What Are You Sipping on Lately? (Spirits Thread)

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

A few years back, BILIL and I shared some zinfandel/port after a nice dinner for my wife. It was excellent! But I've gone back to the winery where we ate and they look at me like I've already been drinking and have no idea what I'm talking about. Anyone can point me in a direction?

Port and Zinfandel are two distinctly different things. Technically Port is only from the Douro Valley of Portugal and is fortified with grape spirits. It will generally be stronger than regular wine varietals.

Zin is typically one of the stronger varietals though, and does tend to have quite a lot of unfermented sugar, like Port. But they're still two different animals.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Port and Zinfandel are two distinctly different things. Technically Port is only from the Douro Valley of Portugal and is fortified with grape spirits. It will generally be stronger than regular wine varietals.

Zin is typically one of the stronger varietals though, and does tend to have quite a lot of unfermented sugar, like Port. But they're still two different animals.

Hence why I'm having an issue finding it? It was definitely zin, but they served it in a port glass, and it seemed quite fortified.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Hence why I'm having an issue finding it? It was definitely zin, but they served it in a port glass, and it seemed quite fortified.

Carry some Grappa and you can fortify anything. Or just get drunk on grappa.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Carry some Grappa and you can fortify anything. Or just get drunk on grappa.

While nobody will ever claim I don't want to get buzzed, this stuff was actually enjoyable to drink, and I want more

[m630]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

While nobody will ever claim I don't want to get buzzed, this stuff was actually enjoyable to drink, and I want more

Heres something that popped up...

https://www.terradorowinery.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&PageID=A8B995F8-FA93-F6AE-B9F2-44251A1D2086&originalMarketingURL=Our-Wines/Zinfandel-Port

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by m630

Heres something that popped up...

https://www.terradorowinery.com/inde...Zinfandel-Port

Just ordered 2!

[m630]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Just ordered 2!

nice, let us know how that is, never had a port of Zin - though I luv a great Zin

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Tennessee makes whiskey? I work in Kentucky a few times a year, I won't share that knowledge with them.

I enjoyed my Yamazaki, quite a bit. I probably didn't sound like it above. It's a super approachable whiskey. I just tend to prefer dumb flavors like brine and iodine, so gravitate towards Oban, Laphroig and Talisker more than the Macs.

...it just so happens Tennessee makes some of the finest, imHo

i certainly do not appreciate the true Scotch, I'm humbly a single barrel jd drinker strictly, with an addition of Clase Azul and DJ1942 the past few years, and the Yamazaki for holiday gatherings. go figure!

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by m630

nice, let us know how that is, never had a port of Zin - though I luv a great Zin



...it just so happens Tennessee makes some of the finest, imHo

i certainly do not appreciate the true Scotch, I'm humbly a single barrel jd drinker strictly, with an addition of Clase Azul and DJ1942 the past few years, and the Yamazaki for holiday gatherings. go figure!

You aren't kidding! I can't say I am a fan of the normal JD for anything other than a mixer but those barrel proof store picks you have up there are phenomenal, I have 2 myself and they are among some of the best I have easily. I hear good things about Sinatra but its hard to justify for the price (for me anyway).

[m630]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

You aren't kidding! I can't say I am a fan of the normal JD for anything other than a mixer but those barrel proof store picks you have up there are phenomenal, I have 2 myself and they are among some of the best I have easily. I hear good things about Sinatra but its hard to justify for the price (for me anyway).

I only drink normal JD (No7) when theres nothing else left at the bar!!!

Single barrel (94proof) is great and can stand next to any whiskey, imho. Its my preferred drink. (I have a real barrel too!!)
There is also silver label which is my fav at 100 proof but can only be purchased in duty free shopping so i stock up when traveling and also have friends/family bring back when traveling. Then theres the barrelproofs, they’re around 130proof and special.

As for Sinatra, its got a unique hint of vanilla which is nice, though yes its pricey. Its best enjoyed neat like a cordial.
Also, gold label No.27 is great too, its more pricy than single barrel but less than Sinatra, also great neat as a cordial.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by m630

I only drink normal JD (No7) when theres nothing else left at the bar!!!

Single barrel (94proof) is great and can stand next to any whiskey, imho. Its my preferred drink. (I have a real barrel too!!)
There is also silver label which is my fav at 100 proof but can only be purchased in duty free shopping so i stock up when traveling and also have friends/family bring back when traveling. Then theres the barrelproofs, they’re around 130proof and special.

As for Sinatra, its got a unique hint of vanilla which is nice, though yes its pricey. Its best enjoyed neat like a cordial.
Also, gold label No.27 is great too, its more pricy than single barrel but less than Sinatra, also great neat as a cordial.

Did you do a tasting before purchase? I'm with Hawkeye in that it's hard to buy a bottle (Sinatra) at that price with no idea what I'm getting. 7 is my normal go-to for Jack/diet, but I was not impressed with Single Barrel, even at 94.
ONCE, before a movie when BILIL and I were both having a bit of a cough, we stopped into the local bar outside the theatre and grabbed a shot of that Honey thing. O M G, I left it on the bar and coughed my way thru the movie.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Total Wine was a madhouse today. Picked up this bottle of gin.

[upstatedoc]

Courtesy of BIL

[M_Six]

^^^Nice. My BIL would have bought me a 6-pack of Bud Lite.

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by M_Six

^^^Nice. My BIL would have bought me a 6-pack of Bud Lite.

That's what we call "sex in a canoe". It's fucking close to water.

[Hap]

I have read this whole thread. I am new to bourbon and have bought a few to see what I like.

Hap

[EstorilM]

Henry Mckenna 10 yr

[1MOREMOD]

Think that was my last acquisition also

[OGM2]

Originally Posted by m630

Have you had the Yamazaki? if so how does it compare to the Toki?

I don't drink scotch, but I really enjoy this japanese whisky

Toki is mostly used for mixing although nothing wrong with drinking it on its own. Aged Japanese whisky is overpriced right now due to a surge in unanticipated demand. IMO, Yamazaki 12 should be priced about the same as Macallan 12. You can get blended Japanese at better prices that are still outstanding. If your exploring try the Yamasaki, Hibiki, and if you can handle light smoke, Hakashu. In general, Japanese whiskys are lighter bodied but no less complex (think Pinot vs Cabernet) than their Scottish counterparts. They are very nuanced in flavor.

[AlpineWhite_SJ]

Originally Posted by OGM2

Toki is mostly used for mixing although nothing wrong with drinking it on its own. Aged Japanese whisky is overpriced right now due to a surge in unanticipated demand. IMO, Yamazaki 12 should be priced about the same as Macallan 12. You can get blended Japanese at better prices that are still outstanding. If your exploring try the Yamasaki, Hibiki, and if you can handle light smoke, Hakashu. In general, Japanese whiskys are lighter bodied but no less complex (think Pinot vs Cabernet) than their Scottish counterparts. They are very nuanced in flavor.

Nikka puts out good stuff for the price. Just picked up a bottle of their Toketsuru today and already have some Coffey Grain and "from the barrel".

[hooligan_G01]

Managed to grab a bottle of Midwinter Night's Dram Act 7, Scene 2 at MSRP last week. Also got a 1792 store pick from a local liquor store that clocks in at a whopping 125 proof. Oh, and I snagged a store pick Old Elk that I'm looking forward to trying, as well - MGP juice, but reportedly a high malt mashbill, so unusual for a bourbon.

Cheers, everyone.

[m630]

Originally Posted by OGM2

Toki is mostly used for mixing although nothing wrong with drinking it on its own. Aged Japanese whisky is overpriced right now due to a surge in unanticipated demand. IMO, Yamazaki 12 should be priced about the same as Macallan 12. You can get blended Japanese at better prices that are still outstanding. If your exploring try the Yamasaki, Hibiki, and if you can handle light smoke, Hakashu. In general, Japanese whiskys are lighter bodied but no less complex (think Pinot vs Cabernet) than their Scottish counterparts. They are very nuanced in flavor.

Thanks!!

[m630]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Did you do a tasting before purchase? I'm with Hawkeye in that it's hard to buy a bottle (Sinatra) at that price with no idea what I'm getting. 7 is my normal go-to for Jack/diet, but I was not impressed with Single Barrel, even at 94.
ONCE, before a movie when BILIL and I were both having a bit of a cough, we stopped into the local bar outside the theatre and grabbed a shot of that Honey thing. O M G, I left it on the bar and coughed my way thru the movie.

I admit that jd is an acquired taste, but for me, its what i drink, in single barrel guise that is. On the rocks its my perfect drink and 94is so smooth, though 100is perfect if you can find. I do not own the honey stuff though as that doesnt interest me...I do have a bottle of Winter for mixing with cider, as well as a bottle of the apple for mixing.

As for Sinatra, had not tried before purchase, but i had an expectation that was exceeded, hence this is my second bottle