Hard liquor recommendations

Runwildboys

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Looking for recommendations on bourbon. Actually, recommendations on all liquor would be appreciated. I've been slowing down and sticking to lower amounts of hard booze, so quality is becoming a factor. Thanks in advance.
I don't really know much about hard liquor, but if you like cinnamon, I highly recommend Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire. Much smoother than Fireball.
 

Creeper

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I can't drink booze anymore because of medications I am taking. Now it is just the occasional liqueur. I really like Galliano over crushed ice after a big meal. It seems to help with that feeling I have overeaten again.
 

DoctorChicken

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It’s my time to shine. I’m a bit of a burbon connoisseur, which is a fancy way of saying I’m an alcoholic with taste!

For an inexpensive burbon, it’s hard to go wrong with Wild Turkey 101. It has hints of sweetness, vanilla, very oaky, and peppery. It’s definitely hot at 101 proof, but it doesn’t punch you in the face. I drink it neat just fine. It’s a good burbon.

Mitcher’s Small Batch burbon is great, if you like ryes.

Evan Williams is decent, especially if you get bottled in bond. Four Roses, Larceny, Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark (especially Maker’s 46) are all very good and in the $20-50 range. I’m a bit partial to Makers.

If you are ok with more expensive than that, you’d be looking at Peerless Rye, Bardstown Burbon Company (toured their facility; beautiful new place), Heaven Hill bottled in bond, Barton 1792, and different Makers Mark cask strengths.

I’m a scotch guy too, preferably peated. My favorite whisky right now is Laphroig 10. If you like the taste of ash, tar, cough syrup, and a band aid that’s been melted in the microwave, do I have a whisky for you. Phenomenal stuff, and controversial amongst my friends and I. Several people have spent $50 on a bottle, only to give it to me because they can’t drink it.
 

dsturgeon

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I would go with crown royal on the rocks. Let the ice melt a little bit, take a big drink, get a little burn, then it is smooth sailing all night.

I like to drink wine now. I don't like being anibreated, only a slight buzz or warmth
 

Hardline

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Ranching

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Looking for recommendations on bourbon. Actually, recommendations on all liquor would be appreciated. I've been slowing down and sticking to lower amounts of hard booze, so quality is becoming a factor. Thanks in advance.
Not a bourbon guy, I drink my two favorites are Johnnie Walker Black and Grey Goose with water and lime or with G2 if I'm outside on a hot day. G2 is sugar-free Gatorade.
 

CouchCoach

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Top shelf or no shelf, life is far too short for cheap or well liquor. Top shelf is for savoring, letting that nectar roll around your mouth and tongue and relishing the aftertaste that lingers, the best part to me. A fine red wine has that same effect on the mouth.

I have had to give up all colored liquor and I do miss bourbon, rye and scotch and the last bourbon I drank was the best of all the ones I tried and affordable, Elijah Craig, the creator of bourbon. My favorite single malt is Aberlour 15 or The Balvenie 18. For blends, Johnnie Walker Black and Chivas Regal.

Gin is a favorite as well but it all depends on the drink. Hendrick's is great in a gin and tonic but not a martini, too many botanicals. Just Bombay, not the Sapphire, is so clean and crisp in a martini as you sip on it, you immediately think 'this taste like another'. My favorite thing about a gin martini is the first sip, I get an involuntary rigor from my shoulders to my butt, it's great.

Tequila, it's Patron Silver in a scratch margarita with Cointreau and a whisper of Grand Marnier floated on top. Mix Red Diamond Kosher Salt with Maldon Salt flakes for the rim, little bit of magic right there.

Which brings me to vodka and the biggest myth is that vodka does not have taste, it most certainly does but you have to taste it in a martini not a Bloody Mary. Tito's is a great mixing vodka but for the martini, you need to experiment. I have tried them all, Grey Goose, Belvedere, Stoly Gold and Cristal, Ketel One and finally settled in on my martini vodkas, Crystal Head or Chopin, a Polish potato vodka which is what the first vodkas were made from. If you are looking for smooth, look no further than Crystal Head but sometimes I want a little bite and a reminder I am drinking alcohol. Crystal Head goes down too easy.

Three things are requirements for me. The proper glassware for the proper cocktail as that completes the experience and I always measure, I never free pour. I have had a lot of friends with problems with alcohol and they all shared one trait, free pouring. I keep count and know exactly how much I can have over a certain period of time because I hate the feeling of having had too much. I like the effects of alcohol when it gets me just buzzy but do not like to go further than that. I haven't done shots in 30 years. And clear ice for cocktails, cloudy ice ruins the ambience the perfect cocktail creates and for margaritas, mojitos and mules, nothing but Sonic Ice will do.
 

Runwildboys

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Top shelf or no shelf, life is far too short for cheap or well liquor. Top shelf is for savoring, letting that nectar roll around your mouth and tongue and relishing the aftertaste that lingers, the best part to me. A fine red wine has that same effect on the mouth.

I have had to give up all colored liquor and I do miss bourbon, rye and scotch and the last bourbon I drank was the best of all the ones I tried and affordable, Elijah Craig, the creator of bourbon. My favorite single malt is Aberlour 15 or The Balvenie 18. For blends, Johnnie Walker Black and Chivas Regal.

Gin is a favorite as well but it all depends on the drink. Hendrick's is great in a gin and tonic but not a martini, too many botanicals. Just Bombay, not the Sapphire, is so clean and crisp in a martini as you sip on it, you immediately think 'this taste like another'. My favorite thing about a gin martini is the first sip, I get an involuntary rigor from my shoulders to my butt, it's great.

Tequila, it's Patron Silver in a scratch margarita with Cointreau and a whisper of Grand Marnier floated on top. Mix Red Diamond Kosher Salt with Maldon Salt flakes for the rim, little bit of magic right there.

Which brings me to vodka and the biggest myth is that vodka does not have taste, it most certainly does but you have to taste it in a martini not a Bloody Mary. Tito's is a great mixing vodka but for the martini, you need to experiment. I have tried them all, Grey Goose, Belvedere, Stoly Gold and Cristal, Ketel One and finally settled in on my martini vodkas, Crystal Head or Chopin, a Polish potato vodka which is what the first vodkas were made from. If you are looking for smooth, look no further than Crystal Head but sometimes I want a little bite and a reminder I am drinking alcohol. Crystal Head goes down too easy.

Three things are requirements for me. The proper glassware for the proper cocktail as that completes the experience and I always measure, I never free pour. I have had a lot of friends with problems with alcohol and they all shared one trait, free pouring. I keep count and know exactly how much I can have over a certain period of time because I hate the feeling of having had too much. I like the effects of alcohol when it gets me just buzzy but do not like to go further than that. I haven't done shots in 30 years. And clear ice for cocktails, cloudy ice ruins the ambience the perfect cocktail creates and for margaritas, mojitos and mules, nothing but Sonic Ice will do.
I'm of the same mindset, regarding the buzz. Enough of a buzz for me to say what I feel like saying, but not so much that I'm not funny when I say it.
 

VaqueroTD

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Bourbon is my preferred liquor, but I’m no connoisseur. I’m fine with one of those giant bottles of Bullit from Costco. I used to make the whiskey ice, try different aged scotches, but the only vice I pony up for now are cigars. Drunk is drunk.
 

SlammedZero

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Which brings me to vodka and the biggest myth is that vodka does not have taste, it most certainly does but you have to taste it in a martini not a Bloody Mary. Tito's is a great mixing vodka but for the martini, you need to experiment. I have tried them all, Grey Goose, Belvedere, Stoly Gold and Cristal, Ketel One and finally settled in on my martini vodkas, Crystal Head or Chopin, a Polish potato vodka which is what the first vodkas were made from. If you are looking for smooth, look no further than Crystal Head but sometimes I want a little bite and a reminder I am drinking alcohol. Crystal Head goes down too easy.


I used to love me some Vodka, especially a Screwdriver. It was my drink. However, when I was in my mid-20s, my buddy was getting married and we threw him a bachelor party night. I ended up taking a gallon jug of OJ, pouring out half-ish of the OJ, and refilling the rest with Vodka. I thought this was a good idea at the time. Mixed it around and drank on that all night. I still attest to that being my drunkest experience ever, and as you can imagine, the next day was not fun. Smart? No. Fun? That's debatable. However, the aftermath left me not being able to drink Vodka for a very long time. In fact, I just barely started tipping my toe back into the Vodka pool again and I'm now 42. Got to love being young, dumb, and reckless. lol :D
 

Montanalo

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Looking for recommendations on bourbon. Actually, recommendations on all liquor would be appreciated. I've been slowing down and sticking to lower amounts of hard booze, so quality is becoming a factor. Thanks in advance.
If you like sipping bourbon as opposed to something you might make a cocktail, here are a few suggestions:

Look for bourbon that has been "finished" in sherry or Port barrels. The initial aging takes place in American white oak barrels (or it can't be called Kentucky bourbon). Secondary aging tends to add more depth of flavor and mellows out the taste a bit. A few examples include Angles Envy, Rabbit Hole and Thomas S Moore.

If you like something with a bit of spice, try a rye like Whistle Pig.

I enjoy bourbon but, given the choice I stick to single malt scotch.
 

kskboys

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I never thought I'd drink flavored whiskey......but Peach Crown is amazing. I just pour it over ice and sip, usually cutting it in half or so w/ regular Crown.

Things change when your doc tells you about your diabetes kicking in!!!! No more coke and Wellers!!!!
 

Denim Chicken

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It’s my time to shine. I’m a bit of a burbon connoisseur, which is a fancy way of saying I’m an alcoholic with taste!

For an inexpensive burbon, it’s hard to go wrong with Wild Turkey 101. It has hints of sweetness, vanilla, very oaky, and peppery. It’s definitely hot at 101 proof, but it doesn’t punch you in the face. I drink it neat just fine. It’s a good burbon.

Mitcher’s Small Batch burbon is great, if you like ryes.

Evan Williams is decent, especially if you get bottled in bond. Four Roses, Larceny, Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark (especially Maker’s 46) are all very good and in the $20-50 range. I’m a bit partial to Makers.

If you are ok with more expensive than that, you’d be looking at Peerless Rye, Bardstown Burbon Company (toured their facility; beautiful new place), Heaven Hill bottled in bond, Barton 1792, and different Makers Mark cask strengths.

I’m a scotch guy too, preferably peated. My favorite whisky right now is Laphroig 10. If you like the taste of ash, tar, cough syrup, and a band aid that’s been melted in the microwave, do I have a whisky for you. Phenomenal stuff, and controversial amongst my friends and I. Several people have spent $50 on a bottle, only to give it to me because they can’t drink it.

Good recommendations here.

My favorite bargain bourbon is Buffalo Trace. Typically around $30 for 750ml. Bullet is not bad either.

I get Angel's Envy from time to time. It is finished in port wine barrels so has an interesting profile.

Pricier, but Hudson Baby is really smooth.
 

DoctorChicken

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I'm of the same mindset, regarding the buzz. Enough of a buzz for me to say what I feel like saying, but not so much that I'm not funny when I say it.

That's why I stopped drinking except only on occasion. I want the buzz, but if I have one glass of burbon, or a beer, I want 6. Last time I drank was during the Super Bowl, and I had at least 6 drinks.

I've replaced drinking with... something else recently legal in my state. No more hangovers, and I've lost 20 pounds.
 
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