Starting a new thread for this, in order to not derail things to much.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 24, 2012, 09:25:08 PM
Besides, that's 4 days killed, days that we could be showing you the glory of Tucson. And bourbon. Not the kind of bourbon You People would drink, over there where you can get beer that tastes like beer and booze that doesn't chew the enamel off of your teeth. No. Our bourbon. Stuff that would make Humphrey Bogart cry, and make George Thorogood give up on the sauce. And we shall drink in the company of branding freaks and tape worm perverts, and we shall call it Right & Good.
What is good bourbon? I have quite a lot of experience with scotch, and I've had a couple of bourbons: Jack Daniels and some slightly more classy stuff called woodland reserve. The Jack was good for fast drinking, and the Woodland Reserve was also very nice.
Or maybe I got the question wrong. How much bourbon is good bourbon? Where is good bourbon? What kind of companions make good bourbon?
Jack Daniels isn't bourbon.
Evan Williams is the bourbon of choice in Tucson. It tastes like every horrible thing that ever happened on our streets and highways. It goes down like broken dreams, and when you wake up, you aren't sure why you didn't chase it with Drano.
Though its not burbon when i feel like punishing myself and others for less than six dollars- old thompson whiskey. Doks description of evan williams is kinda along the lines of how id assess old thompson which i affectionately refer to as cheap kentucky rot gut.
That stuff is available in the Netherlands! I will buy/order it on monday, and try it ASAP. Also:
Quote from: wikipediaEvan Williams began distilling in 1783 near Louisville, Kentucky after emigrating from Wales
:lulz:
Makes perfect sense. You never hear of anyone drinking a fine welsh 18 year old whiskey.
Quote from: el sjaako on February 24, 2012, 09:51:23 PM
That stuff is available in the Netherlands! I will buy/order it on monday, and try it ASAP. Also:
Quote from: wikipediaEvan Williams began distilling in 1783 near Louisville, Kentucky after emigrating from Wales
:lulz:
This is wholly appropriate.
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 09:51:05 PM
Though its not burbon when i feel like punishing myself and others for less than six dollars- old thompson whiskey. Doks description of evan williams is kinda along the lines of how id assess old thompson which i affectionately refer to as cheap kentucky rot gut.
I'm afraid I won't be able to get this stuff easily. I'll ask my family to get some if they travel to the states sometime.
Heh if you really want to. Its one of those liquors that comes in a plastic container if its less than 750ml
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 09:58:13 PM
Heh if you really want to. Its one of those liquors that comes in a plastic container if its less than 750ml
But why would you ever buy less than 750ml? I mean, if you're going to smash your brains with rotgut, you have to go to the fucking WALL with it.
Point. Hells supposed to feel like an eternity after all.
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 10:01:49 PM
Point. Hells supposed to feel like an eternity after all.
Oh, yeah, if you want to spend all night vomiting on Calvinists, and the whole next day wanting to die, there's no sense going halfway.
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 09:58:13 PM
Heh if you really want to. Its one of those liquors that comes in a plastic container if its less than 750ml
I just shuddered on reading that.
I've never bought hard liquor that has been in a plastic container. I've drunk some horrific shit, vodka for less than a fiver, scotch with all the flavour and class of a bottle of piss...but
plastic? Shit.
Quote from: Cain on February 24, 2012, 10:06:25 PM
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 09:58:13 PM
Heh if you really want to. Its one of those liquors that comes in a plastic container if its less than 750ml
I just shuddered on reading that.
I've never bought hard liquor that has been in a plastic container. I've drunk some horrific shit, vodka for less than a fiver, scotch with all the flavour and class of a bottle of piss...but plastic? Shit.
You're an educated man, Cain, but it's impossible to TRULY grasp America™ without coming over & seeing for yourself.
Quote from: Cain on February 24, 2012, 10:06:25 PM
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 09:58:13 PM
Heh if you really want to. Its one of those liquors that comes in a plastic container if its less than 750ml
I just shuddered on reading that.
I've never bought hard liquor that has been in a plastic container. I've drunk some horrific shit, vodka for less than a fiver, scotch with all the flavour and class of a bottle of piss...but plastic? Shit.
My local booze shop sells single serving whiskey. These come in test tubes. I'm fine with that. But plastic?
I was already kind of shocked when I found out that there was beer sold in plastic.
Even Peruvians had the decency to put that swill they call pisco in a glass container.
Possibly because it would melt plastic, but still...
We distill some really vile stuff over here. You know youre going to feel nice and rotten when you find something made in a nearby suburb and comes in plastic as a handle. We like to make sure our packaging lets you know full well what youre about to get yourself into.
Twid
learned a long time ago that they make vodka in somerville, ma
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 10:13:20 PM
We distill some really vile stuff over here. You know youre going to feel nice and rotten when you find something made in a nearby suburb and comes in plastic as a handle. We like to make sure our packaging lets you know full well what youre about to get yourself into.
Twid
learned a long time ago that they make vodka in somerville, ma
A handle is a unit of volume, right? how much is that?
Also, I have decided that tonight I am drinking Vodka.
a handle is about three knobs, depending on how you calibrate the handlebarometer.
Quote from: el sjaako on February 24, 2012, 10:18:58 PM
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 10:13:20 PM
We distill some really vile stuff over here. You know youre going to feel nice and rotten when you find something made in a nearby suburb and comes in plastic as a handle. We like to make sure our packaging lets you know full well what youre about to get yourself into.
Twid
learned a long time ago that they make vodka in somerville, ma
A handle is a unit of volume, right? how much is that?
Also, I have decided that tonight I am drinking Vodka.
A handle is enough to get 4-5 people socially lubricated, or one person in the hospital.
Oh sorry. Its a slang term really. Its a half gallon or thereabouts. Its been a while since ive worked at a liquor store so i forget exact volumes.
Google says a handle is 1.75 liters
good vodka btw? stoli? gras/zubrovka? I like vodka yumyumyum
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 24, 2012, 10:30:21 PM
good vodka btw? stoli? gras/zubrovka? I like vodka yumyumyum
vikingfjord
Definitely not the stuff from somerville. But if you ever come back to boston ill talk you into trying it.
Also i think weve just put aside any lingering doubts our foreign friends had that americans are in fact barbarians.
Quote from: el sjaako on February 24, 2012, 09:34:05 PM
Starting a new thread for this, in order to not derail things to much.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 24, 2012, 09:25:08 PM
Besides, that's 4 days killed, days that we could be showing you the glory of Tucson. And bourbon. Not the kind of bourbon You People would drink, over there where you can get beer that tastes like beer and booze that doesn't chew the enamel off of your teeth. No. Our bourbon. Stuff that would make Humphrey Bogart cry, and make George Thorogood give up on the sauce. And we shall drink in the company of branding freaks and tape worm perverts, and we shall call it Right & Good.
What is good bourbon? I have quite a lot of experience with scotch, and I've had a couple of bourbons: Jack Daniels and some slightly more classy stuff called woodland reserve. The Jack was good for fast drinking, and the Woodland Reserve was also very nice.
Or maybe I got the question wrong. How much bourbon is good bourbon? Where is good bourbon? What kind of companions make good bourbon?
I have to be the asshole from Kentucky here and point out that Jack Daniels is Whiskey, not Bourbon.
I'm guessing you mean Woodford Reserve, which is usually my default choice (or Maker's if Woodford isn't available), since there's a nice balance between price and quality. There's better bourbon, but it's not usually enough better to justify the price IMO. I'm with Howl on Evan Williams for the "will probably strip the paint off of my car but doesn't *quite* taste like it category," and Wild Turkey is somewhere between the extremes. Whatever you do, stay away from pretty much everything from Jim Beam distillery except Knob Creek unless you're using it to remove bathroom grout.
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 10:41:07 PM
Also i think weve just put aside any lingering doubts our foreign friends had that americans are in fact barbarians.
No.
They have to SEE.
Cliff Clavin Time: There are actually no longer in distilleries in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and it's a dry county*.
*or at least it was for a long time. I think they went "moist" a few years ago
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 24, 2012, 10:30:21 PM
good vodka btw? stoli? gras/zubrovka? I like vodka yumyumyum
Not sure if you were asking me, but I'm drinking absolut. I don't really like the taste, but it has the advantage of being in my freezer, and having been free.
So its all basically "methode bourbonoise" as it were?
Bad liquor is almost an aesthetic.
It came to me in a house that literally was built up broken dreams. It WAS a great 1920's joint, all plaster, steam radiators and crown molding. Kept up right too, for awhile. Then it started to decay into HP Lovecraft. The stains crept down the walls, everything turned yellow, and the "responsible adults" saw horrible shit in the basement. They retreated to the upper floors to bang heroin into their elbows as much as possible, writing letter to their children between jaunts to the land of nod. They walked through like ghosts, no expression or engagement. I wasn't even sure I had seen PEOPLE. The matron was a genius brain-broke into the end result of a CoC campaign by drugs, life, and health issues. She cooked one hell of a meal, and looked at me with a an un describable sort of awe when I introduced myself politely.
My two year old offer to line drive the addicts, get mom into a better home, and help fix up the joint still stands. The two sons of the family have ownership, and ought to exert it a bit.
Later in the evening, the jam session was going, and we were all BS'ing. Musicians, pervert, and freaks all around. Damnit, but I was among the people. Tossing back shots of shit bourbon and vodka sucked, to be sure. Somehow it FIT though. This was not a place for fine "sipping whisky", this was a den of horrible things. It was good then, but it might turn into bloody horrible at the drop of a hat. Nothing else would have MATCHED.
Quote from: kingyak on February 24, 2012, 10:44:56 PM
I have to be the asshole from Kentucky here and point out that Jack Daniels is Whiskey, not Bourbon.
I think Dok mentioned that upthread also :P
Quote from: kingyak on February 24, 2012, 10:44:56 PM
I'm guessing you mean Woodford Reserve, which is usually my default choice (or Maker's if Woodford isn't available), since there's a nice balance between price and quality. There's better bourbon, but it's not usually enough better to justify the price IMO.
Yeah, I always forget the name. It's good stuff.
Quote from: el sjaako on February 24, 2012, 11:00:56 PM
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 24, 2012, 10:30:21 PM
good vodka btw? stoli? gras/zubrovka? I like vodka yumyumyum
Not sure if you were asking me, but I'm drinking absolut. I don't really like the taste, but it has the advantage of being in my freezer, and having been free.
Yep I was. And those are two important advantages.
I have NOTHING!
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 24, 2012, 10:46:07 PM
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 10:41:07 PM
Also i think weve just put aside any lingering doubts our foreign friends had that americans are in fact barbarians.
No.
They have to SEE.
I'd be surprised if I could ever see again after drinking that shit.
Here, a Bourbon is a crappy little biscuit, made from mud, and old horses hooves.
(http://i.imgur.com/uheOP.jpg)
Quote from: Cain on February 24, 2012, 11:35:47 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 24, 2012, 10:46:07 PM
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 10:41:07 PM
Also i think weve just put aside any lingering doubts our foreign friends had that americans are in fact barbarians.
No.
They have to SEE.
I'd be surprised if I could ever see again after drinking that shit.
No such luck, you can't have a proper side effect without the FDA screaming at you about it.
Quote from: BadBeast on February 24, 2012, 11:39:07 PM
Here, a Bourbon is a crappy little biscuit, made from mud, and old horses hooves.
http://i.imgur.com/uheOP.jpg
I just tried www.peakfreanbourbonhenge.co.uk, just in case it exists (it doesn't).
Peek Frean are a legit biscuit maker. Or they were.
Quote from: Richter on February 24, 2012, 11:41:16 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 24, 2012, 11:35:47 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 24, 2012, 10:46:07 PM
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 10:41:07 PM
Also i think weve just put aside any lingering doubts our foreign friends had that americans are in fact barbarians.
No.
They have to SEE.
I'd be surprised if I could ever see again after drinking that shit.
No such luck, you can't have a proper side effect without the FDA screaming at you about it.
"Where we're drinking, you wont want eyes"
\
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTAtbgzylAA/TsV96e9GgsI/AAAAAAAAAUE/xjiuNPQp0pE/s1600/Event+Horizon+no+eyes.jpg)
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 24, 2012, 09:44:46 PM
Jack Daniels isn't bourbon.
Evan Williams is the bourbon of choice in Tucson. It tastes like every horrible thing that ever happened on our streets and highways. It goes down like broken dreams, and when you wake up, you aren't sure why you didn't chase it with Drano.
Old Crow girl here.
Does it taste like burning?
Then you're doing it right!
Quote from: el sjaako on February 24, 2012, 09:51:23 PM
That stuff is available in the Netherlands! I will buy/order it on monday, and try it ASAP. Also:
Quote from: wikipediaEvan Williams began distilling in 1783 near Louisville, Kentucky after emigrating from Wales
:lulz:
:spittake:
Quote from: Cain on February 24, 2012, 10:12:30 PM
Even Peruvians had the decency to put that swill they call pisco in a glass container.
Possibly because it would melt plastic, but still...
You haven't LIVED until you've laid down your $19.95 to swig Old Crow straight out of the half-gallon plastic jug.
By a certain value of "LIVED".
Quote from: Cain on February 25, 2012, 12:10:56 AM
Quote from: Richter on February 24, 2012, 11:41:16 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 24, 2012, 11:35:47 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 24, 2012, 10:46:07 PM
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 10:41:07 PM
Also i think weve just put aside any lingering doubts our foreign friends had that americans are in fact barbarians.
No.
They have to SEE.
I'd be surprised if I could ever see again after drinking that shit.
No such luck, you can't have a proper side effect without the FDA screaming at you about it.
"Where we're drinking, you wont want eyes"
\
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTAtbgzylAA/TsV96e9GgsI/AAAAAAAAAUE/xjiuNPQp0pE/s1600/Event+Horizon+no+eyes.jpg)
:mittens:
Quote from: el sjaako on February 24, 2012, 11:49:04 PM
Quote from: BadBeast on February 24, 2012, 11:39:07 PM
Here, a Bourbon is a crappy little biscuit, made from mud, and old horses hooves.
http://i.imgur.com/uheOP.jpg
I just tried www.peakfreanbourbonhenge.co.uk, just in case it exists (it doesn't).
That's a bummer; it used to.
Got me a bottle of Evan Williams! I think it's the Black variant, as it's 43% (86 proof) and comes with a black label. Just gonna try a little...
Color: Seems good. Net entirely sure what color it's supposed to be. Don't quite get why this is part of reviews anyway.
Nose: Sweet, woody, some vanilla
Taste: Still mostly sweeter than I'm used to. Must be all the corn.
Finish: Long and strong. Nice taste.
Conclusion: It'll do. Better than Jack Daniels.
After I do this I like to look up other reviews. Some highlights:
Quote from: BarrelProof23
Taste: Tastes as if someone put vanilla extract in their rectum and then shit in my mouth.
Quote from: scotchnoob.com
Nose: Candle wax, cantaloupe, burned marshmallow, butane lighter fluid.
Quote from: Cain on February 24, 2012, 10:06:25 PM
Quote from: Twid, not Billy. on February 24, 2012, 09:58:13 PM
Heh if you really want to. Its one of those liquors that comes in a plastic container if its less than 750ml
I just shuddered on reading that.
I've never bought hard liquor that has been in a plastic container. I've drunk some horrific shit, vodka for less than a fiver, scotch with all the flavour and class of a bottle of piss...but plastic? Shit.
When I was in Canada I had Canadian Club in a plastic bottle, can't remember if tasted any different though.
Quote from: el sjaako on February 25, 2012, 01:52:18 PM
Got me a bottle of Evan Williams! I think it's the Black variant, as it's 43% (86 proof) and comes with a black label. Just gonna try a little...
Color: Seems good. Net entirely sure what color it's supposed to be. Don't quite get why this is part of reviews anyway.
Nose: Sweet, woody, some vanilla
Taste: Still mostly sweeter than I'm used to. Must be all the corn.
Finish: Long and strong. Nice taste.
Conclusion: It'll do. Better than Jack Daniels.
After I do this I like to look up other reviews. Some highlights:
Quote from: BarrelProof23
Taste: Tastes as if someone put vanilla extract in their rectum and then shit in my mouth.
Quote from: scotchnoob.com
Nose: Candle wax, cantaloupe, burned marshmallow, butane lighter fluid.
Evan Williams Black is what I think of as "the good cheap bourbon". It's definitely cheap, but it's not bad, and it's miles better than Old Crow.
When I can splurge, I like Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, Corner Creek, bourbons of that ilk. Not Makers, though. I used to like Makers and then one day, it tasted like a mildewing pile of fallen leaves. You know how some things you can't untaste?
Still, everyone should drink Old Crow once. It's the bourbon equivalent of losing your virginity (to a sasquatch with genitalia made out of chainsaws).
Quote from: Nigel on February 25, 2012, 04:13:59 PM
Evan Williams Black is what I think of as "the good cheap bourbon". It's definitely cheap, but it's not bad, and it's miles better than Old Crow.
When I can splurge, I like Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, Corner Creek, bourbons of that ilk. Not Makers, though. I used to like Makers and then one day, it tasted like a mildewing pile of fallen leaves. You know how some things you can't untaste?
Yeah, I know the feeling. When I started drinking loose leaf teas I suddenly stopped liking most teabags. Especially the fruity ones. And I used to be able to drink the bottom shelf blended scotch, but now I just can't.
I'm afraid to start drinking good coffee because I want to be able to go somewhere and have a coffee, without noticing how good the place is at making coffee.
Same thing with can't unsee. It's like the arrow in the FedEx logo.
Quote from: kingyak on February 25, 2012, 04:21:07 PM
Still, everyone should drink Old Crow once. It's the bourbon equivalent of losing your virginity (to a sasquatch with genitalia made out of chainsaws).
EXACTLY.
Quote from: el sjaako on February 25, 2012, 04:22:41 PM
Quote from: Nigel on February 25, 2012, 04:13:59 PM
Evan Williams Black is what I think of as "the good cheap bourbon". It's definitely cheap, but it's not bad, and it's miles better than Old Crow.
When I can splurge, I like Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, Corner Creek, bourbons of that ilk. Not Makers, though. I used to like Makers and then one day, it tasted like a mildewing pile of fallen leaves. You know how some things you can't untaste?
Yeah, I know the feeling. When I started drinking loose leaf teas I suddenly stopped liking most teabags. Especially the fruity ones. And I used to be able to drink the bottom shelf blended scotch, but now I just can't.
I'm afraid to start drinking good coffee because I want to be able to go somewhere and have a coffee, without noticing how good the place is at making coffee.
Same thing with can't unsee. It's like the arrow in the FedEx logo.
Makers Mark has always been a good bourbon... it just has a vaguely musty undertone that, once I noticed it, I can't stop tasting. It dominates the flavor for me now. My friends don't taste it at all (but oddly, they also no longer buy Makers to drink at home, so either I've unconsciously influenced their preferences or they started tasting something off, too).
Quote from: kingyak on February 25, 2012, 04:21:07 PM
Still, everyone should drink Old Crow once. It's the bourbon equivalent of losing your virginity (to a sasquatch with genitalia made out of chainsaws).
This sounds like the first batch of moonshine I made at the tender age of 14.
Quote from: el sjaako on February 25, 2012, 04:22:41 PM
Quote from: Nigel on February 25, 2012, 04:13:59 PM
Evan Williams Black is what I think of as "the good cheap bourbon". It's definitely cheap, but it's not bad, and it's miles better than Old Crow.
When I can splurge, I like Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, Corner Creek, bourbons of that ilk. Not Makers, though. I used to like Makers and then one day, it tasted like a mildewing pile of fallen leaves. You know how some things you can't untaste?
Yeah, I know the feeling. When I started drinking loose leaf teas I suddenly stopped liking most teabags. Especially the fruity ones. And I used to be able to drink the bottom shelf blended scotch, but now I just can't.
I'm afraid to start drinking good coffee because I want to be able to go somewhere and have a coffee, without noticing how good the place is at making coffee.
Same thing with can't unsee. It's like the arrow in the FedEx logo.
Fortunately, with coffee, I have found that preparing it the right way really does the most for the taste.
Sure fancy home-ground beans are nice, especially if they're extra fancy.
But as long as you're not using Euroshopper ground coffee--srsly what's wrong with that stuff you need like 1.5x the amount to get the same kick and even then it doesn't taste very good. If you're just going for the caffeine it's still cheaper though--get a filter-holder for 2 euros at Blokker, pour hot boiling water on it, keep stirring, and you get really great coffee
almost no matter how unfancy it is (you might need a bit more coffee for the filter-holder method to get the same strength but I prefer it *slightly* over french press).
My preferred way to prepare coffee, WITH PICS: http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php/topic,15046.0.html
(but if you're making for more than yourself, a coffee drip machine is best)
I only really drink bourbon with whiskey sours. I like a Woodford Reserve or Jim Beam black for it.
Quote from: Pixie on February 26, 2012, 09:27:55 AM
I only really drink bourbon with whiskey sours. I like a Woodford Reserve or Jim Beam black for it.
Trying this right now, with a friend. Decent, but I prefer the whiskey.
I thought Booker's was really good when we tried it not that long ago. One of the few bourbons (well liquors at all, really), I've been able to drink neat and enjoy. But it's a rare occassion we can splurge $40+ on a bottle of booze, so Maker's and Knob Creek are usually are go-too "good" bourbons, Jack or Jim if you just wanna get drunk. Tried something that was somewhere between Maker's and Booker's that wasn't bad, but forget the name.
Usually wait til we can afford something decent before we buy booze
Maker's Mark is a good smooth bourbon, but I've always been keen on Wild Turkey. None of them come in plastic. I once drank Brazilian Cachasa out of tupperware. I haven't stopped twitching yet.
I don't get the JD is not bourbon though. Yes, I know it's "Tennessee Whiskey", but it's made through the same process as Jim Beam Black, I thought. Corn mash, double filtered?
Side note - I toured the JD distillery in Lynchburg once, learning that alcohol is actually illegal in the county that supplies JD to the planet. Exiting through the gift shop, you can buy JD clocks, pool cues and lemonade. Yes, you can base your whole economy around an alcoholic beverage, but you can't drink it yourself! That's just immoral!
American paradoxes.