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A redneck learns about Scotch....


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I know it seems an odd combination, but I've always enjoyed some of the finer enjoyments in life.

I loved my humidor in the 90's and soon became a craft beer lover in the late 90's.

Going to small scale chef run and owned food joints in the 2k's.

I was taught many of the aspects of moonshine making recently.

Don't get me wrong as I just gave up my Copenhagen last year for vaping, I'm pretty much considered a red neck.

Just one who enjoys trying new stuff and finding all the great things in life. But with a flat top and covered in tattoos and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

It started 8 months ago at a small town high end restaurant which was suprising as he'll due to the good food and craft beer. I was drinking an ipa of some sort and the guy next to me orders a shot of Redbreast Irish whiskey. Altho at the time I didn't even know what Scotch was but remembering hearing all my life "Johnny Walker" Scotch sucked.

This shot changed at how I looked at bottled liquor.

It was about 10 sips of heaven, and almost $10 a shot.

So smooth,flavors of heaven and an aftertaste the gingerly lingered almost not long enough.

Due to income, or lack there of I've had to tread lightly.

I later bought a pint of Glinlivet 12yo.

It was good, but didn't set my world on fire.

Redbreast 12yo is $65 hear. I wanted it, but at the moment I'm hung on the astigmatism of "Scotch" .

I knew the Redbreast tasted as good as real breast :) but if I was gonna spend that kind of money I knew a few things from my moonshine days.

No filtering, and cask strength would be the bomb. As I liked my shine right from the tap, not tempered too 100 proof.

SOB! I just spilt a shot of what I'm drinking down the arm of my recliner!

Ok, I just went all in, and bout a bottle of Glenlivit Nadurra 16yo that was bottled 2 years ago.

Does that 2 years add to the aging process, and conceivably make it 18 yo?

OMG, I can drink this sip by sip until I hit the bottom. I'll kick my own was if I do!

This may be the BEST ANYTHING I ever drink as I normally have to buy my own and I can't ever afford anything more expensive. It is soo smooth and flavorful but the effects of its alchohol is almost Valium like.

So warm and fuzzy and pairs with a great double IPA like nothing else.

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Love my Scotch... single-malt is best, IMO.

You gotta find what you like best, whether it be $20/bottle of $120/bottle :) Personally I do love Macallan 18-yr old!

Scotch, like Bourbon (or any whiskey) stops aging once it comes out of the barrel... so if it says 12 yrs old and was bottled in 2000, it's still just 12-yr old Scotch

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I'm on my 3rd and last snifter tonight, that's what I call a double. Sadley half of one went down the arm of my recliner so I guess I poured some out for my homies.

The Readbreast is about $60 here and is just an Irish Whiskey, Even tho names don't mean much except prestige many times.

Id love to taste it side by side with this Nadurra.

I'm normally a person who thinks a clone is just as good as an original, but I think Shenzhen couldn't reproduce anything like this.

If you got news of ANY Scotch/Irish Whiskey at $20 a bottle that goes down like butter, relaxes like valium and acts like crack I'd love to hear that suggestion!

I knew this was possible when I ran my last batch in NC thru my still with a corn,rye and malt with molasses and brown cane mash run slow threw a pot still, but it was unaged. At 130 proof it went down like butter. As I said I only ran it for my own drinking purposes. But this taste just like my stuffed if it had been aged in a cask.

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Actually I am Irish, but not Scottish. By a long rooted tree somehow.

30 year old Scotch? That could justify an airline trip just to be there the day you crack it!

Now I have an excuse to buy more expensive vape gear since most cost less than a great bottle of hooch.

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Bowmore Legend is a pretty good "cheaper" single-malt... a good mossy overtoned Islay, IMO for <$30. McClelland's Highland or Islay are very good, yet different tastes. The Islay is a more earthy tone with hints of peat/moss and oak, but I find the finish a tad bit bitter (Bowmore is better in the finish). Now, the Highlands is more sweet/fruity/flowery, but IMO has a better finish... smoother, sweeter, no "sting", and much better for sipping! Both of the McClelland's are in the $20-25 range, and sometimes cheaper in the big discount-stores.

Granted, the ones I listed are no comparison to Glenfiddich or Macallan, but they are far better than blended labels of twice their price... and definitely better than Chivas or Johnny Walker (which tastes horribly bland compared to even a mediocre single-malt Scotch Whiskey)!

Of course, if you're looking to save cash over imported Scotch, and want a really good US whiskey... you can't go wrong with Kentucky Bourbon! -- No, Jack Daniels is NOT a Bourbon, despite the fact they wanna be, lol -- I'm from KY, and have tried them all, and you can't go wrong with (my personal favorite) Wild Turkey 101 (much better than 80 proof)... And the other good ones IMO are Jim Beam (black label is best), Buffalo Trace (Reserve bottles are top-notch), and Maker's Mark (my least favorite... tastes too watery and sweet).

Edited by Earthling789
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I've tried the Islay & Highland as well. Speyside is my favorite, but you're right, they're on the expensive side. My 2nd would be Highland due to the sweeter fruity notes to it. Followed last by Islay.

When I get home from the road, I usually pour 3 fingers followed by 1 finger of distilled water to really open up the notes.

After 1 glass I have to switch to beer. Wife says after 2 glasses its too hard to carry on a conversation with me! Lol

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Whooo, what a night!

After a good plate of cheese I finally gave up the fight to stay awake.

Earthling- it appears my spell check nailed me on your name above,sorry.

I'll take a look at some of the Macallan's price wise, but something tells me it just won't be the same.

I did add a splash of water and it did open up the flavors.

It looks like 1/3 of my bottle was stolen while I slept, so I'll make my cat do security at night to keep the wino's away.

At least now I know what to ask for at birthdays and Christmas.

American liquors have NEVER impressed me, well Buffalo Trace's unaged white liquor was just as good as my shine I made. Other than that the flavors and smoothness are hard to reproduce. Sure I could try some some of the better American boozes, but I'm rather sure I'd have a collection of liquor I don't want to drink.

Plain and simple, this Glenlivit Nadurro is magic in a bottle.

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I've not tried the Speyside yet, but keep meaning to pick up a bottle. I guess I'll have to give it a try this weekend?

This Nadurro was worth the millions of pennies it cost me.

I may not be well versed in Scotch, but I did do my research first even before buying a bottle.

I've not tried the Speyside yet, but keep meaning to pick up a bottle. I guess I'll have to give it a try this weekend?

Edited by Dasfriek
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I can't say one style of whiskey is better than others, all have turds and some that stand out.

I've tried many types of Moonshine, both legal and illegal. Some is just as good a sipping whiskey as many aged liquor.

I've found very few American whiskeys that I really like.

I just cracked an excellent IPA locally made and 2 fingers of Nadurra, my night is about to get better!

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  • 4 months later...

I've never been very fond of scotch... I've had it from 30 dollars all the way to 600 dollar bottle (according a rather wealthy eccentric friend of mine) and it was never my cup of tea to be frank. Naturally I put on my best smile and stomached that tumbler he poured me....because at 600 dollar a bottle it would have been insanely rude to turn my nose up to it. I get teased about not liking scotch. Various pokes at my masculinity but meh....I just don't like scotch but I can appreciate the craftmanship that goes into it and the prestige of the brand. I do love my shine though....... Dasfriek may disagree but my favorite fall/winter drink is good ol' illegal applepie hooch

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