Your favourite drink?

[Blackwolf]

My favorite is rum and diet coke; spiced rum specifically. I haven't found a single malt that I like yet. It's so expensive to buy a whole bottle and then get through it if you don't like it. Any suggestions where to start with single malt?

[Heming]

I voted ale, as it's the beer style I prefer and what I drink most of the time. But I do like whisky as well, and wine, and "other"...

I'm really looking forward to this weekend in Dumfries, I hope to meet some nice ales there!

Heming

[English Bloke]

My favorite is rum and diet coke; spiced rum specifically. I haven't found a single malt that I like yet. It's so expensive to buy a whole bottle and then get through it if you don't like it. Any suggestions where to start with single malt?

There are different whisky producing regions in Scotland, each producing a different style of product. You'll have to try a few to determine which one you like best.





Here's a few suggestions to get you going.

'The Balvenie Doublewood 12 years old'

As Speysides go, that's as smooth as you're likely to find. Great place to start. Save the peaty stuff for later on your journey into Malt.



'Old Pultney 12 y/o'

Another cracker for starting off with, distilled in the Highlands in Scotland's most northern distillery.



'Auchentoshan Classic'

A Single malt distilled in the lowlands, Glesga to be precise. There are some lovely whiskys produced here but this is the best (smoothest) starter from this distiller's range in my opinion.



Wait till you discover the peaty Islay's. Here's a good one, not the peatiest by a long way but a good introduction to the heavier, smokier flavours of these distilleries.

'Bowmore 12 y/o'



Try and get hold of a glass like this rather than a traditional whisky tumbler. Helps with the sniffing don't you know. And avoid putting ice in it. You'll kill it. Try it if you like, you'll see what I mean as all the character is lost. A splash of water is fine if you find it a bit fierce but try and avoid treated tap water. Bottled, non-sparkling mineral water is best.



Visit these websites for more info.

http://www.thebalvenie.com/

http://www.oldpulteney.com/

http://www.auchentoshan.co.uk/auth/

http://www.bowmore.co.uk/

There's a whole world of gorgeous out there.

http://www.maltmadness.com/ is another online resource where you can learn more about single malts.

Oh yeah. I like beer too... and Port...

[Jack Daw]

I love beer and revere whisky. I can enjoy a whole pint of a Shiner Boch within an hour, but I can only have a dram of Macallan 18. But right now, I'm tea-totalling until I drop all the weight I gained during the Christmas/Hogmanay Holidays. I think by Superbowl (Feb 7) I'll be ready!

[saharris]

I voted for beer, as, to quote an old professor of mine, “I prefer my alcohol to be fermented, rather than distilled.” However, one must be sure to steer quite clear of our American mass-produced horse piss and stick with craft-brewed actual beer!

For specifics, one simply cannot best the divine beers that those Trappist monks produce…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trappist_beer

[vps]

However, one must be sure to steer quite clear of our American mass-produced horse piss and stick with craft-brewed actual beer!

Amen to that!

For me, primarily whisky (Dalwhinnie or Bells Special Reserve). I like whisky because I don't usually want an entire bottle of drink, just a little somethin' while I relax.

But with homemade pizza or burgers in the summer, it's hard to beat a cold beer (imported, favorites being Stella, Harp, Bass, and Guinness). If going domestic, I'll settle for Killians Irish Red or Alaskan Amber (which is practically imported ).

[svc40bt]

I voted whisky as this seemed to be an alcohol related question. I have at least half a dozen different single malts at home that I enjoy, but only rarely. I will ocasionally have an ale at the local brew pub.

My favorite drink though, and far and away the winner by volume, would be Coca-Cola.

[Sylvain]

I voted beer, but it doesn't mean the yellowish water sold in the US...

[svc40bt]

I have a Glen Cairn glass as pictured above. Personally I think it is a bit too small for proper nosing. I prefer a brandy snifter for a fine single malt, though if the Glen Cairn was about 50% bigger I think it would be perfect.

[jkane]

Mead! All kinds of meads. I especially like Melomels.

The term Beer is to the word Ale as the word Tree is to Oak. All Oak's are trees, but not all trees are oaks. All Ales are beers, but not all beers are ales.

The comment about American horse beer reminds me of a question. What sound does Clydesdale piss make when it hits the pavement?

Buuuuuussssscccccchhhhhhhh!

Off to St Paul tomorrow to judge beers (including ales ) for the Upper Mississippi Mashout.