Seeing as we have a favorite beer thread, this only seems logical.
A place to discuss some of our favorite, unholy spirits. Or perhaps some incredible finds.
I'm a beer drinker first. A wine enthousiast second. But harder stuff gets a well-deserved bronze medal.
I'll go first: Gouden Carolus.
(http://www.hetanker.be/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/fles%20open%20met%20glas.jpg?itok=rbIs07jr)
(Trans: Golden Carolus)
Type: Single Malt Whisky.
Origin: Belgian - Stokerij De Molenberg (Trans: Brewery The Mill Mountain)
Strength: 46%
Discription: Maturation, minimum 3 years. Rich and balanced taste: fruit, vanille and crême brulée. Matured in "First fill Bourbon" cask with "het anker" cask finish.
Extra: Gouden Carolus used to just be a beer by 'Het Anker(/Stokerij de Molenberg)'. They've won and placed multiple times in world-beer-tournaments. About 6 years back tbe owners decided to expand their business. In medieval times Gouden Carolus had a different kind of stronger brew, but it's recipe was lost in time. Based on this, but realizing not to dwell in the past, one of the sons of the mostly family owned brewery decided to create a new 'legend'.
They bought the bronze distilling equipment and tanks from a whisky brewery in Scotland, thus helping this Belgian brew honor the whisky-tradition. For the first maturation First Fill Bourbon casks are used. But the product finishes ripening in their own, old beer casks from 'Het Anker' (Trans: 'The Anchor').
The result makes for an interesting taste. The beer casks, I think, help to give the malt an earthy pinch. But the flavor in and by itself is rather sweet and addictive. You really smell the bouquet of 'crême brulée'. Yet it never loses it's strong, burning sensation. That is not to say that this may not be for the die-hard whisky fan. It definitely doesn not pack that hard, tough punch. Yet that's what makes it so dangerous and easy to underestimate. I'd recomend it to anyone who enjoys a whisky. Even the die-hards, who may not find it amongst their top-ten. But I'm sure they'd enjoy the experience.
I like whiskey liquer ... Irish Mist, Drambui, Southern Comfort.
I went for the blended Canadians back in the day. Cheap ones toward the end of my drinking.
Some El Jimador tequila is always nice. Jamesons is solid. If we want flavour, you cant beat Bailey's.
♫Scotch whisky, Scotch whisky,
Scotch whisky I cry!
If I don't get
Some Scotch whisky
I surely will die!♫
Ooo, I am reminded that I need to pick up a bottle of something extra special for an upcoming convention -- the last two years it's been Tullamore Dew Single Malt (aka bottled bliss). Tully is traditional -- anyone have experience with Tullamore Dew Phoenix? I'm thinking of giving that a go this year.
Quote from: trdsf on August 25, 2016, 10:26:40 AM
Ooo, I am reminded that I need to pick up a bottle of something extra special for an upcoming convention -- the last two years it's been Tullamore Dew Single Malt (aka bottled bliss). Tully is traditional -- anyone have experience with Tullamore Dew Phoenix? I'm thinking of giving that a go this year.
Try The Balvenie. Very smooth.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on August 25, 2016, 11:48:11 AM
Try The Balvenie. Very smooth.
For another purpose I probably will, but Tully is
really traditional for this event. :)
Also I am reminded that I need to pick up at some point the Glenmorangie varieties -- Quinta Ruban at the very least.
I just drink beer now, but in my younger days, I used to like Yukon Jack, with a lemon juice chaser. :jook:
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on August 29, 2016, 05:19:06 PM
I just drink beer now, but in my younger days, I used to like Yukon Jack, with a lemon juice chaser. :jook:
I've never been able to develop a taste for beer, or wine for that matter. It's either cider or hard liquor, usually watered down since I don't have that great a tolerance for alcohol.
Quote from: Mr.Obvious on August 24, 2016, 03:34:49 PM
Seeing as we have a favorite beer thread, this only seems logical.
A place to discuss some of our favorite, unholy spirits. Or perhaps some incredible finds.
I'm a beer drinker first. A wine enthousiast second. But harder stuff gets a well-deserved bronze medal.
I'll go first: Gouden Carolus.
(http://www.hetanker.be/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/fles%20open%20met%20glas.jpg?itok=rbIs07jr)
(Trans: Golden Carolus)
Type: Single Malt Whisky.
Origin: Belgian - Stokerij De Molenberg (Trans: Brewery The Mill Mountain)
Strength: 46%
Discription: Maturation, minimum 3 years. Rich and balanced taste: fruit, vanille and crême brulée. Matured in "First fill Bourbon" cask with "het anker" cask finish.
Extra: Gouden Carolus used to just be a beer by 'Het Anker(/Stokerij de Molenberg)'. They've won and placed multiple times in world-beer-tournaments. About 6 years back tbe owners decided to expand their business. In medieval times Gouden Carolus had a different kind of stronger brew, but it's recipe was lost in time. Based on this, but realizing not to dwell in the past, one of the sons of the mostly family owned brewery decided to create a new 'legend'.
They bought the bronze distilling equipment and tanks from a whisky brewery in Scotland, thus helping this Belgian brew honor the whisky-tradition. For the first maturation First Fill Bourbon casks are used. But the product finishes ripening in their own, old beer casks from 'Het Anker' (Trans: 'The Anchor').
The result makes for an interesting taste. The beer casks, I think, help to give the malt an earthy pinch. But the flavor in and by itself is rather sweet and addictive. You really smell the bouquet of 'crême brulée'. Yet it never loses it's strong, burning sensation. That is not to say that this may not be for the die-hard whisky fan. It definitely doesn not pack that hard, tough punch. Yet that's what makes it so dangerous and easy to underestimate. I'd recomend it to anyone who enjoys a whisky. Even the die-hards, who may not find it amongst their top-ten. But I'm sure they'd enjoy the experience.
Where can I get this? The internet obviously, but is there a particular site that is good for hard to find alcohol purchases?
Quote from: Mr. Pibb on September 20, 2016, 05:23:05 PM
Where can I get this? The internet obviously, but is there a particular site that is good for hard to find alcohol purchases?
Good question... Gouden Carolus is a Belgian brew. And recently new. I'm guessing going outside of Belgium at this point makes finding it pretty hard. Out of Western Europe definitely... Didn't think about that yet...
I don't know about good hard-liquor website shops neither, never had a need :s I just buy it in the shop.
I'm a big fan of whiskey, my favorite being Knob Creek, but I usually have a few glasses of cheap Kentucky or Tennessee whiskey every night. Merica!
I ran out last night so I reached far into the cupboard (still staying at dad's house), and found a dusty and discolored bottle of Smirnoff vodka. Not too bad, especially when you think you've just run out of booze.
I've been drinking Scotch for half a century. I still like finding new labels.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on September 20, 2016, 07:32:23 PM
I've been drinking Scotch for half a century. I still like finding new labels.
Peat and re-peat
I recently (read: several months ago) switched from scotch to vodka as my drink of choice. I don't care for the taste of alcohol and so often mix whatever I'm drinking with cranberry juice in order to mask it; vodka seems to be much better for this than scotch was.
Quote from: Baruch on September 20, 2016, 07:35:03 PM
Peat and re-peat
I got a bottle of Bruichladdich, listed at $165 here in Missouri, from a friend in Scotland. I wasn't really impressed. I'm more a fan of Speyside. I did find a bottle of The Balvenie to be very tasty.
Quote from: Hijiri Byakuren on September 20, 2016, 07:45:54 PM
I recently (read: several months ago) switched from scotch to vodka as my drink of choice. I don't care for the taste of alcohol and so often mix whatever I'm drinking with cranberry juice in order to mask it; vodka seems to be much better for this than scotch was.
I love a quart of bloody mary's and a bowl of popcorn.
Do you what you call a blood mary with no vodka in it?
[spoiler]A bloody shame. [/spoiler]
BTW, if you don't want a pig-in-a-poke, see if they have samples for sale.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/samples/whisky-samples/scotch/
I love whiskey and vodka.
Does Absolute Citron count as hard liquor?
Quote from: drunkenshoe on September 21, 2016, 02:05:31 PM
I love whiskey and vodka.
Does Absolute Citron count as hard liquor?
No, but Absolut Citron does. ;)
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on September 21, 2016, 02:09:08 PM
No, but Absolut Citron does. ;)
:lol: I don't know what kind of a slip was that.
Quote from: drunkenshoe on September 21, 2016, 02:27:59 PM
:lol: I don't know what kind of a slip was that.
An absolutely awful one, old bean.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on September 21, 2016, 02:31:58 PM
An absolutely awful one, old bean.
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/11/25/article-2513342-19A31C7800000578-617_634x362.jpg)
Quote from: drunkenshoe on September 21, 2016, 02:45:30 PM
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/11/25/article-2513342-19A31C7800000578-617_634x362.jpg)
"I regret nothing!"
Quote from: drunkenshoe on September 21, 2016, 02:05:31 PM
I love whiskey and vodka.
Does Absolute Citron count as hard liquor?
That is a flavored vodka? E Europeans and N Europeans like flavored vodka. Hence also Dutch and British gin. Americans typically use vodka for cocktails, so having any non-neutral taste is pointless.
Set up a batch of limoncello. It's in the first stage of soaking, Meyer lemon rind sitting in a bottle of Everclear. In a couple weeks I will add the simple syrup to cut it to about 75 proof, and let it sit until just about Turkey Destruction Day... er, Thanksgiving. At which point it should be not only perfect, but epic.
Not much into the hard stuff. Come home, half a bottle of wine while I make dinner for 6 bitches….watch some boob till a half hour for bed, pop a couple cold ones to kill the vino mouth…..yeah I drink a little, but I stay at the home and am pretty much harmless.
so im drinking everclear shots
Quote from: Draconic Aiur on September 22, 2016, 09:19:35 PM
so im drinking everclear shots
That was eleven hours ago. Draconic should be waking up any day now.
I found that aged Flor de Caña rum (from Nicaragua) is pretty damn good.
I used to drink beer, but know mostly into Zinfendel wine. But I love a "Gin Buck" before dinner. Ice in a Sling glass, 1.5 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, topped with ginger ale. With a straw. I'm no purist. My other favorite is 1 oz Southern Comfort, .5 Peach Brandy and then the ginger ale.
You probably all think I'm sick. LOL!
Quote from: Cavebear on November 11, 2016, 05:59:29 AM
I used to drink beer, but know mostly into Zinfendel wine. But I love a "Gin Buck" before dinner. Ice in a Sling glass, 1.5 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, topped with ginger ale. With a straw. I'm no purist. My other favorite is 1 oz Southern Comfort, .5 Peach Brandy and then the ginger ale.
You probably all think I'm sick. LOL!
Gin is a sin.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on November 11, 2016, 06:17:08 AM
Gin is a sin.
Gin has a taste. Vodka is a crime. No taste and only for the purpose of getting drunk.
Quote from: Cavebear on November 11, 2016, 06:21:55 AM
Gin has a taste. Vodka is a crime. No taste and only for the purpose of getting drunk.
I drink vodka because I like spicy tomato juice. But if I'm going to drink because I want some liquor then it's Speyside for me.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on November 11, 2016, 07:00:00 AM
I drink vodka because I like spicy tomato juice. But if I'm going to drink because I want some liquor then it's Speyside for me.
The whole thing about vodka is that it has no taste. Add some Gin to your tomato juice instead.
Quote from: Cavebear on November 11, 2016, 08:07:31 AM
The whole thing about vodka is that it has no taste. Add some Gin to your tomato juice instead.
Gin tastes like alfalfa that has been processed by a milk cow.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on November 11, 2016, 08:38:28 AM
Gin tastes like alfalfa that has been processed by a milk cow.
Our cows here don't eat Juniper berries.
So try a Southern Comfort, peach brandy, and ginger ale or (gag) sparkling water instead.
Quote from: Cavebear on November 11, 2016, 08:59:17 AM
Our cows here don't eat Juniper berries.
So try a Southern Comfort, peach brandy, and ginger ale or (gag) sparkling water instead.
I'm morally opposed to little paper umbrellas.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on November 11, 2016, 09:08:42 AM
I'm morally opposed to little paper umbrellas.
I would never waste a perfectly good paper umbrella on a decent cocktail! They are much better as cat toys.
Quote from: Cavebear on November 11, 2016, 09:10:37 AM
I would never waste a perfectly good paper umbrella on a decent cocktail! They are much better as cat toys.
Feline scientists are currently looking for the "not toy" particle. I doubt they'll find it.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on November 11, 2016, 09:12:45 AM
Feline scientists are currently looking for the "not toy" particle. I doubt they'll find it.
It is probably under the couch.
Quote from: Cavebear on November 11, 2016, 10:19:33 AM
It is probably under the couch.
Under the fridge, Toy Bank of Zurich.
Gawdzilla....:lol:
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on November 11, 2016, 10:24:13 AM
Under the fridge, Toy Bank of Zurich.
I'm pretty sure my cats say that every is "unner the couch".
Quote from: Cavebear on November 11, 2016, 10:29:50 AM
I'm pretty sure my cats say that every is "unner the couch".
If it was always "unner the couch" then you'd know where to look for it. As that simply isn't something a cat would do, it must be wrong.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on November 11, 2016, 10:39:02 AM
If it was always "unner the couch" then you'd know where to look for it. As that simply isn't something a cat would do, it must be wrong.
Well, to be fair, they consider all places in the house to be "unner the couch". To them it is sort of like "outside" in unspecificity.
Found a very nice Speyside last week, "Rogganmore."
Put some absolut wodka in my coke the other night.
As far as wodka's go, it's not bad. But I'm not a wodka fan. I regret buying the bottle.
I don't drink much these days. When I do it's usually a good vodka or tequila. For mixing it's Skyy vodka and Cabo tequila. Grey Goose vodka or Herradura tequila chilled for sipping. I do try to keep a variety on hand for guests though. There's usually at least a bourbon, a scotch and a rum to go with the vodka and tequila in the liquor cabinet most of the time.
(http://i.imgur.com/bO8UZjy.jpg)
I've got a bottle of anisette I'm afraid to drink.
Ah the holidays.
Keep your eggnog,
We've got;
Jenevers
(http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7141/6548002589_e4db5be08f.jpg)
I invented a new drink.
Juice of half an orange
Dash of bitters
Pony of sweet vermouth
Two ponies of dark (not black) rum
I call it an 'arecibo' - partly because the cocktail glass it's served in vaguely resembles a radio antenna, partly because Puerto Rico is a rum producing region, and mostly because the five other names I picked for it were already in use for other rum-based cocktails.
Quote from: Baruch on August 24, 2016, 06:56:17 PM
I like whiskey liquer ... Irish Mist, Drambui, Southern Comfort.
Southern Comfort! Straight.
Margarita--any time.
SoCo is too sweet for my taste. But then, I like gin, so clearly I have no taste buds. XD
Quote from: trdsf on January 07, 2017, 09:37:56 PM
SoCo is too sweet for my taste. But then, I like gin, so clearly I have no taste buds. XD
Yeah, it is sweet. But then I like sweet. I know that Southern Comfort is not for real drinkers--or so I've been told. :)
Quote from: Mike Cl on January 07, 2017, 09:47:02 PM
Yeah, it is sweet. But then I like sweet. I know that Southern Comfort is not for real drinkers--or so I've been told. :)
Oh, sweet is good in its place. I love icewine, for example. I suppose there are good uses for SoCo in cocktails, but I'd rather use a simple syrup and Bulleitt bourbon.
Quote from: trdsf on January 07, 2017, 10:14:24 PM
Oh, sweet is good in its place. I love icewine, for example. I suppose there are good uses for SoCo in cocktails, but I'd rather use a simple syrup and Bulleitt bourbon.
Since I drink it straight, Southern Comfort makes travel easy. Just one bottle. On a hot day, a little ice and I'm good to go.
Quote from: Mike Cl on January 07, 2017, 10:17:26 PM
Since I drink it straight, Southern Comfort makes travel easy. Just one bottle. On a hot day, a little ice and I'm good to go.
I guess I can see that. I'll stick to Tullamore Dew, personally.
Quote from: trdsf on January 07, 2017, 10:22:22 PM
I guess I can see that. I'll stick to Tullamore Dew, personally.
As long as you don't splash any into my Southern Comfort, I'm good with that. :)
Quote from: Mike Cl on January 07, 2017, 10:48:17 PM
As long as you don't splash any into my Southern Comfort, I'm good with that. :)
I think we have come to an equitable solution. :D
Cragganmore.
Criminy... d'you have any idea how much I have drunk tonight, and I don't even have a mild buzz going?
Quote from: trdsf on January 08, 2017, 10:56:51 PM
Criminy... d'you have any idea how much I have drunk tonight, and I don't even have a mild buzz going?
Definitely a sign of something or other. Back when I was on active duty I'd take the top off a new bottle and throw it away, "Won't need that any more."
When it comes to hard liquor, I usually go for a shot or two of vodka like sour apple or something minty (red hots, peppermint,...). I'm more interested in effect than taste. Tmi, but use it like a medicine to help during my time of the month and it has the bonus of no after effects. I can have enough to get pretty damn drunk, but afterward feel normal while a lot of other drinks tend to leave me cranky afterwards (I'm a goofy drunk).
Am at a relaxacon -- essentially, a convention for SF fans with minimal programming and gallons of alcohol. I have been to two panels today, one on home brewing and one on mixology. I have been nipping away at a bottle of barreling strength rye most of the day.
Currently on my hotel room table is a bottle of 'prison hooch', merrily fermenting away (that was the hands-on part of the home brewing panel - basically one cup of sugar in a 750ml bottle, add water to below the neck and shake until it's all dissolved in, then one teaspoon of regular bread yeast). He had a batch already set up and it was both smoother and tastier than anything made like that should be. And it smells like bread. Although he's worked in corrections, he did not have us make it with stale bread and other makeshift ingredients. :)
Anyway, in about a week or so it'll be done fermenting and I'll report back on how it is.
Quote from: trdsf on January 14, 2017, 09:01:17 PM
Am at a relaxacon -- essentially, a convention for SF fans with minimal programming and gallons of alcohol. I have been to two panels today, one on home brewing and one on mixology. I have been nipping away at a bottle of barreling strength rye most of the day.
Currently on my hotel room table is a bottle of 'prison hooch', merrily fermenting away (that was the hands-on part of the home brewing panel - basically one cup of sugar in a 750ml bottle, add water to below the neck and shake until it's all dissolved in, then one teaspoon of regular bread yeast). He had a batch already set up and it was both smoother and tastier than anything made like that should be. And it smells like bread. Although he's worked in corrections, he did not have us make it with stale bread and other makeshift ingredients. :)
Anyway, in about a week or so it'll be done fermenting and I'll report back on how it is.
While typing from a Braille keyboard?
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 15, 2017, 08:17:36 AM
While typing from a Braille keyboard?
Who said that? And what happened to the lights?
Quote from: trdsf on January 07, 2017, 10:22:22 PM
I'll stick to Tullamore Dew, personally.
The best Irish whiskey for Irish coffee. It's the whiskey used by the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco.
Quote from: Atheon on January 18, 2017, 10:55:55 AM
The best Irish whiskey for Irish coffee. It's the whiskey used by the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco.
No argument here. Tully has long been a favorite of mine. If you can get your hands on a bottle of their single malt, that is a favor your tastebuds will never finish thanking you for.
My favorite drinks lately are Gin Bucks (Gin, lemon juice and gingerale), and a no name drink (Southern Comfort and Peach brandy with gingerale. On ice and with a straw. I'm a heathen in regards to proper drinking. For wine, I like Twisted Zin at $10 for a 1.5 bottle. Goes with everything *I* eat. LOL!
I got turned on to Monkey Rum (http://www.monkeyrum.com) at DeConPression last month. I will be ordering a couple bottles -- one of the spiced, and one of the toasted coconut (the one I got to try that blew my mind).
Quote from: trdsf on February 15, 2017, 01:25:22 PM
I got turned on to Monkey Rum (http://www.monkeyrum.com) at DeConPression last month. I will be ordering a couple bottles -- one of the spiced, and one of the toasted coconut (the one I got to try that blew my mind).
Rum has possibilities. Not my stuff, but at least it isn't drink-it-for-the alcohol vodka.
Let's wake this thread up a little. Okay, a lot. I just took delivery of two bottles of Empress 1908 gin. It is that rich a blue straight out of the bottle, and the only thing I added to it was regular tonic water:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJioPHzh3-Y
I love when my mixology comes with a side of mad science. :D
I'm kind of more into rum these days.
Like it in a cuba libre or just straight up a swig or two. Oddly refreshing.
Gotta say though, found a cheaper brand recently which was okay. But tried captain morgan recently and while it is more expensive it's just kind of bland.
Any advice?
I've finally reached a point of my life where... I just cant do hard liquor anymore. The hangover aint worth it.
Abstaining is easy. All my liquor is at my old home in another state ;-)
Quote from: Shiranu on May 21, 2020, 01:56:58 PM
I've finally reached a point of my life where... I just cant do hard liquor anymore. The hangover aint worth it.
Yeah, I feel ya. One Halloween, I drank straight Southern Comfort (half of a big bottle) within 6 hrs. It was luckily on a friday. Spent the next two days with the flu. Or it felt like it. The equation dawned on me--six hours of fun (??) for 48 hours of misery?? I have not had a sip of hard liquor since. Not even a mixed drink. I do drink wine tho. Oops, take that back--once/twice a year I'll have a margarita or two. Hangovers really, really suck.
Southern Comfort used to be my favorite too. But I kept seeing Confederate flags that weren't there ;-)
Quote from: Shiranu on May 21, 2020, 01:56:58 PM
I've finally reached a point of my life where... I just cant do hard liquor anymore. The hangover aint worth it.
been like that for me for at least 5 years. I only drink beer now. Buzzed right now too.
I drank Southern Comfort in my youth because if I drank that, and only that, I did not get a hang over. Not so in my later years--now I don't go near that stuff.
New discovery.
So I have been enjoying the mixological delights of peaflower infusions (which makes Empress 1908 gin that magnificent blue, and turns purple in the presence of citrus).
On a whim, I added peaflower to a bottle of Absente, hoping that it would make a pleasant teal with the green of the absinthe.
Wrong. It's trichroic. Looked at through a thick cross section it's maroon, and through a thin cross section it's a dark green, and when you add water and it louches, then it's teal.
Edible chemistry is awesome. :D
We had a gintasting for my brother´s bachelorparty, last saturday.
I was sick as hell on sunday.
I get scotch for my birthday, up to twenty bottles a year. I represent them when I get more than fifty bottles.
Yuck, you guys have at it. I can't do it anymore.