Scotch

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crashtestdummy

Platinum Member
Feb 18, 2010
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Scotch is made from barley. It's distilled beer for all intents and purposes. I don't know how much sugar it has after distillation, but it picks some up through casking, especially the wine casked varieties.


Woah, my bad on the rye. Don't know why I even thought that. :oops:

It's possible it would take some sugar from the wine casks, but I would imagine the amount would be very small, considering the relative volumes involved.
 

D1gger

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,411
2
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Macallan 18 is a great scotch. A very well-to-do scotch drinking acquaintance of mine says it's the best sub-$300 scotch in his mind. I was very fortunate to have some $1000+ scotch at his place on one occasion which was a real treat. Glenfarclas 30 was my favourite I believe.

For us regular folk though, I REALLY enjoy Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or. It tastes like they put some honeycomb in the cask or something.

Glenlivet 12 year old is my everyday scotch, but the Nectar D'Or is my current favourite special whisky.
 

uclaLabrat

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2007
5,632
3,045
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Scotch is made from barley. It's distilled beer for all intents and purposes. I don't know how much sugar it has after distillation, but it picks some up through casking, especially the wine casked varieties.
Sugar doesn't distill. All distilled spirits have no sugar in them, unless they picked some up from the cask as you mentioned....but yeah, that has to be a tiny amount.
 

Stifko

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
4,799
2
81
this is what my dad used to drink, may he rest in peace. it is not expensive and very delicious.
I have a bottle in the house and have a nip once in a while just like I used to with dear old dad.

images
 

child of wonder

Diamond Member
Aug 31, 2006
8,307
176
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Got to try Highland Park 18 a couple weeks ago. Very good stuff. Every sip was a good 30 second experience.

Right now I'm working on a bottle of Glenmorangie Astar.
 

GT1999

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
5,261
1
71
Thread revival, since there's too many of these threads already :p

I just bought a $50 bottle, 12 yr Macallen Single Malt. I think it's the most I've ever spent on a bottle of alcohol, lol, but seeing a lot of the threads on here recommend it I hope it's worth it. I usually get Johnnie Walker Black. I've never tried Single Malt before. But I figure if I can drink Johnnie Walker Red straight, this stuff should be golden.

<alcoholic> Almost off work and I get to try it. :D </alcoholic>
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,858
31,346
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what did a $1000 scotch have over the cheaper stuff?

My new favourite. It used to be glenlivet 15 - but this takes the cake
IMAG0329.jpg

This. Talisker all the way.

OP: sounds like you prefer them Islays.

It think Macallan is for pussies. :p
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,858
31,346
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What does 'single malt' vs. 'double malt' mean?

If it's not single malt, then it's a blend: Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, etc.

Single Malt = Scotch....generally.

The term gets thrown around a lot to mean different things, though. I believe there are some blended weekends coming out of Scotland, but in simple terms, scotch should refer to a "single malt whiskey produced in Scotland."
 

D1gger

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,411
2
76
Glenlivet 16 year 'Nadurra' natural cask strength - hands down the best I've had, and it can be found for under $60!

I very much agree with this recommendation, although my wife just gave me a bottle of Glenlivet 18 that is also very good.
 

GT1999

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
5,261
1
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This. Talisker all the way.

OP: sounds like you prefer them Islays.

It think Macallan is for pussies. :p

I saw the Talisker at Binnys. I think it's $70. This Macallen was pretty much the cheapest single malts I could find which is one reason I went with it.
 

xaeniac

Golden Member
Feb 4, 2005
1,641
14
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The Glenlivet 12 year is hard to beat imo. Where should one go after this one? I have tried JWalker Black and do not care for it as much as the Glenlivet.
 

Ninjahedge

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,149
1
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During the prohibition you could still buy Laphroaig as a "medicinal spirit" because the authorities didn't think anyone could stand enough of it to get drunk. lol

They were right!!! ;)

I liked Mcallen 12, and ask Strength. 15 did nothing for me. I gotta go back to the shop and start looking at the different names though. I keep remembering by bottle shape and color!! ;)

Recently I have been going Bourbon, but more towards Booker's Reserve, and even Costco's "value" brand are rather smooth. There is also Noah's Mill that I have enjoyed.

The smokey brands are pretty good, but I always like a hint of smoke, not a taste like I am drinking a pickled-smoked-herring. (BTW, do not go for the smoked beers... they are VERY hard to get used to... but I think they would make a great base for soups, stews and other things).


Now here's the question. What spirits would you recommend below $40 a bottle? $30? $20?

Just like wine, where if you are lucky you can find a great red for $6 a bottle (mainly because nobody has heard of it yet) you can get the same on a few unknown bottles of Whiskey.....

Anyone?
 

Ninjahedge

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,149
1
91
Side note... the only thing I do not like is the queer fact that almost every liquor out there is distilled to exactly the same proof.

There are some "special" ones that go a little higher and whatnot, but from experience with others that do some of these things (wines and beers most notably), alcohol content can vary greatly depending on what you use.

I know that you can get a precise percentage if you want to be clinical about it, but if you use different grains, in different proportions, and different reduction ratios (to get the desired flavor), why the hell do you always come up with 40&#37;?

Do they take a "cask strength" variable % and dilute it to exactly 80 proof???
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
Side note... the only thing I do not like is the queer fact that almost every liquor out there is distilled to exactly the same proof.

There are some "special" ones that go a little higher and whatnot, but from experience with others that do some of these things (wines and beers most notably), alcohol content can vary greatly depending on what you use.

I know that you can get a precise percentage if you want to be clinical about it, but if you use different grains, in different proportions, and different reduction ratios (to get the desired flavor), why the hell do you always come up with 40%?

Do they take a "cask strength" variable % and dilute it to exactly 80 proof???

Exactly.

I have a barrel of whiskey aging in my basement. It was 151 proof (If I remember right) when they gave it to me. When it is ready, I will be cutting it with distilled water until it is 80 proof (although I'm going with taste over accuracy).

The more you distill something the more alcohol you get and the less "other stuff" you get. They cut it down because pure uncut and unaged booze is harsh and dangerous (in terms of horrible taste). I tasted that unaged and uncut whiskey before we put it in the barrel. Pretty nasty stuff. I tasted it a few weeks back, it still has horrible burn, but tastes a lot better. Charred oak is a wonderful thing.