Hard Drinkers, Lets Drink Hard (Spirits, Liquors and Cocktails)

[sabergirl]

I prefer Four Roses small batch, but the single barrel and regular yellow label are okay, too.  Now that you're saying it, I'm not sure I've had Jim Beam "white label".  I've had the regular Beam, which has a white label…

[Seul]

Holy cow I'm such an eejit… I ordered it at work, and it said "Jim Beam White Label", so I figured it'd be something special...

Made to the same formula since 1795, this giant of the category is aged for four years in oak barrels to create a smooth, mellow taste with hints of spice.

So yeah I guess I just ordered the regular version… I'll grab a bottle of FOUR ROSES then...

[sabergirl]

Haha, oops.  They were a more than a little misleading with that marketing, though…

[Matty123]

Rowans creek bourbon.

[Alex]

@Matty123:

Rowans creek bourbon.

Looks nice, but slightly higher price point, or are the sites I am looking on marking it up massively for the UK market?

[Matty123]

its between 28-34 us at the places ive purchased it. im not sure which sites youre looking at. unless i missed a post  by you. ive gone back and looked though. im learning.

[Alex]

I didn't post any, nothing to learn!

It retails at around USD65-75 on the sites based in the UK. Shame!

[Megatron1505]

Woodford Reserve 

Tonight’s drink of choice, Jameson’s Caskmates. Aged in stout casks…. so fucking smooth.

[Jett129]

That’s gotta be great. Never seen or heard of that one.

[Megatron1505]

If you like regular Jameson’s, which I love, then this will definitely float your boat. Mellow and smooth,deep and rich coffee and chocolate tastes with just enough burn to let you know it’s there.

[Jett129]

After bourbon Irish Whiskey is my favorite and I love Jamesons and Red Breast,which I think they make. Just checked and one of my local stores has it for $39.99 I'll try and get it tomorrow.

[tvenuto]

Interesting Jameson, never seen that.

@Seul I weep for your bourbon selection:(.

Rye Manhattan
2 oz rye (I used wild turkey 80 proof, would be better with 101)
1 oz italian vermouth (Carpano Antica)
2 dash bitters (Reagan's orange)
1 dash Maraschino (Luxardo)
Stir with ice and strain

A classic.  For me, it's a change of pace from drinking just straight whiskey, which is what I would do most of the time if left to my own devices.  But, I felt the need to understand the Manhattan, so here we are.  Although I have no basis for comparison, I'm pretty sure this is a good option for Italian vermouth.  I could kill any man ever made with 2 strikes from this bottle.

Stirring results in a clear and more visually pleasing drink.  Shaking makes it cloudy (again my wife and I disagree here, she shakes).

[Jett129]

I love a Makers Manhattan. I use Dolan vermouth,although I’ve heard great things about the Capano Antica.

[Matty123]

@Alex:

I didn't post any, nothing to learn!

It retails at around USD65-75 on the sites based in the UK. Shame!

Wow. That’s a hell of a mark up.

[Jett129]

@Megatron1505 Thanks so much for the heads up.Really delicious/very easy to drink. On the back of the bottle they talk about a craft brewer using their barrels for their stout thus giving them the idea to do this. I’m pretty sure I have a bottle of the stout they’re talking about. Love the finish on this.

[tvenuto]

About to hijack this thread. This happened:

[Megatron1505]

@Jett129 , i’m glad that you like it mate 

[tvenuto]

Vesper (modern)

Decided to experiment with Lillet, which is a fortified wine often used like vermouth.  Things got out of hand.  Drink #1…

1 oz Gin
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Lillet Blanc
Dash orange bitters
Lemon twist
Stir and garnish

Made famous by James Bond, this is the Vesper with some updated ratios.  It was ok, nothing special.

[tvenuto]

French connection:

1 oz Cognac
1 oz Lillet Blanc
Dash orange bitters
Dash angostura
Stir

Both parts are french, or rather they should be, this is the brandy I have on hand.  Obviously dependent on the brandy you use, with so few things you really need to upgrade.

[tvenuto]

49th Parallel

1.5 oz Brandy
1/2 oz rye
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz Lillet Blanc
3 Dashes peychauds
Shake

This was the winner of the bunch.  I also made one with 1:1 brandy to rye, which worked for me as well.  It has a big ingredient list but that shouldn't be too daunting, and as you can see I'm using pretty much the basement in terms of quality.

As a general note, brandy and rye go together quite well and will be a base for many of my own creations should I grow so bold (or drunk).