Your favorite hard liquor

[bedstuy]

In my very brief experiences with alcohol, I've enjoyed Captain and Coke. White rum by itself is pretty gross, though I've handled it pretty well. Raspberry vodka is cool too. Voted rum.

Captain Morgan isn't white rum, is it?  Captain Morgan is a spiced rum, white rum is like cachaca or the stuff you put in crazy fruity drinks.  And, yeah, white rum is disgusting and tastes like alcoholic melted cotton candy.

It's not, I should have specified I've tried two different brands. Forget what the white rum brand was. But yeah, it mostly tasted like metallic cough syrup.

In any case, do yourself a favor, train yourself to drink liquor straight or with a few ice cubes. 

[DemPGH]

I'm a thoroughgoing wine drinker, so hard liquor is tough because all I taste is alcohol, fire (or in gin's case, polish), etc. Having said that, it would probably be vodka. There are things that can be done with vodka (White Russians are like spiked milkshakes ) to make it palatable and now they have reduced alcohol (reduced calorie) flavored vodkas, and they are good to sip on ice.

I've tried all the stuff on that list except Tequila, and I don't really like any of it. Jameson Irish whiskey wasn't bad, though. But I wouldn't sit and drink it or mix it.

Scotch and gin I simply cannot do. Too nasty. I have a relative who loves gin, and I had her make me a gin martini one time at a holiday gathering. I took one sip of it and gave it back to her. She drank it.

[angus]

Ron Pampero de Venezuela. 

Best rum there is.  Not white.  Not spiced.  It's golden, and very slightly more viscous than most rums.  Dry, yet fruity.  Somewhat sweet, of course, as it's rum, but not too sweet.  Very good neat.  Probably good on ice as well, or with juice, but I like it neat. 

[traininthedistance]

I'm a thoroughgoing wine drinker, so hard liquor is tough because all I taste is alcohol, fire (or in gin's case, polish), etc. Having said that, it would probably be vodka. There are things that can be done with vodka (White Russians are like spiked milkshakes ) to make it palatable and now they have reduced alcohol (reduced calorie) flavored vodkas, and they are good to sip on ice.

I've tried all the stuff on that list except Tequila, and I don't really like any of it. Jameson Irish whiskey wasn't bad, though. But I wouldn't sit and drink it or mix it.

Scotch and gin I simply cannot do. Too nasty. I have a relative who loves gin, and I had her make me a gin martini one time at a holiday gathering. I took one sip of it and gave it back to her. She drank it.

Worth noting that there's a pretty wide variety in flavors of scotch; some stuff is really peaty/smoky (Johnnie Walker, or the Islay single malts), whereas stuff from, say, Speyside is going to be a lot more delicate, with more of a honey flavor rather than a smoke flavor.  So it's worth trying a couple different varieties before writing the whole category off.  I mean, I like the smoky stuff but it's kind of an acquired taste.

Though I guess if hard liquor isn't your thing in general then maybe not.  De gustibus non est disputandum, etc.

[bedstuy]

I'm a thoroughgoing wine drinker, so hard liquor is tough because all I taste is alcohol, fire (or in gin's case, polish), etc. Having said that, it would probably be vodka. There are things that can be done with vodka (White Russians are like spiked milkshakes ) to make it palatable and now they have reduced alcohol (reduced calorie) flavored vodkas, and they are good to sip on ice.

I've tried all the stuff on that list except Tequila, and I don't really like any of it. Jameson Irish whiskey wasn't bad, though. But I wouldn't sit and drink it or mix it.

Scotch and gin I simply cannot do. Too nasty. I have a relative who loves gin, and I had her make me a gin martini one time at a holiday gathering. I took one sip of it and gave it back to her. She drank it.

Worth noting that there's a pretty wide variety in flavors of scotch; some stuff is really peaty/smoky (Johnnie Walker, or the Islay single malts), whereas stuff from, say, Speyside is going to be a lot more delicate, with more of a honey flavor rather than a smoke flavor.  So it's worth trying a couple different varieties before writing the whole category off.  I mean, I like the smoky stuff but it's kind of an acquired taste.

Though I guess if hard liquor isn't your thing in general then maybe not.  De gustibus non est disputandum, etc.

To that end, it's kind of fun to get a whiskey flight to taste the subtle differences.  There's a really cool West Village bar that does a bunch of scotch whiskey flights.  I think it's called Highlands.  One of my favorite NYC whiskey destinations along with Beast of Bourbon in my hood.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Wodka...

[traininthedistance]

I'm a thoroughgoing wine drinker, so hard liquor is tough because all I taste is alcohol, fire (or in gin's case, polish), etc. Having said that, it would probably be vodka. There are things that can be done with vodka (White Russians are like spiked milkshakes ) to make it palatable and now they have reduced alcohol (reduced calorie) flavored vodkas, and they are good to sip on ice.

I've tried all the stuff on that list except Tequila, and I don't really like any of it. Jameson Irish whiskey wasn't bad, though. But I wouldn't sit and drink it or mix it.

Scotch and gin I simply cannot do. Too nasty. I have a relative who loves gin, and I had her make me a gin martini one time at a holiday gathering. I took one sip of it and gave it back to her. She drank it.

Worth noting that there's a pretty wide variety in flavors of scotch; some stuff is really peaty/smoky (Johnnie Walker, or the Islay single malts), whereas stuff from, say, Speyside is going to be a lot more delicate, with more of a honey flavor rather than a smoke flavor.  So it's worth trying a couple different varieties before writing the whole category off.  I mean, I like the smoky stuff but it's kind of an acquired taste.

Though I guess if hard liquor isn't your thing in general then maybe not.  De gustibus non est disputandum, etc.

To that end, it's kind of fun to get a whiskey flight to taste the subtle differences.  There's a really cool West Village bar that does a bunch of scotch whiskey flights.  I think it's called Highlands.  One of my favorite NYC whiskey destinations along with Beast of Bourbon in my hood.

I love the idea of whisk(e)y flights, but they're too expensive for me 99% of the time.  Maybe I should get one for my birthday or something.

Beer flights are pretty cool and more doable, budget-wise.  I'd rather have four 4oz glasses of different beers rather than one monolithic pint, even if I have to spend an extra buck or two.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Beer flights are pretty cool and more doable, budget-wise.  I'd rather have four 4oz glasses of different beers rather than one monolithic pint, even if I have to spend an extra buck or two.

For a moment I thought this was some sort of hipster pub crawl.

[Tender Branson]

[DemPGH]

I'm a thoroughgoing wine drinker, so hard liquor is tough because all I taste is alcohol, fire (or in gin's case, polish), etc. Having said that, it would probably be vodka. There are things that can be done with vodka (White Russians are like spiked milkshakes ) to make it palatable and now they have reduced alcohol (reduced calorie) flavored vodkas, and they are good to sip on ice.

I've tried all the stuff on that list except Tequila, and I don't really like any of it. Jameson Irish whiskey wasn't bad, though. But I wouldn't sit and drink it or mix it.

Scotch and gin I simply cannot do. Too nasty. I have a relative who loves gin, and I had her make me a gin martini one time at a holiday gathering. I took one sip of it and gave it back to her. She drank it.

Worth noting that there's a pretty wide variety in flavors of scotch; some stuff is really peaty/smoky (Johnnie Walker, or the Islay single malts), whereas stuff from, say, Speyside is going to be a lot more delicate, with more of a honey flavor rather than a smoke flavor.  So it's worth trying a couple different varieties before writing the whole category off.  I mean, I like the smoky stuff but it's kind of an acquired taste.

Though I guess if hard liquor isn't your thing in general then maybe not.  De gustibus non est disputandum, etc.

I'd be open to sampling a different kind of Scotch, but I'm just not a hard liquor drinker. I did neglect to mention that some schnapps on ice - like blackberry schnapps - is not bad. I can drink that.

Speaking of honey, I'd be open to trying something like mead, which I never have done. Probably will when chance presents itself. Honey on its own is usually too sweet and pungent for me, but I'd be curious as to the taste of mead.

No, I'd say sherry is probably as I high as I go with alcohol content for regular consumption - the dry stuff, which is what I keep in the refrigerator in lieu of white wine, comes in at about 17% or 18% or so. Some of it has a nutty kind of flavor that I like.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Bourbon, but I generally just drink beer. 

[Badger]

Scotch (Laphroig, Caol Ila and Lagavulin among my favorites--LOVE the peaty stuff), and Bourbon (Evan Williams Single Barrel and Four Roses Single Barrel are my top choices).

Oh, and a shout out for Kraken Rum.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Well, surprisingly, I didn't mind that mix of beer and 'whiskey malt' (not sure whether it means whiskey as a whole or not) I tried yesterday. Gives a kind of 'ambered' flavor to a random beer that wasn't unpleasant.



Heineken producing this.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Speaking of honey, I'd be open to trying something like mead, which I never have done. Probably will when chance presents itself. Honey on its own is usually too sweet and pungent for me, but I'd be curious as to the taste of mead.

Mead is nasty. There's a reason why it was replaced by spirits.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Has anyone here tried the real absinthe?

[Donerail]

I'm 20, what do I know?

The drinking age in this country may be 21, but I've honestly never heard of anyone waiting until then to drink.

Now you have.

[traininthedistance]

Has anyone here tried the real absinthe?

It's not bad or anything, but it is kinda overhyped. The whole "thujone = psychedelic forbidden fruit!!1!" thing is a romantic myth- there's basically no discernible difference between absinthe and the pastis that replaced it, and the main destructive compound in ye olde absinthe was just plain old ethanol.  It's super sweet, super boozy, and super licorice/anise flavored.  There can be more subtleties to it if you're really obsessed, but not that many.

I do like it in a Sazerac and some other similar cocktails, but it can easily overpower other flavors so a light touch is necessary. 

[DemPGH]

Tender: Yeah, Irish Cream is delicious on ice and I've heard of people putting it in coffee, although I like coffee plain. Tastes like a caramel milkshake with alcohol. Yum.

Speaking of honey, I'd be open to trying something like mead, which I never have done. Probably will when chance presents itself. Honey on its own is usually too sweet and pungent for me, but I'd be curious as to the taste of mead.

Mead is nasty. There's a reason why it was replaced by spirits.

Kind of figured as much. Fermented honey and water. So you try it just to see how bad it is, ha.

[politicallefty]

Tender: Yeah, Irish Cream is delicious on ice and I've heard of people putting it in coffee, although I like coffee plain. Tastes like a caramel milkshake with alcohol. Yum.

I agree, it is very good, especially in a White Russian. Technically, it isn't liquor though; it's liqueur. (I can't say I've ever had it in coffee, but it does sound pretty good.)

[Velasco]

Ron Pampero de Venezuela. 

Best rum there is.  Not white.  Not spiced.  It's golden, and very slightly more viscous than most rums.  Dry, yet fruity.  Somewhat sweet, of course, as it's rum, but not too sweet.  Very good neat.  Probably good on ice as well, or with juice, but I like it neat. 

I'm not a big fan of rum, because it's usually too sweet for my taste. But that's a fine drink (and it's good on ice). 

[free my dawg]

I'm 20, what do I know?

The drinking age in this country may be 21, but I've honestly never heard of anyone waiting until then to drink.

Now you have.

Fitzy drinking? Good joke.

[SWE]

I'm 20, what do I know?

The drinking age in this country may be 21, but I've honestly never heard of anyone waiting until then to drink.

Now you have.

What are you talking about? Adam isn't ever going to drink.

[Mr. Illini]

Whiskey to mix, tequila to shoot

[Maxwell]

I voted Rum in the poll, but I've increasingly moved over to gin.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I voted Rum in the poll, but I've increasingly moved over to gin.

I can't stand gin.  I've tried it a few times, and it's just not for me.