Best Whiskey you've ever had

[JAJT]

For the record, my preferred celebratory libation:

 

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[amp0193]

I have a very interesting story that is relevant to this thread:


My grandfather was the caretaker of a cemetery in Minneapolis for years. My mom and her sisters grew up playing in the graveyard.

He dug every grave by hand, with a shovel, even in the middle of a Minnesota winter.


Anyways, every year, the owner of the cemetery would give my grandfather a nice bottle of whiskey as a Christmas gift.


My grandfather never had a drop of alcohol in his life, but politely accepted the gift year after year.


In 1972, after 6 years of this, he finally tells the owner "I don't drink" and the gifts stop.


Pretty soon after that, my grandfather took the family back to the farm to take up farm life again, but before they did they had to clean up the house... and dispose of the whiskey.


Now, it was a small town, and they were good church goin' folk, and he didn't want the trash collector to think he was a drunk... what with throwing out 6 bottles of whiskey and all.


So he did what any reasonable caretaker would do...

He buried the bottles in the next grave that he dug.


My grandfather told me this whole story at age 99, which was the first time anyone had really thought of it in the 40 years that had passed.

While he couldn't remember the name on the grave, he did remember the row, and I've got it marked on a map.


So yes, there is buried treasure in my family, and it's 6 bottles of 45-50 year-old, good-enough-to-give-as-a-Christmas-gift, Whiskey.



(If anyone knows anything about finding objects underground, or legally exhuming graves, PM me!)

 

[Greg R]

"Japanese Harmony" by Hibiki. My go to. Makes a great mid-priced gift as well. Everyone gets surprised when they receive any Japanese whiskey.

 

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[JAJT]

As previously mentioned, this stuff:

I don't know how I came across it but this stuff blew me away the first time I had it. It was one of those "stop everything, something special is going on here" moments.

It's amazingly affordable which may turn some people off but IMHO this is what I would buy at any price point. I've yet to have any other whisk(e)y that I would prefer over this stuff.

We already know who the cigar aficionados are,

I also enjoy a good cigar

 

[Scot]

In July, I made my own whiskey cocktail. I aged some new make spirits with some bitters for 4 months.

Then in November I added some pure maple syrup to it. Let it age a little longer.



The other night I poured some straight from the cask, added a little bit of water and an ice cube and enjoyed a local hand rolled cigar.

Nothing like enjoying the fruits of your labors!


Who else has their own aging barrel? What have you made with it?

 

[Scot]

Almost had @amp0193 thread hijacked by @JAJT @Greg Rutkowski and @G-Man. We already know who the cigar aficionados are, but where are my whiskey and Scotch lovers?

Here's my favorite bottle. A Dalmore Cigar Malt. Pairs beautifully with a cigar.


What's the best you've ever had?

 

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[G-Man]

I'd just like to point out that I didn't hijack the @amp0193 thread, I merely answered his question.

For the record, my preferred celebratory libation:

 

[Greg R]

I'm sensing a common theme here between entrepreneurs, poker, cigars, and whiskey.

Who is going to start the first whiskey & cigar lounge for entrepreneurs? We have to stop using my basement, it's becoming a fire hazard.

 

[ZeroTo100]

Glenlevit 18,21,25

All delish!

 

[Patrick R]

Anyone wants to come up to Maine I've got a card table in the lounge downstairs with some Cubans I got on my last trip

 

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[Patrick R]

Fun Fact of the Day: A shot is called that because back in the old west days an ounce pour of whiskey had about the same price as a .45cal shot so many times people would trade a shot for a drink instead of paying money.

 

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[Patrick R]

@Greg Rutkowski I love the Hibiki. Have you ever tried Nikka Yoichi 12 Year? I'm partial to peatier scotches and for a Japanese with this much peat I fall in love.

 

[JordanK]

Can't say I have tried many Whiskey's as I have only been legally drinking here in Ireland for just over a year. However I was gifted a nice bottle of Paddy and it went down a treat. Also, thanks guys for the other thread on cigars I had a few of them on holidays and they were really enjoyable.

Maybe Entrepreneurs like us take a specific liking to them as we've all grown up watching movies where the rich and powerful people that we aspire to become engage with these products and play poker etc... Some really powerful advertising if you ask me!

 

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[amp0193]

I think anyone that jokes about a treasure hunt should be shot. I'm dead serious. Shoot me a pm and we can plan tomorrow!

This forum never disappoints.

 

[Scot]

Oh man! Tugging at my heartstrings brother!

I'd love to talk about my extensive collection of Pappy but since I've only sipped it once at the distillery that would be a lie hahaha. I'm not a huge fan of blends, more a single malt guy, but on the cruise I got two bottle of Johnnie Walker Island Green and it is fantastic, really smooth. I'm sure the fact that it was duty free enhances the taste too!

I much prefer a single malt to a blend myself. I like the history that goes into it.

"Japanese Harmony" by Hibiki. My go to. Makes a great mid-priced gift as well. Everyone gets surprised when they receive any Japanese whiskey.

I want to call sacrilege on Japanese whiskey, but I also want to be proven wrong. I'll put this on my wish list.

Glenlevit 18,21,25

All delish!

Went to The Glenlevit in Scotland and brought back a 15 year virgin oak. Delicious.

Anyone wants to come up to Maine I've got a card table in the lounge downstairs with some Cubans I got on my last trip

Oddly enough, for our last Tampa meetup, a cigar lounge was our second choice.

 

[Patrick R]

Not sure if you're serious.

If you are, there's a bottle in there for you.


We tried to figure this out 6 years ago, but it kind of fell by the wayside.

My plan was to transcribe all of the names from the row, and ask my grandfather if he recognized any of the names.

But then he passed away.

So... now I guess I need some sort of underground sonar or something that can identify non-coffin shaped objects.

I think anyone that jokes about a treasure hunt should be shot. I'm dead serious. Shoot me a pm and we can plan tomorrow!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Ivan2BAlive]

This is my poison, Woodford Reserve, the best thing close to heaven.

 

[Patrick R]

Oh man! Tugging at my heartstrings brother!

I'd love to talk about my extensive collection of Pappy but since I've only sipped it once at the distillery that would be a lie hahaha. I'm not a huge fan of blends, more a single malt guy, but on the cruise I got two bottle of Johnnie Walker Island Green and it is fantastic, really smooth. I'm sure the fact that it was duty free enhances the taste too!

 

[Patrick R]

Can I upvote this? Lol

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[Patrick R]

Woodford is my go to for Old Fashioned's.

*cracks knuckles* * @Scot rolls eyes* *does Michael Phelps arm slap*

Alright Gents. Strap into your seats and grab your butts because I'm about to take you down a wild ride through the land of Old Fashioneds and proper cocktail history!

I HATE Old Fashioneds. That's right, you read it correctly and I'll say it again: This whiskey-lovin, cigar smokin, gun totin, boot wearin guy right here HATES Old Fashioneds. You're in a bar and sit down and see your favorite single-barrel bourbon on the shelf, for me Buffalo Trace, so you slide up to the counter onto a barstool and order up the first ever cocktail invented, an Old Fashioned! A minute or so late the bartender comes over and slides up a rocks glass filled with ice, some bourbon, cherries, orange slices and filled to the brim with soda water...mmmm tasty!

Wait wait sorry guys. Must have had a stroke there for a second because last time I checked (and I check a lot since I run a cocktail blog) THAT'S NOT AN OLD FASHIONED! And since I had three last night, I LOVE OLD FASHIONEDS! They are hands down my favorite cocktail ever invented! But only when made properly and the cocktail isn't insulted with a ton of unnecessary additions....like soda water (disgusting). It's really unfortunate that most people don't know this but Prohibition was really really bad for the Old Fashioned. What started as a perfect drink and the base of all cocktails we know now was, in the 1920s, destroyed by substandard spirits and the necessary additions of extras to make the drink palatable.

But here's the best part. We no longer have substandard and harsh spirits. We have the privilege of having arguably the best spirits ever created so there's no need to hide them anymore! A cocktail is designed to enhance a spirit and make it enjoyable to consume, not to hide the spirit. So why hide a beautiful bourbon whiskey when you can make it flawless with only a few simple ingredients? Here's my recipe for an Old Fashioned, created by Jerry Thomas but I tweaked it some.

Old-Fashioned
1tsp rich simple syrup (2:1) or .5 oz 1:1 simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters (or any aromatic bitters)
2oz bourbon (you want something good here, but not over the top. I typically go for Buffalo Trace)
1 swath of orange peel
Add the simple syrup, bitters and then orange peel to an old-fashioned glass. Gently press (use a muddler or something similar) the peel to bring out its oils and combine. Add bourbon and 3 large ice cubes. Stir to chill and combine.

Like I said, I run a cocktail blog. It makes me 0 monies and I do it because I love cocktails. I also make my own bitters and Old-Fashioned Bourbon. I'm far from an expert but the bastardization of this drink really gets my panties in a twist since it can be so flawless if made properly.

Now none of this is to say that you haven't had a proper Old Fashioned, just want to spread the love anywhere I can!

 

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[JAJT]

So yes, there is buried treasure in my family, and it's 6 bottles of 45-50 year-old

Nobody mentioned it but a lot of people don't realize that the whiskey in the bottle does not age.

So while you may have a physical bottle that is 50 years old, if the label says "12 year", it's a 12 year whiskey.

Whiskey ages in the barrel and is stopped completely in the bottle.

However your story is AMAZING and if you do in fact unearth buried treasure from a deceased family member in a graveyard that is quite possible the coolest damn story in the world that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

That's damn amazing.

 

[amp0193]

I will be drinking the bottle with companions this weekend and will report back.

The Woodford was well received.

The waves of flavor were awesome and not too intense. Those swigs were thoroughly enjoyable.

 

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[ejames]

Almost had @amp0193 thread hijacked by @JAJT @Greg Rutkowski and @G-Man. We already know who the cigar aficionados are, but where are my whiskey and Scotch lovers?

Here's my favorite bottle. A Dalmore Cigar Malt. Pairs beautifully with a cigar.
View attachment 16205

What's the best you've ever had?

Johnny Blue, which im not proud to say. Paying 80 dollars a shot in a club is just plain stupid. Moving off the sidewalk now.

 

[Greg R]

As previously mentioned, this stuff:

Red Breast is next on my list. The name coincidentally goes very nicely with the current product that I'm working on.

 

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[Patrick R]

I have yet to try anything from Nikka Yoichi, but I've heard great things...

I wonder what the legality on a Whiskey timeshare is hahaha

 

[Patrick R]

If you want a fantastic whiskey that is at the same price point as JD go with Buffalo Trace (oldest distillery in America and my favorite) or Bullett or Dickle. Honestly JD is kinda trash in comparison I think

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[Almantas]

Famous Russian celebratory drink: Samogon. Here's the brewery operation in action:

And final product with some snacks:

Main Side effects:

1. Memory loss.
2. Insane headaches.
3. Belching near fire highly dangerous.

Drink responsibly!

 

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[Patrick R]

Darn, I definitely was under the impression that it got better with age.


Who knows... could be some amazing stuff in there.

No it stops ageing. That's why older whiskey's are more expensive too, because in the barrel they loose a % per year due to evaporation. So less supply comes out on bottling day. In a bottle it just sits there waiting to be drank.

However! That doesn't mean it's value doesn't increase over time, nor does the sentiment or meaning behind it.

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[Scot]

Exactly. You lose 1-2% per year to evaporation. That's why you only get about 100 bottles from a 55g cask after 50 years. It's also why they cost about $10,000 per bottle.

But unfortunately they don't bottle age. Everything you get taste wise in whiskey is from the cask. The only taste that's not from the cask is any peat from the malting process.

 

[eliquid]

you all should come to where I live here in Kentucky...

pretty much all the distilleries are right in my backyard and within minutes driving time of each other.

we even have "tours" that drive you to each one so you can sample.

 

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