Do people actually enjoy the taste of whiskey (1 Viewer)

Evo1883

Well-Known Member
Just wondering... Obviously Alot of people drink it, but how do they enjoy it?

I've never understood the best way to appreciate the taste, the way to drink it or how to stop it burning my stomach when it's swallowed lol.
I'm 35 BTW, so my experience with whiskey is either down it to get slaughtered or mix it with coke and down it to get slaughtered

I'm genuinely curious, what do people like about the stuff
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
In answer to your question, no, obviously.

I tried it once and nearly spat it out. Brandy on the other hand, now there is a lovely drink.
 

Evo1883

Well-Known Member
In answer to your question, no, obviously.

I tried it once and nearly spat it out. Brandy on the other hand, now there is a lovely drink.

Tiny mouthfuls? Swill it in the mouth or straight back?
 

Houchens Head

Fairly well known member from Malvern
As I type, I have a glass of neat Johnnie Walker Red Label in front of me. I bloody love whisky, but my absolute favourite is Jameson Irish Whiskey. (Note the different spelling). Whenever anyone asks me if I'd like anything in my whisky, I always say, "Yeah. More whisky!" Can't even stand a cube of ice in whisky! It's meant to be enjoyed neat! But there are some absolute shite ones. Black & White and Teachers are shite! Grants is OK and so is Whyte & MacKay.
 

Alkhen

Well-Known Member
I can appreciate a decent whisky over a cheap supermarket blend but I don't get the obsession some have for it. I have a few friends that love it and bang on about quality single malts and Japanese whiskey but I have a feeling its style over substance.

Neat spirt-wise I prefer a dark rum or a brandy.

Like a G&T on a sunny day also when no one is looking
 

Houchens Head

Fairly well known member from Malvern
I can appreciate a decent whisky over a cheap supermarket blend but I don't get the obsession some have for it. I have a few friends that love it and bang on about quality single malts and Japanese whiskey but I have a feeling its style over substance.

Neat spirt-wise I prefer a dark rum or a brandy.

Like a G&T on a sunny day also when no one is looking
I used to love a nice dark rum. Woods Old Navy rum. Blows yer bloody socks off, but unfortunately for me, rum is the only drink that gives me a blinding headache! I haven't had rum for ages now. I wouldn't class myself as obsessed with whisky but I just enjoy a really good one. I used to enjoy a nice cigar with my scotch, but alas, that pleasure has now been denied me!
 

Alkhen

Well-Known Member
I used to love a nice dark rum. Woods Old Navy rum. Blows yer bloody socks off, but unfortunately for me, rum is the only drink that gives me a blinding headache! I haven't had rum for ages now. I wouldn't class myself as obsessed with whisky but I just enjoy a really good one. I used to enjoy a nice cigar with my scotch, but alas, that pleasure has now been denied me!

Ha yeah I think brandy is the killer for me. Actually cider is just as bad, worse hangovers ever.

I find half a bottle of red wine will do nowadays, slipping into prematureoold age. Just prefer being lightly toasted especially as I have to deal with kids in the mornings and can't just sleep it off
 

lifeskyblue

Well-Known Member
Drink very little alcohol these days but do love a good Malt Whiskey on occasion.
I drink it with a splash of water (not too much) and never with ice.

Favourites are:
Lagavulin: very smokey and phenolicy
Talisker: hint of pepper

Wouldn’t recommend the above if you new to whiskey...

Good malts to try if new to whiskey
Macallan: quite sweet...a little sherryish
Highland Park: nice and floral/heathery
Dalwhinnie: smooth and fruity


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

lifeskyblue

Well-Known Member
And never with coke or anything else...why ruin a great drink....just a splash of water.

Sip it and savour it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

SkyblueBazza

Well-Known Member
Some wiskey/whiskey tastes harsher than others. Drinking Arbelour recently, keep your eyes peeled for the bargains & try some of the single malts. Some of the Irish ones are good too. It's like buying a bottle of wine £5, & a bottle of £20 reduced to £12. You can tell the difference in texture & taste.

Never used to believe it, but I find it is true

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
 

lifeskyblue

Well-Known Member
How weak am I. Just posted...then opened cupboard...got out a bottle of Oban (quite a dry whiskey and a little salty) and poured myself a double (added that crucial splash)...music on and lights dimmed. Heaven


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Houchens Head

Fairly well known member from Malvern
How weak am I. Just posted...then opened cupboard...got out a bottle of Oban (quite a dry whiskey and a little salty) and poured myself a double (added that crucial splash)...music on and lights dimmed. Heaven


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm on my 4th or 5th (large) Johnnie Walker. Love the stuff. And I NEVER feel the slightest bit pi55ed. (I would never drive anywhere though!)
 

fellatio_Martinez

Well-Known Member
I always wanted to like whisky but couldn't get over the harshness of it and gave up.

I got a horrific toothache around Christmas last year and nothing would dampen the pain. A friend told me to try some whisky so I went into a shop and bought a bottle of Glenfiddich 12 year old single malt scotch whiskey.

I didn't enjoy it at first but my toothache was so bad that I kept sipping it neat and even awoke in the middle of the night for a few nips which definitely helped with the pain.

I now love the taste and find it comforting. A whisky, cigar and open fire on a cold night is something to behold.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Ha yeah I think brandy is the killer for me. Actually cider is just as bad, worse hangovers ever.

I find half a bottle of red wine will do nowadays, slipping into prematureoold age. Just prefer being lightly toasted especially as I have to deal with kids in the mornings and can't just sleep it off
Weird isn't it, because I can take cider and brandy, no problems, but red wine always gives me a headache.
 

PurpleBin

Well-Known Member
As I type, I have a glass of neat Johnnie Walker Red Label in front of me. I bloody love whisky, but my absolute favourite is Jameson Irish Whiskey. (Note the different spelling). Whenever anyone asks me if I'd like anything in my whisky, I always say, "Yeah. More whisky!" Can't even stand a cube of ice in whisky! It's meant to be enjoyed neat! But there are some absolute shite ones. Black & White and Teachers are shite! Grants is OK and so is Whyte & MacKay.

Johnnie Walker is a funny one. I like that one but I'm not an expert...I tried the platinum once. I couldn't tell the difference...saying that I was probably pissed so maybe I should try it sober!
 

SBAndy

Well-Known Member
Whisky is lovely stuff. Off on holiday at the end of this week so will pick up a bottle of single malt on the return journey. Last one I had was Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve (which I later found out is/was only available in Duty Free). So smooth, complete contrast to the peatier whiskies like Laphroaig. I tend to have a whisky with one cube of ice, cools it a bit and waters it down slightly as I snore the house down and the other half pushes me out of bed when that happens.

Also partial to a cognac as well. Remember being taken round the Martell distillery in Cognac by my dad when I was 8. Absolutely love a Remy Martin. Must be neat.
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
Weird isn't it, because I can take cider and brandy, no problems, but red wine always gives me a headache.
It's weird - the "experts" say that the amount of intoxication, headaches, hangovers, etc. are dependent solely on the quantity of actual alcohol consumed (i.e. 1 unit = 10ml of pure alcohol).
Pretty much anyone you talk to who drinks will tell you this is complete bollocks - mixing your drinks probably makes you feel drunk quicker and is more likely to give you a hangover, and certain drinks give you a headache while others don't (despite the same units consumed). Drinks are not just alcohol - that's why they are different colours.

But to answer the question, i have a few very nice bottles of whisky - all Scotch, hence no E! Some are the softer malts from the central lowlands and the highlands, but a couple are also the harsher ones from the islands (Islay in particular). I don't open them very often as me and the missus usually drink red wine these days, and i don't like mixing this with whisky. So if i've had a few beers, i'll have a wee dram.

If you don't like whisky in the raw, try adding a SMALL quantity of water to it, which will open up the flavours in a very surprising way.

Never found an Irish Whiskey that isn't really rough to me, so i stick to Scotch.
 

rd45

Well-Known Member
Drink very little alcohol these days but do love a good Malt Whiskey on occasion.
I drink it with a splash of water (not too much) and never with ice.

Favourites are:
Lagavulin: very smokey and phenolicy
Talisker: hint of pepper

Wouldn’t recommend the above if you new to whiskey...

Good malts to try if new to whiskey
Macallan: quite sweet...a little sherryish
Highland Park: nice and floral/heathery
Dalwhinnie: smooth and fruity


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This.

A blended whisky is ok with a mixer (my favourite is a whisky mac - half & half whisky & Crabbies green ginger wine) but if you want to enjoy the taste of it you need a malt. Best drink for after dinner or late in the evening. Glenmorangie is another good beginner’s malt, similar to Macallan which is very easy to drink. Work your way up to the Islay malts, you need to learn to love them.
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
It's weird - the "experts" say that the amount of intoxication, headaches, hangovers, etc. are dependent solely on the quantity of actual alcohol consumed (i.e. 1 unit = 10ml of pure alcohol).
Pretty much anyone you talk to who drinks will tell you this is complete bollocks - mixing your drinks probably makes you feel drunk quicker and is more likely to give you a hangover, and certain drinks give you a headache while others don't (despite the same units consumed). Drinks are not just alcohol - that's why they are different colours.

But to answer the question, i have a few very nice bottles of whisky - all Scotch, hence no E! Some are the softer malts from the central lowlands and the highlands, but a couple are also the harsher ones from the islands (Islay in particular). I don't open them very often as me and the missus usually drink red wine these days, and i don't like mixing this with whisky. So if i've had a few beers, i'll have a wee dram.

If you don't like whisky in the raw, try adding a SMALL quantity of water to it, which will open up the flavours in a very surprising way.

Never found an Irish Whiskey that isn't really rough to me, so i stick to Scotch.
Incidentally, as there are a few aficionados chipping in, my prize possession is a limited edition 15yo Auchentoshan that the missus bought for me. It's a lowland distillery but owned by Bowmore, one of the premier distillers on Islay. Smooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth! (and 47%!!)
 

bringbackrattles

Well-Known Member
Weird isn't it, because I can take cider and brandy, no problems, but red wine always gives me a headache.
I always thought you were tee total Otis ?
I'm sure you have said many times you don't drink ? Then again some people often say they don't drink, but go on to say but they do now and again !
 

bringbackrattles

Well-Known Member
I used to love a nice dark rum. Woods Old Navy rum. Blows yer bloody socks off, but unfortunately for me, rum is the only drink that gives me a blinding headache! I haven't had rum for ages now. I wouldn't class myself as obsessed with whisky but I just enjoy a really good one. I used to enjoy a nice cigar with my scotch, but alas, that pleasure has now been denied me!
On a walking holiday in Scotland some years back, the guide told us best not drink any alcohol today as we are going up high in the hills, and it gets really cold quickly, and alcohol makes you colder etc.
So after a hearty breakfast and mugs of tea off we went hiking. After an hour or so the Scottish guide said we'll have a break.
Out he gets some sarnies and a large hip flask, and passing it to me said get this down you, fine malt whiskey. Blew my head off ! I said to him " you said no alcohol ? " He replied " No beer or lager but whiskey warms you up. " He was right just a tot heats you up outdoors.
 

Mcbean

Well-Known Member
No can’t stand the stuff - just the smell is like smelling salts and a shock to the senses - but can understand people liking it - just my mates get into whisky drinking on a night out and out kitty takes a massive hit for one round and they often have doubles and if one of them spots a rare one then they all
Have to have one bah humbug
 
  • Like
Reactions: vow

Otis

Well-Known Member
But funnily enough, my daughter bought me a bottle of toffee apple cider for Fathers Day and I really liked it.

Am I an alcoholic?
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
Was in Ely, Cambs, with some friends a couple of weeks ago, and a round of drinks in a Greene King pub, consisting of 2 pints of decent real ale, a large glass of malbec and a poncey G&T cost me fucking £25.40. Looked their "gin menu" and they were £7 for a single and £11 a double! The sooner we get over this fucking trend for gin, the better!
 

fellatio_Martinez

Well-Known Member
Was in Ely, Cambs, with some friends a couple of weeks ago, and a round of drinks in a Greene King pub, consisting of 2 pints of decent real ale, a large glass of malbec and a poncey G&T cost me fucking £25.40. Looked their "gin menu" and they were £7 for a single and £11 a double! The sooner we get over this fucking trend for gin, the better!

The fancy flavours and massive glasses are too much of an allure for women and bars are taking full advantage.

"Ooh look, a tampon and custard cream flavoured gin served in a goldfish bowl!"
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top