Sunday 23rd March 2014

[Sean]

Yummmmy in a concert and starvin takeaway it is afterwards

[ValeTudoGuy]

A nice little Ashton Tres Mystique and some fresh from the freezer Stoli vodka. So cold it tastes really sweet. Nice pairing IMO.

Freezer Stoli, you are a man after my own heart! It really brings out the flavours in things without tainting them don't you think? Almost like a seasoning.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Nope, shepherd's pie with a dauphinois potato topping followed by the best tiramisu I've tasted made by Mark's Italian wife Valeria.

Man, that sounds great!

[Trickle]

Freezer Stoli, you are a man after my own heart! It really brings out the flavours in things without tainting them don't you think? Almost like a seasoning.

Absolutely! Prefer all my sprits really cold. Been meaning to buy some whiskey stones so they don't get watered down.

[butternutsquashpie]

Nope, shepherd's pie

wow. sean never makes me lunch

[ValeTudoGuy]

Absolutely! Prefer all my sprits really cold. Been meaning to buy some whiskey stones so they don't get watered down.

They are great, though I only use them for US Whisky.... Wouldn't want to cool down a Scotch.

[cigarmo]

They are great, though I only use them for US Whisky.... Wouldn't want to cool down a Scotch.

Why no ice in scotch?

[butternutsquashpie]

Why no ice in scotch?

many people say that it has a 'cognac' feel to it. but not exactly. you don't want the warm "neat" feeling, but you also don't want it to freeze your tongue on the way down.
frankly, it's your personal preference. and i trust marc 99% on his liquors!!

[ValeTudoGuy]

many people say that it has a 'cognac' feel to it. but not exactly. you don't want the warm "neat" feeling, but you also don't want it to freeze your tongue on the way down.
frankly, it's your personal preference. and i trust marc 99% on his liquors!!

Thanks for your faith Butters!

It's totally personal preference and it's two things that make it an issue for me.
1. A good Scotch is good because of its complexity and depth of flavour.
2. I find that if I drink something cold I can't pick out flavours as easily. (Try drinking a lager straight out of the fridge and then try one at room temperature side by side. You should be able to pick up much more flavour in the warm one.... Unfortunately most commercial lagers taste like shit and that's why they should be drunk cold.)

Back to my point... I wouldn't want to lessen the affect of a good scotch by negatively affecting the flavour. On the other hand American Whisky can be very sweet to the point of actually being syrupy IMO... Now the cooling effect can actually be beneficial in this case by slightly reducing that overall feeling of sweetness which can allow floral and woody tones to appear where they were masked by an overbearing sweetness before.

[cigarmo]

Thanks for your faith Butters!

It's totally personal preference and it's two things that make it an issue for me.
1. A good Scotch is good because of its complexity and depth of flavour.
2. I find that if I drink something cold I can't pick out flavours as easily. (Try drinking a lager straight out of the fridge and then try one at room temperature side by side. You should be able to pick up much more flavour in the warm one.... Unfortunately most commercial lagers taste like shit and that's why they should be drunk cold.)

Back to my point... I wouldn't want to lessen the affect of a good scotch by negatively affecting the flavour. On the other hand American Whisky can be very sweet to the point of actually being syrupy IMO... Now the cooling effect can actually be beneficial in this case by slightly reducing that overall feeling of sweetness which can allow floral and woody tones to appear where they were masked by an overbearing sweetness before.

May be thats why i can never pick anything out will try with out the giant ice cube!

[ValeTudoGuy]

May be thats why i can never pick anything out will try with out the giant ice cube!

If you need to cool things down a little bit without losing flavour and to be honest if it's a strong (Cask Strength) whisky you may actually get more flavour... Then add bottled water (Room Temp) a couple drops at a time until you get the desired effect, be careful not to put too much in or you will just be watering the whole experience down.

[cigarmo]

If you need to cool things down a little bit without losing flavour and to be honest if it's a strong (Cask Strength) whisky you may actually get more flavour... Then add bottled water (Room Temp) a couple drops at a time until you get the desired effect, be careful not to put too much in or you will just be watering the whole experience down.

excellent i will give it a go, any type of bottled water, I hate the taste of some bottled water.

[butternutsquashpie]

to pitch in here: honestly, when i'm trying a scotch for the first time, have to have it room temperature. sometimes with a little distilled water as well.
but if i was enjoying a nice tip of my standard dalmore, cragganmore, or wild turkey (syrupy, like marc described! yum yum yummy!!), i'll toss some distilled water ice cubes in there so that i enjoy it more and have it go down smoothly.

mind you, the best way i had my cragganmore 12 was at the Quebec Ice Castle. They had glasses made out of PURE ice that was fantastic. couldn't swirl it or my fingers would be stuck to the glass. but man was that a way to drink!

[ValeTudoGuy]

to pitch in here: honestly, when i'm trying a scotch for the first time, have to have it room temperature. sometimes with a little distilled water as well.
but if i was enjoying a nice tip of my standard dalmore, cragganmore, or wild turkey (syrupy, like marc described! yum yum yummy!!), i'll toss some distilled water ice cubes in there so that i enjoy it more and have it go down smoothly.


mind you, the best way i had my cragganmore 12 was at the Quebec Ice Castle. They had glasses made out of PURE ice that was fantastic. couldn't swirl it or my fingers would be stuck to the glass. but man was that a way to drink!

Younger Whisky is certainly more likely to benefit from ice IMO, though an Ice Castle with ice glassware sounds very "cool" hahaha!


They are starting to produce whisky designed for chilling... Snow Grouse is an example.


Mo Re- water, Speyside Glenlivet, Strathmore and Highland Spring would be on the list probably in that order, but definitely Glenlivet first head and shoulders above others. There is a purpose bottled water called Uisge Spring though I have never had it..... And of the other standard bottled waters available everywhere I would always choose Buxton over the Evians etc of the world given a choice.

[Deano]

Lol, you make sure you moisturise them hands tonight...

I must admit, it is a new experience for me! :P