Alcohol

[Jocu]

How have I not posted here yet?

Before I moved to Italy, my scotch collection could barely keep up with its consumption. Huge fan of peaty Islay malts and had a few great Laphroig versions that ended up being given to a friend half-finished when I had to pack my flat up into seven suitcases and move. In Italy the market for whisky is much more restrictive, generally being left to specialist shops that charge huge premiums. Switzerland is half an hour away and they have a great selection, but seeing as it's €8 for a cappuccino at Starbucks there you can imagine the price hike on the scotch.

Still, when I do go back to the UK I always grab something. Supermarket offers at Christmas can unearth real gems at a great price. A couple of years back me and Ale were in Edinburgh for a conference and we did the scotch whisky tour - definitely worth the visit if you like your scotch. The golden (or platinum?) ticket comes with the whole experience plus four generous drams from various regions at the end.

On the beer front, as Harvonsgard knows already I'm really passionate about good quality ale. Unfortunately, despite there being a relatively strong craft beer movement in Italy it's very hard to crack into a culture that favours wine or one 10% beer with friends before calling it a night. Finding good beer is hard enough, but paying €6 a pint isn't good enough.

So this year I started home brewing. Best decision I ever made. Now for a few hours spent on a Saturday afternoon I get around 60 bottles of honest-to-God some of the best American Pale Ale style beer I've ever had. Currently got a pilsner bubbling away now that the temperatures are low and gonna do an English bitter in the spring.

Probably the one culinary thing I appreciate most from the states is APA. And as much as a love quality single malt I've still always got a bottle of bourbon open somewhere for when it gets nippy.

[Räpylätassu]

Americans, have you ever tried peated bourbon? Cause apperantly that's a thing.

If anyone has any experience with peated bourbon, share your thoughts!

[alexvolt]

Octomore and most of cask strength whiskeys are not “easy” generally..
One has to drop a little water , bring it down to drinkable alcohol proof and let it open some minutes..
Still tho ..
I personally always found drums like Green label or Bunnahabhain great for more frequent drinking:)
As a collector tho I haven’t tasted most of my whiskeys like I haven’t touched most of my playing cards..
Something is not right with me , next step will probably be to marry a beautiful wife and just look at her
and admire her from distance!
Knowing she’s mine will be enough

[theCapraAegagrus]

Americans, have you ever tried peated bourbon? Cause apperantly that's a thing.

If anyone has any experience with peated bourbon, share your thoughts!

I haven't tried a memorable one.

[Räpylätassu]

My little brothers birthday will be 2nd of April. Naturally I will get him a bottle of scotch. It's still a few months away but I am already thinking about the bottle. I was really thinking about going with Lagavulin's Distillers Edition. It's the same classic 16 years old Lagavulin (which my brother LOVES) but finished in PX sherry casks.

Unless Alko gets something really special, I will buy him that bottle for sure. My big brothers birthday is still a half a year (4th of September) away but maybe a bottle of 18 year old Talisker...? Still too early to say however with that one.

Ooohhh... That sounds like the Ardbeg Uigeadail, which is god damn phenomenal.

Bought myself a bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail

Also a bottle of mezcal... Looked up some experts reviews with that particular mezcal, apperantly it's pretty good but not great. Alko's mezcal selection was quite severly limited so that one was the best one I could find. Also the 2nd most expensive mezcal at the current selection with a price of 62,43 € a bottle. The mezcal being Montelobos Joven Mezcal.

I have been sipping recently my Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila and I really like it... I'm really excited about trying the mezcal as there is supposed to be smoky taste to it.

[Harvonsgard]

Went out with my aunt and uncle. I didn't expect to find such a treasure in the restaurant we went. My uncle urged me to drink a spirit with him, but I wasn't really in the mood.
I gave in and went to the bar they had, to take a closer look at their selection. Nothing really turned me on but they had a rum that wasn't too expensive and from the Philliphines. I thought I might give it a shot; let's see if they can make rum there. As soon as the waitress served the glass I was pleasantly surprised/almost overwhelmed. Very strong fruity buquet with hints of spices as well.
Highly recommended:

Don Papa

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Due to it being half the price (30€ a bottle opposed to 60€ a bottle) compared to my favorite rum, it might end up to become my new favorite.
Currently No.1:

Ron Zacapa

[theCapraAegagrus]

I've been drinkin' Laphroaig Quarter Cask almost every Friday, while playing Modern Warfare, this whole pandemic.

[Harvonsgard]

The LORE is pretty damn good aswell, imo. Laphroiag is just sooo good.

I have a bottle from an independent bottler. Highly recommended aswell .

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[Räpylätassu]

To all the American peated whisky lovers, would anyone mind buying a bottle of Balcones Brimstone? It's a Texas whisky, made from blue corn and heavily smoky... but not with peat but with Texas scrub oak!

Of course you can't buy it here in Finland, it's hard to find even top quality bourbon here, let alone something from a small Texan distillery. But I have seen reviews of this and boy, I'm intrigued as hell. It's all love it or hate it. Other side claiming it's different, bizarre yet brilliant and absolutely amazing, others saying they can't finish their glasses and claiming it's disgusting. One review already claiming it's "the Texas Laphroaig". The one tasting note everyone claims it has: Texas barbeque.

I NEED YOUR THOUGHTS! Also, something that a lot of people here might find interesting.

[Harvonsgard]

Indeed. I'll keep an eye out for that one. We have a pretty large whiskey dealer here in Germany. Let's see if he has that one.

[theCapraAegagrus]

To all the American peated whisky lovers, would anyone mind buying a bottle of Balcones Brimstone? It's a Texas whisky, made from blue corn and heavily smoky... but not with peat but with Texas scrub oak!

Of course you can't buy it here in Finland, it's hard to find even top quality bourbon here, let alone something from a small Texan distillery. But I have seen reviews of this and boy, I'm intrigued as hell. It's all love it or hate it. Other side claiming it's different, bizarre yet brilliant and absolutely amazing, others saying they can't finish their glasses and claiming it's disgusting. One review already claiming it's "the Texas Laphroaig". The one tasting note everyone claims it has: Texas barbeque.

I NEED YOUR THOUGHTS! Also, something that a lot of people here might find interesting.

You've piqued my interest. I'm gonna see if I can find this today. If I do, I'm gonna try it tomorrow night.

[theCapraAegagrus]

To all the American peated whisky lovers, would anyone mind buying a bottle of Balcones Brimstone? It's a Texas whisky, made from blue corn and heavily smoky... but not with peat but with Texas scrub oak!

Of course you can't buy it here in Finland, it's hard to find even top quality bourbon here, let alone something from a small Texan distillery. But I have seen reviews of this and boy, I'm intrigued as hell. It's all love it or hate it. Other side claiming it's different, bizarre yet brilliant and absolutely amazing, others saying they can't finish their glasses and claiming it's disgusting. One review already claiming it's "the Texas Laphroaig". The one tasting note everyone claims it has: Texas barbeque.

I NEED YOUR THOUGHTS! Also, something that a lot of people here might find interesting.

You've piqued my interest. I'm gonna see if I can find this today. If I do, I'm gonna try it tomorrow night.

Update: The largest liquor store near me does not typically carry it, but they said that they will order a bottle for me. It's supposed to come in on Thursday. I will try it next weekend.

[Räpylätassu]

Read some more about that Balcones Brimstone. Apperantly they don't smoke the corn they use for making the whisky but they smoke the distillate, the raw whisky, before it enters the barrels. What...?

Nobody does that! I mean, nothing wrong with that method I guess but unorthodox for sure.

[Bradius]

Let me know what you think of it. Being from Texas, I can probably get my hands on it fairly easily from a very large spirts warehouse here.

[theCapraAegagrus]

To all the American peated whisky lovers, would anyone mind buying a bottle of Balcones Brimstone? It's a Texas whisky, made from blue corn and heavily smoky... but not with peat but with Texas scrub oak!

Of course you can't buy it here in Finland, it's hard to find even top quality bourbon here, let alone something from a small Texan distillery. But I have seen reviews of this and boy, I'm intrigued as hell. It's all love it or hate it. Other side claiming it's different, bizarre yet brilliant and absolutely amazing, others saying they can't finish their glasses and claiming it's disgusting. One review already claiming it's "the Texas Laphroaig". The one tasting note everyone claims it has: Texas barbeque.

I NEED YOUR THOUGHTS! Also, something that a lot of people here might find interesting.

Not recommended.

Balcones Brimstone is way, way, way too sweet. It took me 4 hours to drink about 3 fingers of it on Friday. The nose is fine, and so is the finish, but the mouthfeel and flavor are just not good. I am going to my friend's place after work today, and I'm gonna gift him the rest of the bottle.

[Harvonsgard]

Has there ever been a better poker chip set? The bottle of rum is alone $100+ so I didn't dare to look further for the price, lol.

[guru]

Not tried many and I'd even abstained since 2017. It was only COVID, lockdown etc. which got me again into it. I've always kept coming back to these 3- Teachers, Glenfiddich (ideal for gifting to close friends, parents and Father in law ), and Old Monk Rum.

[GandalfTheWhite]

Oh man. Old Monk and Thumbs Up was my go to drink back in Bangalore. I also used to like XXX Khodays rum

[Harvonsgard]

Not tried many and I'd even abstained since 2017. It was only COVID, lockdown etc. which got me again into it.

That kind reads worrying. You're doing fine?

[Siege]

I’m a long time real ale enthusiast and CAMRA member. There’s a small independent Scottish brewer not far from me called the Black Metal Brewery who do a nice strong Pale Ale called Yggdrasil which I’ve been enjoying of a cold dark evening. Also recommend Jacobite Traquair ale which is strong but delicious.

Current malt on the go is a classic 12 year old Macallan sherry oak cask. Never disappoints.

[GandalfTheWhite]

I am going to have my first Lagavulin 8 Yr drink this weekend!!. I have already tried Laphroaig 10 yr and Triple Wood and Ardbeg. Still getting used to peaty malts. Currently I like Laphroaig so let's see if Lagavulin will change my mind.

[Harvonsgard]

The 8 years maybe not but the 16 year old is .

[MagikFingerz]

The 8 years maybe not but the 16 year old is .

r/NoContext

[Harvonsgard]

Lel. Thankfully I didn't write it vice versa then.

[theCapraAegagrus]

I’m a long time real ale enthusiast and CAMRA member. There’s a small independent Scottish brewer not far from me called the Black Metal Brewery who do a nice strong Pale Ale called Yggdrasil which I’ve been enjoying of a cold dark evening. Also recommend Jacobite Traquair ale which is strong but delicious.

Current malt on the go is a classic 12 year old Macallan sherry oak cask. Never disappoints.

Nailed it. I bought a bottle for my 3-day birthday drinking event this weekend. And a nice bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask.

Figure I'll drink the Laph tomorrow and Friday. The Macallan on Saturday.

[Smocito]

I have no Idea of the value of this bottle. The bottle is huge.

The other bottles are there just for reference. The water bottle has 1,5 l the Coca Cola bottle is also 1,5 or 2 l

[Siege]

As well as a Bunnahabhain 12 and a Glenallachie 15, the birthday beasties also delivered these two cheeky chaps to help me celebrate last week. I got a Boona Black Arts 4.1 for my last milestone birthday and the bottle is long since finished. Quite an astonishing dram.



Edit: happy neck crick looking at the photo. No idea why it’s done that.

[Räpylätassu]