Booze

[CC Cowboy]

Just don't drink! You will be healthier, happier, and never have to worry about a DUI arrest. Besides, you'll always be able to ride if you never drink.

[Apex]

Suggestions on a good apple or cherry brandy.

Currently I am sipping on some Paul Masson VS brandy. Retry smooth. I would like something a bit different and just great flavor. Any suggestions?

[taz]

Its not brandy but crown royal apple and coke is good

[Apex]

Originally Posted by taz

Its not brandy but crown royal apple and coke is good

I don't drink any soft drinks anymore. Makes it difficult for me. lol

[Apex]

IT'S BACK! I just had some scotch in the first time in YEARS! Just straight scotch (maybe 1/2 a shot).

I still prefer brandy to scotch, but nice to know I have options!

[Apex]

So, testing here and there has yielded some results. Found some that I like and some I'll give away to others to try.


- Paul Masson VSOP brandy (xo isn't bad either) - smooth and cheap. A great little brandy. Considering a 1.75L bottle is sub-$20, you can't beat it
- New Amsterdam vodka - smooth enough to sip solo, or mix
- Johnnie Walker Black - to me, just absolutely amazing flavor. Smooth and easy. A solid sipper.
- Makers Mark bourbon - this stuff is amazing. The flavor is good, as is the finish. A solid all around bourbon
- Blue Sapphire Gin - haven't tasted solo, but gin is a picky thing. Only really high quality ones are worth going solo on, but mixed, it is quite excellent
- Jim Bean Devils Cut - that wood flavor is way too much. Kills it. The taste kind of reminds me of what playdoh smells like
- Woodford Reserve Bourbon - if you like spice, this one works for you. A bit too spicy of a finish for my palate
- Monkey Shoulder scotch - a rather mellow scotch, but black label blows it away. I'd rather spend the bit extra and get something solid
- Jameson Irish whiskey - not bad, but it doesn't quite suit my palate. The finish ruins it for me. If memory serves, it is a bit chocolate in flavor. Not my cup of tea. I may have to sample something a bit higher in quality before I judge the brand. But, $90 for a 750mL bottle of Jameson Gold seems rather steep to me.
- Sheelin Irish cream - blows Baileys out of the water. Excellent for a sipping drink or in coffee.
- Glenlivet 12 - This brand is pretty much a standard for scotch. Fruity and pretty good. I honestly think I prefer the JW Black to this one, but don't let it throw you, this is a top scotch

I enjoy trying new things, so I sample friend/family collections and recommendations. If I can find a sample, I go that route. I don't drink that often, so I'm trying to really figure out what I like, and stock solid choices for when I do fancy a sip. If I have bottles of stuff around that is kind of meh, I save that for parties (sometimes take to one and "accidentally" leave it there )

I have a German cherry brandy on hand that I took a single sip of and poured down the drain. It was THAT bad. My step-dad recommended Leroux Blackberry Brandy. No samples available. Got a 750mL bottle and I'm going to gift it to him. I tried a few sips and it wasn't for me.

[Apex]

So I hit up a local store because a friend requested some rum for an upcoming game night we host once or twice a year. A bunch of friends come over and we just have fun playing games.

So I saw a sale on this bourbon, and grabbed it not knowing anything about it. Here is what I've noticed after a little sample:

Bulleit Bourbon - totally impressed with this one. The nose is somewhat smokey (though reviews state several other flavors in there, my nose picked up on the smoke). A slow fade on the finish, and that finish hangs around. Maybe because it is a bit oily...it stays with you and that is not a bad thing. It fades after about 30 seconds. I was shocked how good it was for a $19 bourbon. This is staying in the bar for future use.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by allanoue

Guinness Stout

Originally Posted by CaliGrrl

Guinness is a good choice. I like a lot of beers- Newcastle, Guinness, any of the stouts or porters. See if you can get a tasting of a few beers. Many microbreweries do these and it's a great way to taste several without getting too hammered.

Good call! I can now officially say that I really like beer.

On my 21st my dad insisted on buying me a beer. I told him I was fine and that he didn't have to, so he went to the gas station and bought me a Natty Ice after asking the guy there "Is this still the nastiest stuff there is?" Gee. Thanks, Dad. I didn't plan on drinking it but I worked up enough of a sweat that a cold beer, even a terrible one, sounded good. I drank half of it and poured it out. Ick.

On getting a tasting, I'm in the wine part of California, so I'll probably do that first and foremost. I'm freaky for a glass of smooshed grapes.

[CaliGrrl]

Oh, yeah, Bulleit bourbon is good. I like the rye one.

Beer is a very subjective thing. Some you'll like, some not so much.

You'll have to report back about what wines you like.

[DannoXYZ]

What?@! Paul Mason's making wine again? I grew up just a couple miles downhill from the winery and all they did there was have concerts and wedding. The Orson Welles commercials were classic!

At the moment, I really enjoy Clase Azul Reposado tequila. Gonna switch to vodka when winter arrives!

[Abu_Mishary]

Originally Posted by CaliGrrl

Beer is a very subjective thing. Some you'll like, some not so much.

Had a bottle of Barbican (non alcoholic) malt flavour drink the other day and a friend of mine told me that is how beer taste like. I guess i am one of those that does not like it so much. Even if it is an imitation of a beer.

[VaFish]

Originally Posted by Apex

So, testing here and there has yielded some results. Found some that I like and some I'll give away to others to try.


- Paul Masson VSOP brandy (xo isn't bad either) - smooth and cheap. A great little brandy. Considering a 1.75L bottle is sub-$20, you can't beat it
- New Amsterdam vodka - smooth enough to sip solo, or mix
- Johnnie Walker Black - to me, just absolutely amazing flavor. Smooth and easy. A solid sipper.
- Makers Mark bourbon - this stuff is amazing. The flavor is good, as is the finish. A solid all around bourbon
- Blue Sapphire Gin - haven't tasted solo, but gin is a picky thing. Only really high quality ones are worth going solo on, but mixed, it is quite excellent
- Jim Bean Devils Cut - that wood flavor is way too much. Kills it. The taste kind of reminds me of what playdoh smells like
- Woodford Reserve Bourbon - if you like spice, this one works for you. A bit too spicy of a finish for my palate
- Monkey Shoulder scotch - a rather mellow scotch, but black label blows it away. I'd rather spend the bit extra and get something solid
- Jameson Irish whiskey - not bad, but it doesn't quite suit my palate. The finish ruins it for me. If memory serves, it is a bit chocolate in flavor. Not my cup of tea. I may have to sample something a bit higher in quality before I judge the brand. But, $90 for a 750mL bottle of Jameson Gold seems rather steep to me.
- Sheelin Irish cream - blows Baileys out of the water. Excellent for a sipping drink or in coffee.
- Glenlivet 12 - This brand is pretty much a standard for scotch. Fruity and pretty good. I honestly think I prefer the JW Black to this one, but don't let it throw you, this is a top scotch

I enjoy trying new things, so I sample friend/family collections and recommendations. If I can find a sample, I go that route. I don't drink that often, so I'm trying to really figure out what I like, and stock solid choices for when I do fancy a sip. If I have bottles of stuff around that is kind of meh, I save that for parties (sometimes take to one and "accidentally" leave it there )

I have a German cherry brandy on hand that I took a single sip of and poured down the drain. It was THAT bad. My step-dad recommended Leroux Blackberry Brandy. No samples available. Got a 750mL bottle and I'm going to gift it to him. I tried a few sips and it wasn't for me.

Try some Four Roses Small Batch

[CaliGrrl]

No worries, I've got several friends who don't much like booze.

[Apex]

Originally Posted by Abu_Mishary

Had a bottle of Barbican (non alcoholic) malt flavour drink the other day and a friend of mine told me that is how beer taste like. I guess i am one of those that does not like it so much. Even if it is an imitation of a beer.

No worries there. Back when my wife and I were dating, I caught her pinching her nose while drinking a rum and coke. So I asked her what she was doing. She told me she didn't like the taste. I replied, "So why do you drink then?"

After that she hasn't had a drink. LOL

[Apex]

Originally Posted by CaliGrrl

Oh, yeah, Bulleit bourbon is good. I like the rye one.

Beer is a very subjective thing. Some you'll like, some not so much.

You'll have to report back about what wines you like.

Was the wine question statement directed to me? Hard to tell, the thread got busy all of a sudden.




Oh, and Guinness is my beer. Even visited the brewery in Dublin.

[CaliGrrl]

Someone commented they live in wine country.

Guinness, yep, good stuff there. I'd love to tour the brewery! Just one more reason I need to visit Ireland.

[Triple Jim]

Originally Posted by Abu_Mishary

Had a bottle of Barbican (non alcoholic) malt flavour drink the other day and a friend of mine told me that is how beer taste like. I guess i am one of those that does not like it so much. Even if it is an imitation of a beer.

Some non-alcoholic beers taste better than others, and a few may taste somewhat like a bad beer, but I've never had one that tasted much like a good beer.

[MrAtom]

I've been hearing good things about Target's brand of $5.00 wine, California Roots. I tried it and it tasted like someone had vodka, watered it down to what is technically wine, and dyed it to look like white wine. I would not recommend it. Maybe the red wines are better but I'm not going to try them. If all you wanted was to get sloshy for five bucks, drinking a whole bottle of that would be an okay option. I poured it out instead of giving it to someone because if someone willingly drinks that, they're probably a desperate alcoholic and I'd prefer to not enable them.

I've also been recommended Fat Tire. It's a damn good beer.

[DannoXYZ]

I've always like Fat Tyre! The Firestone non-alcoholic beer is pretty good! Our Cycling Team @
UCSB was sponsored by them!

Yeah don't buy booze from Target. I've had great results with Costco, Grocery Outlet and Trader Joe's. Total Wine is pretty good too!

[CaliGrrl]

All CostCo's products are made by others and rebranded. Most are brand name something (my friend thinks the Kirkland whiskey is Jack Daniel's) and are usually pretty good.

BevMo usually has pretty good prices and darn near anything you could want.

I don't know that I'd trust Target brand booze. Box wines aren't necessarily bad, and are actually pretty good if you don't plan to drink it all in one sitting. You can reclose it and since it's a bag inside the box, it doesn't oxidize the way a bottle would.

Fat Tire is good beer for sure. I've also started drinking one from Lagunitas brewery: Sour Wench. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's often have good beers.

[DannoXYZ]

Yeah, and Costco vodka is ... Grey Goose for 1/2 price! Some independent reviewers feel it's better than Grey Goose. I switched to that from my previous Stoli pick after Russian mob took control and messed up formulae.

[NaturalFlavored]

I've never tried fat Tyre because my dad and grandfather said it was disgusting and they have good taste in beer.
Beer tastes way better out of a bottle than a can, you can taste the difference. I do like dos Equis or tecate original. I went to a brewery/sandwich place down the street and the beer the guy gave me was amazing. I can't remember what it was but im definitely going back to find out.

[DannoXYZ]

Chocolate vs. vanilla, which one's better?

Ahh... my favourite Mexican beer has got to be... Negra Modelo !!!

[Z1R rider]

Enjoyed a couple rumrunners, now onto vodka Cokes