The Alcohol Thread

Drinking every night is alky behavior around here.

I try to keep at least two days in a row completely dry.

edited 6th Dec '14 3:25:31 PM by Achaemenid

Really? I don't know if there's anything wrong with drinking every day, as long as it's done in moderation.

I don't drink every day, but during these past three months I regularly drank a glass of red wine during dinner. It's good for the heart or the blood pressure or something.

edited 6th Dec '14 3:28:40 PM by Quag15

Port is good, but bad port can be really atrocious. And don't get drunk on it, or any other fortified wine; they tend to leave a nasty hangover because of how they're made, which produced a lot of substances that make for headaches the next day.

So first time I've gotten super drunk and havent awoken with a hangover

Protip: If you ever see Springbank, Hazelburn, or Longrow whisky, buy it.

What makes Champagne bubbly?: "Just in time for the holidays, scientists have unraveled some of the chemistry behind the diffusion of CO2 molecules in a glass of Champagne. Among their findings, they discovered that ethanol is the main molecule (along with water) responsible for the value of CO2 diffusion coefficients in Champagne, and is therefore an essential molecule to better understand the CO2 bubble formation and growth in these beverages. Besides shedding light on the bubble dynamics and subsequent tasting sensations of Champagne, the results could also have applications for evaluating the diffusion of CO2 molecules in water/alcohol mixtures that are commonly used in physical chemistry."

Springbank is one of my all-time favorites. Especially the older ones; I was introduced to the distillery via a bottle of 21-year-old. Which is almost impossible to find anymore, alas.

Achae: I don't suppose you like chicken Vindaloo do you?

That's the way Scotch single malt is going at the moment, unfortunately. Because of the popularity of Scotch in rising Asia the industry is facing a supply crisis like never before. Couple that with a customer base that, thanks to some clever marketing by Chivas in the 80s, thinks that age = quality and you've got an industry scrambling around to try and shift as much product to these new markets as they can while simultaneously having to release a bunch of no age-statement whiskies - of mixed quality - to disguise the fact that they are having to stretch their stocks like hell. Of course, less than 10% of whisky drinkers drink it except to get drunk or celebrate, so catering to Asian yuppies who want to hear all about how clan chief Macsquiggle of Glenmadeup once hid his clan's whisky supply from the English, and so Glenmadeup distillery have released the NAS Macsquiggle Special Edition - RRP $200 - to commemorate him makes better business sense. Irritating though, because it means less transparency and higher prices.

It's not just Scotland too - I lost a lot of respect for George T. Stagg when they used a good showing in Whisky Advocate to basically quadruple their prices. Japanese stuff is climbing in price too - again, a huge shame. Blends are where it's at right now. Irish whiskey is having a bit of a revival now too, which is also great, and there's a whole bunch of craft distilleries - Abheinn Dearg on Lewis, for instance - that will hopefully revitalize the industry, or replace the big boys. Time will tell.

Springbank are less affected because they've always been effectively a craft distillery anyway; as pretty much the last of the Campbeltown distilleries^note Effectively. Glen Scotia still produce but mainly for the blend market, and Glengyle/Kilkerran has only just started back up, under the same company that own Springbank. they have a very strong ethic, but it's possible that whoever was importing it to the USA decided to concentrate on the more razzle-dazzling and famous Scotch brands, like Lagavulin, Glenlivet, Macallan^note The world's most overrated whisky by a country mile., and Ardbeg.

EDIT: And independent bottlers - they can do wonders.

Nah. Chicken Ceylon all the way.

edited 10th Dec '14 6:04:51 AM by Achaemenid

What can you guys tell me about The Glenlivet?

Already covered the 18 y/o.

The vibe I'm getting from whisky people is that the mid-age Glenlivets are the best - older than the 12, but younger than the 18+ ones. Still, Glenlivet 12 is a fine everyday dram, and I can recommend the 18 too. I've heard good things about their more cask-strength presentations too - the 15 y/o French oak finish and the 16 y/o Nadurra.

Dramming has a review of the 12 year old.

edited 10th Dec '14 5:53:55 AM by Achaemenid

What unusual and exotic local alcoholic drinks have you partaken of and enjoyed while on holiday? Black Balsam in Riga was one I especially liked. This is mainly a conversation starter and source of inspiration for me to try other tipples, so yeah, favourite / most exotic / most memorable, that sorta thing :)

edited 11th Dec '14 4:54:45 PM by betaalpha

Springbank have a new website.

Damn, my wallet is running away fast, I guess it senses danger.

If it's Springbank stateside you want, try the impeccable Master of Malt.

Damn you! Prices aren't bad, actually, compared to what I see in stores.

You know, I think alcohol has been my girlfriend these last three years. We've had ups and downs, good moments and bad... When I've been down, she's lifted me up...

Fuck, I'm gonna find some way to legally marry whiskey.

Buy a Glencairn glass.

No more foamy beer, thanks to magnets

It's a motherfucking miracle.

These guys need a Nobel prize or something.

Fucking magnets, how do they work?

So I normally don't like wine but about a week ago I found one that I do. It's a Californian white summer wine called "Gallo", only 5.5% but it was actually nice. Which is rare for me with wine, Normally the only booze I don't have a big of a "bleh" reaction to is dark ales.

Ralfy Mitchell has named his Malt of the Year, along with some thoughts about the direction the Scotch whisky industry is going. He also says he won't be reviewing any NAS whiskies next year, which is a bit extreme IMO but a decent way to make his point.

The lucky whisky is Benromach 10. Good luck getting hold of it outside Scotland though. Only ever had Benromach once, but very impressed by it.

Meanwhile, Ach is a-hunting for a bottle of Compass Box Hedonism as his whisky for 2015.

edited 30th Dec '14 12:08:56 PM by Achaemenid

RHUM! Do you love it?

edited 30th Dec '14 4:21:00 PM by TheHandle