The Cocktail (and Spirits) Thread

[Bazal]

The f**k did you just call me?

A merkin

 

[Twizzle]

an alcho merking

 

[Bazal]

No merkin reads this anymore, BUT I think I've settled on a new favourite whiskey. It was hard to unseat Glenmorangie but this stuff has probably done it.

EDIT FFS @Twizzle can we remove the filter now lol

 

[Bazal]

Bump!

Had a glass of Laphroaig Quarter Cask tonight. Picked it up at dogshit Live in a swap with the CCA rep. Went into peated dogshit (again) with an open mind. I think I will leave it for guests, not to my taste.

How would you like a reply to your bump almost a year later??

Quarter Cask isn't even as peaty as the regular Laphroiag IMO. I prefer it. It's got a real interesting saltwater/seaweed deal.

Did the rep tell you how they make it? Obviouly there's the small cask thing, but the warehouse they age it in sits right on the bay. In winter or during big storms that warehouse actually gets slightly inundated bby the waves at times. Hence you get a real marine character. Terroir in scotch.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Ricard Pastis. Truely delicious for anyone who likes anise. Make sure it’s heavy over ice.

 

[Bazal]

Ricard Pastis. Truely delicious for anyone who likes anise. Make sure it’s heavy over ice.

Does anywhere even sell the shit anymore?

I love it but even Uncle Dans don't seem to have it nearby

 

[Bazal]

Bring this thread back to life!

Woodford Reserve Bourbon (neat)

Still, IMO, the best bourbon available regularly and decently priced on the Australian market. I think it's the high rye percentage that makes it so good? You don't get that sometimes slightly rank, over the top sour mash character. More like honey and vanilla, almond essence, a little coffee.

 

[YoHadrian]

In Goodfellas when Jimmy Conway meets young Henry Hill for the first time this is the drink he asks for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_and_7

After how many years of watching this film it was only last year that I worked out what he actually said.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Been drinking Gosling’s Drak & Stormy’s since 5pm. Good times...

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Buffalo Trace. Had it on the rocks, could not tell it was a bourbon (and no smart arse responses to that). Good solid sipper, particularly since it was a double.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Goslings Black Seal. What British style Caribbean rum should taste like. It is THE rum for a Dark & Stormy.

 

[Bazal]

Local winemaker Bryan Martin (Ravensworth & Clonakilla) has started making vermouth.

Good in a martini, f**king great in a Manhattan. Also really excellent on the rocks.

 

[Misanthrope]

I tried chacha last night.

That shit smells like paint-stripper and tastes only a little less brutal. They say it is made from grape skins, but it tastes no different than baijiu, soju, or SE Asian rice wine.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Did a quick read on it. It’s very similar to grappa, hence the lovely smell & taste...

 

[Perth Tiger]

I'll add a different voice, love Whisky and Tequila neat.

Lagavulin 16 and Caol Ila 12 probably still my favorites but have been getting into the Rye whiskeys lately.

Picked up a bottle of the Archie Rose Malted Rye and it is superb.

 

[Bazal]

I'll add a different voice, love Whisky and Tequila neat.

Lagavulin 16 and Caol Ila 12 probably still my favorites but have been getting into the Rye whiskeys lately.

Picked up a bottle of the Archie Rose Malted Rye and it is superb.

Dammit, I tried so hard to get the Archie Rose....

Also, bump!

Social isolation whisk(e)y time. I'm opening a Wild Turkey Longbranch this arvo

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Have had both the Dalmore 12YO and 18YO tonight. My preference is the 15YO.

Of the two, I much prefer the 12YO. Tastes less like licking a plank of oak.

 

[Bazal]

Caol Ila 12 year old.

As a big Speyside fan this is probably my favourite Islay whiskey, at least for price and consistent drinking. They really do the peat well, it's warm and happy. The better known Laphroiag is a good scotch, but it does taste a little bit like a fire at an iodine factory in which several people were killed. And the Lagavulin tastes a lot like the ashes of those people. Ardbeg tastes like it sounds...

This is gentler but not in a bad way at all. It's more rounded and more balanced, which allows you to enjoy the sweetness of it alongside the smoke.

Bruichladdich make better whiskies in the same age bracket, but not for the money (although I did see this has gone up to $90-odd. It was a $65 dollar scotch last time I bought it!)

 

[Bazal]

And just for a side by side comparison I did load up the Lagavulin cos I saw someone mentioned both in a post earlier.

It's weird how it can smell so much less peaty on the nose than the Caol Ila but like almost pure smoke in the mouth.

Not that it isn't a great scotch, because it is. It's so smooth there's no alcohol burn at all and despite the smoke the middle is sweet and even a touch woody. It's just that it's so heavy on the smoke straight up and then well into the finish.

 

[soc123_au]

Laphroiag is a good scotch, but it does taste a little bit like a fire at an iodine factory in which several people were killed. And the Lagavulin tastes a lot like the ashes of those people.

Sounds delicious. You should send that review to their advertising dept.