Whiskey; Where to begin?

No, you're a...

I've been drinking whiskey for years now, primarily Jamesons. I kinda inherited the taste from my grandfather who would have a whiskey and tonic in the evenings.

I recently got a present of a bottle (Teelings Whiskey Small Batch) from a friend and it has opened my eyes to vast range out there.

I'd be a bit conscious of price but can anyone recommend a couple starter/essentials whiskeys to try?

upforit101

IMO The best of the best;
Green Spot Pot Still 700ML
http://www.drinkstore.ie/GREEN-SPOT-700ML-5011007008482/

suicide_circus

Do a little reading. Learn about the different styles etc Jameson is a fairly bland whiskey but it's a good base to start from

irish_goat

If you live in Dublin pop into the Celtic Whiskey store. They normally have different bottles open for tasting and won't mind giving you a sample even if you're only buying a few beers.

the_monkey

I used to drink Jameson's exclusively, but a friend of mine got me a gift of a bottle of Scotch - Knockandoo 12 yr aged - delicious

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Knockando-12yr-Old-Whisky/dp/B006VCVQX6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387282524&sr=8-1&keywords=knockando


Highly recommended you give it a try !!!

upforit101

A really nice site for all things Spirit related.
Warning - you can spend hours on this site!

http://www.drinkspirits.com/

http://www.drinkspirits.com/whiskey/top-10-irish-whiskey-picks-for-st-patricks-day/

http://www.drinkspirits.com/our-favorite-spirits/

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

upforit101 wrote: »

IMO The best of of the best;
Green Spot Pot Still 700ML
http://www.drinkstore.ie/GREEN-SPOT-700ML-5011007008482/

This.

Got it for my dad who is a big whiskey man a couple of years ago. Its more expensive than your Jameson, but you'll know where the money went.

Also, my favourite Scotch whisky

http://www.drinkstore.ie/Laphroaig-10-Year-Old-700ML-5010019640260/

Beautiful peaty whisky from Isle of Islay. Well worth a try.

jh79

Red Breast is a good alternative to Green Spot and is only 50 euro in Dunnes

No, you're a...

Thanks for all the advice, i'll have a look at the websites and i think'll try Green Spot next time i'm buying a bottle

donnacha

At the cheaper end of the scale I'd say give Bushmills Black Bush a spin - on offer in most of the supermarkets over Xmas - will probably set you back €20-€23.

Bushmills also have an amazing 16yr old - its on special in O'Briens at the moment for €61.99: http://www.obrienswine.ie/spirits/spirits/current-offers/bushmills-16-year-old-70cl.html

Another for the list is Powers John's Lane: http://www.drinkstore.ie/POWERS-JOHN'S-LANE-RELEASE-12-YEAR-OLD-700ML-5011007001919/

I'd definitely be +1 on both the Green Spot and the Redbreast

biko

It's hard to say really as whiskey taste is quite personal but good mainstream whiskeys in my view are Auchentoshan and Black bush.

See if there is any whiskey tasting in your local area.
The more you get into them the more you'll go for the heavier, smokier stuff.

Jonny_Darcy

deccurley wrote: »

This.

Got it for my dad who is a big whiskey man a couple of years ago. Its more expensive than your Jameson, but you'll know where the money went.

Also, my favourite Scotch whisky

http://www.drinkstore.ie/Laphroaig-10-Year-Old-700ML-5010019640260/

Beautiful peaty whisky from Isle of Islay. Well worth a try.

Would fully agree about trying Laphroaig - delicious

hsianloon

Green Spot
Ligavulin 16 year
Yamazaki 21 year old
Jamesons 30 year old

Mint Aero

Try Crested Ten

Brockagh

hsianloon wrote: »

Green Spot
Ligavulin 16 year
Yamazaki 21 year old
Jamesons 30 year old

Not sure there's such thing as a yamazaki 21 or a Jameson 30. I'd love to try them if I'm wrong, though.

Laphroaig will divide people, so it's not one I'd bank on liking. Taste it in a pub before you buy a bottle.

Lagavulin 16 has always been a favourite of mine. Not quite as strongly flavoured as the Laphroaig.

Bunnahabhain is a nice introduction. All the other stuff suggested here too.

Jameson 12 is another favourite of mine. Think they're withdrawing it from the market, so taste it while it's there.

Busted Flat.

No, you're a... wrote: »

I've been drinking whiskey for years now, primarily Jamesons. I kinda inherited the taste from my grandfather who would have a whiskey and tonic in the evenings.

I recently got a present of a bottle (Teelings Whiskey Small Batch) from a friend and it has opened my eyes to vast range out there.

I'd be a bit conscious of price but can anyone recommend a couple starter/essentials whiskeys to try?

For starters to appreciate Jameson you do not contaminate it with nothing. Taste the flame.

buck65

Try some of the lesser known Irish - Lockes 8 years, Writer's Tears, Tyrconnell.
Highland Park 12 is a fantastic Scotch too.

No, you're a...

Busted Flat. wrote: »

For starters to appreciate Jameson you do not contaminate it with nothing. Taste the flame.

I do drink my whiskey neat and "tasting the flame". The tonic is just the way my grandfather used to cut it with.

saucyjack

I really enjoy Talisker , Bowmore and Cragganmore - they're a lot less iodine than Laphroaig and the like Scotch Whiskys. And some may not like it but they're all delicious with soda water if you're out and trying to pace yourself! Most pubs will have a bottle of Talisker - and it's perfect neat if you're out hill-walking etc in the cold. Gets very quickly to every extremity

the beer revolu

Busted Flat. wrote: »

For starters to appreciate Jameson you do not contaminate it with nothing. Taste the flame.

I won't even go into the grammar of the above statement!

If anyone was to do a little research and reading they would find that pretty much ever whiskey expert, be they reviewers, distillers, blenders, historians, etc, would agree that a little drop of water will open up any whiskey and allow you to fully savour the flavours and aromas. That's what the experts say.

I agree. I used to be very much against any water in whisk(e)y but then I was encouraged to try a little. It opened my whisky and my senses. I realised I had been carrying around an ill informed notion of how whisk(e)y should be drunk.

Now, some people like whiskey with water, some without. Some like to mix it with soft drinks, ice, what ever floats your boat.
The thing is, I have never abused someone or suggested that they don't know anything about whisk(e)y or are not respecting it by not putting some water in their glass but I have many a time received such treatment from people for pouring a drop of water in my glass!

Enjoy whisk(e)y how ever you like but if you are going to berate people for drinking it "wrong", at least be a little bit informed.

jh79

the beer revolu wrote: »

I won't even go into the grammar of the above statement!

If anyone was to do a little research and reading they would find that pretty much ever whiskey expert, be they reviewers, distillers, blenders, historians, etc, would agree that a little drop of water will open up any whiskey and allow you to fully savour the flavours and aromas. That's what the experts say.

I agree. I used to be very much against any water in whisk(e)y but then I was encouraged to try a little. It opened my whisky and my senses. I realised I had been carrying around an ill informed notion of how whisk(e)y should be drunk.

Now, some people like whiskey with water, some without. Some like to mix it with soft drinks, ice, what ever floats your boat.
The thing is, I have never abused someone or suggested that they don't know anything about whisk(e)y or are not respecting it by not putting some water in their glass but I have many a time received such treatment from people for pouring a drop of water in my glass!

Enjoy whisk(e)y how ever you like but if you are going to berate people for drinking it "wrong", at least be a little bit informed.

Would a little ice allowed to melt a little open up the flavour or would the cold dull it a bit?

the beer revolu

jh79 wrote: »

Would a little ice allowed to melt a little open up the flavour or would the cold dull it a bit?

Sometimes I do put a single ice cube in a standard Irish whiskey but the chilling effect does dull the flavour a little alright.
But if you like your whiskey cold, that's fine too.

Brockagh

the beer revolu wrote: »

I won't even go into the grammar of the above statement!

If anyone was to do a little research and reading they would find that pretty much ever whiskey expert, be they reviewers, distillers, blenders, historians, etc, would agree that a little drop of water will open up any whiskey and allow you to fully savour the flavours and aromas. That's what the experts say.

I agree. I used to be very much against any water in whisk(e)y but then I was encouraged to try a little. It opened my whisky and my senses. I realised I had been carrying around an ill informed notion of how whisk(e)y should be drunk.

Now, some people like whiskey with water, some without. Some like to mix it with soft drinks, ice, what ever floats your boat.
The thing is, I have never abused someone or suggested that they don't know anything about whisk(e)y or are not respecting it by not putting some water in their glass but I have many a time received such treatment from people for pouring a drop of water in my glass!

Enjoy whisk(e)y how ever you like but if you are going to berate people for drinking it "wrong", at least be a little bit informed.

Absolutely. Drink it whatever way you prefer, I say. The only thing is, if you are going to add coke, there's probably not going to be a huge difference in the taste of a Jameson and Coke versus a Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve and Coke, so go with the former, for the sake of your wallet.

I'd also say that not every whiskey benefits from the addition of water. Some swim much better than others, as they say. Though again that's down to taste.

gandalf

irish_goat wrote: »

If you live in Dublin pop into the Celtic Whiskey store. They normally have different bottles open for tasting and won't mind giving you a sample even if you're only buying a few beers.

Second this they are very knowledgeable and can steer you well towards what you should try. They also do a good selection of sample bottles so I'd suggest buying a selection to try at home at your leisure.

Anyway enjoy its great discovering different whiskeys or whiskys.

I'd recommend trying Redbreast, Writers Tears, John Lane, Bowmore, Woodford Reserve as some of my favourites.

Sarky

Connemara has a lovely smokey flavour to it. I tend towards neat whiskey, but I think an ice cube or two in a glass of Connemara really enhances it. Each whisk(e)y really deserves to be tried neat and with water/ice, they can totally overturn your opinion of the same drink.

Anyway, probably one of the best places to start is a pub that sells taster trays. Taste a few whiskies for cheap before splashing out on a bottle, if you buy, say, a bottle of Laphraoig and only find out then that you're not into peaty/smokey favours, you've wasted €60.

MonstaMash

If I'm drinking on my own, whiskey & a drop of water...

Drinking with my partner, it's whiskey with ginger ale, ice & a slice of lime.

cuculainn

Anyone ever try the highland black 8 year from aldi?

had it the other night and its not half bad and only 13 euro!!!

syklops

upforit101 wrote: »

IMO The best of the best;
Green Spot Pot Still 700ML
http://www.drinkstore.ie/GREEN-SPOT-700ML-5011007008482/

Im glad you say that because thats what I've bought my Dad for Christmas.

Jameson is a fairly bland whiskey but it's a good base to start from

Whiteman speak with forked tongue Jimmy. Bland? I think you mean divine.

As another poster said, taste is a very personal thing. I personally can't stand Laphroaig. I know its very popular, but does nothing for me. Reminds me of TCP when I drink it.

OP, you mentions Teeling, they have done a lot of tastings in the last couple of months. Maybe go to one?

WindmillWarrior

When people say "a drop of water" with their whiskey how much are we talking exactly? About the same as the measure of whiskey?

smurfjed

I have 3 bottles of MURPHYS IRISH WHISKEY waiting for me at home.

http://www.theliquorbarn.com/murphys-750ml/?src=prn#write_review

Purchase price was cheap, shipping and import duties have turned it into about 80 Euro per bottle... ouch.

pa990

WindmillWarrior wrote: »

When people say "a drop of water" with their whiskey how much are we talking exactly? About the same as the measure of whiskey?

An actual drop or two.

I use a straw, put it into a glass of water, place your finger on the top and pull out a small amount, then DROP this into your whisk(e)y

murphyebass

Damn this thread. Made me want some decent whiskey.

I have a dilemma you see. In my drinks cabinet currently sits a bottle of blackbush and a bottle of Middleton.

It was my daughters first birthday so I had a double Middleton. Soooo nice.

However it's incredibly hard to justify drinkin that normally.

However blackbush doesn't seem appropriate for Xmas so I'm goin to buy one of my favourite whiskeys later when I do the shoppin.

http://m.tesco.ie/mt/www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=256410088

Bushmills 10 year

I can't recommend this whiskey enough.

the beer revolu

WindmillWarrior wrote: »

When people say "a drop of water" with their whiskey how much are we talking exactly? About the same as the measure of whiskey?

That is entirely down to taste.
Some will literally use a few drops others half/half whiskey/water.
Thing to remember is that once you put water in a whiskey, you can't take it out so start with a tiny bit, taste, add a tiny bit more, taste etc.
Nothing worse that buying a shot of good whiskey and "drowning" it to the point that the flavour is too dilute to really enjoy.
In most whiskeys I probably use about a 5:1 whiskey:water.

Hotblack Desiato

smurfjed wrote: »

I have 3 bottles of MURPHYS IRISH WHISKEY waiting for me at home.

http://www.theliquorbarn.com/murphys-750ml/?src=prn#write_review

Purchase price was cheap, shipping and import duties have turned it into about 80 Euro per bottle... ouch.

According to here

The whiskey was a competitor of Dunphy's and latterly targeted for use in the Irish Coffee market in the US. This inexpensive blend would be described as a 'light and refreshing whiskey',

80 euro for Irish coffee whiskey? Ouch indeed!

smurfjed

Actually it tastes great in Irish Coffee :) The empty bottles will go onto the shelves of a Scruffy Murphys bar somewhere off in Asia.

bnt

cuculainn wrote: »

Anyone ever try the highland black 8 year from aldi?

had it the other night and its not half bad and only 13 euro!!!

I have some of that now, though it was about €17, not €13. (It's £13 in the UK now.)

I'm not usually a drinker of Scotch (or indeed any spirits), but I took a punt on this one, and was pretty impressed straight away. Then I looked it up online, and see that it's been winning awards, beating far more expensive tipplies in blind taste tests. It's probably not going to make me a Scotch drinker, though - and I'm from Scotland.

googled eyes

cuculainn wrote: »

Anyone ever try the highland black 8 year from aldi?

had it the other night and its not half bad and only 13 euro!!!

bnt wrote: »

I have some of that now, though it was about €17, not €13. (It's £13 in the UK now.)

I'm not usually a drinker of Scotch (or indeed any spirits), but I took a punt on this one, and was pretty impressed straight away. Then I looked it up online, and see that it's been winning awards, beating far more expensive tipplies in blind taste tests. It's probably not going to make me a Scotch drinker, though - and I'm from Scotland.

Had some of this with my brother inlaw over Christmas. Was quite nice.