So the Mrs. has a recipe for "Irish Onion Soup" I'm dying to try... It calls for some hooch, preferably Irish whiskey, in keeping true to theme. I figure since the soup only needs a few tablespoons, I should get something I'll enjoy sipping later. Being a Scotch man, this choice is out of my depth, but I know my Buckeye brothers, being aficionados of the finer things in life, could offer some suggestions.
So, what say you, gentlemen?
I don't always drink Irish whiskey, but when I do I prefer Jameson.
That reminds me...have to shop. Less than a month to go.
"Success - it's what you do with what you got" - Woody Hayes
I like Redbreast myself (and it won't break the bank).
"You have to slay the selfish beast inside of you and be your brother's keeper" - Chris Spielman, on being a great teammate
+1 Wish.I.Could.Upvote.You.More.Then.Once!
Redbreast is great and it's made by the same distillery that makes Jameson. I am a big Jame-o fan, but I think Redbreast beats any Jameson until you get to Jame-o 18.
Have you ever tried Oban scotch?
I've had Oban 14yr. One of my favorites. Very smooth finish with a hint of smoke. Sadly, I have yet to try the 18yr.
Although not a scotch, is the Redbreast similar?
I've been dying to try the Oban, because I've heard lots of good things. Haven't tipped one yet, but after tasting the Redbreast 15-year, I'd say that the biggest difference between the Irish and the Scotch is the lack of smokiness in the Irish compared to my Macallan.
Very smooth though, and a nice touch on the palate.
You should definitely give Oban a try. It is definitely best served neat and at room temperature (i.e., this coming from someone who "shamefully" uses a small ice cube in some single malts on occasion).
It's been awhile since I've had a glass of the Macallan 18yr, but both are extremely easy to drink. I would say Oban 14yr has a comparable amount of smoke, if not more, while the M18 has a very mild "sweetness" due to its maturation the sherry cask (if I recall correctly; only had 3 glasses of 18yr). In fact, Oban is so easy to drink, it is the only scotch in my cabinet that my wife thinks is "not that bad":-)
Damn, now I want some Macallan 18yr.
If you dig Macallan and Oban, Highland Park's 12 year is well worth a try. It's got that smoky, briny character that belies its Highland roots (specifically, West Highland; even though the distillery's located in the Orkneys), but retains its balance much like Oban. The real fun part, though, is that it's finished in Oloroso Sherry casks, just like Macallan, lending it a distinct sweetness on the finish. Their 18 is fantastic, as well, and has been frequently regarded as one of the best whiskies out there. Personally, I'd never drop $110 on it, but it's very good--the 12 year's a bit more rugged, and I really dig that.
Your shameful admission leads to another question/discussion: the appropriate way(s) to enjoy a fine Scotch or other whiskey... Neat (my personal preference), with a splash of water or something else, with a cube of ice or two... I've read many, many different variations on why you should or shouldn't do one or more of the above, but I'd love to hear the opinions of the commentariat on this question...
Neat, or with a splash of purified water. Granted, some people say you really need it straight from the distillery's source, but that's a wee bit over-the-top for me.
For me, it just depends on the whiskey. My girlfriend calls me a pussy for taking a lot of my scotch with a few drops of water, but it's all about what you like. I've read that the water helps release the essential oils that the scotch absorbs from the ageing in the barrel.
I'm generally always drinking it neat, but I'd heard the notion about a splash of water so many times that I wondered if there was anything to it or not.
And, I need to meet this girlfriend... Into bacon-wrapped rabbit and calls you a pussy for not drinking you Scotch neat... She sounds a lot like the perfect woman.
Hodge has it right based on what I've experienced/read/learned. I.e., a single malt is usually best enjoyed neat or a few drops of purified water (for the reasons given above).
With regard to ice, people more knowledgeable than me believe single malts usually should not be taken on the rocks because i) the ice can numb your taste buds/tongue, ii) ice cubes are typically not purified and tap water can impart its own mineral/chemical characteristics into the tasting of the whisky, and iii) melted ice dilutes the whisky *too* much.
Take that for what it's worth. I typically drink my scotch neat because it is simply the easiest way to do so and I can be lazy at times. Although I can tell a slight difference if I put a couple of drops of water to "open" up the scotch, my taste is not refined enough for me to make it a habit or worth the trouble. I will use a small cube of ice on occasion, but it depends on the taste/type of scotch I am drinking. However, the practical side in me will demand to drink the scotch neat if it is of respectable age (see also: please no A1 sauce on Kobe steak).
Edit: Hodge's girlfriend sounds like a keeper. She would probably laugh and think Oban goes down like warm milk based on my wife's "favorable review" of the scotch. Also, I *wholeheartedly* agree. Highland Park 12yr. is as good as any 12yr. whisky out there. A fine scotch.
You just unearthed one of my biggest pet peeves: sauces on steaks. I'm not talking about a steak Diane or something classic like that, but when you go to a steak joint and they ask "do you want A1?" My response: "Not if the chef did his job right."
It's like ketchup on eggs: wrong, wrong, wrong. If you don't like the thing you're eating, don't order it.
I can only speak for my world, but in my world if you put mayonnaise on a burger, ketchup on a hot dog, any sauce on a steak or, Lord help you, cheese on a peanut butter and jelly, then you, sir, were poorly raised and are a barely functional member of society.
+1 Guys, good conversation I've been missing out on here! I haven't had Oban 18 yet either. The Oban 14 is probably my favorite Scotch under $100. I've had Johnny Blue and it is really good, but It's not 3 x Oban good. I do like Macallan's as well. I can't remember the one it was off the top of my head, but we bought a bottle before the '04 Mirror Lake Jump. The one we got we too smokie for everyone so I ended up drinking most of it before taking the plunge and heading over to the Stubb sopping wet. Good times!
I'd suggest Tullamore Dew if you are cooking with it, the idea is you want to cook out the booze and keep in the taste-Dew is much smoother and has less of the whiskey after taste in my humble opinion than Jameson. Now I do like the after taste Jameson provides but I have cooked with it in the past and prefer Tullamore. If you are looking to enjoy a sip or two after the meal, however, Jameson's 12 year is an excellent bang for your buck spirit. Very enjoyable in a glass with a few cubes and not so pricey you'll cry for cooking with it.
Regardless, just don't cook with or buy that piss water Bushmills.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
You're nuts. Bush Mills is great.
Great is a funny way of spelling "Piss Water".
All insults aside, I won't think less of a man for enjoying a beverage I choose not to. Differing tastes for different folks.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
Jimmy McNulty disagrees.
Taquitos.
If you're cooking with it, Tullamore is probably the perfect match of taste and price. There's no point of throwing even a few tablespoons of something great into a soup.
For drinking, the Tyrconnell Madiera Cask is a great sippin' whiskey.
Taquitos.
Redbreast potently smooth.
I don't know if I'd suggest cooking with it but you might try Connemara, which is peated like Islay. Sounds like it might be right up your alley.
Otherwise, BrewstersMillions has outlined things nicely for you. Tullamore Dew is very nice and so is the Jameson 12 year...however, I will drink your run of the mill Jameson without complaint.
Bush Mills
Jameson 12 year all day every day
If Denard Robinson isn't careful with spooning all that food into his mouth, he's going to end up lookin' like Whoopi Goldberg
Jameson is a no brainer
D. Anthony
In my opinion, Midleton Very Rare is the best Irish whiskey by far. I tried them all when I lived over there, and every time, it was my favorite. The only problem is it is expensive, so probably shouldn't be used for cooking. So I recommend you follow Brewstersmillions' recommendation since he put some thought into the cooking aspect, and buy some Midleton's for the drinking aspect.
I usually drink Jamesons but will sometimes buy Powers since it is a decent drink at a good price. Powers is the #1 seller in Ireland. BushMills? God awful stuff. The Borgias would do better.
I do enjoy Crested Ten whenever I'm in Ireland. It is a Jamesons product. For the cooking I'd use Powers.
This is 'MERICA.........we drink Bourbon here!
"Because I couldn't go for 3"
rye
drink some woodford reserve as you read this...prepping for a huge bball game tonight.
Had some Woodford Reserve a couple of weeks ago, and it was yummy. Knob Creek is okay, but WR is a better bet in my mind.
Four Roses... soo good.
Nothing like dancing on the field in 02...
Had some of that. It was good, but I wanted it a bit darker. Four roses was too light for me. Smooth stuff though. Ever had eagle rare? I liked that.
Last May I was in Lexington for a conference and toured both Four Roses and Woodford - great tours in both cases, and something I'd do again if I'm ever in the area.
Andyvance, sounds like a great trip to take. I'm going to try and take a visit to Buffalo Trace. I really want to go to Makers Mark. The distillery is beautiful. It's not my favorite bourbon really, but I've never heard anyone say they had a bad time when visiting that distillery. I wouldn't mind checking out Russell's either.
BT, my folks did the Bourbon Trail a few summers back and really enjoyed it. My Dad is a Beam guy, if that tells ya anything. They went to Makers and got to dip a bottle themselves. It was smaller than a fifth, but still pretty cool. Dad gave me the bottle. I haven't opened it yet, I don't want to ruin the wax job. Plus, I'm more of a beer drinker with the occasional trip down tequila alley.
I became a makers "ambassador" a few years ago and have wanted to go to the Distillery for a long time. I don't love Makers, but I do think their marketing is genius. They make a lot of special bottles in small runs that become collectors bottles that everyone must have. They made 9,000 Maker's 46 bottles last year that they dipped in blue and white wax and sold them all in about 4 hours. Pretty easy way to sell a bunch of bourbon in no time flat.
I like the different events. They used to sponsor a day called Red Heads and Thoroughbreds at Keeneland. If you were an Ambassador you could attend in their party area. They had commemorative bottles for the event and sponsored the Maker's Mark Mile stakes race. That weekend they also had a huge party at the distillery. They do a candle lit tour of the place Christmas time too.
Definitely not the best bourbon out there, but they really do make things cool for their customers. They have pulled out of a lot of that since Bill Samuels retired though. They no longer have any affiliation with Turfway and the lane's End Stakes so they don't do the Reds' bottles they used to come out with every year.
I'd really like to go see their distillery, everyone who goes loves it.
I bought one of the bottles of Four Roses Single Barrel and it's delicioius. They have 10 different single barrel offerings. 2 different mashbills and 5 strains of yeast. They combine them all to come up with all the offerings. It's good stuff.
I was at Cork N Bottle here in NKY and talked to a guy who actually goes to the distilleries and samples, then selects barrels only bottled for their store and he suggested I sample (yes he gave me samples) of their single barrel offerings specific to the store. He game me a sample of Weller(great stuff), Eagle Rare(very good) and my personal Favorite, Elmer T Lee. If you can get your hands on Elmer T Lee single barrel, do it, you won't be sorry.
If you can find the Weller 12 year, absolutely get it. It's similar to Pappy Van Winkle 20 year. Now, it can't be mistaken for Pappy, but it's not a bad, 25-30 dollar alternative. I believe, it has the same mashbill(not 100% sure) and they use the same barrels that they put Pappy in. In the mouth it feels much thinner I guess, more watery than Pappy, but it's a great bourbon. I know around here, it doesn't last in the big stores like Party Source and Cork N Bottle very long, but you can probably find it in some of the smaller corner stores.
When I was at Four Roses, they were working on a special bottling from a chocolate rye-based mash... It sounded really, really intriguing, but of course won't be ready for primetime until something like 2019, I think. Help me remember to look for it then, will you?
I'm glad you two had this conversation... I feel so much better versed in bourbon. If you ever get to The Senate in OTR the bartenders make a killer sazerac.
Nothing like dancing on the field in 02...
OKBB in Mainstrausse has Sazerac. A buddy of mine had a pour of that and I tried it. It was pretty good. I liked the Russell's a lot too.
So, are we talking about Sazerac the drink, Sazerac the whisky, Sazerac the movie, or Sazerac the flamethrower?
The bourbon drink... Went to Eddie Merlot's lastnight. I wont be getting another one of those there. She said he knew how to make one but I should have stuck with the Makers 46.
Nothing like dancing on the field in 02...
Technically, the Sazerac should be made with Rye Whiskey, simple syrup, Absinthe, and Peychaud's Bitters.
Gotcha. I think the second poster was referencing a brand of bourbon that is also named Sazerac. I assume it is named for the drink.
In any case, I feel shamed that I have never actually had a Sazerac although I am an avid bourbon drinker. If its going to mixed, I normally go with a Manhattan. I will also have a Presbyterian when its warm outside. It is refreshing if you ever try one: equal parts bourbon, club soda, and ginger ale.
My two main whiskey drinks of late have been the Rattlesnake and the Kentucky Mule.
I've also heard tell of a "Rattlesnake Fizz", which is basically a rattlesnake with Ginger Beer. It's on my to do list. On a side note, does anyone know where to score a bottle of Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof Bottled in Bond?
I actually was referring to the Rye Whiskey, not the drink. My mistake I was cornfused lol. I'll have to try the drink next time as well!
Have been calling some PVW distributors in the NKY area - asking "will you be getting any in the Spring?" - it's as if I were asking for the keys to the nuclear launch codes.....Now I'm on a mission to score some of this stuff - damn you BT!
Good Luck! If you haven't tried it but would like to, go to the Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar in MainStrausse. The last time I was there he was out of the 15 year, but you can get the 20 and 23. I didn't try the 23 simply because everything I've seen says the 20 is the best and the 15 is pretty darn good too. Be warned, though, the 20 year is 25 bucks for a pour. It's well worth it if you want to get a taste though. Plus, 25 is cheaper than 200 the bottle will probably cost you.
Try Jungle Jims too. I emailed them and the girl gave me the number for their liquor buyers for both stores. I can't find the contact info now in my email I must of deleted it by mistake. If they do a spring release this year it should be coming soon.
Four Roses, Single Barrel. 100 proof. Oof.
Keep Calm and Ignore the Trolls.
Feckin is ok for a sub $20 bottle. Can't go wrong with Jameson.
I was scrolling through the comments, hoping no one would mention Feckin, so that I could be the first. Alas, I was about 5.5 hours late. If I had an upvote to hand out to you, Jelligrim, I would.
All taste aside, Feckin may be the best option, purely for the fun of saying you're using some "Feckin Irish Whisky" in an Irish accent.
"This is a very complicated case: a lot of ins, lot of outs, lot of what-have-yous."
These aren't all whiskey's per-say, but If you are looking for something very Irish try Wild Irish Rose or O'Douls or maybe even Bailey's Irish cream...again these are very very Irish.
D. Anthony
Hmm, Bailey's Irish cream Onion Soup. Yeah, I don't think I'm down with trying that. Best to keep that to the side on the rocks I think. lol.
I prefer my Bailey's as ice cream, works great in the summer!
All the games of the season are just practices for that glorious saturday in November when we get to jack Shoelace's invisible cereal bowl and drink our fill of delicious skunkweasel tears ...Michigan Still Sucks!!
i freaking love this website, were talking about quality booz now?
J--I--M--P
You would be fine with either Jameson or Tullamore Dew as Brewster's has pointed out. Personally I drink Jameson more frequently and save the Bottle of Tullamore for more special instances of drinking as it's a little more expensive. Have had success with Jameson in Corned Beef in years past so it likely would work quite well for the onion soup.
All the games of the season are just practices for that glorious saturday in November when we get to jack Shoelace's invisible cereal bowl and drink our fill of delicious skunkweasel tears ...Michigan Still Sucks!!
While we're talking booze cooking, using Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey to saute mushrooms is AMAZING!
All the games of the season are just practices for that glorious saturday in November when we get to jack Shoelace's invisible cereal bowl and drink our fill of delicious skunkweasel tears ...Michigan Still Sucks!!
Okay, here's the verdict: After reading the first half-dozen suggestions, I found myself at the Blacklick Wine & Hooch scanning the shelves. I recalled having read about Redbreast somewhere before, and decided a bottle of the 15-year was the perfect Anniversary present to myself.
Forbes listed this as one of their "10 Must-drink Irish Whiskeys," and my first blush is that it's pretty darn good. Smooth, and while I won't make an ass of myself by attempting to sound like I'm writing actual tasting notes, I'll say that it compares favorably to the 10- and 12-year Macallan (did I mention that I'm a Scotch man), though it's nowhere near the quality of the 18-year I prefer (this is logical, of course, considering the obscene price of the 18).
I'm definitely looking forward to trying some of the other bottles recommended above - thanks gents!
Thanks for the link. I was happy to find that my pick made the cut. I also took note that 6 of the 10 must-drink Irish Whiskeys were distilled by Midleton. I guess it is safe to say they know what they are doing.
Another vote for Tullamore Dew
Jameson
Battles are sometimes won by generals; wars are nearly always won by sergeants and privates. Football is no different, the guys down in the trenches win the games, not the coach.
Last time my wife used my whisky was for apple pie filling. She used all my Crown (I was pissed), but the pie tastes pretty damn good.
Everyone makes mistakes so I hope you took the opportunity to use this as a teaching lesson. My father in law taught me to never use Crown for anything other than sipping. He said there too many fools in this world mixing it with cola and serving it with ice and they will never gain a true appreciation. He also taught me to Bogart the Cask 16 and XR and always carry a lesser Seagrams VO Gold for when your buddies come over.
NEVER try the crown with maple. It's like drinking pancakes or waffles that are drowned in maple syrup. I was expecting like just a hint of the maple. I tried it at the bar and one of my friends is like what the hell smells like breakfast? It's horrible. I was very disappointed.
Yep, learned from this one. I keep my good stuff separated now. I agree with you, Jelli, that sipping it straight is the only way to go.
I wrote down all the above suggestions, but I am still waiting for Hodge to weigh in.
Hodge was last seen at a local Irish pub, under a table with several empty bottles of Irish Whiskey on top......something about a taste test for 11W
Me too! I thought for sure my favorite man-about-town would have this covered :)
Buckeye Stu beat me to it, Connemara is my pick. It's worth noting that it is expensive and smoked to all hell, like an Islay Scotch (this is due to the barley being malted over peat smoke); but it's delicious when sipped straight. Just a little bit should make for a fantastic smoky addition to your soup!
Quite frankly, I haven't drank a lot of Irish Whiskey, but from what I've had, Connemara (and their 18 year expression) are simply without equal. Red Breast is definitely a step up from the standard Jameson and Feckin (have not tried Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, or Powers), but my tastes definitely trend toward the smokier side. So, if you're aiming for a more "traditional" tipple, Red Breast would be my recommendation.
Also, there's a place in Powell (north of Columbus, still a 'burb) called Gooseneck Tavern. They make a Seven Onion Soup with Guinness as the base. In that spirit, half stout, half stock, with a dash of Connemara should make for a pretty exceptional soup. Hell, you could even top it with some Kerrygold Dubliner cheese. Hope this helps, and good eats (and drinks) to you!
Thanks for the recommendations, Professor! I knew you'd have some valuable insight. The Red Breast 15-year is pretty good, from my first impression.
I'm definitely going to try the Gooseneck at some point; I'm in Reynoldsburg, so Powell isn't that far out of the way. The soup recipe my wife found sounds similar - a splash of the whiskey when carmelizing the onions, a cup of Guinness as the base, and topped with the cheese...
I didn't have any Kerrygold on hand (one of my absolute favorite cheeses - hell, we could probably start a cheese thread, as well as these booze threads have been going) and my wife had the Sam's card tucked away in her purse when I went on my booze-shopping spree yesterday, so I had to settle for some Tillamook Aged White Cheddar instead.
Made for a helluva soup!
excuse me hodges, i didnt beat you to anything, i dont even drink, i quit alcohol over 14 years ago, and when i use to drink, i was a bourbon man. oh i am not on a crusade against drinking either, i just decided it was time i quit drinking. i miss the taste of fine bourbon too, i really do.
Mistake on my part, I meant OSU STU.
That's a perfectly respectable decision, to quit drinking. I admire your willpower, haha.
went on a whiskey binge unlike any i had ever went on, was sick for 2 weeks, and once i felt better, i decided i had gone for over two weeks without alcohol while getting over being sick from that great binge. i figured hey why not see how long i can keep from drinking, and so far it has been over 14 years. willpower to not drink is fueled by the memory of how sick i got from my last whiskey binge. jim morrison would have been proud of me.
I feel like Ron Swanson would approve mightily of this post.
"Anything easy ain't worth a damn." - Wayne Woodrow Hayes
Many moons ago, I considered myself a purveyor of fine whiskey & bourbon. Turned out I liked the stuff maybe too much...at least that's what my first wife, who is also my second wife would always tell me. Anyways, I was a simple man: Jameson & Jim Beam Rye were my poisons of choice...
The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.
I work at an irish brewpub and restaurant, and for cooking I wouldn't go with anything but the Jameson 12 year. There's really no point pouring anything else into food. Mostly because, it essentially turns out the same when its cooked with, but you're also saving a lot of money. And to top it off it alone is still a very good whiskey. And if were getting into beers you should try smithwicks. A very good irish brew. But dont you dare calling it smithwicks. Its SMITTICKS. SOME PEOPLE WILL TURN YOU DOWN FOR SUCH BLASPHEMY
Your admonition about the pronunciation of one of my favorite beers cracks me up - I'm glad a friend introduced the brew to me before I ever saw it in print, or I might have been just such a blasphemer!
Whilst on my whiskey-buying junket yesterday, I picked up a six-pack of Smithwicks and six of Guinness so I could enjoy a fine Irish Blacksmith, one of my favorite drinks.
Actually a favorite of mine. When I get off work I just make a little extra of our shepherds pie by accident and wash it down with an irish blacksmith. When im rich enough to afford it, that is.
I remembered this thread after seeing somebody I know posted on Facebook that he was heading to Pensacola, FL for the weekend. It reminded me of this thread.
One of my favorite Irish Pub's anywhere http://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/index.php
People are saying that I'm an alcoholic, and that's not true, because I only drink when I work, and I'm a workaholic.
Ron White