else and save my Blantons for special occasions. I have about 15 bottles of whiskey on my bar so I always have a good selection to choose from.

 

[trapped_in_tx]

I'm not a whiskey guy (at all) but I'm in Lexington for a few days and I figured what the heck.

I tried Oban 18 on the recommendation of my colleague who loves it and we both tried Basil Hayden's on the recommendation of a waitress at our restaurant.

I liked both. Oban 18 (neat) was very interesting but not sure I would want to shell out that kind of cash for a bottle. I tried the Hayden's with ice and the flavor made me want to try it neat for a better comparison. The price makes it interesting at least.

As a total noob/plebe I have no clue what to think. Are these really any good? 18y should be good unless it's crap based on my limited understanding, but that's some pricey stuff.

 

[N. Pappagiorgio]

@Adverpoke got me hooked on Makers Mark a few years ago.

 

[SquinkY5786]

As many whisky/whiskey lovers here know, I am a long time fan of Redbreast Irish - 12. I was fortunate to get in on it before the price skyrocketed, but I still love it.

About a year ago, Middleton introduced a new expression of Redbreast called Lustau. This is a NAS whiskey, which is a very hot trend in the malt industry. It is Aged in Lustau Amontillado sherry casks. I had tried to find it in Tulsa for some time, with little success, until last week when I saw it. I reluctantly did not buy it since I had just purchased a bottle of the Macallan 12 Double Cask the week before.

Well, last night, our group went to Valkyrie, in the Brady District, prior to the Jason Isbell show at Cain's Ballroom. My bride decided to order a Redbreast and I happened to mention my desire to try the Lustau version. Our waiter/mixologist brought me over a small sample glass and the bottle. It was sweet smoothness! You can really smell the sherry in the nose. Needless to say I ordered a double.

Also, if you had been to Valkyrie in the past, say 18 months ago or longer, and found them to be snobby hipster douchebags, that has changed radically. This is my 2nd time there in the past several months. They still take cocktails and whiskey quite seriously, but they are SUPER friendly and helpful. Our guy last night was the best I can remember in a long while.

Lastly, the Macallan 12 Double Cask -- good, solid, drinkable single malt. Nothing spectacular though.

I walked in Valkyrie in a Tshirt and flip flops not too long ago fully expecting to hear the music stop and everyone look at me. Was pleasantly surprised it was laid back.

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

I'm not a whiskey guy (at all) but I'm in Lexington for a few days and I figured what the heck.

I tried Oban 18 on the recommendation of my colleague who loves it and we both tried Basil Hayden's on the recommendation of a waitress at our restaurant.

I liked both. Oban 18 (neat) was very interesting but not sure I would want to shell out that kind of cash for a bottle. I tried the Hayden's with ice and the flavor made me want to try it neat for a better comparison. The price makes it interesting at least.

As a total noob/plebe I have no clue what to think. Are these really any good? 18y should be good unless it's crap based on my limited understanding, but that's some pricey stuff.

I've not tried the Oban18. I like their standard bottle which is Oban 14. It's pretty light, almost like an Irish whiskey. Basil Hayden's is "meh" to me. Not worth the price.

 

[mseabolt]

I'm not a whiskey guy (at all) but I'm in Lexington for a few days and I figured what the heck.

I tried Oban 18 on the recommendation of my colleague who loves it and we both tried Basil Hayden's on the recommendation of a waitress at our restaurant.

I liked both. Oban 18 (neat) was very interesting but not sure I would want to shell out that kind of cash for a bottle. I tried the Hayden's with ice and the flavor made me want to try it neat for a better comparison. The price makes it interesting at least.

As a total noob/plebe I have no clue what to think. Are these really any good? 18y should be good unless it's crap based on my limited understanding, but that's some pricey stuff.

Oban 18 is not bad but for my taste the Oban likes a little complexity. My brother really enjoys the Oban 18 though so as with many things, to each his own. I never understand ripping someone for liking something that they personally do not like

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

Oban 18 is not bad but for my taste the Oban likes a little complexity. My brother really enjoys the Oban 18 though so as with many things, to each his own. I never understand ripping someone for liking something that they personally do not like

I agree on Oban (not the 18, but the 14) lacking some complexity.

 

[Cowguy]

Had some lagavulin 12 cask strength at a recent meeting. Maybe the best thing I've ever tasted.

Really glad I stuck with trying to develop a taste for the Islays. I love them now.

PS. For a reasonably priced bottle of whiskey, you should try Michter's US-1 american whiskey. Buttery, sweet, lots of nuance for a relatively inexpensive bottle.

 

[cactusjackosu]

Jameson Caskmates. Actually, tequila over everything.

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

Jameson Caskmates. Actually, tequila over everything.

The Caskmates is a pretty interesting whiskey, especially for the price. I'm not a tequila aficionado. At all.

 

[mseabolt]

tequila

Sipping tequila - Casamigos Anejo is quite good but not as good as Casa Dragones Javon

 

[trapped_in_tx]

Had some lagavulin 12 cask strength at a recent meeting. Maybe the best thing I've ever tasted.

Really glad I stuck with trying to develop a taste for the Islays. I love them now.

PS. For a reasonably priced bottle of whiskey, you should try Michter's US-1 american whiskey. Buttery, sweet, lots of nuance for a relatively inexpensive bottle.

I tried a sip of this last night (I think... It was Lagavulin and I thought it was 12y). I didn't care for it... Thought it was too peaty. But I'm a noob so grain of salt applies.

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

I tried a sip of this last night (I think... It was Lagavulin and I thought it was 12y). I didn't care for it... Thought it was too peaty. But I'm a noob so grain of salt applies.

This is a pretty good resource: http://scotchnoob.com/

 

[Cowguy]

I tried a sip of this last night (I think... It was Lagavulin and I thought it was 12y). I didn't care for it... Thought it was too peaty. But I'm a noob so grain of salt applies.

I hear ya. It took me some time to get here on islays. I really think you have to drink neat and work your way up from speyside. I still like lots of different scotches, but I'm really gravitating to the smoke and now prefer it.

Saw rye mentioned above and it's favorite. Really like Winchester. Also love Irish as well. I agree with jack that the caskmates are interesting ... but I love stout so it's a natural for me.

 

[Cowguy]

So looking for a little less costly bottle to keep as a non special occasion drinker. Got recommended the compas box blend - great king street. I'm not usually a blend guy, but this is really good.

 

[BluegrassPoke]

So looking for a little less costly bottle to keep as a non special occasion drinker. Got recommended the compas box blend - great king street. I'm not usually a blend guy, but this is really good.

Dickel

 

[mseabolt]

Pappy is my unicorn and have yet to see it anywhere but I did get this close relative this weekend and it does not disappoint. I have been looking for this for a while and just lucked into being at the right store at the right time.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

Pappy is my unicorn and have yet to see it anywhere but I did get this close relative this weekend and it does not disappoint. I have been looking for this for a while and just lucked into being at the right store at the right time.

This is one of the smart buys for those in the know. Meaning: those not fooled by a pretty bottle.

 

[trapped_in_tx]

Back in Lexington... Tried several options this evening.

Woodford reserve - not bad, not great. For the price, seems pretty drinkable

Makers cask strength - I liked this, but not enough to pay for it on my dime again. Pricey IMHO.

McCallan 12 - good... but really, it seemed kinda boring

Glenmorangie original - I actually really liked this. I read up on it and some find it bitter and like rubbing alcohol. Couldn't disagree more... If anything, almost seemed too sweet to me. Makes me wonder if it's inconsistent or if something about it is very unique from one person to another.

 

[mseabolt]

it is very unique from one person to another.

I think this is pretty common with plenty of Whiskeys.

Just bought a bottle of Ardbeg Corryvreckan .. numerous whiskey drinking buddies have tasted it and a couple get something completely different than the rest.

 

[Air_Thurman]

I like whiskey but haven't ventured out much. I usually go with a pretty basic Maker's Mark or Michter's. The last bottle I bought was a Colonel EH Taylor and I liked it.

What's another good, basic whiskey I can go out and get in most Oklahoma liquor stores for $30-70? Would like to try something new. I tend to like sweet so I mainly get bourbons.