Re: Official Drinking Thread: 7&7s for Everyone!
Thinking of buying some whiskey this weekend, but I'm not sure which kind I want. I really want something that's good on its own and doesn't need to be mixed.
I wish I knew how to answer that.
Start out with the most general questions:
1. Do you like:
A. Sweet and smokey
B. Earthy
C. Light and gentle on the palette
2A. Do you like:
A. A stronger smokey flavor that tends to be more abrasive.
Booker's Bourbon
B. A more gentle flavor that has more fruity and vanilla notes.
Elijah Craig 18
C. Something with a bit of both
Woodford Reserve
Other notes:
A. I would recommend Gentleman Jack for something similar to bourbon but with a slightly different flavor.
B. I would recommend Knob Creek for an intro to Rye. Very tasty.
2B. Do you like:
A. A very strong peaty smoke flavor.
Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch 12-year
B. A more gentle flavor that has more fruity and vanilla notes.
Macallan Single Malt Scotch 12-year
C. Something with a bit of both.
Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch 12-year
2C. You're on your own here.
A. I would recommend either a Crown Royal or Crown Royal Black for an introduction to Canadian whisky
B. I would recommend Jameson as an intro to Irish whiskey
Neither are the best of breed by any measure, but they will work just fine.
General:
I would highly recommend against anything that comes in a 1.5 L bottle. Exceptions exist. But very few.
I would sort of recommend against anything that costs less than $25 a bottle (750 mL). There are some exceptions though and some can be very good.
I would recommend against moonshine unless you've gotten used to the high alcohol content of whisk(e)y.
If you buy something for mixing, make sure it's appropriately matched to the flavors of the drink and appropriately priced. Don't buy a $50 bottle to mix a Manhattan or Rob Roy.
Experiment and figure out which you like the most.