cigar and a drink?

[buzz]

I was at a going away party last night, and had a glass of Macallans 12 year old scotch on the rocks. A very nice scotch. Woodsy and smokey flavored. I may have to buy a bottle to try with a smoke.

Yeah I dig the Macallan, the 12 year is great. I have been trying to find a decently priced 18 year but I think I will end up going the 12 route to save some cash. I probably won't be able to discern the subtle differences in tastes between them anyway.

Costco has bottles for only $45 I think - great price.

-Buzz

[ndv21]

Yeah I dig the Macallan, the 12 year is great. I have been trying to find a decently priced 18 year but I think I will end up going the 12 route to save some cash. I probably won't be able to discern the subtle differences in tastes between them anyway.

Costco has bottles for only $45 I think - great price.

-Buzz

I have not tried Macallan myself but I am big fan of scotch. My personal preference is Johnnie Walker Black Label. If I want a drink with my average cigar I will usually go with a Dewars on the rocks and a cheap smooth cigar.

Friday night unwind cigar would probably be a padron or camacho enjoying the great company of my friend Johnnie...."keep walking"

[mrtr33]

I have not tried Macallan myself but I am big fan of scotch. My personal preference is Johnnie Walker Black Label. If I want a drink with my average cigar I will usually go with a Dewars on the rocks and a cheap smooth cigar.

Friday night unwind cigar would probably be a padron or camacho enjoying the great company of my friend Johnnie...."keep walking"

Try a single malt......you should notice a difference, and probably never go back.

Oh, and you'll never put ice in a scotch again, either.

[ndv21]

Try a single malt......you should notice a difference, and probably never go back.

Oh, and you'll never put ice in a scotch again, either.

You know I've tried the single mat and there is something about it I just can't grasp. I do enjoy it but I keep going back to Black. Is there any specific single malt that you suggest I try?

[ashauler]

You know I've tried the single mat and there is something about it I just can't grasp. I do enjoy it but I keep going back to Black. Is there any specific single malt that you suggest I try?

Balvenie Doublewood has been my favorite so far. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is pretty good to me as well.

Look here for other suggestions :
http://www.cigarsmokers.com/showthre...ghlight=Scotch

[ndv21]

Balvenie Doublewood has been my favorite so far. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is pretty good to me as well.

Look here for other suggestions :
http://www.cigarsmokers.com/showthre...ghlight=Scotch

I will get me a bottle of Balvenie Doublewood in abour 2 hours and take it with me to McAllen for Thanksgiving. I will most definately post a review

Buzz and mrtr33, I will not add any ice...promise....but that is the one thing that I am a little sckeptical about. I'll give it a shot.

Thanks guys!

[mrtr33]

Buzz and mrtr33, I will not add any ice...promise....but that is the one thing that I am a little sckeptical about. I'll give it a shot.

I treat good scotch like I treat 'shine - you can either drink it for an hour, or sip it all night long. You just can't drink it all night long.

[mrtr33]

You know I've tried the single mat and there is something about it I just can't grasp. I do enjoy it but I keep going back to Black. Is there any specific single malt that you suggest I try?

My personal favorites, in order:


Lagavulin - has a very distinct flavor - probably not for the novice scotch drinker, but it's definitely worth a try - a bottle is a bit more of a commitment, as it's not cheap
Oban - very smooth, more classic scotch tasting, but again, a bit expensive.
Balvenie Doublewood - benchmark. Actually, start here. Great taste, very smooth, the bottle is pricey, but definitely worth it.
Auchentoshan - might have a hard time finding this one, but if you do, it's another good one, too. Shouldn't be an outrageous price.
Laphroaig - great, cheap. Actually, scratch that, it's fabulous and cheap. This should be the everyday drink of the casual scotch drinker.
Glenlivet - good, and it's what got me hooked on scotches, but I don't reach for it so much anymore. Maybe I'm burned out on it now. I've gone through lots of bottles of it, and just don't appreciate it as much anymore. Also, I'm really only a fan of the 12 year - the 18 and 21 years don't do it for me.

There are a couple more I can't think of right now.

I should also qualify this mini-review to mention that I don't normally drink scotch with a cigar any more. I don't know, personal preference, but I find I have a hard time enjoying both at the same time, because I'm trying to pick out flavors and what-not with each of them.

I also never EVER dilute the scotch with anything - water, ice, soda, milk, whatever. I don't dilute it for the same reasons that I don't put steak sauce on a steak after it's cooked.

[buzz]

Lagavulin - has a very distinct flavor - probably not for the novice scotch drinker, but it's definitely worth a try - a bottle is a bit more of a commitment, as it's not cheap
Oban - very smooth, more classic scotch tasting, but again, a bit expensive.
Balvenie Doublewood - benchmark. Actually, start here. Great taste, very smooth, the bottle is pricey, but definitely worth it.
Auchentoshan - might have a hard time finding this one, but if you do, it's another good one, too. Shouldn't be an outrageous price.
Laphroaig - great, cheap. Actually, scratch that, it's fabulous and cheap. This should be the everyday drink of the casual scotch drinker.
Glenlivet - good, and it's what got me hooked on scotches, but I don't reach for it so much anymore. Maybe I'm burned out on it now. I've gone through lots of bottles of it, and just don't appreciate it as much anymore. Also, I'm really only a fan of the 12 year - the 18 and 21 years don't do it for me.

Nice little review. I am curious since I haven't tried all of these - Have you tried the Macallan and if so, where would it land in your line-up?

-Buzz

[mrtr33]

Nice little review. I am curious since I haven't tried all of these - Have you tried the Macallan and if so, where would it land in your line-up?

-Buzz

Sorry, I've tried it, but I don't seek it out. Maybe it's worth another try. Any particular type of Macallan you prefer?

[CoventryCat86]

My personal favorites, in order:


Lagavulin - has a very distinct flavor - probably not for the novice scotch drinker, but it's definitely worth a try - a bottle is a bit more of a commitment, as it's not cheap
Oban - very smooth, more classic scotch tasting, but again, a bit expensive.
Balvenie Doublewood - benchmark. Actually, start here. Great taste, very smooth, the bottle is pricey, but definitely worth it.
Auchentoshan - might have a hard time finding this one, but if you do, it's another good one, too. Shouldn't be an outrageous price.
Laphroaig - great, cheap. Actually, scratch that, it's fabulous and cheap. This should be the everyday drink of the casual scotch drinker.
Glenlivet - good, and it's what got me hooked on scotches, but I don't reach for it so much anymore. Maybe I'm burned out on it now. I've gone through lots of bottles of it, and just don't appreciate it as much anymore. Also, I'm really only a fan of the 12 year - the 18 and 21 years don't do it for me.

There are a couple more I can't think of right now.

I should also qualify this mini-review to mention that I don't normally drink scotch with a cigar any more. I don't know, personal preference, but I find I have a hard time enjoying both at the same time, because I'm trying to pick out flavors and what-not with each of them.

I also never EVER dilute the scotch with anything - water, ice, soda, milk, whatever. I don't dilute it for the same reasons that I don't put steak sauce on a steak after it's cooked.

I too like the Islays more than most other single malts. Talisker is a nice one too.

I love Ardbeg, Caol Ila and I managed to get my hands on a bottle of Port Ellen which is FANTASTIC! My favorite (and most the most ridiculously expensive bottle in my collection) is Ardbeg "Lord of the Isles" which is almost impossible to get these days. I also have a 30yo Bowmore kicking around here. A less peaty Islay is Bunnahabhain and I have a bottle of that as well. It's much lighter than the regular big-name Islays like Lagavulin and Laphroaig.

Earlier this evening, I had a few fingers of Ardbeg Uigeadial. At 108 proof, I can't drink it neat, I have to drop in an ice cube or two.

Bruichladdich is the only Islay I've never tried (well I also haven't had the new ones, Kilchoman and Port Charlotte since I don't think they've been around long enough to sell any product yet).

[VictorMJR66]

I just bought my first bottle of Zaya rum.
Wow!
A very nice, smooth rum. Sweet but not too sweet. I haven't tried it with a cigar yet, but it will be a rebuy just for sipping either way.

Thanks cigarsarge, and "search."

[mrtr33]

I too like the Islays more than most other single malts. Talisker is a nice one too.

I love Ardbeg, Caol Ila and I managed to get my hands on a bottle of Port Ellen which is FANTASTIC! My favorite (and most the most ridiculously expensive bottle in my collection) is Ardbeg "Lord of the Isles" which is almost impossible to get these days. I also have a 30yo Bowmore kicking around here. A less peaty Islay is Bunnahabhain and I have a bottle of that as well. It's much lighter than the regular big-name Islays like Lagavulin and Laphroaig.

Earlier this evening, I had a few fingers of Ardbeg Uigeadial. At 108 proof, I can't drink it neat, I have to drop in an ice cube or two.

Bruichladdich is the only Islay I've never tried (well I also haven't had the new ones, Kilchoman and Port Charlotte since I don't think they've been around long enough to sell any product yet).

Thanks for the insight. I doubt I'll ever get the opportunity to drink some of those rarer bottles. Good to know, though. Given the opportunity to drink a 108 proof scotch, I don't know what I'd do in regards to dilution.

Who makes that Port Ellen you were mentioning? Is that from the Caol Ila line? Is there a year of Caol Ila you prefer? I've never had anything from that distillery. I have found that I don't always prefer the older whiskeys - I much prefer the Glenlivet 12 year over, say, the 21 year or something like that. Just my personal preference, but then again, I've only been drinking scotch for about 10 years now - pretty much a newb in that department.

My parents just got back from England/Scotland and toured the Glengoyne distillery there. They brought me back a bottle. It distinguishes itself from others by claiming it air-dries it's barley rather than drying the barley with peat smoke. But sometimes, when done right, I like that smokey taste. I resisted the urge to open up the bottle and try some - it was really late, and I was really tired. Highland malts are hit-or-miss with me: I enjoy Oban and Dalwhinnie - Dalmore and Glenmorangie, not so much.

[buzz]

I love Ardbeg, Caol Ila and I managed to get my hands on a bottle of Port Ellen which is FANTASTIC! My favorite (and most the most ridiculously expensive bottle in my collection) is Ardbeg "Lord of the Isles" which is almost impossible to get these days. I also have a 30yo Bowmore kicking around here. A less peaty Islay is Bunnahabhain and I have a bottle of that as well. It's much lighter than the regular big-name Islays like Lagavulin and Laphroaig.

Earlier this evening, I had a few fingers of Ardbeg Uigeadial. At 108 proof, I can't drink it neat, I have to drop in an ice cube or two.

I had a couple fingers of Ardbeg 10 year last night with a cigar. Not bad, very peaty with maybe some lemon taste. Got a good deal on it at totalwine too - $50

-Buzz

[buzz]

Oh, and you'll never put ice in a scotch again, either.

I agree, I either drink it neat or with a little bit of water - never ice.

-Buzz

[VictorMJR66]

I started with Dewars, and decided I didn't like scotch.
Macallan's has changed my mind.
I may have to try the Black label next!

Buzz, I am afraid to taste the 18 y/o. I may like it!!

I will do a search, but along these same lines.....has anyone tried Basil Hayden?
A guy I was drinking with last night said I should try it.