29 of 30 - For Science!

[aggienaut]

   As you know, I am extremely dedicated to scientific inquiry. As such, when last christmas a friend gave me a $60 gift card for Beverages & More, I naturally saw the opportunity for science!

   Specifically, I was going to buy as many of those little bottles of whiskey/whisky/scotch as I could and compare and contrast until I felt I knew something about the subject!

   From what I've been able to put together, Scotch IS better (imo), though I'm still extremely suspicious of their lack of an e in "whisky."


Whiskeys I noted to be good: (in appx order)
Glenlivet (single malt scotch)
Glenfiddich (single malt scotch)
Kilbeggan (irish whiskey)
Cutty Sark (blended scotch whisky)
Jameson (irish whiskey)
Dewar's (blended scotch whisky)
Johnnie Walker Black Label (blended scotch whisky)
Johnnie Walker Red LAbel (blended scotch whisky)


Whiskeys I can't decide if I like (in no order, because, yeah)
Chivas Regal (? scotch)
Macallan (single malt scotch)

Blegh
Bushmills (irish whiskey)
Wild Turkey (bourbon)
Kessler (american blended whiskey)
Jim Beam (bourbon)
Maker's Mark (bourbon)


   Back in college I thought I hated whiskey, but that was because I'd only tried it as shots or "whiskey and coke." Whiskey and coke has always tasted like asphalt to me. The above research was conducted sipping it straight at room temperature.


Related
Experimenting with Controlling Substances

Comments

[magsmom.livejournal.com]

Next time you are in San Francisco go to William Glenn & Sons on sutter Street. It is a Scottish shop - and behind the kilts and cashmere sweaters is a little something called the Whisky Shop where they have tastings of single malts from around the world. There are some really really good whiskys in there. Not sure how the tastings work, may have to prearrange. I didn't even know it was there until my 19 year old son got a job there. He was excited about wearing the kilt but he couldn't keep the job because you have to be 21 because of all the booze.

[millysdaughter.livejournal.com]

Water is the only proper mixer for Scots whisky. And having the water "back" is a much better choice.

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

Chivas Regal is a blended Scotch whisky; it's kind of ... meh. Popular but meh. Totally agree with your "good" and "blegh" lists. :)

[phineus.livejournal.com]

"whisky" is the Scotch spelling.

i've always been rather pleased with Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Cutty Sark, for scotches.

[buscemi.livejournal.com]

I had some Glenlivet on Saturday night. Mmm...good stuff. I don't understand the whisky vs. whiskey spelling, either. Maybe the former is Scottish? All I know is it reminds me of the Mr. Badger sketch from Monty Python.

"I'll have a whiskey for main course and a whiskey for pudding."
"And what would you like to go with that, sir? A whiskey?"
"No, a bottle of wine."

I'm wondering what Coke does go with. I don't like it with rum or whiskey.

[skitty.livejournal.com]

You can't really compare Scotch to Irish to bourbon, though. They're not the same. It may be that you prefer Scotch, but placing single malts, blends, Irish and bourbon from a variety of quality tiers is a bit cacophonous, isn't it?

I'd recommend, rather than including whiskeys like Macallan and Jim Beam in the same experiment, try comparing Macallan to other well-regarded single malts, like Lagavulin or Glenmorangie. Compare Johnnie Walker to Cutty Sark or Chivas. And at least give bourbon a chance: try Blanton's or Booker's or Basil Hayden's. You still may not like it, but what you're doing is like comparing Coors to Guiness and then saying American beer sucks.

Forgive me if I got excited; I am passionate about bourbon, although I acknowledge it isn't for everyone. :)

[heethen-crone.livejournal.com]

I agree pretty much with your assessment, although I really like Macallan. Maybe the difference between drinking 18 year old and whatever they put in those little bottles? Ok. looked at the pic again. 12 year old. That additional 6 years in the cask makes a big difference. Would have been better though, if you'd divided into categories. Single malt is one thing, blended scotchs and whiskys are another animal altogether.

[gringo-in-tj.livejournal.com]

Chivas Regal is blended scotch.

[superhappytime.livejournal.com]

don't most people like maker's mark?

jim beam is obviously cheap

wild turkey gets you fucked up.

all this without jack daniels?

[klig.livejournal.com]

Try any of the Scotch whiskys (single malt or blended) first neat, then with a teensy bit of water, or maybe a teensy bit of ice. See how you like them.

[fsk8ing-judge.livejournal.com]

LOL, I guess that means you're telling us you've tasted asphalt. Sorry, I couldn't resist it.

[extoria.livejournal.com]

Hahaha everyone around here drinks Kessler when they're getting crazy. They call a Kessler shot a "smoothie" because it goes down so smooth. I've always assumed that was sarcasm but I suppose I don't know for sure. Sure is cheap though!