Anyone know much about whiskey?

[Barrister]

Tyr, you live in Japan.  Could you not have gotten him some weird Japanese whisky?  It doesn't have to be good - it's just unique enough that it came from Japan.

[MadImmortalMan]

Scotch I've tried recently and liked:

Glenfarclas

Balvenie (all kinds)

Dalwhinnie

Ardbeg


The last one is an Islay, which I usually don't like as much as the Speysides. I like the peat but I want the woody earthyness too (Macallan, for example). Usually the Islays tend toward the lighter peat-only style like Lagavulin and Laphroaig--which I like less, no matter what the bloody Prince of Wales thinks. I liked the Ardbeg much more. The other day was the first time I'd tried Glenfarclas, which I'd describe as somewhere between Balvenie and Macallan. It was rich and heavy like Macallan, but not enough to leave that residue in the glass afterward.


Oh, and there are some surprisingly good Japanese things, I've heard. Never tried them though.

[Valmy]

I know that whiskey comprises a disturbingly large percentage of my Irish and Scottish ancestors' culture.

[Jacob]

Tyr, you live in Japan.  Could you not have gotten him some weird Japanese whisky?  It doesn't have to be good - it's just unique enough that it came from Japan.

Japan produces at least one single malt whisky. It's not bad.

[Warspite]

Right now, I have an Ardbeg and Macallan on the go. They're both very good.

[OttoVonBismarck]

I'm still scratching my head over the possibility that there exists a man whose primary drink of choice is Southern Comfort and this man also appreciates fine whiskey.

I'm fine with either of those concepts intellectually, but together they do not work.

FWIW I'm not saying liqueurs never have a place in your mouth, in extreme moderation it's not the worst thing to enjoy certain classic mixed drinks on rare occasions. However any proper man drinks real whiskey, neat, not some sugary concoction from Nawlins.

[OttoVonBismarck]

A proper man's liquors:

Single Malt > Irish Whiskey (HQ Only) > Bourbon > Rye Whiskey > Rum > Tequila

Any proper man can drink any of these and he's being acceptable. Whiskey (in its forms) and bourbon at worst can be served with a splash of water, no ice, no mixer. Rum and tequila may be mixed as long as it is only on special occasions and as long as the man predominantly consumes those spirits un-mixed. The only exception to the above rules is that bourbon may be mixed in the form of a Mint Julep at the Kentucky Derby, or at home on the day of the Kentucky Derby if you are celebrating the festivities remotely.

Any straight drink made from the above liquors will always trump all other drinks.

However, outside of this there are two "real liquors" which have their time and place: vodka and gin. Gin is the one liquor it is okay to always consume it mixed in some form, as its taste is not inherently magnificent as is a proper sampling of a gentleman's liquor. That being said, there are limits. The proper way to consume gin, if you will consume gin, is in a cocktail glass with a splash of vermouth and possibly an olive garnish. Gin and tonics are acceptable in moderation. Any mixing of any other kind with gin is mostly forbidden.

Vodka is unfortunately not a gentleman's liquor at all. However it is a "real" liquor in that if you cannot afford anything better drinking vodka, neat, is better than some of the more effeminate alternatives. However, only an animal or a slav would ever prefer vodka over one of the other liquors. Vodka is also, when properly distilled, a decent base for the ultra rare occasions when it is acceptable to indulge in certain fruity/frozen cocktails that require a mostly tasteless liquor base. Unless you are in cruise ship, at a theme party, or in Hawaii it is unlikely you are in one of those occasions. (And in most of those scenarios silver rum is still preferred.)

[Darth Wagtaros]

Gin is disgusting.

[MadImmortalMan]

Otto feels very strongly about his drinking.

[OttoVonBismarck]

Otto feels very strongly about his drinking.

It's up there with family and 19th century Prussian history.

[Viking]

Right now, I have an Ardbeg and Macallan on the go. They're both very good.

Havard gave me my first bottle of Macallan. Despite him being norwegian he hates the norweenie friendly smokey whiskeys like Ardbeg.

If you like the smokey stuff Ardbegs are good, if you like the clean stuff Macallan is good.

[Capetan Mihali]

I second the Japanese Scotch idea... that will be a great conversation piece for him whether or not he actually likes the taste. 

[Jacob]

Yamazaki is, I believe, the premier Japanese single malt but according to wikipedia there are others: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_whisky

[Admiral Yi]

Given his tastes maybe a bottle of Midori.

[Caliga]

On my desk right now I have a bottle of Glenlivet 15-year French Oak Reserve and a bottle of Laphroaig 10 year.