# Please help me find a good sipping alcohol. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147 "2017-02-18T15:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/21 "2017-02-18T23:47:58Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Bailey’s. I like it on the rocks. If you want warm, you can mix it with coffee or hot chocolate. \*Bailey’s. Mmm… creamy. Soft creamy beige. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/22 "2017-02-18T23:53:18Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Bourbon for me. Knobs Creek, Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark. > mmm A man after my own heart. Good choices. I will admit a co-worker of mine gave me a bottle of Jack Daniels Single Barrel about a year ago. That one bottle was some of the best whiskey I’ve ever tasted. Bought another bottle after I finished that one. Meh. I guess the single barrel thing means a lack of consistency. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/23 "2017-02-19T00:06:56Z")
Bullit bourbon or rye in addition to those mentioned by MMM. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/24 "2017-02-19T00:45:54Z")
> [@Weisshund](#): > > \*Bailey’s. Mmm… creamy. Soft creamy beige. > > 😃 Don’t forget sweet. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/25 "2017-02-19T01:28:05Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > I will admit a co-worker of mine gave me a bottle of Jack Daniels Single Barrel about a year ago. That one bottle was some of the best whiskey I’ve ever tasted. Bought another bottle after I finished that one. Meh. I guess the single barrel thing means a lack of consistency. Long time JDSB drinker, I found that 80% of the bottles were pretty good or better, maybe 15% were nectar of the gods, and 5% were actually worse than just JD black label. Kind of a crapshoot, unless you are lucky enough to stumble on one of the nectar bottles and buy several more from the same batch. I still remember one that was… stolen from Valhalla. A bit more vanilla than most blended bourbons, warm and a tad sweet but all bourbon. (Yeah, I know, JD isn’t bourbon, my ass. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/26 "2017-02-19T01:31:14Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > [Basil Hayden’s Bourbon](http://whiskey.underthelabel.com/l/461/Basil-Hayden-s-Bourbon-Whiskey). Insanely smooth. I’ve never been an aficionado of ‘smooth’ in brown goods. I don’t want harsh, or biting, or medicinal, but things that are so smooth you can hardly taste them are… uninteresting. I would buy a bottle of Gentleman Jack occasionally (in my JDSB days) and was always disappointed at how it was smooth to the point of taste-invisibility. I like my bourbon to make itself known on arrival. Knob Creek does me these days, when I don’t splurge a little on better. (Pardon me… _sips_… ahh.) And it is consistent. ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/27 "2017-02-19T02:42:39Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I’ve never been an aficionado of ‘smooth’ in brown goods. I don’t want harsh, or biting, or medicinal, but things that are so smooth you can hardly taste them are… uninteresting. I would buy a bottle of Gentleman Jack occasionally (in my JDSB days) and was always disappointed at how it was smooth to the point of taste-invisibility. I like my bourbon to make itself known on arrival. > > Knob Creek does me these days, when I don’t splurge a little on better. (Pardon me… _sips_… ahh.) And it is consistent. Agreed. I like Knob Creek or Buffalo Trace for something not too expensive with character. Marker’s Mark for something not too expensive with a classic bourbon taste but with less character. My favorite is Baker’s 7, buttery with a good burn (at 107 proof). ETA: I specifically remember being disappointed with Basil Hayden’s after it had been built up, because it didn’t taste like anything. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/28 "2017-02-19T06:12:37Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I’ve never been an aficionado of ‘smooth’ in brown goods. I don’t want harsh, or biting, or medicinal, but things that are so smooth you can hardly taste them are… uninteresting. I would buy a bottle of Gentleman Jack occasionally (in my JDSB days) and was always disappointed at how it was smooth to the point of taste-invisibility. I like my bourbon to make itself known on arrival. > > Knob Creek does me these days, when I don’t splurge a little on better. (Pardon me… _sips_… ahh.) And it is consistent. I said it was smooth, I didn’t say it didn’t say hello properly. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/29 "2017-02-19T08:25:26Z")
Pedro Ximenez sherry - nice on its own, great with desserts too. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/30 "2017-02-19T13:11:46Z")
Tullamore Dew. Irish whiskey. Bought a bottle recently after not having it for many moons. Nice and smooth. Goes down nicely after a day of moving snow around. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/31 "2017-02-19T13:24:06Z")
Try a lowland single malt scotch. Most are triple distilled, which gives them a little bit lighter taste. It’s a good gateway scotch. You can put someone off scotch permanently by starting them with an Islay. You’ve got to build up to that. Try an Auchentoshan. I’ve gotten several non scotch drinkers started with that. Then you can work your way up to the Speysides, the Highlands, and the Islands. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/32 "2017-02-19T13:50:15Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > Tullamore Dew. Irish whiskey. Bought a bottle recently after not having it for many moons. Nice and smooth. Goes down nicely after a day of moving snow around. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/33 "2017-02-19T14:03:58Z")
Thanks for all the suggestions. There are so many options, I guess I just need to start experimenting. I’ll have this thread bookmarked for my trip to the market today. Thanks again everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/34 "2017-02-19T16:03:26Z")
I have not tried Buffalo Trace, nor Baker’s 7. Both are now on my radar. And to correct my earlier post lest I look the fool, it is Knob Creek, not Knob’s Creek. mmm ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/35 "2017-02-19T16:41:14Z")
Evan Williams Honey Reserve liqueur - put in hot tea, is the perfect hot toddy. I think it’s bourbon, very sweet. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/36 "2017-02-19T16:46:05Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Try a lowland single malt scotch. Most are triple distilled, which gives them a little bit lighter taste. It’s a good gateway scotch. You can put someone off scotch permanently by starting them with an Islay. You’ve got to build up to that. Try an Auchentoshan. I’ve gotten several non scotch drinkers started with that. Then you can work your way up to the Speysides, the Highlands, and the Islands. Another vote for the single malts. My colleagues and I have compiled a decent collection of different single malts whiskies. As of this writing, we have tasted 108 different bottles and different ages, from a 8 year old Oldbury Sheep Dip ( drinkable if neat, but bad on ice ) to a 35 year old Abelour (very smooth but cost $345 :eek: ). Another sipping alcohol you might try is an aged port. They are a bit sweet but tasty nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/37 "2017-02-19T16:56:31Z")
> [@DrumBum](#): > > Another vote for the single malts. My colleagues and I have compiled a decent collection of different single malts whiskies. As of this writing, we have tasted 108 different bottles and different ages, from a 8 year old Oldbury Sheep Dip ( drinkable if neat, but bad on ice ) to a 35 year old Abelour (very smooth but cost $345 :eek: ). Eh. As a bourbon guy, I’ve been induced to spend far too much on single-malt shots that all tasted far too sharp and medicinal for my palate - like IPAs to a good porter. YMMV etc. but the OP is a fruity-drink drinker looking for something up the scale. Single-malts aren’t likely to appeal without some development of taste. (If ever… 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/38 "2017-02-19T19:09:15Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I have not tried Buffalo Trace, nor Baker’s 7. Both are now on my radar. > > And to correct my earlier post lest I look the fool, it is Knob Creek, not Knob’s Creek. > mmm Definitely have some Buffalo Trace. It’s cheap, relatively mild. I’ll add W.L. Weller 12 year and Antique 107. Tasty, and not pricey at all. ---
**Author:** ![Fallsguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bb73d2/32.png) [@Fallsguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fallsguy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/39 "2017-02-19T20:48:05Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > Sambuca, with three coffee beans (health, happiness and prosperity) and set alight is a nice sipping drink. I’m not saying this is the perfect drink for you, just that the options are very wide. Another nice sipping drink which isn’t drunk widely is Chartreuse - yellow or green - flavored with over 100 herbs, spices and flowers. It was initially produced in Voiron, France from a mixture prepared by Carthusian monks, the recipe was given to the monastery in 1605, although the first batch did not come out until 1737. That recipe has long been shrouded in mystery and, to this day, one of the monks who was asked what goes into that base elixir said “hamburger and goat cheese.” In other words: we’re not telling. I’ll second the green chartreuse. ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147/40 "2017-02-19T21:00:50Z")
Ouzo over ice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-find-a-good-sipping-alcohol/780147.md?page=3)