Edward
Bartender
- Messages
- 25,074
- Location
- London, UK
When I first discovered whiskey, I tended to drink it neat, no ice. If I want to eke it out and drink slowly, I will still do this. I did over time discover that it improves the flavour to add just the tiniest spark of water. This dilutes the alcohol just enough to bring out the taste of the whiskey itself. Nowadays, I actually prefer to drink my whiskey - or whatever other spirit (I also enjoy rum, preferably spiced, and gin) - with a ginger mixer.
As to brands, first and foremost I always prefer a decent Irish. Bushmills is good, the Black Bush or Sixteen Year Malt better. Jamesons is nice also, and I do highly rate Powers. Of all places, Sainsburys does a very respectable own-brand Irish whiskey. Produced and bottled in Ireland, it has to have been made in one of maybe two distilleries.... cheap route to an excellent whiskey (especially if mixing it).
Scotch I also enjoy, even if some of it is a little rough to drink without a mixer. I enjoy Famous Grouse and Glenfiddich.
No so familiar with the American stuff. Jack Daniels is actually very smoothe and rather nice, even if I do have a knee-jerk reaction to regard it as a bit of a rock and roll cliche; the mental association with Motley Crue, Van Halen and the likes is most certainly a negative one in my eyes. Unfair, maybe, but there's the downside of the power of branding. Southern Comfort I used to find sickly sweet, though it seems to have improved as I have gotten older - mixes especially well. Like the JD, though, it is in my opinion rather overpriced by dint of having a fashionable name. Maker's Mark is quite good, as is Knob Creek (comedy name, over here at least). Jim Beam is probably the best of the US stuff I have had.
As to brands, first and foremost I always prefer a decent Irish. Bushmills is good, the Black Bush or Sixteen Year Malt better. Jamesons is nice also, and I do highly rate Powers. Of all places, Sainsburys does a very respectable own-brand Irish whiskey. Produced and bottled in Ireland, it has to have been made in one of maybe two distilleries.... cheap route to an excellent whiskey (especially if mixing it).
Scotch I also enjoy, even if some of it is a little rough to drink without a mixer. I enjoy Famous Grouse and Glenfiddich.
No so familiar with the American stuff. Jack Daniels is actually very smoothe and rather nice, even if I do have a knee-jerk reaction to regard it as a bit of a rock and roll cliche; the mental association with Motley Crue, Van Halen and the likes is most certainly a negative one in my eyes. Unfair, maybe, but there's the downside of the power of branding. Southern Comfort I used to find sickly sweet, though it seems to have improved as I have gotten older - mixes especially well. Like the JD, though, it is in my opinion rather overpriced by dint of having a fashionable name. Maker's Mark is quite good, as is Knob Creek (comedy name, over here at least). Jim Beam is probably the best of the US stuff I have had.