Scotch whiskey, to be specific. I bought Chivas Regal, blindly (not sure if it’s a good brand, or not. I just liked the name, and its cocksure price). Anyway, I’m not sure what I’m using it correctly. After one glass of beer, I’m in the nearest lap singing Italian showtunes*, but after drinking this suposedly hard liquor, all I get is a nasty aftertase in my mouth. I blended it in a milkshake once, and that made it at least taste really good, but I’m sure I’m that’s not the standard way of drinking it… Did I buy the wrong brand, or is scotch whiskey just not supposed to be flavorful or potent?
Unless you are accustomed to it, scotch should work pretty quickly. Correct me if I am wrong but all whiskey has the same alcohol content (or most do) so the brand shouldn’t matter. flavorful? nope. I still can’t drink it without contorting my face in disgust.
This could be your problem. When you put your fine whiskey in a friggin’ milkshake, did you add any extra sugar to the milkshake? Scotch famously doesn’t work unless it’s absolutely syrupy.
Well, Suburban Plankton is the Scotch drinker, but I do know a bit about it. First off, Chivas isn’t a bad scotch, but it isn’t a good scotch either.
If you are looking for something with good flavor, try Macallan, Glenlivet or Glenfiddich. It’s an acquired taste to be sure. While I feel competant to taste and evaluate different Scotches, I really don’t like Scotch all that much. It is not my drink of choice.
If you’re looking to get drunk, stick to beer, it’s a lot cheaper.
Many people think it tastes like burned rubber bands. On the rocks is the only way to drink it. Try a glass of good single-malt in a bar and see if you like it any better.
If you’re looking for flavor, try single-malt Scotch. Chivas is a blend and, while some people like that sort of thing and consider Chivas to be a “fine” Scotch whisky, I think it’s ok for mixing and not much else. I’ve tasted better blends for half the price…there’s one called Highland Mist that actually ain’t too bad…not to be confused with Irish Mist, which is a wonderful experience all to itself (Irish whiskey mixed with honey).
Try Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Glen Ord, Glen Keith, or another Highland Single Malt and report back. (A lot of them are named after the river glens the distilleries are located in…that explains the names of my reccommendations…) Also try some Irish whiskeys - they’re pretty good. Bushmills or Jameson’s come highly recommended.
Flaming rubber bands. The stuff explodes in my stomach and I can’t handle it at all. I can at least grimace my way through most other liquors but scotch kills me.
Older = Smoother = More Expensive…and it doesn’t age in the bottle, so a bottle of 12 year old Scotch from 1986 is still 12 year old Scotch.
Also, every brand is made in a different area of Scotland with a slightly different recipie and a slightly different technique using water that has flowed over different hills full of different vegetation, so they all taste noticeably different. And it’s all a matter of opinion as to which one is the best, and whether to take it with ice and/or water. I prefer neither, but then I’m funny that way.
Pizzabrat, go buy a bottle of Glenlivet. For a single-malt, it has, I feel, the most “accessable” flavor profile for a newbie. Pour a couple of fingers into a snifter or rocks glass. Add a very small amount of water. Very small. A smidgen at most. Inhale the aroma of the Gods. Sip and marvel at the wonder of Creation. Look down your nose at the plebes. Enjoy.
When you’ve gotten to the point that you understand Glenlivet, we’ll tell you about The Macallan Cask-Strength.
I think this is fine advice. Glenlivet is a good starter single malt. Some people prefer Glenfiddich, but 'livet is a bit sweeter, more flowery, and smoother on the palatte. It’s still my favorite “everyday” single malt.
Blends can be quite good, too. I don’t think there’s any reason to be snobbish about single malts vs blends. They’re two different drinks. Chivas Regal is a pretty decent brand. You might also want to try Johnny Walker Black Label (or, if you can afford it, the Blue Label.) I also like a bit of Famous Grouse from time to time, but that’s a tad rougher than these.
Personally, I would never ever drown a single malt in ice. It seriously does kill the flavor and, besides, I like my scotch on the room temperature side. It opens up the aroma and flavor, which is the whole point of whisky, in my opinion.
Something like Johnny Walker Red you can throw on ice, or enjoy with a bit of soda water. But a single malt is a shame to waste on drinks like these.
As for Scotch not being flavorful or potent, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I think it’s chock full of flavor. It’s like a fine wine or cheese and needs to be savored and appreciated. Definitely not shot back like vodka. If you’re putting it in milkshakes, then what do you expect?
Whiskey, in all its forms — single malt, bourbon, sour mash, rye, Irish, etc — is a damn fine drink. They say it’s an acquired taste. Perhaps (although I took to it right away.) But if you find whiskey is not to your liking, don’t force it. There’s plenty of other good drinks out there to enjoy.
OK, I’m still trying to figure out the milkshake thing.
As far as potency goes, a 1 1/2 oz glass of Scotch (with or without ice cream) has the same alcohol content as a 12 oz bottle of beer. If one makes you drunk, so will the other; your body doesn’t know where the alcohol came from. Any difference in the way it makes you “feel” are all in your head, really.
And as for taste, if you are not accustomed to drinking whiskey, you shouldn’t expect too much “flavor”, mainly just a “burning mouth” feel (it is *definitely * an acquired taste). If you want to learn to enjoy the finest spirit ever devised by man, give it another try. If you want to get drunk, a 12-pack of Bud will do the trick just as well for a lot less money.
I said that I added Chivas Regal to a milkshake once AFTER trying it straight and on the rocks, and that it made it “at least taste good”. Tasting good is a good thing. What do you mean by “what do you expect”?
What’s not to get? I put it in a milkshake. I got the idea from a restaurant drink called an “Italian Milkshake”, which was a milkshake with some type of Italian alcohol added. I called this one Scottish milkshake.
You’re saying that like how I feel in my head isn’t the only thing that matters. You think I should carry a portable alcohol test around and nod in satisfaction when it scientifically confirms how much sauce I have running though me?
No need to apologishe. I’s just >hic< I’s just kiddin’. I think yer the besht. No. No really, I mean it. ::sniff:: You… you’re prolly my best friend in the whole world.
