Whisky - In Search of the Perfect Dram

[Vertigo]

Originally Posted by Dave

I've read it (also borrowed from someone who had borrowed it themselves.) I agree that the insights into his writing philosophy as well as little asides, and the other autobiographical parts are enlightening. Such as his car crash being the inspiration for 'The Bridge'. His political views are also very much a part of his life.

Yay - Dave a post back on thread :-) (Though I do enjoy the whisky discussion as well). I have to say after reading this book I definitely felt that he was a man I would like to meet. I particularly liked his apparently modest and unassuming view of himself. He sometimes seems almost surprised at his own success.

I was also rather tickled by his slightly shameful confession of being a bit of a petrol head. I saw an interview with him a while back where he was confessing his love of cars but stating that his conscience was now pushing him towards getting more eco-friendly cars in future.

He seemed very honest about himself.

[J-WO]

Vertigo, if you do get a chance to see him at a convention, I heartily recommend you should go. The guys an absolute riot in interviews and on panels. A real smiley-happy guy. Your right about him being surprised at his own success I think- its been 30 years or so and the guy's still merrily chortling about it all! And who can blame him!

[Vertigo]

That's certainly my impression of him and yes I would love to see/meet him in person. Living up north of Inverness I don't get many such opportunities though I should really make more on an effort!

[clovis-man]

Alright. Just found a copy on half.com & pulled the trigger. Should be interesting. Love those Islays.

[Vertigo]

Clovis-man - sure it's been comented on before but I guess from your avatar you are kind of fond of Feersum Endjinn. I thought it was an immensely clever book and once I had wrapped my head around the phonetic dialog I was completely absorbed by it. Must go back and read it again sometime.

Re "whisky" you do have to be ready for some fairly detailed technical analysis and discussion of the various malts but I did find myself making a mental list of the various expression that he particularly favoured until I realised the price tag that went along with many of them :-(

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by Vertigo

Clovis-man - sure it's been comented on before but I guess from your avatar you are kind of fond of Feersum Endjinn. I thought it was an immensely clever book and once I had wrapped my head around the phonetic dialog I was completely absorbed by it. Must go back and read it again sometime.

An extremely enjoyable read. One of those which needs repeating for best effect.

Originally Posted by Vertigo

Re "whisky" you do have to be ready for some fairly detailed technical analysis and discussion of the various malts but I did find myself making a mental list of the various expression that he particularly favoured until I realised the price tag that went along with many of them :-(

You are correct about some of the price points. Which is why I generally will buy a bottle of Laphroaig instead of Lagavulin. Oddly, in a hotel bar in Paris once, I surveyed the menu of available whiskeys and found that Jack Daniels, Chivas Regal and Lagavulin all went for the same number of Euros per shot, something like 3 or 4. Needless to say, that made my choice quite easy.

[Rosemary]

Was watching a documentary the other night and it was said the Islay was the best but that whisky actually came to Scotland from Ireland originally

[Sephiroth]

You could say the same about the Scots -- the Gaelic-speaking people who were one of the three Celtic ethnocultural groups to predate a united 'Scotland'.


Irish 'whiskey' (as opposed to 'whisky') is triple-distilled and generally made with unpeated malt, and to my taste, it lacks the complexity and refinement that give 'Scotch' its character, however.


Clovis-man: I had a similar experience in Italy, where Lagavulin was available in bars for a very reasonable price (especially considering the exchange rate at the time).

[Wybren]

has anyone tried Talisker?

[Dave]

I did hear Whisky came originally from China.( Like Pasta, gunpowder and Umbrellas.) It is really the only use to which you can put damp Barley, so I expect it happened independently in several places at different times.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Wybren

has anyone tried Talisker?

I was given some for Christmas. It is very nice, but not my favourite, and given that it isn't cheap....

There isn't any left though

[Vertigo]

For my personal taste I find Talisker a little on the harsh side, but I have to say I do seem to be in a minority amongst malt drinkers on that. It does seem to be fairly popular.

I agree with Seph on the Irish Whiskey front; I don't know if it is the triple distilling that does it but I just don't find the flavours as interesting and again like Talisker I find they tend towards the being a bit harsh - one of the things I love about malts is how smooth the really good ones are.

Since this discussions seems to have pretty much settled on the topic of Whiskies, here's a question to polarise things. Do you add water to yours?

[The Procrastinator]

Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. And I'm thinking of changing my alias to The Prevaricator.

[HareBrain]

Me too, actually (the water, not the name-change). When I do, it's about a one-to-four ratio.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Dave

I did hear Whisky came originally from China.( Like Pasta, gunpowder and Umbrellas.) It is really the only use to which you can put damp Barley, so I expect it happened independently in several places at different times.

I'm not so sure about that. I know there's evidence of early distillation in China (going back at least three thousand years, probably further), but distillation was also occurring (initially in the making of perfumes) in ancient Mesopotamia during the second millennium BCE. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that the process was transmitted west from China, but my current (incomplete, inadequate) understanding is that the process is thought to have been developed independently in both locations.

Regardless, I'm not sure you can call what the ancient Chinese made 'whisky'. I believe most of their spirits were made with millet or rice. In the West, the original 'water of life' (aqua vitae, the Latin root of the word 'whisky' as well as the names of dozens of other potent spirits across Europe) referred to any distilled product, but came to refer to alcoholic beverages -- primarily distilled wine (brandy), but also spirits made from other sources (including -- in Ireland and Scotland, although possibly in other places, too -- barley).

I'd be interested in any further information on this topic.

Originally Posted by Vertigo

Do you add water to yours?

Normally, yes. But just a tiny wee drop (no greater than a one to ten ratio), as it helps to bring out the flavours. I have been known to take a small ice cube, instead, although that is frowned upon. (And if I'm drinking from my hip flask, it tends to be completely straight.)



As for Talisker -- I like it. It's not up there with the Islays, but it has a nice, briny character, and I do enjoy it. I don't find it too harsh, and I think it has a lovely flavour.