Bought my first bottle of Scotch

[MaxNoodle]

So I bought my first bottle. The doublewood was recommended by a lot of vet Scotch drinkers. Right now I can only sip very little. But I can taste some different flavors. Sure is warm going down!

Any tips on drinking, getting used to the harsheness. I know you're supposed to sip it, buts a LONG time in between sips for me.

Thanks.

~ t

 

[Dave]

I would recommend sniffing in the aromas first, swirling it around, watching the legs, enjoying the glass' presentation in your hand. Sipping it is just fine, makes it last longer. :thumbs:

edit - everyone's got their personal preference in the whiskey department, some like Speysides, some prefer Highlands or Islays or maybe the regular Kentucky Bourbon. But I can say one thing, once you become accustomed to scotch, the Double Wood is one of the smoothest drinks around, tastes like syrup.

 

[Not A Nice Person]

That's a great first bottle to start on!

Sipping is good. Tulip snifter is nice for that, but not essential. Try anywhere from a few drops to about a teaspoon of water added to "open it up" . . . some prefer that, some not. I like mine on the rocks, but I'm gauche like that.

~Boar

 

[khari]

...Try anywhere from a few drops to about a teaspoon of water added to "open it up" . . .

Good suggestion. In fact, I was adding more than a teaspoon when I first started drinking whisk(e)y. Adding more water allows you to drink it and not grimace after each swallow. After doing this a few times it'll get easier. Adding an ice cube or two is also a good alternative suggestion. Then over time you can add less water/fewer cubes.

You don't have to do it this way, it's just what worked for me.

 

[MaxNoodle]

Thanks guys! Duely noted!!!

~ t

 

[siriusstoogie]

Tony two drops of water will open up the flavors and mute the "harshness" Sip and enjoy. You'll be surprise what other flavors you find out when you do this. BTW, I learned this from Sack

 

[GregSVT]

...Try anywhere from a few drops to about a teaspoon of water added to "open it up" . . .

Good suggestion. In fact, I was adding more than a teaspoon when I first started drinking whisk(e)y. Adding more water allows you to drink it and not grimace after each swallow. After doing this a few times it'll get easier. Adding an ice cube or two is also a good alternative suggestion. Then over time you can add less water/fewer cubes.

You don't have to do it this way, it's just what worked for me.

Exactly how I started as well. I started with a good number of ice cubes and now I either drink my booze neat or with a few small cubes depending on the proof of course.

 

[AVB]

Best way to get rid of the harshness is........











{Send it to me}

 

[classyndry]

.....drink more?


Adding water is a good suggestion. Alternatively, or perhaps additionally, if you have any bad scotch, sip some of that first, and then appreciate how smooth your scotch is by comparison. Just give it time.

 

[PhatCat]

Def recommend a few (3-4) cubes of good ice. Not your own homemade ice cubes but good ice.

Adding some water is also a great suggestion. I've heard many Scots drink their scotch at a 1 to 1 whiskey to water ratio. Seems a little diluted to me but they say it brings the flavors out. I think I read that on Balvenie's own website some years ago.

I prefer mine with a couple large cubes of ice. Nurse at a decent pace from there.

BR

 

[MaxNoodle]

Def recommend a few (3-4) cubes of good ice. Not your own homemade ice cubes but good ice.

Adding some water is also a great suggestion. I've heard many Scots drink their scotch at a 1 to 1 whiskey to water ratio. Seems a little diluted to me but they say it brings the flavors out. I think I read that on Balvenie's own website some years ago.

I prefer mine with a couple large cubes of ice. Nurse at a decent pace from there.

BR

Thanks!

~ t

 

[denverdog]

Def recommend a few (3-4) cubes of good ice. Not your own homemade ice cubes but good ice.

Adding some water is also a great suggestion. I've heard many Scots drink their scotch at a 1 to 1 whiskey to water ratio. Seems a little diluted to me but they say it brings the flavors out. I think I read that on Balvenie's own website some years ago.

I prefer mine with a couple large cubes of ice. Nurse at a decent pace from there.

BR

Where do you order your good ice? I'll be damned but all I have is my subpar homeade stuff. :laugh:

Seriously though, 1 to 1 is wahay overkill in my opinion. Just add a few drops to cut the tension and you should be set with a good scotch like the Doublewood.

 

[AVB]

That ratio is news to me, I think you mean one teaspoon of water. Now the Japanese really water down their scotch. Whisky-mizu is almost 50-50 based on the 4 years I lived there.

Myself, I use one ice cube if I have to.

Def recommend a few (3-4) cubes of good ice. Not your own homemade ice cubes but good ice.

Adding some water is also a great suggestion. I've heard many Scots drink their scotch at a 1 to 1 whiskey to water ratio. Seems a little diluted to me but they say it brings the flavors out. I think I read that on Balvenie's own website some years ago.

I prefer mine with a couple large cubes of ice. Nurse at a decent pace from there.

BR

 

[MichaelPCo]

You didn't read that on the BALVENIE website

Maybe 1 drop


Michael

 

[MaxNoodle]

Since I can't find "really good" ice cubes...I have 2 questions:

1. Since I am expecting company and new to the Scotch scene - when you get someone a drink, how much or how far do you fill the glass? 2 shots/2 oz? More? Less?

2. I was gonna use bottled water and/or just "regular" ice cubes, nothing fancy here in Pittsburgh. So I guess my question is, is bottled water ok, I have a gallon of distilled for my beads, is that better? Or just plain tap water? Or does it not matter?

Thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving!

~ t

That ratio is news to me, I think you mean one teaspoon of water. Now the Japanese really water down their scotch. Whisky-mizu is almost 50-50 based on the 4 years I lived there.

Myself, I use one ice cube if I have to.

Def recommend a few (3-4) cubes of good ice. Not your own homemade ice cubes but good ice.

Adding some water is also a great suggestion. I've heard many Scots drink their scotch at a 1 to 1 whiskey to water ratio. Seems a little diluted to me but they say it brings the flavors out. I think I read that on Balvenie's own website some years ago.

I prefer mine with a couple large cubes of ice. Nurse at a decent pace from there.

BR

 

[AVB]

2 fingers (1-1.5 inches) is always a good start unless you have really big glasses and then its even better! Distilled water is best to use but after the second or third one it doesn't matter.

Since I can't find "really good" ice cubes...I have 2 questions:

1. Since I am expecting company and new to the Scotch scene - when you get someone a drink, how much or how far do you fill the glass? 2 shots/2 oz? More? Less?

2. I was gonna use bottled water and/or just "regular" ice cubes, nothing fancy here in Pittsburgh. So I guess my question is, is bottled water ok, I have a gallon of distilled for my beads, is that better? Or just plain tap water? Or does it not matter?

Thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving!

~ t

That ratio is news to me, I think you mean one teaspoon of water. Now the Japanese really water down their scotch. Whisky-mizu is almost 50-50 based on the 4 years I lived there.

Myself, I use one ice cube if I have to.

Def recommend a few (3-4) cubes of good ice. Not your own homemade ice cubes but good ice.

Adding some water is also a great suggestion. I've heard many Scots drink their scotch at a 1 to 1 whiskey to water ratio. Seems a little diluted to me but they say it brings the flavors out. I think I read that on Balvenie's own website some years ago.

I prefer mine with a couple large cubes of ice. Nurse at a decent pace from there.

BR

 

[MaxNoodle]

Thanks AVB - I knew you would be the first to answer. Thanks!
Right now I have standard round 4" drink classes no Scotch glases yet. They're on my xmas list. I think I only need 2. But right now, a coffee cup would do!

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ t

2 fingers (1-1.5 inches) is always a good start unless you have really big glasses and then its even better! Distilled water is best to use but after the second or third one it doesn't matter.

 

[SiriusBlack]

Tony two drops of water will open up the flavors and mute the "harshness" Sip and enjoy. You'll be surprise what other flavors you find out when you do this. BTW, I learned this from Sack

I am with you and I learned from Sack as well. I recently purchased my first bottle and got the drops of water advise. I actully borught a cheap little eye dropper that I use. Maybe a little overboard but it makes it easier to experiment with different amounts of water without any disasters (i.e. putting too much). My first purchase was Glenrothes Select Reserve. Its probably little higher end than a newbie should have gone but it was the only Speyside scotch that the store had for some reason and Sack recommended Speyside. That said I really enjoyed. I also picked up a bottle of Woodford Reserve after a recent trip to Kentucky. Very enjoyed as well but completely different tastes.

 

[indyrob]

I like my Scotch, but don't like the burn from the alcohol. I generally use a splash of water or 2-3 icecubes, depending on my mood and the sctoch.

If I'm drinking the good stuff (Over 30 Balvenie) I don't need anything but a glass to drink it from. Laphroaig 10 needs a splash of water and an ice cube.

 

[PhatCat]

Sorry I haven't checked in here for a bit.

As far as ice goes, I just meant I like bagged ice from the store. Pick your favorite. North Star ice. Whatever. The reason is I live out in the country. We have a well. Now I don't mind drinking well water (in fact our particular well has very little iron in the water. It's still plenty hard though) but when you soften the water and then use that soft water to make ice cubes, it doesn't taste the best. Just like city water ice cubes can tend to be a bit "chlorine-ey" but YMMV.

For a glass of iced tea or a can of pop do I care what ice I use? no, not at all.

If I'm serving a drink to a guest I prefer to go the grocery store and buy a bag of ice for a couple bucks. They large cylindrical cubes melt slowly and IMHO don't impart a nasty taste to your favorite drink.

As to the water to scotch ratio: As mentioned before I can't recall where I heard it but here's what I found on Balvenie's Q&A page

http://www.balvenie.com/contact/faq_3.html

Question: "Should I use ice or water in my Balvenie?"
Answer: "It's really a matter of personal preference. I'd recommend the addition of a small amount of clean still water, perhaps one third water to two thirds whisky. However we prefer to drink straight some of the older Balvenie variants. Adding ice is perfectly acceptable but does initially lessen the flavour of the whisky until it starts to melt."

So no, they don't say 1 to 1 but they do mention 1 to 2.

Regardless, I prefer mine undiluted. Obviously do as your tasting preferences dictate to you. That's what makes it fun.

I hope I didn't come off as some "know-it-all" or anything. Far from it. I have a LOT to learn. From all of you guys.

Humbly,

Bill