A pet alcohol hate

nesf

Ice being put in my whiskey. Dear God, someone actually put ice in a 21 year old Bushmills for me once. Or the time when someone poured me a shot of Jameson 1780 into shot glass.

I mean seriously, if you are going to have a premium whiskey behind your bar you need to train your staff in how to serve it. Yes you will have people who won't have a clue and throw back a whiskey, almost as old as them, in one shot but really, a bartender should know their trade, or at least if in doubt ask the customer.

Maybe my expectations of others are too high though.

Pongo

Customer: 'Midleton please'
Barman: 'Sure, you know it's €12 a shot though?'
Customer: 'Yeah, no problem, I know what I'm drinking...'
Barman serves Midleton, (no ice!) in proper whiskey glass....
Barman: 'Now, that's €12 please...'
Customer: 'Oh sorry, can I get a coke for that'
Barman: '....a...coke????....you want a bottle of coke for your Midleton???!!!'
Customer: 'Ah no, sure splash coke will do fine thanks....'


True story. If I hadn't seen and heard it myslef I'd never believe it.

theCzar

Pongo wrote:

Customer: 'Midleton please'
Barman: 'Sure, you know it's €12 a shot though?'
Customer: 'Yeah, no problem, I know what I'm drinking...'
Barman serves Midleton, (no ice!) in proper whiskey glass....
Barman: 'Now, that's €12 please...'
Customer: 'Oh sorry, can I get a coke for that'
Barman: '....a...coke????....you want a bottle of coke for your Midleton???!!!'
Customer: 'Ah no, sure splash coke will do fine thanks....'


True story. If I hadn't seen and heard it myslef I'd never believe it.

lol! was he dipping Doritos in Caviar as well by any chance?

MagnumForce

nesf wrote:

Ice being put in my whiskey. Dear God, someone actually put ice in a 21 year old Bushmills for me once. Or the time when someone poured me a shot of Jameson 1780 into shot glass.

I mean seriously, if you are going to have a premium whiskey behind your bar you need to train your staff in how to serve it. Yes you will have people who won't have a clue and throw back a whiskey, almost as old as them, in one shot but really, a bartender should know their trade, or at least if in doubt ask the customer.

Maybe my expectations of others are too high though.

usually they just leave it neat, cos you can always put ice in, its harder to take it out. They'd have to be stupid to put ice in it without asking you. I hope you sent it back!

I never would have ice in a whiskey like Glenmorangie or anything like that, but i always have ice in my Jack Daniels without fail, unless its a shot of course, you wouldnt fit much ice in a shot glass, but i hardly ever do shots of Jack.

nesf

Pongo wrote:

Customer: 'Midleton please'
Barman: 'Sure, you know it's €12 a shot though?'
Customer: 'Yeah, no problem, I know what I'm drinking...'
Barman serves Midleton, (no ice!) in proper whiskey glass....
Barman: 'Now, that's €12 please...'
Customer: 'Oh sorry, can I get a coke for that'
Barman: '....a...coke????....you want a bottle of coke for your Midleton???!!!'
Customer: 'Ah no, sure splash coke will do fine thanks....'


True story. If I hadn't seen and heard it myslef I'd never believe it.

*twiches*

You made that up yeah? Tell me you made that up.....

nesf

MagnumForce wrote:

usually they just leave it neat, cos you can always put ice in, its harder to take it out. They'd have to be stupid to put ice in it without asking you. I hope you sent it back!

I never would have ice in a whiskey like Glenmorangie or anything like that, but i always have ice in my Jack Daniels without fail, unless its a shot of course, you wouldnt fit much ice in a shot glass, but i hardly ever do shots of Jack.

Yeah, with a JD or Paddys it's not a huge deal. At least it's not heresy mixing them.

Zulu

humm, I enjoy ice in my whiskey...

monkeyfudge

Oh I'm a big whiskey drinker and this drives me nuts as well.

A lot a bar staff don't understand the term neat.. so I find I have to say 'no ice'... but usually all they here is the word 'ice'

Ice in brandy is really bad as well.

I was in Eamon Dorans one evening... the bar was quiet enough and it was my friends round and he was getting me a brandy... From across the other side of the bar I seen them about to put the ice in and I just screamed loudly 'NoOOOOOooooooOOOOooooo!' but it was too late.

My friend refuses to ask for a brandy in a pub for me to this day because everyone in the bar turned to see what he was doing that could be so horrible.

nesf

Ice in brandy???

This thread is becoming a list of brutalised measures of lovingly cared for alcohol.

Blub2k4

I suppose then I better admit to putting Orange Juice in a Belvedere vodka once. My excuse is that it wasn't ice chilled and I had no other vodka there...

45 euro a bottle to mix with OJ was a bit steep though:o

Civilian_Target

lol! Even in a really nice whiskey, the tiniest dash of water is usually quite nice, takes the edge of it just a little bit which usually isn't a bad thing...

smashey

I remember ordering a Laphraoig once and the barman attempted to put ice in it. I think I said something along the lines of him having to pay for it if he ruined it. He got the message.

nesf

Civilian_Target wrote:

lol! Even in a really nice whiskey, the tiniest dash of water is usually quite nice, takes the edge of it just a little bit which usually isn't a bad thing...

It is very much a matter of personal choice. Some like it neat, some with a dash of water and some heretics like their Midleton drowned in coke (as above), but the thing is a bartender should know that this is something that should be left to the customer to decide and when they order coke with their Midleton the bartender should shed a silent tear for the attrocity that he has unwittingly aided.

The Sweeper

I appreciate that there are drinkers out there who believe that the addition of ice to something all-out destroys it. However, there are other drinkers who find the addition of a little meltwater to their spirit of choice can make it more palatable. After all, enjoying your alcohol should be about drinking what you like the taste of, not necessarily conforming to the norm because people believe certain things should be imbibed in a certain way.

Saying that, anybody who'd buy an expensive whiskey and then ask for a splash of coke in it is obviously a thick eejit who should be beaten about the head with a set of profit and loss accounts, while being made to say "If I'm going to add coke to my drinkie poos, it really doesn't matter what sort of drinkie poos it is because I'll mostly taste the coke, and for the sake of financial sanity I'm going to drink something cheaper".

nesf

Minesajackdaniels wrote:

I appreciate that there are drinkers out there who believe that the addition of ice to something all-out destroys it. However, there are other drinkers who find the addition of a little meltwater to their spirit of choice can make it more palatable. After all, enjoying your alcohol should be about drinking what you like the taste of, not necessarily conforming to the norm because people believe certain things should be imbibed in a certain way.

I completely agree with you, but as above I have issues when I'm served anyway decent whiskey with ice. It's not that you have to drink good whiskey neat (a little water can help bring out the flavours) but not being given the choice is just highly frustrating. Combine that with the cost of a glass of good whiskey in a pub and it's just not acceptable for you to be served in that way imho.

ruprect

Minesajackdaniels wrote:

However, there are other drinkers who find the addition of a little meltwater to their spirit of choice can make it more palatable.

Professional tasters will dilute spirits down to enhance the "tasteability". But they certainly would not do it with crappy tap water ice full of flouride, chlorine and other crap. I think some uk schooldgirl went to resuraunts testing toilet water from the bowl, and ice from drinks, the toilet bowl water was cleaner!

Zulu

ruprect wrote:

Professional tasters will dilute spirits down to enhance the "tasteability". But they certainly would not do it with crappy tap water ice full of flouride, chlorine and other crap. I think some uk schooldgirl went to resuraunts testing toilet water from the bowl, and ice from drinks, the toilet bowl water was cleaner!

If you could taste the difference - I'd give you a score.

Vikings

I take a cube or two of ice in my Midleton, that being said I rarely order one when im out so have never came into this problem. When im at home I can measure and ice as much as I please which makes it all the better.

r3nu4l

Meh, I would have belonged to the no-ice club a while back but then I read "Raw Spirit - in search of the perfect dram" a book commissioned by the fine Scotch distillers association and written by Iain Banks.

He travelled the length and breadth of Scotland tasting all of the Islay malts and other unusual scotchs and the overwhelming sense I got was that the distillers themselves see nothing wrong with the additionof ice and water (and they didn't care if it was tap or bottled or tears from a virgin, so long as it was water). Equally, they didn't care about not adding water, it appears that they can be enjoyed equally and that the taste changes to a different taste rather than a "worse" taste.

Nowadays, sometimes I'll have ice, sometimes I won't.

WhiteWashMan

i know someone whos great grandfather or other was a master brewer at a scottish distillery, and he didnt touch a drop.
did everything on smell.

personally, i have no sense of smell, but whiskey just makes me puke. even just the merest whiff of it near my nose will make my stomach turn.

have never been able to stomach it after drinking 2 shots of paddys in college many years ago...

TKK

I was in a distillery a couple of years ago and we were told by the guide that you should put a small drop of water into whiskey as neat it deadens the tastebuds.

As an aside does anyone know where the whiskey shop is in Dublin that does tastings and such? I was told of it's existence and location but can't remember.

monkeyfudge

TKK wrote:

I was in a distillery a couple of years ago and we were told by the guide that you should put a small drop of water into whiskey as neat it deadens the tastebuds.

As an aside does anyone know where the whiskey shop is in Dublin that does tastings and such? I was told of it's existence and location but can't remember.

The one opposite Bruxelles does it from time to time.. at least I've seen the notices in their windows... Never tried it out though.

CiaranC

I agree it should always be a choice.

I like ice in my whiskey, I always order 'Jameson & Ice'.

JohnK

Minesajackdaniels wrote:

Saying that, anybody who'd buy an expensive whiskey and then ask for a splash of coke in it is obviously a thick eejit who should be beaten about the head with a set of profit and loss accounts, while being made to say "If I'm going to add coke to my drinkie poos, it really doesn't matter what sort of drinkie poos it is because I'll mostly taste the coke, and for the sake of financial sanity I'm going to drink something cheaper".

You see this is why when I buy Scotch I buy the cheapest crap I can get my hands on. Tesco own brand Scotch, for the true connoisseur .

Carol H

The only time Bushmills made a 25 year old malt in celebration of the Millenium. This was only sold by the barrel. Over 224 bottles.
I was fortunate enough to buy one (yes you read that correctly a whole barrel).

I have letters from the master distiller regarding the progress of my barrel over the years prior to bottling. The bottles are numbered with the barrel number and bottle number. Hand printed lables by Bushmills.

Guess what
I don't drink whiskey but many a connnisoir has tried it and they say it is the "smoothest" and must be tried. WITHOUT WATER. It is a very very pale yellow and does not taste like the other Bushmills Whiskeys.

I have sold a few bottles to those who would really truly appreciate it.
It was a once in a lifetime investment and a very interesting one as I was one of the few who were not rich and famous who managed to invest in such a one off event - back in 1975:D .

Regards
Carol

anonymous69

I was a barmaid for years, and no matter what kind of whickey it was, or brandy, i always asked if they wanted ice or not. alot of the time people said no ice in brandy, but majority asked for just one cube.

i think it was the only time i didnt ask if they wanted ice, i just assumed they wouldnt, and i got the head eaten of me for not putting ice in her brandy! all she had to do was ask

dermo88

There is one mixer which will enhance the taste of a good quality whiskey, and you'll be surprised or horrified.

Chinese green tea.

bonkey

Personally, I don't care what people drink, or how they drink it.

I don't care how the experts tell me I should or shouldn't drink something. I don't care what their reasons for it are. I might try their suggestions, but at the end of the day, I have a simple philosophy that "if you like it, its good. If you don't, its not". What I consider a good whisk(e)y could be muck to someone else. That doesn't mean only one of us knows whisk(e)y...just that we have different tastes.

If someone thinks that a rare, single-cask should be taken with a healthy dash of lemonade, then more power to them.

But...

If I order a whisk(e)y, thats what I want. A whisk(e)y. Not a whisk(e)y with ice, with coke, with lemonade, with Ballygowan or anything else the barman thinks would be the right thing.

If I order a coffee, I don't expect milk or cream in it. I don't expect the waiter or barrista to decide for me how many sugars I should be taking. I don't want them deciding that this particular coffee would be best with a shot of chocolate syrup and a swirl of cream.

I don't want the chef deciding that my steak should be well done and served with a sauce thats not on the menu and that I didn't ask for.

Its not hard...well...it shouldn't be hard. but whisk(e)y, particularly in Ireland, seems to be the tough one.

and i got the head eaten of me for not putting ice in her brandy!

I'd love to tell you that you should have told her you served her what she ordered.....but with people like that you're only ever on to a lose-lose anyway.

bonkey

Carol H wrote:

I don't drink whiskey but many a connnisoir has tried it and they say it is the "smoothest" and must be tried. WITHOUT WATER.

Personally, I believe that any good whisk(e)y should be tried both with and without water.

The addition of just a drop of water can release/seperate oils which can either intensify or change the flavour of the whisk(e)y.

But like I said above...each to their own. I mean...some people like their whisk(e)y out of a tumbler!!!

rediguana

I hate when waiters fill my wine glass right up to the top, thereby passing their uncouthness on to me.

brianthebard

nesf wrote:

Ice in brandy???

This thread is becoming a list of brutalised measures of lovingly cared for alcohol.

Have you seen the new hennessey ad's, they end with a shot of a brandy glass half full with ice. They serve it like that in the college bar for some reason-I mean isn't brandy supposed to be to warm you up and stuff?

theCzar

rediguana wrote:

I hate when waiters fill my wine glass right up to the top, thereby passing their uncouthness on to me.

Simple and elegant solution:

Simply grab the brimming glass before anybody sees and slurp it down to more, ah, "couth" levels. I think we can agree that then everybody's a winner.

bonkey

brianthebard wrote:

Have you seen the new hennessey ad's, they end with a shot of a brandy glass half full with ice. They serve it like that in the college bar for some reason-I mean isn't brandy supposed to be to warm you up and stuff?

I always remember hearing that the shape of the brandy snifter was partially to keep the flavour in (i.e. the narrow mouth), but with a large bulb to allow your hands to warm the liquid, thus releasing its aroma.

The cynic in me says that adding ice is a great idea for bars who water down their drinks.

rediguana

theCzar wrote:

Simple and elegant solution:

Simply grab the brimming glass before anybody sees and slurp it down to more, ah, "couth" levels. I think we can agree that then everybody's a winner.

Well, yes, that's what I do. But then I've gulped down a wack of crude and undifferentiated alcohol before I've had a chance to breathe in the sui generis bouquet and become one with the wine I lovingly chose from the list.

Sarky

To mark a very special event recently, I opened a bottle of 10 year old Midleton I got for my birthday to share with some friends, a generous measure each.

I watched as one friend knocked back fifteen euro's worth of good spirits like it was a shot. It took me quite some time to be able to make coherent sounds afterwards.

I've tried whisk(e)y with and without both ice and water, and I'll certainly agree that a little water can really change the flavour in a good way. But I just can't stand adding ice, I find it kills the flavour for me and just leaves the burning sensation of generic strong alcohol.

Anyway, there you are, each to their own and so on.

toiletduck

Pongo wrote:

Customer: 'Midleton please'
Barman: 'Sure, you know it's €12 a shot though?'
Customer: 'Yeah, no problem, I know what I'm drinking...'
Barman serves Midleton, (no ice!) in proper whiskey glass....
Barman: 'Now, that's €12 please...'
Customer: 'Oh sorry, can I get a coke for that'
Barman: '....a...coke????....you want a bottle of coke for your Midleton???!!!'
Customer: 'Ah no, sure splash coke will do fine thanks....'


True story. If I hadn't seen and heard it myslef I'd never believe it.

Similar story, I once served an American who put ice and red lemonade into Midleton. I told him about how that's not the way it's supposed to be but thats what he wanted...

red_ice

i drink whiskey as my primary drink of choise.

Ill drink it any way - i do understand some whiskeys are ment to be drank a certain way, and its frowned apon to do so otherwise. But in all fairness, each to his own, and if someone pours me a drink in their house and doesnt do it right, wtf am i to give them stick for them sharing their drink with me? Just becasue people say it has to be done way doesnt mean it does.

If a man wants to drink his whiskey with ice, let him, you should as men be happy that he might be trashed or lying in the street mumbling sh1te to passsers by. He can mix it with a marsbar for all i care - once he enjoys it, thats all that matters.

Men are simple beings, lets not complecate one of our few pleasures we have more or less to ourselves.

Frankiestylee

I like that mars bar idea

rediguana

Whiskey's a bit rough without ice. I'd be leaving off that Mars Bar though. I'm empty retching already.

connundrum

I absolutely hate that we seem happy to have all of our spirits served at room temperature - thereby necessitating the addition of ice to drinks that shouldn't need it.

A friend told me that when drinking vodka in Russia, the barman would always reach into the cooler to get the bottle, and this was just the way everything was served (apart from whiskey, brandy etc). That sounded like heaven to me, as there is nowt worse than crap vodka, half melted ice and coke/red/orange

I worked in a nightclub bar a while back and always kept the vodka and peach schnapps in with the ice and made that available to people who didn't want ice in their drinks, and I got countless thank you's from customers.

Another pet hate is being served anything in a warm glass, unless its a single whiskey.

rubadub

connundrum wrote:

A friend told me that when drinking vodka in Russia, the barman would always reach into the cooler to get the bottle, and this was just the way everything was served (apart from whiskey, brandy etc).

I think when smirnoff black came here first their were small smirnoff freezers in pubs for it, never see it now.

Vodka & whiskey testers will dilute down to about 20-30% and warm up the spirit in a large glass to get the full taste & aroma. But most crap vodkas in pubs here have to be freezing cold to mask the vile taste & smell.

Most vodkas are initially made above 90% and diluted down to 37.5% in the distillery. No need to further dilute the stuff and your mixer.

nesf

rubadub wrote:

Vodka & whiskey testers will dilute down to about 20-30% and warm up the spirit in a large glass to get the full taste & aroma.

Do you think it's an optimum dilution for full taste & aroma or an optimum dilution for not getting drunk and losing your ability to taste fully when sampling multiple items?

Kell

r3nu4l wrote:

the distillers themselves see nothing wrong with the additionof ice and water

Water opens up the whiskey and helps bring out some of the flavours. Its like decanting a wine.

TKK wrote:

Something along the lines of "where is that whisk(e)y shop that does tastings

I think the Celtic whiskey store on Dawson St. does tastings (I think) as does Oddbins on Baggot Street. The oddbins local to me lets you try a few of the whiskeys whenever they have a bottle open. Problem is, I've drank most of them anyway :-<


K-

johnnyskeleton

If your favourite drink is a hot whiskey, what's wrong with using a good whiskey, good lemon, good cloves and some freshly boiled water to make it? Celebrities use bottles of champagne worth several grand to make bucks fizz, and for them it makes it taste nicer. It's not a waste, because they would know if you used an inferior champagne.

In my opinion, all spirits should be mixed with a little ice, crushed ice, or water. Spirits taste quite harsh when neat, but when diluted they are easier to taste and, more importantly, it is easier to digest diluted spirits than neat ones (which gets you drunker, and more pleasantly so).

By the by, there are many spirits where ice water is essential e.g. absinthe.

dermo88 wrote:

There is one mixer which will enhance the taste of a good quality whiskey, and you'll be surprised or horrified.

Chinese green tea.

Are you serious? If so do you care to expand?

interlocked

Carol H wrote:

The only time Bushmills made a 25 year old malt in celebration of the Millenium. This was only sold by the barrel. Over 224 bottles.
I was fortunate enough to buy one (yes you read that correctly a whole barrel).

I have letters from the master distiller regarding the progress of my barrel over the years prior to bottling. The bottles are numbered with the barrel number and bottle number. Hand printed lables by Bushmills.

Guess what
I don't drink whiskey but many a connnisoir has tried it and they say it is the "smoothest" and must be tried. WITHOUT WATER. It is a very very pale yellow and does not taste like the other Bushmills Whiskeys.

I have sold a few bottles to those who would really truly appreciate it.
It was a once in a lifetime investment and a very interesting one as I was one of the few who were not rich and famous who managed to invest in such a one off event - back in 1975:D .

Regards
Carol

I like a odd shot of whiskey, particulary Redbreast but I had never heard of, let alone seen a bottle of Bushmills Millenium. However shortly after I read the above, I was sitting in a small pub in the West on a Monday night having a few pints with a buddy. I was relating your tale and we were both nodding in appreciation of your investment acumen while wistfully trying to comprehend how much a barrel of the stuff is worth.

"God I'd love to try a shot of it, but the chances of that...." i mused as we supped our pints. There was a young girl working behind the bar, and as I raised my head to ask her for the same again.... the clouds parted, a golden ray of light hit the back bar shelf and the Hallejuah Chorus blasted from the stereo. It was like Fr. Jack with Bishop Brennan's JD.

For there on the shelf sat a botlle of the aforementioned with about a shot and a half left in the bottle. Now I had often sat in the same pub in the same place and never noticed this before. I think the barmaid must have thought I was having a stroke, because I was jabbing at the bottle and gurgling incoherently,

I think she got the message and handed it to me, name inscribed, check, year of manufacture check, "How much is a shot of this stuff" I said, trying to be casual , though I think my shaking hand was betraying me,

"Dunno, i suppose the same as a Jameson" she said,

Then, my friend interjected, "Jaysus you'd hardly charge him for that there'e not even a shot in there,"

"I suppose not, go on so" she sighed and poured the remnants of the bottle into a glass for me. "

it's your round" my buddy smirked as she handed over two pints of porter as well.

I'd say that i could go into a thousand pubs and it would never happen again.

And Yes, it tasted absolutely fantastic,:D

cianclarke

What a story

Anyway, the Whiskey Shop on dawson street usually has a bottle of the more commercial stuff open for you to try - the day I was there there was a Connemara and a Redbreast.
And on the ice / water issue, if I'm out it's always with ice - makes it last longer... Then again when I'm out all I can afford to drink is Jameson.
Anything decent though, and I find a drop of water makes tasting a far better experience.

rubadub

nesf wrote:

Do you think it's an optimum dilution for full taste & aroma or an optimum dilution for not getting drunk and losing your ability to taste fully when sampling multiple items?

They are not going to be drinking enough to get pissed either way. The high % can overpower your taste buds. Unlike wine tasters to taste spirits they should be drank and not spat out since the feeling/taste going down the throat is important.

Some tasters would claim to be able to tell if a bottle of vodka was opened and closed after month.

These tasters would be diluting with purified/distilled water, not mineral water or phibsboro pub tap water :mad:

Some girl in the UK did a school project and found in most cases the water in the toilet bowls of pubs was purer than that of the water in the ice. So off to the jacks with you the next time you get your fancy whiskey

"I suppose not, go on so" she sighed and poured the remnants of the bottle into a glass for me. "

Think I spotted her in the post office collecting her dole.

it is easier to digest diluted spirits than neat ones (which gets you drunker, and more pleasantly so).

Undiluted spirits will get you drunker, I have done extensive empirical studies on this

Steve_o

Pongo wrote:

Customer: 'Midleton please'
Barman: 'Sure, you know it's €12 a shot though?'
Customer: 'Yeah, no problem, I know what I'm drinking...'
Barman serves Midleton, (no ice!) in proper whiskey glass....
Barman: 'Now, that's €12 please...'
Customer: 'Oh sorry, can I get a coke for that'
Barman: '....a...coke????....you want a bottle of coke for your Midleton???!!!'
Customer: 'Ah no, sure splash coke will do fine thanks....'


True story. If I hadn't seen and heard it myslef I'd never believe it.

Aaaahhh.....Steve_o feeling faint:D

happy_acid_face

I was in a bar that will remain nameless last night and was making my way through the beer menu. Decide on a Rochefort 10 towards the end of the night. When i first asked at the bar i was looked at rather odd. Then a bottle was produced. Ice Cold (and i mean ICE cold). No glass. "Can i have a glass please?". Out comes a haf pint glass. Trying not to sound like a beer geek i ask for a different one. Out comes a pint glass. "Sorry, but do you have any wide bottomed glasses?". Out comes a Cabernet Glass. I accept defeat and return to my seat to remain there with the bottle between my thighs for 15 minutes trying to warm it up.

rubadub

happy_acid_face wrote:

I was in a bar that will remain nameless last night and was making my way through the beer menu. Decide on a Rochefort 10 towards the end of the night. When i first asked at the bar i was looked at rather odd. Then a bottle was produced. Ice Cold (and i mean ICE cold). No glass. "Can i have a glass please?". Out comes a haf pint glass. Trying not to sound like a beer geek i ask for a different one. Out comes a pint glass. "Sorry, but do you have any wide bottomed glasses?". Out comes a Cabernet Glass. I accept defeat and return to my seat to remain there with the bottle between my thighs for 15 minutes trying to warm it up.

be glad you didnt get ice & lemon and a scalding hot glass. how much was it anyway? I find a lot of pubs have expensive beers (in offies) priced very well

happy_acid_face

€7 euro which is very good being that its €5.99 in the offy