Question:
As a sensualist, as I think any admirer of fragrances must be, at least to some extent, I have in the past been a lover of fine wines. Unfortunately, in the last two years, as I passed the august age of 50, I find that I have developed a most annoying series of allegic reactions to wines. First, I developed an ugly allergic-type reaction to reds, all those lovely Bordeaux, headaches, tiredness; redness in the face, terrible nasal congestion, especially at night etc...ugh. Now white give me a mild headache and tiredness. I find the same is not true with decent whiskeys, and I have looked into them, and find much to like. I would especially recommend to other Basenoters, if they can find them, to try American whiskeys by Michters, especially their "American Whiskey" which is wonderful, mild and rich, smooth and just a touch nutty and with a suggestion of sweetness. Their Straigh Rye and now just out a bourbon are nice too. I find that at a "wine and cheese" a good whiskey and water is amazing with food, and can be very companionable.
The sulfides in wines have well and truly done me in, but all is not lost.
Any other whisky lovers/adventurers here?
Down the hatch,
Joe
PS Yes, I also like gin but vodka gives me such a eggregious headache that I don't go near the stuff. My taste for the most part is for the brown liquors.

Answer:
I'm a total Scotch girl. Being Sicilian and Irish, I'm not sure how I developed such a fiendish love for the stuff, but there you go!
I love peaty Scotch whiskey, and although I love single-malt, there are plenty of blends that are amazing. In a cocktail I usually take a blended scotch such as Dewar's or J&B with soda on the rocks. Neat I'll usually take a Glenfiddich...Someday I'd love to visit Scotland and tour various distilleries and go on Scotch tastings.
My twin sister took me to a Johnnie Walker tasting event the last time was back home (Denver, Colorado). It was divine...of course the Blue was the last taste of the night, and it was phenomenal. I loved the Green and Gold as well.

Answer:
As a German-Polish-Irish-Scotch kinda guy, Vodka and Whiskey go down pretty easy. My brown recommendations:
Single Malt Scotch:
MacAllan 18 - getting a bit hard to find after they shifted to 15, but worth it. If you can't find the 18, the 15 is good too.
Scotch standby:
Either Johnny Walker Black (a blend of 12-yr old scotches) or Chivas Regal. Chivas is a bit sweet for my taste.
(I've been to a few Johnny Walker events. The blue is *very* good, as is the gold, but for what they charge, I can get a superior single malt.
ObDisclaimer: I own some Diageo stock)
Irish Whiskey:
Redbreast - there's better stuff, but you have to go to Ireland to get it. This is the best I can find consistently in the USA.
Irish Standby:
Bushmills
Bourbon:
Woodford Reserve - official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby (but I liked it before I even found that out). If you like bourbon, you have to get some fresh mint sometime and make mint juleps.
Bourbon Standby:
Maker's Mark
Blended Whiskey:
Crown Royal Reserve - It's smooth and very personable.
Blended Standby:
Crown Royal
I've drank my share of Jack and Cokes and have tried Gentlemen Jack (a ex of mine really liked the stuff, but it's too sweet for me), Evan Williams and a few ryes, but I don't regularly drink any of it.

Answer:
I lurve whisky!!!
three years ago all i drank was the 12year old Chivas Regals and JW Black Label...
Nowadays my standard choices would be Macallan 12years, Balvanie 12 years and Glenfiddich
The one i adore but cant afford to drink all the time would be Macallan 18 years.
I find Royal Salute too sweet and thick for my liking


Answer:
Great Rum, taken neat, can be a revelation also and on a par with the finest French cognac, single malt Scotch, and great whisky . Two recommendations: Babancourt 12 year old, Cane from New Orleans.

Answer:
I'm on a limited budget, and liquor is an indulgence I allow myself (my dad always laughs that my two vices are both made of liquid). My budget Scotch of choice is Cutty Sark. I will get the occasional bottle of Glenlivet though if I have some spare change burning a hole in my pocket.
I also like sipping on Crown Royal. One of my friends gives me a bottle of Crown every year for my birthday .

Answer:
That's a fine post, Joe. And i like your Bel Ami review.
Opposite of you, however, i much prefer liquors on the clear side. In Holland, i developed a liking for jenever/genever which supplanted vodka for me. Hard to believe, eh? Wines i'm still okay with, though not as okay as i was in my twenties. For gods' sakes it took me ten years to figure out my favorite wines, i hope to still enjoy them awhile. But ... time's a bastard, and i'm no longer twenty-five.
edit: postscript
PS: 'spose i should clarify: genever is not exactly white, but it just doesn't taste brown to me.

Answer:
I drink scotch and Irish whiskey almost exclusively. Nice to know so many Basenoters have outstanding taste in scotch. I am a big fan of smooth single malts, always served neat. My current favorite is Tomintoul 16yr. Other faves include Dahlwinnie 15yr, Macallan 12 yr, and Aberlour A'bunadh. Despite my Protestant upbringing, Jameson is my favorite Irish whiskey.

Answer:
Originally Posted by sloan_8013 I drink scotch and Irish whiskey almost exclusively. Nice to know so many Basenoters have outstanding taste in scotch. I am a big fan of smooth single malts, always served neat. My current favorite is Tomintoul 16yr. Other faves include Dahlwinnie 15yr, Macallan 12 yr, and Aberlour A'bunadh. Despite my Protestant upbringing, Jameson is my favorite Irish whiskey. Hee hee heee..... I laugh my ass off every time I think about Aberlour ("we drinkin' us some kinky Aberlour!"). See this comic for why this occurs: http://achewood.com/index.php?date=10032002
Another favorite is Laphroaig: http://achewood.com/index.php?date=11042003
Don't forget to hover your mouse over each comic to read the ALT-Text that pops up.

Answer:
Originally Posted by linnea Hee hee heee..... I laugh my ass off every time I think about Aberlour ("we drinkin' us some kinky Aberlour!"). See this comic for why this occurs: http://achewood.com/index.php?date=10032002
Another favorite is Laphroaig: http://achewood.com/index.php?date=11042003
Don't forget to hover your mouse over each comic to read the ALT-Text that pops up. LOL. "You know the one that was all like FWISSSH." That cartoon is goin' on the cube wall first thing Monday.
Thanks!