Favorite Whiskey?

i haven’t found a peerless I liked. They got a cool bottle though

 

The double oak is phenomenal if you like chocolate/cocoa notes.

But I understand not exploring at the prices they charge if you haven't liked what you had before.

 

I fought a tough fight against a few wheel studs that needed to be drilled out. Not having a key for wheel locks can be tough. Normally a 12 point socket would work, not on these particular ones. Six different shops wouldn’t touch it, but all agreed that drilling out was the best option. A well earned pour. Cheers.

 

Question for you Whiskey guru's, but here's a little background.

I hate Tequila, always have. Mom got me a nice +$300 bottle of some Tequila and it was so freaking smooth I drank plenty of it that night. Straight.

As for whiskey, I've had it in my coke going on +20 years now.

I'd like to try a smooth whiskey, not $300 worth, but something under a benjamin that I could enjoy on the rocks.

Recommendations?

Wife bought me a decanter for my first Father's Day.

 

Personally, I would do an Angels Envy (the rye is an excellent choice as well), or Old Forester 1920. Both with a cube or two.

 

I’d give Russels Reserve a go. Cheap enough to use as a mixer, but delicious all on its own. Cheers

 

"Smooth" is generally regarded to mean "not much burn", which tends to mean lower proof, which tends to mean less flavorful.

Was that what you were intending to ask about?

I ask because I have found a lot of people tangentially familiar with whiskey asking about "smoothness" when they're trying to ask about "tastes good", and those are not necessarily related.

My immediate recommendations for decently flavorful whiskey at proof 90 or below ("smooth" as most people perceive it) would probably be

Bourbon: I.W. Harper 15 year (about $100 a bottle)
Scotch: Johnnie Walker Gold or 18 year ($80-125)
Japanese: Hibiki Harmony ($90?)
Irish: Redbreast 12yr ($75?)

 

Wild turkey 101 you're going to be surprised. Good summer drink on ice.

 

This is where my advice leans as well. Reliable, delicious, always on the shelf. If you like a lower proof, the 10 year. If you like a higher proof, single barrel.

 

Another one for Russells Reserve. For the price it's def one of my go to's.

 

woodford double oak…should fit the “smooth” category and also bring some bourbon sweetness

 

The others you've all mentioned were added to the list so thank you!

Wife got me this today, pictured next to the glass set she got me



Granted I was with her, she knew which ones to look for cause I shared the list with her

 

its not a super elite whiskey.. but my younger girl got me this for my birthday yesterday.

its called top dog whiskey & comes in this decanter that looks a lot like my beloved Poppy the English Bulldog.

 

That’s the best whiskey ever! Gift from your daughter and is a reminder of your pup! Love it!

 

@Hook78 did anyone pick up the TW glass from Stitzel Weller? I should able to swing by on 7/6 or 7/8 if not

 

If you could pick it up that’d be great! Shoot me a PM and we can coordinate.

 

I'm a little late, but I was going to 2nd the Angels Envy. It's my favorite so far, and for about $50 is a decent buy.

 

I take a little issue with the description of less flavorful, as it's hard to get any flavor when you've burned your tastebuds off with some 136-barrel-proof whiskey.

In my opinion, I think 70-80 proof is good for mixing, 80-115 is good for sipping, and 115+ outside of distillery tastings, I steer away from it as there isn't much flavor to be had over the burn. In most of the better-tasting whiskeys I've tried, I think the sweet spot seems to be between 85-100.

 

Tastes and enjoyment are of course subjective, but the flavor compounds in whiskey are carried in solution by the ethanol. Proofing down means adding water, diluting, thus decreasing the density of those compounds per fluid unit.

That doesn't mean worse tasting necessarily (my mother dilutes Coke because it's too sweet for her from the bottle) - some people experience things the way you describe for yourself.

However - barrel proof/high proof has been in a resurgence the last 5 years for a reason. It's potent, which is popular, and you can proof it yourself to where you like it.

You like Bookers at 111 proof? No problem, do the math and add the water.

There isn't an option to go the other way though - there's no proofing up low proofers.

 

Different strokes for different folks, I get that. While it is true you can't proof up, most of us don't keep a hydrometer on our whiskey shelf to proof it down. Trying to dilute your high-proof whiskey to something drinkable is a good way to ruin what could have been a good whiskey if you'd only let the experts do it for you. I personally won't waste my money on the high-proof whiskey for sipping straight or even on the rocks. I think whiskey below 80 and over 115 proof is good for mixing. Whether you're mixing it with more water or coke, it doesn't matter. You're still mixing it with something to make it enjoyable to drink. If you like feeling the burn, then maybe the high-proof stuff is for you, but I don't think you're actually tasting any of the extra flavors over the high-proof burn.