Please suggest an outstanding whiskey to give as a gift

[Atlas Mugged]

I bought my dad a beautiful cut crystal decanter for Christmans. I'm going to give him a bottle of whiskey to go along with it but don't want to do the cliche thing of Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker red/black/whatever. Something from an obscure distillery that has an outstanding product would be ideal, I know they exist. Of course, if the distillery is actively liberal, that would be a major bonus, kinda' like a Ben & Jerrys of hard likker.

I don't drink so I'm clueles about this "devil's urine" stuff.

[politicat]

1. Bushmills 1608.

It's only recently available in the US. It's my favorite whiskey, bar none, and we went on a whiskey tasting crawl when we went to Ireland four years ago.

But if you want a bourbon or a scotch, I can't help you. I won't touch either.

[MissB]

4. Oh.My.God.

Used to be that you could only get that out of the country, or at duty-free shops. :woohoo:

[leftofthedial]

5. 1608 is fine, fine, fine

Also try Midleton if you can find it.

If Irish Whiskey won't work, then:

1. shame on you.

2. try Maker's Mark.

[bridgit]

29. there it is...

:thumbsup:

[maine_raptor]

31. If you can't get Bushmill's 1608, try Black Bush

[Reciprocity]

2. Glenmorangie singel highland malt scotch whisky.

[MrsMatt]

3. I'll have the Sherry finish please

neat.

[tjwmason]

16. Never neat

Best with a splash of (room temp) water, it draws out the flavour.

Very yummy though.

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. No no no no no no. There are far better Scotches than that.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

28. "Any kind of 'Glen'".

[Ptah]

6. Pinch Scotch 15 year

Established is 1627, the oldest distillers of scotch whisky
in the world. Few whiskies attain the rate distiction of the
Dimple Pinch. Over 300 years of distilling and blending
experience have ensured the perfection of this most
distinguished deluxe scotch whisky. Saviyr te elegant
taste of a subtle blend of 15 year old whiskies that is
as special as the unique dimpled bottle that holds it.

:toast:

[Atlas Mugged]

18. "Dimple Pinch" is a distinction???

We could have a whole new thread here, but some Puritan twit would have it banned.

So, the whiskey (whisky?) has to be of a certain calibre to be sold in a bottle that is dimpled? Interesting. So, if it's brown, and it's in a pinched bottle, it's good?

[Elidor]

7. This thread is making me thirsty!

I'm not much into the hard stuff, but I like a nice glass of Speyburn Single Highland Malt now and then. Pop in one ice cube and savor it slowly. Mmmmmmmm! But Speyburn probably isn't for everyone. It's made with peat, and that smokey flavor puts some people right off.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. How much do you want to spend?

I can give you an excellent $50 whiskey, or an excellent $100 whiskey, or an excellent $1000 whiskey...

[Atlas Mugged]

12. It's for my dad, so $100 sounds about right

The freaking decanter was $250! But I wouldn't spend $1,000 on "future urine" if you made me chew on foil while shaving my head with a cheese grater.

[underpants]

15. Blanton's-unbelieveablly smooth

http://www.kybourbon.com/english/pages/profiles.html

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. For around $100, I'd go with a Macallan 18 year old

Or: (all prices are approx. or from 67 Wine and Spirits, at http://www.67wine.com, just to give you a hint of how the prices compare to one another, not to advertise that store). These are some of my favorite scotches (some aren't on that website, so I'm guessing):

Balvenie Port Wood 21 year old Scotch ($90)
Balvenie Single Cask 15 year ($64)
Bowmore Single Malt 17 year (ca. $70)
Bowmore Single Malt 21 year ($120)
Lagavulin 16 year ($72)
Laphroaig 15 year (ca. $75)
Laphroaig 10 year original cask strength (ca. $75)
Macallan 18 year ($130)
Oban 14 year (ca. $75)

Careful with the Laphroaig - it's a peety one! Your dad might not like it.

[kwassa]

21. I'll second the Macallan and Bowmore choices

all of the above are very good

[alarcojon]

51. I'll second the Lagavulin

although it's a bit peaty for some.

[leftofthedial]

26. Midleton

[TX-RAT]

53. Have a 2002 and 2003 sitting in my office now.

[leftofthedial]

57. Slainte!

:toast:

[derby378]

10. Talisker

That was an easy question to answer...

[CottonBear]

33. You beat me to it. Mmm! It's smooth and smokey. n/t

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. And do you mean Whisky, as in Scotch, or Whiskey, as in American

Bourbon and that other thing which, dammit, I can't remember...

[Atlas Mugged]

17. Huh?

Uh, since I don't drink I also don't pay too much attention to the stuff. I'm limited to asking the store clerk to "Gimme a bottle of the brown stuff".

Now, I USED to drink, but it was wine and I can still hold my own in a discussion on it. But, since I lived in the French Quarter for 20 years I out-grew it. Well, I got sick of hangovers, to be sure, but I started noticing friends of mine who had been living in the Quarter and drinking for 40 years, and I simply quit. No AA or anything, just change of lifestyle.

But I never knew much about bourbons, whiskeys and gins to begin with. Except that my dad drinks the "brown stuff" and I'm pretty certain that it's whiskey. Of some kind or other.

[GirlinContempt]

19. rye, canadian whiskey

[Deep13]

41. The basics: Whisky/ey 101

Spelling: It's with an "e" when refering to American varieties, everywhere else it is without an "e".

Whiskey is a distilled grain alcohol that is different from vodka or moonshine in that it is aged in wooden barrels for a number of years. Unlike wine, whiskey is aged for only as long as it is encased in wood. Once it is bottled, the aging stops. That's why it is refered to being X years only and not a specific date. The type of grain and the method of aging determining the type of whiskey. Whiskey was invented in Ireland and means "water of life" in some Gaellic language.

SCOTCH is made exclusively in Scotland out of malt and other European grains. Scotch must be aged at least 3 years in barrels that have been previously used for Bourbon or Sherry. Blended Scotch is made from a variety of sources to produce a specific taste. Single malt Scotch is made from malt only and is made by a specific distillery. Single malt Scotch is characterized by the region of Scotland in which it was made: Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Islands or Island of Skye. Scotch aged by the sea often has a salty undertaste. Malt dried on peat fires have an ashy, peaty taste.

BOURBON is made in America primarily from maize corn. It is aged in new, charred barrels which give it a woody taste and dark color. Straight corn Bourbon is made mostly from corn. Adding molasses makes it sweet.

TENNESSEE WHISKEY is essentially Bourbon that has been charcol filtered to make it mild-tasting. All Tennessee Whiskey comes from, you guessed it, Tenn.

IRISH WHISKY comes from--anyone?--yep, Ireland. It is said to be vatted rather than barrelled and is supposed to be milder than the Scottish variety. Beyond that I don't know much about it.

CANADIAN WHISKY is essentially a mixture of something very much like Scotch and nuetral grain alcohol similar to vodka. It is mostly for mixed drinks.

BLENDED AMERICAN WHISKEY is made from a variety of different grains including rye. You can usually find it on the bottom shelf for $3 a quart.

[Atlas Mugged]

44. Thanks!

Very helpful. As are all the suggestions on this thread. I have quite a list to go with, and it should be a fun shopping trip.

[TX-RAT]

55. I'm impressed.

Most think theres only one spelling, i've corrected people many times on this.

If you've been drinking whisky as long as i have, you learn a few thing along the way.

By the way, I'm a fan of Canadian whisky, re- Crown Royal. Even had a chance to go through the Distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, while on a fishing trip.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. Macallan 18

[bertha katzenengel]

27. Oh, Vash...

:hug: That's Mrs. V.'s favorite brand of turpent-- I mean, fine liquor. :hi:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

32. Mmm... I haven't had it in so long....

:drools: :hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

38. when we have our long-postponed party, I'll be sure to

pour you 2 or 3 fingers. Surreptitiously, of course. ;)

[Snarf]

14. The Balvenie

Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. About $35 at Trader Joes.
Very nice:)

[Taverner]

22. What kind of whiskey?

Scotch? Irish? Bourbon?

If it's bourbon Maker's Mark or Knob Creek is always good, if it's Scotch Glenfiddich has never steered me wrong. Glenlivet is good too...

[Felix Mala]

23. Geo. W. Dickel, "Special" Barrel Reserve

For bourbon drinkers...

[WCGreen]

24. That stuff is sweet....

I haven;t had a drop in 22 years...

I can still taste it...

[Deep13]

37. Hate the sweet stuff.

In college I drank Southern Comfort. Now I can't stand the stuff.

[WCGreen]

40. I meant sweet as in good......

[Deep13]

42. Ah, I'm not up on my fashionable lingo.

Is it phat and stoopid?
:evilgrin:

[WCGreen]

47. Nah, it's just something I say... Like that car is sweet.....

[Initech]

25. Makers' Mark Reserve

[China_cat]

30. Agreed.

I sent a bottle of that to a good friend stationed (oil business) in Oman. He loves me now...in spite of his wife and 2 kids. And my husband.:evilgrin:

[MN ChimpH8R]

34. Lotsa good ones out there

Scotch:
Laphroaig (very smoky and dark - the kind of whisky that tastes you back)
Glenmorangie
Royal Lochnagar
Macallan 18 year old (or the 25 if you want to spend $$$)

Irish:
Black Bush single malt

Bourbon:
Booker's
Maker's Mark
Old Grand Dad 100 proof (one of my faves)
Knob Creek

[no name no slogan]

35. Love the Laphroaig

One of my all-time favorites. Almost peat-y in flavor, but with a nice finish.

[anarch]

39. I'll second that

[Deep13]

36. Who is it for?

How much whiskey experience does the recipient have?

Very little:
Belverie Double Wood, smooth as silk with no ashy taste. It is called Double wood because it is aged for 6 years each in two different kinds of barrels.

Among blended Scotch, the favorites seem to be Johnnie Walker Black or Chivas Regal (Ted Kennedy's favorite).

Enough:
Glen Levitt 18 is very smooth.
Oban is a bit more ashy.

Expert:
The preference among real connesuiers seems to be for Isle of Skye whisky, of which there is one variety: Talisker.

For those that prefer Bourbon like real Americans :eyes: the choice seems to be between Maker's Mark or Wild Turkey. Bourbon from one source is straight Bourbon, as opposed to single malt which is Scotch or single vat for Irish whisky.

Whiskey should be consumed neat or with spring water or ice. If you are going to ruin it with something sweet, stick to the commercial grade stuff like J&B or Cutty Sark.

[Atlas Mugged]

45. A lot of experience

My dad appreciates the good stuff, and makes a big deal out of "recreational" whiskey and "time to savor" whiskey.

Great suggestions!

[maveric]

43. Go Canadian. Crown Royal!

Very smooth and tasty.

[Atlas Mugged]

46. He always has that on hand

Along with many other brands and types. He's really into it and I'm clueless. But I'm learning a lot from this thread.

[TX-RAT]

54. My personal favorite.

[Rabrrrrrr]

48. I also suggest Woodford Reserve, and see they just released a new one

http://www.woodfordreserve.com/bottlings.asp

A higher quality.

Woodford Reserve is bar none my favorite Bourbon - better even then Maker's Mark or Books, etc. love it!

Now I want a bottle of this stuff!!!

[kwassa]

49. Corn liquor

Some of the in-laws bring it to family parties, usually in a tupperware-like jug full of clear liquid with a distinct corn smell to it. Usually drunk in fashionable styrofoam cups. It can be pretty expensive to purchase. I believe it might be manufactured without paying proper tax revenues to the Federal government.

Part of the ritual is to drink it out back with the boys. One of those bonding things.

[Atlas Mugged]

52. Corn Likker is a scam

It's just a way for hillbillies to sell worthless Coon Hounds as "guide dawgs" after you go blind from drinking the stuff. The good news is that the hillbilly who sold you the stuff is obligated, by Mountain Law, to keep you supplied in it after you go blind, free of charge, until you expire. Drinking the stuff steadily for 3 weeks should do it. The bad news is that your new "guide dawg" is hooked on the stuff too, so, your new hell-on-earth may last longer than you may wish.

[seemunkee]

50. Georgia Moon

[Magrittes Pipe]

56. You want something unique? Try Michter's.

[pokerfan]

58. Yellowstone

[EstimatedProphet]

59. Go here:

http://www.hitimewine.com

Look up Knappogue Castle, Rowan's Creek, Bulleitt, or Baker's-I'd say Rowan's Creek is my favorite for sipping.