Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome!

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

Galliano? Galliano?!?

( Seriously, nice work. Well done.)

That's just the collection (minus another half of overstock and flavored crap that's in the back room). It's gonna look a whole ton better in about two weeks.


I enjoy drinking and I enjoy variety.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

That's just the collection (minus another half of overstock and flavored crap that's in the back room). It's gonna look a whole ton better in about two weeks.


I enjoy drinking and I enjoy variety.

Black Velvet: Galliano/Guinness. IIRC.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

Yeah, the Galliano goes in a couple of mixers including the Harvey Wallbanger should anyone care to step back into a 1960s supper club.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

Yeah, the Galliano goes in a couple of mixers including the Harvey Wallbanger should anyone care to step back into a 1960s supper club.

Nothing wrong with old school. Was in Denver for a wedding a couple years back, and found a martini bar, which also had Old Fashioneds on the main menu. Usually, you don't order one of those unless you want to p* off the bartender. This OF was grand.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

There's a legit Wisconsin supper club about a half hour north of here along hwy 12 called Green Acres.

When we go there, we always go old school including pink squirrels and brandy alexanders after supper.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

There's a legit Wisconsin supper club about a half hour north of here along hwy 12 called Green Acres.

When we go there, we always go old school including pink squirrels and brandy alexanders after supper.

My mom LOVES Pink Squirrels and Grasshoppers.

I do love me the OF, and would like to explore older drinks; I just either lack the drive to get the ingredients or lack the motivation to find a bar with them (include the patience of the barkeeps, also, in that case).

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

My mom LOVES Pink Squirrels and Grasshoppers.

I do love me the OF, and would like to explore older drinks; I just either lack the drive to get the ingredients or lack the motivation to find a bar with them (include the patience of the barkeeps, also, in that case).

I worked restaurant through college and that included a few bartending gigs with a year's stay in a supper club. That's what inspired me to pick up the Galliano. Wanted to be able to make just about anything should the occasion call for it.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

You're about in my generation, I think. 7&7s was an "old man's" drink when I first started drinking legally. Now they are standard. I'm glad that the traditionals are back.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

Nothing wrong with old school. Was in Denver for a wedding a couple years back, and found a martini bar, which also had Old Fashioneds on the main menu. Usually, you don't order one of those unless you want to p* off the bartender. This OF was grand.

Unless you're in Wisconsin, where 70% of the population drinks Old Fashioneds regularly.

edit: except those are Brandy Old Fashioned, not a proper whiskey drink.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

I don't have the room at my house for a bar like that. Had one in college though. Except then it was stocked with the cheap stuff: Jose Cuervo, Captain Morgan, Jim Beam, Smirnoff Vodka, Dr. McGuillicudy's, etc. The crap from college. In fact, one whole room in our college house was "The Bar", we also had 2 beers (half barrels) tapped at all times. It was pretty sweet.

Now, I have a mini-bar setup. Many have seen it, I think I've actually posted pictures before also. But its an old, antique ice box, in perfect condition ($200 craigslist STEAL) with 2 lines of bottles on the top, and room for beer inside. My bottles are: Caol Ila 12, Lagavulin 16, Bowmore 12, Bunnahabhain 18, Auchentoshan 18, Glengoyne 17, Woodford Reserve, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Maker's 46, Basil Hayden's, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Elmer T. Lee, Reyka, and Cabo Wabo Anejo. I need a very high-end rum, with a corked top. Any suggestions, Gurt?

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

I don't have the room at my house for a bar like that. Had one in college though. Except then it was stocked with the cheap stuff: Jose Cuervo, Captain Morgan, Jim Beam, Smirnoff Vodka, Dr. McGuillicudy's, etc. The crap from college. In fact, one whole room in our college house was "The Bar", we also had 2 beers (half barrels) tapped at all times. It was pretty sweet.

Now, I have a mini-bar setup. Many have seen it, I think I've actually posted pictures before also. But its an old, antique ice box, in perfect condition ($200 craigslist STEAL) with 2 lines of bottles on the top, and room for beer inside. My bottles are: Caol Ila 12, Lagavulin 16, Bowmore 12, Bunnahabhain 18, Auchentoshan 18, Glengoyne 17, Woodford Reserve, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Maker's 46, Basil Hayden's, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Elmer T. Lee, Reyka, and Cabo Wabo Anejo. I need a very high-end rum, with a corked top. Any suggestions, Gurt?

Very high end? Depends on what you mean by that.

I don't see nearly the selection of rum at the $40-$60 750ml price point as I do whiskey, bourbon and scotch. I'm not sure how much of it there is up around here as there's undoubtedly more demand for whiskey and a bigger market looking for the high end stuff.

Since you liked the Shellback, I'm wondering if you prefer a sweeter rum rather than a dryer one?

These are my two favs:

Plantation 20th Anniversary

http://www.masterofmalt.com/rum/plantation/plantation-xo-barbados-20th-anniversary-rum/

Kirk & Sweeney 12 yr

http://therumhowlerblog.wordpress.com/rum-reviews/dark-rums/kirk-and-sweeney-12-year-rum/


Those links are just what pooped up in google, so I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with the opinions that are stated.

Anyway, both have cork stoppers, both have cool bottles with etching instead of labels (my Plantation bottle is different than the one they are using now as I got mine a few years ago) but most importantly, I find both to be very enjoyable, sweet-ish sugar cane style rums. I give the nod to the Kirk & Sweeney, but only by a nose.

The complexity of the flavors is what sets these apart from other, cheaper gold rums. It's very noticeable even when mixed with Coke.

I believe that the K & S is around $30 and I believe I paid $40 for the Plantation - both in 750ml bottles.


If you're looking higher end than that, I can't help you. I just don't have any experience with them.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

Very high end? Depends on what you mean by that.

I don't see nearly the selection of rum at the $40-$60 750ml price point as I do whiskey, bourbon and scotch. I'm not sure how much of it there is up around here as there's undoubtedly more demand for whiskey and a bigger market looking for the high end stuff.

Since you liked the Shellback, I'm wondering if you prefer a sweeter rum rather than a dryer one?

These are my two favs:

Plantation 20th Anniversary

http://www.masterofmalt.com/rum/plantation/plantation-xo-barbados-20th-anniversary-rum/

Kirk & Sweeney 12 yr

http://therumhowlerblog.wordpress.com/rum-reviews/dark-rums/kirk-and-sweeney-12-year-rum/


Those links are just what pooped up in google, so I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with the opinions that are stated.

Anyway, both have cork stoppers, both have cool bottles with etching instead of labels (my Plantation bottle is different than the one they are using now as I got mine a few years ago) but most importantly, I find both to be very enjoyable, sweet-ish sugar cane style rums. I give the nod to the Kirk & Sweeney, but only by a nose.

The complexity of the flavors is what sets these apart from other, cheaper gold rums. It's very noticeable even when mixed with Coke.

I believe that the K & S is around $30 and I believe I paid $40 for the Plantation - both in 750ml bottles.


If you're looking higher end than that, I can't help you. I just don't have any experience with them.

Thanks for the advice. I don't need higher end than that. I just want something different from the standard stuff. I do like a sweeter rum over a dryer rum, if I'm drinking rum, I want it sweeter. If I want something less sweet, I'll switch over to a whisky or bourbon. I'll probably try to find some of the Kirk and Sweeney, and give it a try.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

I also have Plantation Old Reserve 2000, Clement V.S.O.P. and Pyrat X.O. and all three are nice, but I don't personally enjoy them as much as the aforementioned nor are they as sweet.

I also generally prefer a sweet rum except on the occasions that I want a mixer with tropical juices. I go light rum in those instances anyway.

Finally, a couple of rums that are comparable, but maybe not suited for your bar top (put them in the cabinet) are the Pussers and Flor de Cana 7yr. Both are tasty, sweet-ish and somewhat complex in their flavors and both I believe were around the $20 price point.

Those are more everyday selections for me as I tend to save/hoard the high end stuff.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

Unless you're in Wisconsin, where 70% of the population drinks Old Fashioneds regularly.

edit: except those are Brandy Old Fashioned, not a proper whiskey drink.

This is true. When I was in my buddy's WI wedding, I spent the week there helping out the family get stuff together, etc. and all week it was Brandy Old Fashioneds. Lewis Black was dead-on correct.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

It's funny about the brandy thing as I don't know anyone who drinks it including older relatives. I don't believe I've every had any.

I don't doubt it's true that people here drink it, but must be more prevalent in smaller or older communities.

I certainly made a ton of BOFs at that supper club gig, but that was 20 years ago and in LaCrosse.

 

[DaveStPaul]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

It's funny about the brandy thing as I don't know anyone who drinks it including older relatives. I don't believe I've every had any.

I don't doubt it's true that people here drink it, but must be more prevalent in smaller or older communities.

I certainly made a ton of BOFs at that supper club gig, but that was 20 years ago and in LaCrosse.

The Wisconsin drink I'd never heard of (till I was in a Wisconsin wedding -- with supper club rehearsal dinner, naturally) was a Smith & Kearns. All the codgers were putting them away.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

The Wisconsin drink I'd never heard of (till I was in a Wisconsin wedding -- with supper club rehearsal dinner, naturally) was a Smith & Kearns. All the codgers were putting them away.

Those are pretty tasty and we used to get orders for those as an after dinner drink. I've had a few, but not for many, many years.

I remember White Russians being a popular choice for the ladies in certain bars back in the day also.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

For the locals:

Ace Spirits in Hopkins.

HO. LEE. SH*. They have ALL the whiskey/scotch. ALL OF IT.

Highland Park 50YO Single Malt is $17K. Too expensive? How about the Balvenie 40YO at $3800?

They also are going to give away a couple bottles of Pappy and George T Stagg on their grand opening celebration. They do have the Stagg Jr for sale, though. Honestly, the selection they have is friggin' amazing.

http://www.acespirits.com/

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome

So what would a Highland Park 50YO Single Malt and Coke set me back?

Or better yet, a Highland Park 50YO Single Malt Old Fashioned Sweet.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Unless you're in Wisconsin, where 70% of the population drinks Old Fashioneds regularly.

edit: except those are Brandy Old Fashioned, not a proper whiskey drink.

http://youtu.be/CkXrD7q2VHs