On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 17:10:42 +0000 (UTC), in rec.audio.opinion you
wrote:

On 6 Mar 2006 08:30:25 -0800, " wrote:

Proves once again that one may safely leave sticky cocktails to
"engineers" like plumbers, carpenters, carpetlayers, garbage disposers,
nightsoil removers, spam postmen, suchlike.

Not to mention pretentious twits who wouldn't know a single-malt from a
blend, or good bourbon from battery-acid...

Really? You know anyone like that? If bourbon's so great, why does no
one drink it 'straight up'?

Because some actually do. Especially some of the more refined products
like Woodford Reserve or Knob Creek. It's becoming a more acceptable
after dinner cognac-type drink, just like single-malts are.

I'm not a bourbon fan though. Too sweet for my tastes. I *will*
occasionally have a good bourbon as described but it's rare. I'm a
scotch guy pretty much down the line and I turn up my nose at those
contrived whiskys like Canadian Club and Crown Royal.

Also, I'm on record as saying that I prefer a single *small* cube of
ice in my single-malt. I like it because a single malt is best enjoyed
(IMO) with just a touch of water, which cuts the initial numbing
burning alcohol hit that interferes with the ability to taste the
subtleies (sp?) of the flavor profile. Even Michael Jackson (not
Jacko) claims that you get the best experience that way, although he,
like you, talks about a tiny bit of highland branch water (he says
that it actually releases the locked-in aroma). I just find that a
little ice cube accomplishes the same thing and I'm not so anal that
I'd find that using local water detracts from the experience. The ice
quickly melts to just about the right amount of water and it slightly
cools the liquid, which I find appealing. It doesn't chill it, which I
WOULDN'T like at all and it doesn't unduly dilute the beverage.

And finally, I have no problem drinking a "blended" single malt like
Famous Grouse. I find it to offer a modicum of single-malt pleasure at
about half the cost. I guess it's the 1/16th Scottish in me. Unless
I'm forced to drink them by circumstances, I avoid run-of-the-mill
blended scotches like Chivas and Dewars and J&B. And those, I'll just
drink on the rocks since there's not much there to mess up with water.

And no, I don't bother with such lightweights as Dalwhinnie. Give me
something bold like Talisker or Lagavulin or something elegant and
refined like Oban any day. I certainly won't pass up the "Rolls-Royce
of SMs", the various Macallans either. The 21 is a wonderful
scotch...just a bit overprised for my tastes. The 12 is acceptable but
it doesn't invoke the senses like the others I've named.

Damn, I'm thirsty. Shame that I have to work tonight...

In article , Dave weil wrote:
And finally, I have no problem drinking a "blended" single malt like
Famous Grouse. I find it to offer a modicum of single-malt pleasure at
about half the cost. I guess it's the 1/16th Scottish in me. Unless
I'm forced to drink them by circumstances, I avoid run-of-the-mill
blended scotches like Chivas and Dewars and J&B. And those, I'll just
drink on the rocks since there's not much there to mess up with water.

And no, I don't bother with such lightweights as Dalwhinnie. Give me
something bold like Talisker or Lagavulin or something elegant and
refined like Oban any day. I certainly won't pass up the "Rolls-Royce
of SMs", the various Macallans either. The 21 is a wonderful
scotch...just a bit overprised for my tastes. The 12 is acceptable but
it doesn't invoke the senses like the others I've named.

100% Scottish and agree with everything you say here. Doubt if any of it
could be proved with a double blind test though. Try one of each of the
tinctures listed and it might end up as a "completely blind" test. :-)

Rod.

On Mon, 06 Mar 2006 11:47:51 -0600, dave weil
wrote:

On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 17:10:42 +0000 (UTC), in rec.audio.opinion you
wrote:

On 6 Mar 2006 08:30:25 -0800, " wrote:

Proves once again that one may safely leave sticky cocktails to
"engineers" like plumbers, carpenters, carpetlayers, garbage disposers,
nightsoil removers, spam postmen, suchlike.

Not to mention pretentious twits who wouldn't know a single-malt from a
blend, or good bourbon from battery-acid...

Really? You know anyone like that? If bourbon's so great, why does no
one drink it 'straight up'?

Because some actually do. Especially some of the more refined products
like Woodford Reserve or Knob Creek. It's becoming a more acceptable
after dinner cognac-type drink, just like single-malts are.

I'm not a bourbon fan though. Too sweet for my tastes. I *will*
occasionally have a good bourbon as described but it's rare. I'm a
scotch guy pretty much down the line and I turn up my nose at those
contrived whiskys like Canadian Club and Crown Royal.

Also, I'm on record as saying that I prefer a single *small* cube of
ice in my single-malt. I like it because a single malt is best enjoyed
(IMO) with just a touch of water, which cuts the initial numbing
burning alcohol hit that interferes with the ability to taste the
subtleies (sp?) of the flavor profile. Even Michael Jackson (not
Jacko) claims that you get the best experience that way, although he,
like you, talks about a tiny bit of highland branch water (he says
that it actually releases the locked-in aroma). I just find that a
little ice cube accomplishes the same thing and I'm not so anal that
I'd find that using local water detracts from the experience. The ice
quickly melts to just about the right amount of water and it slightly
cools the liquid, which I find appealing. It doesn't chill it, which I
WOULDN'T like at all and it doesn't unduly dilute the beverage.

And finally, I have no problem drinking a "blended" single malt like
Famous Grouse. I find it to offer a modicum of single-malt pleasure at
about half the cost. I guess it's the 1/16th Scottish in me. Unless
I'm forced to drink them by circumstances, I avoid run-of-the-mill
blended scotches like Chivas and Dewars and J&B. And those, I'll just
drink on the rocks since there's not much there to mess up with water.

And no, I don't bother with such lightweights as Dalwhinnie. Give me
something bold like Talisker or Lagavulin or something elegant and
refined like Oban any day. I certainly won't pass up the "Rolls-Royce
of SMs", the various Macallans either. The 21 is a wonderful
scotch...just a bit overprised for my tastes. The 12 is acceptable but
it doesn't invoke the senses like the others I've named.

Damn, I'm thirsty. Shame that I have to work tonight...

Your liking for the magnificent Lagavulin forgives many sins! :-)

--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering