By itself, whisky or bourbon. I prefer single malt scotch, but I’ve had some enjoyable blends and bourbons too. After that, good tequila. Most of the rest are only good for mixing and don’t taste all that great on their own.
I’ll add one that probably most of you have never heard of: shôchû. The three main varieties are made from potatoes, wheat or barley, or rice, but I think there are some blends and odd combinations around too. There’s a place in the suburbs of Tokyo that serves a few dozen different kinds of nice ones straight or on the rocks. Obviously, the potato ones taste similar to vodka, and wheat shôchû is vaguely like unaged whiskey, while stuff made from rice is reminiscent of sake (which is usually called nihonshû here). It’s a bit of an acquired taste, but goes down well when you’re in the mood for it.
I’m a light drinker and when I do drink anything alcoholic, beer is usually my first choice. As for types of hard liquor, I don’t have any firm likes or dislikes but lately I have developed a slight preference for gin.
I’m guessing Starving Artist was niggling over spelling. The Scots usually spell it “whisky,” no “e”. Some brands of Irish go as far as “ouisgie.”
There’s a river in Indiana that French traders phonetically spelled from the Indians as Ouabache, which some read as “ow-botch-ee”. Today, we spell it Wabash. :smack:
Apparently, the practice of spelling it “whisky”–whether single malt or blend–is so well established that the word “whiskey” on the label of a bottle of scotch could be a sign that it is counterfeit. This from Wiki:
*"Understanding a Scotch whisky label
Like most other labels, the Scotch whisky label combines law, tradition, marketing, and whim, and may therefore be difficult to understand. Because of variations in language and national law, the following is but a rough guide.
Scotch whisky labels contain the exact words “Scotch whisky”; “Whisky” is sometimes capitalised. If the word “Scotch” is missing, the whisky is probably made elsewhere. If it says Scotch “whiskey” or “Scottish” whisky, it might well be counterfeit."*
Very close contest between Tequila (old), Rum (old, dark), and Whisky (Scotch, single-barrel, old). Gin isn’t drinkable and Vodka is at best a colorless tasteless way to imbibe alcohol (still quite nice to sip on it frozen in the hot summertime, mind you).
I guess I’d say Tequila [nominee: La Fogata Mezcal Añejo] by a fingernail-clipping. Good Scotch [The Balvenie 21 year old, please] right behind it, with the best of Rums [I’ll go with Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 yrs] taking 3rd place.
Gin is my favorite, followed by vodka, then rum. However, if we’re talking about drinking it straight, flip the list around – rum, vodka, then gin.
As far as brands go, I prefer Tanqueray gin, Grey Goose vodka (although I usually buy Smirnoff out of respect for my wallet), and good ol’ Captain Morgan’s rum.
Brandy – Paying homage to my years in Wisconsin with an Old Fashioned and also the brandy & water (a favorite down at the neighborhood tap) and the infamous Brown Mumbler (brandy manhattan).
Gin – love it with a splash of tonic and a twist of lime.
Rum – I will dive into the drinks of the caribbean on occasion but usually a good quality rum straight up in a snifter (maybe even slightly warmed).
Tequila – Had a long standing agreement with this one for many years that we would just stay away from each other, then I moved to Houston and am happy to say we have reunited to allow for the margarita enjoyment (rocks-no salt).
Vodka – Good quality - icy cold & straight up or martini, lesser quality - bring on the lemonade or bloody mary fixins
Whiskey – Gentleman Jack on the rocks, will also go with a scotch if the Gentleman is not in stock
Moonshine - see above note regarding tequila only without the reuniting part (now exposing my Tennessee roots)
Tequila tonight, Vodka on others, and Coconut Rum or another Rum when I’m out having just a mixed drink. Who am I kidding, all my drinks are mixed unless I’m doing shots.
I’m going out for (really big, delicious) margaritas right now actually. Don Julio Anejo and Grand Marnier, in a rediculously large glass. Adios!
I hardly ever drink, but if we’re talking drinking these straight, either a good tequila or Aquavit (haven’t had that in about 20 years, though). I like to add rum to tea or coffee or hot cocoa. Whisky is next. Really don’t care for gin or vodka.
I like rum (dark or golden rum, Morgan’s Spiced if possible) with coke.
After that, in descending order of preference,
Brandy with ginger ale.
G&T.
Hot whiskey with honey, lemon and cloves.
Whiskey with milk.
Ice-cold Vodka.
I’ll drink Tequila as part of a drinking game, otherwise, not my cup of tea.
White or Black Russians, Martinis and Long Island Iced teas are my cocktails.
I can drink anything, especially mixed, but there’s something about Tequila, or even just the smell of Tequila, that makes my hair stand up and I snarl “Where are the white wimmen at?” (or something similar).
Gin gin gin gin gin.
Then vodka, (then ouzo, aquavit, shochu, sambuca, slivovicz, etc) then Bourbon. The rest I really can’t drink unless it’s in a cocktail-- most of the yellow-brown liquors, for some reason, make me gag a bit unless they’re in something. I can deal with Bourbon, but Scotch? Shudder. Don’t know why this is the case. I can drink the clear-colored ones like they’re water, but make me drink rum and I’ll have to have it in a coconut with fourteen kinds of fruit juice.
Vodka, then rum, then tequila. The others I can take or leave.
Brand-wise, Pearl is the best domestic vodka I’ve ever had, and I recently discovered a not-too-bad imported one called Obelisk. I like Skyy Berry, too. Never had Grey Goose.
Bacardi is good enough rum for me. I’ll drink Capt. Morgan’s if it’s there, and I’ll happily make a mess of myself if there’s Bacardi 151 around. (Thankfully, I’m a happy drunk.)
Tequila, I don’t have a brand preference for.
Gin, I can only stand in a martini. But good quality vodka, I can pound back all night.
Whiskey is my bane. It is my natural enemy and it hates me even more than I hate it. I tried to like it, I really did, but it’s the only alcohol that can make me throw up, so unfortunately I’ve had to issue a restraining order on it.
Other – I’d say my most interesting drinking experience so far has been Isreali moonshine.
You can’t go wrong with aquavit or sake. Soju (or schochu) is good with dinner, but I wouldn’t drink it at a party or anything. (Not that anyone does.)
