Wine & liquor reviews

[nachtjaeger]

Hey, gang!

I'm not a big drinker, but since we were completely out of alcohol I made a liquor store run a couple of weeks ago. Here are the highlights:

"Cidre" (hard cider) from Stella Artois: Don't waste your money. Tastes like- club soda, mostly. Not enough flavor to say so. But better than Woodchuck hard cider, which I found completely nasty and undrinkable a few years ago.

"Red Stag hardcore cider" (apple-infused bourbon) by Jim Beam: Wow! Never been a whiskey fan, but this stuff is actually tasty straight. Bought a little sample bottle last trip, got a regular one this time. Warning! Mixing it with quality apple juice (like Apple & Eve) produces a drink so delicious it's tough to resist. (Mixing root beer and root beer Schnapps, OTOH, produces something that tastes like diesel fuel.)

"Gosling's 'Black Seal' Bermuda black rum": Always keep some rum in the house for Rum & Cokes. Since I'm on a Pirate kick at present, I decided to try this stuff. Black rum, bottom shelf- thought it would be appropriately harsh. Wrong. This stuff is smoother than Bacardi, and you can taste just a hint of molasses/brown sugar. Excellent straight or as Grog. Haven't tried it with Coke yet.

"Barefoot" brand Moscato. Finally, a white wine I really enjoy. FYI Moscato is SWEET!! Makes even Bully Hill's "Sweet Walter White" seem dry and funky tasting by comparison. So smooth straight, and makes a perfect spritzer with dry ginger ale. We drank up the Barefoot- when the Sweet Walter is gone, will open up a bottle of "Rex Goliath" brand Moscato- a little cheaper than Barefoot. Will let folks know how that is.

Also pending review are samples of Jagermeister and Bombay Sapphire gin. I've actually had Jaegermeister before- I just don't remember how it tastes- or anything else that happened afterward.

[kham]

Scotch, is to qualify, an acquired taste; even good scotch, you either get to like it or don't, there isn't a lot of middle ground there

Currently having some Teachers, which is a not bad for blended scotch brand; goes well with ice alone. Reasonable price, you dont have to lose an arm for good stuff which is one conceit of many brands.

Oh, and can't have enough Dr Bombay in the summer Great for sipping in the shade with lots of ice and tonic water, limes, while you can wonder what the poor people doing....
Caution, fizzy tonic and the limes can make drain faster than might normally, resulting in sleep which why shade best, avoids sunburn.....

[Mynock]

That Red Stag stuff sounds good, might have to try that.
I always keep the staples around. Right now I have Jack, Beam, Morgan, Goose and Cuervo. Also a bottle of gasoline that someone strained through a bale of peat moss and poured into a bottle labeled "Jameson", although how that got in there I don't know.
When I'm in the mood for something sweet I go for the Cinnamon infused Whiskey. Fireball isn't bad, Yukon Jack Wicked Hot is AWESOME.

[kham]

As Lex always said, Guinness for Strength! Jameson's for Courage!

[nachtjaeger]

Don't know if you've ever read the "Glencannon" stories or not. They're about Colin Glencannon, the devious, drunken Chief Engineer aboard the freighter Inchcliffe Castle. His favorite drink- "Duggan's Dew of Kirkintilloch" actually exists! Tried a sample bottle once, and it is my favorite Scotch (with the exception of some single malt I tried once.) http://duggansdist.com/products.html

Scotch, is to qualify, an acquired taste; even good scotch, you either get to like it or don't, there isn't a lot of middle ground there

Currently having some Teachers, which is a not bad for blended scotch brand; goes well with ice alone. Reasonable price, you dont have to lose an arm for good stuff which is one conceit of many brands.

Oh, and can't have enough Dr Bombay in the summer Great for sipping in the shade with lots of ice and tonic water, limes, while you can wonder what the poor people doing....
Caution, fizzy tonic and the limes can make drain faster than might normally, resulting in sleep which why shade best, avoids sunburn.....

[Lomax]

Hey, gang!

I'm not a big drinker, but since we were completely out of alcohol I made a liquor store run a couple of weeks ago. Here are the highlights:

"Cidre" (hard cider) from Stella Artois: Don't waste your money. Tastes like- club soda, mostly. Not enough flavor to say so. But better than Woodchuck hard cider, which I found completely nasty and undrinkable a few years ago.

It's French. You have only yourself to blame. True, the French are talented in some areas, but cider isn't one of them. You have to go to Somerset.

"Red Stag hardcore cider" (apple-infused bourbon) by Jim Beam: Wow! Never been a whiskey fan, but this stuff is actually tasty straight. Bought a [little sample bottle last trip, got a regular one this time. Warning! Mixing it with quality apple juice (like Apple & Eve) produces a drink so delicious it's tough to resist. (Mixing root beer and root beer Schnapps, OTOH, produces something that tastes like diesel fuel.)

Oh dear. Putting mixers in whisky (or indeed whiskey - and note that whisky and whiskey are two different drinks) is just wrong. I admit that I did it when I was a teenager, but I've grown up since then. It's worse than adding ice, which is in itself a crime against civilisation.

[Lomax]

Currently having some Teachers, which is a not bad for blended scotch brand;

Er, yes it is. It's drinkable, but ... You want a decent blended? Famous Grouse is the best. Bells and the various Johnny Walkers are also good.

goes well with ice alone.

You mean Canadians commit this sacriledge as well? Oh no...

The Macallan. Eighteen-year-old if your wallet can stand it. Ten-year-old otherwise. To be drunk neat, with no ice in the room, and no mixers within a fifty yard exclusion zone.

[kham]

Sonny, drink your drink your way. Don't turn this into a Castle episode....

Grouse is nice, never had a bad one of either kind. More expensive stuff can be hard on bank, especially for someone just wanting to try it. Better if you know someone and can cage a glass before getting a whole bottle you might not like and just wasting.

[Mynock]

I hate watered down drinks. Fortunately ice is irrelevant.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/1b4e/?srp=3

[nachtjaeger]

So, a guy walks into a bar and orders Scotch. When it arrives, he closes his eyes, holds his nose, and takes a drink. After a few more times, the guy sitting next to him says "Hey, buddy, if you hate Scotch so much, why do you order it?" "Oh, no," the guy says, "I love Scotch- but if I see it or smell it, my mouth waters- and that dilutes the wonderful stuff!"

I hate watered down drinks. Fortunately ice is irrelevant.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/1b4e/?srp=3