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***NWoBHM*** · 03-08-2011, 05:02 AM

Quote:One of my cohorts at Lear just returned from Basil, Switzerland

Interesting seeing the spelling of Basil (Basel) This City is mostly pronounced "Barhzil" these days I notice, but when I was younger it always used to be "Barl".

Then again Colin Powell used to be Colin, until he became Coelin...

***Mufasa*** · 03-08-2011, 04:58 PM

Very close NWo - $22.00

***NWoBHM*** · 03-08-2011, 05:52 PM

Hi Mufasa,

I reckon your mate did pretty well at $22, despite how stupid that sounds!

Best wishes Mate,

Tim

***NWoBHM*** · 03-13-2011, 04:30 PM

I read today something which answered a question I had been puzzled about - why whisky is spelt whiskey and whisky - apparently the Scots go for Whisky, the Irish whiskey.......never knew until today!

***Boomer*** · 03-13-2011, 07:47 PM

Tried out some Jamesons 12 year Reserve Irish Whiskey.

This is never to be confused with Scotch Whisky. EVER. Its ok, but I was hoping for something a LITTLE smoother than say - Everclear. I might consider this as a mixer rather than straight up.

***Mufasa*** · 03-14-2011, 05:26 PM

I could never stomach it Boomer - tastes too much like... well.... Irish whiskey I suppose?

***NWoBHM*** · (This post was last modified: 04-02-2011 03:26 AM by NWoBHM.)

Friday nights over here there is a really lite TV programme called "An Island Parish", which follows the real life and times of three Catholic Fathers, one of whom is based on Barra in the outer Hebrides......stunningly beautiful looking place......

Tonight they were talking about the author Compton Mackenzie, who wrote "Whisky Galore", a story based on the true loss of a ship, "The Politician", at Barra in the 40`s, which was carrying Whisky.

From all accounts the islanders "rescued" the Scotch from a potentially watery grave and then set about hiding the stash from Revenue and Customs officials, who either wanted it back, or duty paid on it.

The Father on Barra visited the local pub, (also called The Politician) where they still have bottles from that "salvage".

Pretty amazing....

SpaceCadet · (This post was last modified: 04-03-2011 05:38 PM by SpaceCadet.)

I'd done some Scotch tastings back in my cigar days (which would be the '90s, mostly,) and never got the bug until an indirect referral from some percussionist dude in a book prompted a second look.

Almost immediately I latched onto the heavily peat-laden brews of Islay, and after a few years' shake-out, Lagavulin 16 has emerged as the clear malt of choice. When I'm looking for something a little lighter (not to mention cheaper,) I go with Ardbeg 10 or Caol Ila 12; when I'm feeling rambunctious and/or want to clear my sinuses, it's Laphroaig Quarter Cask, all the way.

A coupla months ago I sprung for a bottle of JD because it came with some nifty glasses and I'd just broken a couple (I wrote the book on Klutz, folks,) and it's none too shabby. More research needed on that though.

Cheers! Kampai! 'S a lawn chair!
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***Boomer*** · 04-03-2011, 05:14 PM

Great stuff SC!

A coworker of mine has firmly latched onto LaPhroiag....and in fact she has been trying to get me to try it. Not that I don't want to but some tastings take time, and spending $60 on a whole bottle is a little spendy for a habit of this nature.

I am more into the Highlands malts. They seem to have a much cleaner taste IMHO, but thats the neat thing about scotch - whatever blows your hair back! Its all good and I certainly dont mind the Islays at all. One group I have not tried yet are the Speysides, and those are a little harder to come by.

There is a Whisky Convention in Chicago April 15th - funny. Thats about 3 days after the boys are in town.

SpaceCadet · 04-03-2011, 05:46 PM

Laphroaig is pretty gnarly stuff - all the subtlety of a bulldozer - but when I'm in the mood... I like the 1/4 Cask much better than their standard 12 yr; their 15 yr is more refined but for roughly the same price I can have Lagavulin and that's in a whole different class IMO.

I have fond memories of when a bottle of Ardbeg or Laphroaig could be had for less than $40 USD at Mission Liquor over in the Pasadena area, but now it's a minimum $20 more. I suspect it has to do more with taxation and random government greed than anything else, but then I sip this stuff pretty slowly and only on occasions, so I can stock up with three of my faves and they'll last me the better part of a calendar year.

If you like a cleaner taste, you should give Caol Ila a try - very light and an extremely subtle flavor. 'Good malt for summer nights.
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