[kscherer]

Thought I would share this (belatedly). A friend of mine has been tinkering with podcasting and started his own podcast called the Whiskey Wonder Podcast. Back in September he invited me to join him for a Pappy Van Winkle tasting and we did the podcast together. It is Episode 24 in his library, and was great fun. I made several mistakes (it was the first time I've ever done something like that), but I had fun.

The mistakes I made:
- I kept saying "Johnny Walker Black Label" when I meant to say "Jim Beam Black Label".
- I referred to Louis XIII as whiskey (it's cognac)
- In explaining my experience, I neglected to say that it was all 16 years ago, before I started selling Macs

Tasting the Pappy was fun, but I could just never justify that kind of money for a bottle of whiskey, nor did I think it was $2000 special by any shake of any stick. It was good, smooth as butter, and the nibbit I had was worth north of $100!

Anyway, we are doing another episode this evening, topic of my choice.

Yay, me!

[pscates2.0]

$2,000?!? When did Apple get into the whiskey business?

And I squawk at the price of a 12-pack of Coors...

What's your topic going to be, if you're being given the chance to choose?

Apple-related? Star Wars? This place? Or does it have to be booze-related? I guess so, if that's what the podcast is about.

[tomoe]

Pappy van Winkle prices went fucking bonkers over the past 10 years.

In the late 2000s/very early 2010s, you could find the 12yo bottle for anywhere between $50-80. 15yo was ~$100-120ish.

Similar thing happened with Japanese Single Malts. Yamazaki 12yo used to be my "budget" purchase in grad school because I could get it for ~$30 at inflated Manhattan prices. Didn't want to pay $50 or more for Lagavulin or whatever. Now, you'd be hard pressed to find the same Yamazaki for <$150 or so.

Even more recently (past summer), prices for a certain bourbon went through the roof after folks caught on to the fact it was about as tasty as Pappy van Winkle, but only ~$20 a bottle instead of $1K+ or whatever the hell people pay now.

[Ryan]

My go-to sipping whiskey is usually Stranahan's.

For mixing, Rittenhouse Rye. This is perfect in a Manhattan—that extra 10 proof helps it stand up to a spice-bomb like Carpano Antica vermouth.

Right now I'm drinking a cinnamon infused brandy I made. I took a cheap bottle of Paul Masson brandy ($12 or something), dumped in some cinnamon sticks and chopped figs and let it sit for a week or two. Very tasty on its own or in an Old Fashioned.

[kscherer]

An update. In Episode 30 we talked about various things, and I brought a bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel and a taster of Johnny Walker Blue Label.

It was fun.

He has a new episode about once every two weeks, and has invited me for a once/month sitting.

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 $2,000?!? When did Apple get into the whiskey business? And I squawk at the price of a 12-pack of Coors... What's your topic going to be, if you're being given the chance to choose? Apple-related? Star Wars? This place? Or does it have to be booze-related? I guess so, if that's what the podcast is about.

Yeah, it's booze related—mostly bourbon—but we dove into scotch a bit.

My favorite budget whiskey is Jim Beam Black Label Extra Aged, and my favorite of all is Four Roses Single Barrel. I have quite a few new bottles in my bar that I haven't tried but am looking forward to, including McKenna and Buffalo Trace.

I've just remodeled a rather useless corner of my living room into an actual bar (with shelves, mirror, bar-top, mini-fridge, stools, storage, the whole nine yards. Seats two comfortably, holds 30 bottles on the shelves, plenty of beer things and glasses and all that. I love it and it completely changes the space. As a growing aficionado, it's fun to have a whiskey bar right in the house. Way cheaper than those places normal people go.

As for the Pappy being $2000, that's actually cheap, and it wasn't my bottle. My friend's friend won the opportunity to buy a bottle in the Idaho liquor lottery, and then shared with us. I would never pay that for a bottle of the stuff.

Well, unless maybe I suddenly become a go-zillionaire, but even then I can think of a better use of 2 grand!

[pscates2.0]

I truly have no idea what things cost, outside of the things I actually buy/use (or have an interest in...Fender this, Apple that, etc.). I never knew alcohol, other than wine, gets to such prices. I don't really drink liquor, so I'm out of that loop. I'm a beer/cider kinda guy (unless someone's got some 151 and Dr. Pepper around).

[Ryan]

It's not complicated or rare but damn Talisker 10 really hits the spot.

[Yontsey]

Had some Weller Antique, Barrell Dovetail, and New Riff Maltster Wheat last night along with some hazys and stouts from Tree House.

[pscates2.0]

I was at a pub last night (sitting distant from everyone, blah, blah...I can't just stay here at the damn house forever, for crying out loud; I'm about to throw myself off a bridge, FFS). Anyway, they've changed the laws in my little town/community within the outer limits of Chattanooga, and so the place I used to go to that only did beer (bottles and 4-5 on tap) now does full-on liquor...all the bottles, all the mirrors, all the different glasses, etc. Was news to me.

Everyone was drinking whiskey shots and I just heard nothing but whiskey talk/debate for about two hours straight.

People really get into it. This one (drunk) old bat was haranguing the bartender (a sober bat) because she didn't have some brand I'd never even heard of (and that I'm pretty sure the drunk bat was mispronouncing anyway). The level of catty, passive-aggressive venom tossed back-and-forth between these two got funnier as it went on.

"Am I about to see too dingy, skeezy broads get into a fight over what whiskey is ordered/stocked here? Damn, I hope!". Because, as I learned from Seinfeld, there's always the possibility of shirts coming off.

Fingers were crossed, but the drunk bat's boyfriend/husband finally dragged her away.

Of all things to be a hard-case over.

"Why ain't you sumbitches got no good whiskey up in this fuckin' place?" - honest-to-goodness direct quote, which should give you an idea of the kinds of places I hang out.



Stay classy, lady. She's probably teaching Sunday school somewhere tomorrow morning.

It'll be months before I venture out again; people are even more stupid/obnoxious than I remember.

So, yeah...whiskey.

[kscherer]

People are stupid.

Throw in the whiskey, and stupid people show their true colors!

—

Aberlour A'bunadh Sherry Cask



Good stuff!

And, no, I won't get in your face if you don't like it!

[pscates2.0]

It was Friday night...I guess everyone's pent up, frustrated after a(nother) long week of no job, etc. It was indeed a lively, vocal crowd, but those two were the only iffy/negative thing I saw. People were in good spirits for the most part, which was encouraging to see (and helped my mood a bit as well).

But having liquor available at my little local, just-down-the-road-a-piece dive does indeed change the crowd/dynamic, I noticed. Beer people and liquor people are completely different. I seemed to be the only beer person there, nursing my one Sam Adams for nearly 90 minutes. I was by far the quietest, by about 6,000dB.

But you haven't been properly entertained until you've seen a group of seconds-away-from-alcohol-poisoning rednecks all karaoke-ing a Bob Seger song none of them actually know the words to (even when they're on a screen right in front of them). That takes talent!

[Ryan]

Man I miss going to bars.

Colorado never re-opened bars.

[drewprops]

I haven't really been able to drink liquor since I had a gallbladder stop-up that set my pancreas on fire about 10 years ago. Not *hurting* after having a nice whiskey or a fun rum drink is the urge I obey these days, but I am terribly jealous of those of you who can still enjoy whiskey (and all the other fun drinks).


...

[Yontsey]

I had a major medical situation almost 2 years ago to the date but I've been able to enjoy drinks again, thankfully. Almost killed me.

[_Ω_]

If it is any consulation I am more than making up for the both of you.

And the Aberlour is good shit

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by _Ω_ If it is any consulation I am more than making up for the both of you. And the Aberlour is good shit

Right there with you, and

[drewprops]

Aww, y'all are the best!!

:: frustrated sober heart icon ::



...

[kscherer]

Drew, are you able to drink beer?

[drewprops]

Yes! I can still have a beer every now and then. I just had a Corona in May.


...

[kscherer]

Okay. I have an experiment for you:

I know, I know, it's NA, but it's half the calories and tastes pretty damned good! I buy a lot of it (Trader Joe's), because it tastes almost like real-ish beer, and I can drink a case of the stuff and still pass a breathalyzer!

Seriously, I love beer. However, during my Working Out - And Suffering diet I've had to cut some of the beer (you'd be surprised how much responsibility the stuff has in the creation of the ol' "beer gut" ), and it bugs me to lose that. But! Clausthaler has been something of a godsend, since I can drink 2 of them for every one of the real stuff (calorie-wise). AND! I can have one real beer and then a couple NA's, or vice versa, or even two real beers and 4 or 5 Clausthalers if I really want to "cut loose" which I like to do Friday evening at home — since I have an actual bar in my house .

Hell, grab yourself a 24oz mug and dump 2 frosty ones in there and you'll even feel like you're drinking great beer!

The stuff is growing on me, and I'm reaching the point where I would almost* rather drink it. They have a few flavors, and I keep two of them around (original and dry-hopped—I like the dry-hopped, which is richer and more full-bodied). If our local Trader Joe's carried more varieties I would try all of them. The citrus flavors probably have a bit more of an IPA thing to them, which would be nice. Otherwise, they're a bit more along the lines of a European lager, which is OK. The closest real-world beer I could compare it to would be something like Heineken, which is pretty good beer.

* Whereby "almost" means "maybe some day when hell freezes over).

[_Ω_]

This is not the girly beer thread!

Glenkinchie 12 - nice easy drinking malt, so much so time for a second glass...

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by _Ω_ This is not the girly beer thread!

No, but a guy needs a drink one way or the other, and I'm happy to help a brother out.

—

Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14. My wife discovered it, and holy cow that stuff is nice. Smooth and delicious!

[pscates2.0]

Threads are about - within reason - wherever things naturally lead. It isn't like we veered off into talking about deep-sea fishing or growing a better herb garden. It's still booze/alcohol-related jabber. If Ken wants to break things out into a separate "girly beer thread", fine. But I can deal with multiple, concurrent lines of somewhat-related thought. It'll easily swing back to whiskey when someone posts about whiskey. That's all it takes.

I don't drink the vile stuff, so it ain't gonna be me. But you know what I'm saying.

[Mac+]

Originally Posted by kscherer No, but a guy needs a drink one way or the other, and I'm happy to help a brother out. — Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14. My wife discovered it, and holy cow that stuff is nice. Smooth and delicious!

Balvenie 21 year old Portwood is my go to! It was a gift from work.

An online summary wrote: “a veritable masterclass in poise and balance” and I agree (confirmation bias perhaps)... regardless, it has spoilt me!

[Bryson]

My wife brought home a bottle of Legent Bourbon. https://www.legentbourbon.com

It's pretty interesting. It's made by the blender from Suntory blending Jim Beam bourbons. It's not "fancy" but I like it.

[kscherer]

Ain't got to be fancy! My favorite sipping whiskey is Jim Beam Black Label. Cheap; delicious; smooth. Best value in whiskey as far as I'm concerned.

[Yontsey]

If you ever come across it, Wild Turkey Rare Breed and Rare Breed Rye are straight fire. So amazing. Rare Breed is readily available here, but I've had to have people send me the Rye from out of town. the Rye is my favorite. It's around $60. Not too crazy.