A Drop Of Black Bush, If You Please

[dbt]

Through the misery of DNA and my own experimentation, it is woefully apparent that I love whiskey almost as much as I love my fiddle. I expect to burn in Hell for both affections, but that's another story.

I have consumed damn near every brand of whiskey made in America. Though there are moments of brilliance, most of what we distill Over Here can best be described as ordinary.

The Irish whiskies are quite a different matter! Your Powers, your Jamesons, your Tullamore Dew and your Bushmills are uniformly sublime. Granted, some are a little "rougher" than others, but they all caress the palate on the way down; they speak of red-haired girls at the Ceili and they warm the body like a turf fire. Even Poteen seems to kick American moonshine's ass, although you wouldn't want to make a regular acquaintance of either one!

All I can say is, we don't seem to know Jack (Daniel's) about making whiskey Over Here, so Up Ireland--especially your boys and girls who make the Bushmills in Antrim!

:loveya:
dbt

[Maeve]

1. Give them their due, the Scots have a way with distilling, too!

And some of their work tastes strongly of the peat...

But I prefer Bushmills, myself. And you do know that every drop you spill will be gathered up into a great vat. After you die, you will be lowered head-first into that vat and if you drown...to hell with you!
:beer:

[RogueTrooper]

6. whisky and whiskey

Whisky ( the Scottish stuff ) is distilled twice. Irish whiskey is triple distilled. Irish Whiskey is smoother ( the extra distillation process smooths out the roughness ) than Scot's Whisky ( Scot's will tell you that Irish Whiskey's triple distillation makes the drink bland ).

An excellent subject to get drunk taste testing over ;)

[Maeve]

8. I went to a Johnnie Walker tasting party

And now I know why it's a good thing to add a bit of water to an Islay (which I would NEVER do to an Irish whiskey!)

But they don't give you enough tasting to even worry about having a designated driver...

[RogueTrooper]

12. You should add water to both

You should only add a spoonfull ( in both cases ). The water reacts with the whisk(e)y causing it warm up slightly. I have been to the odd whisky tasting event in Scotland. Fortunatly, there is good public transport for the way back ;)

[Maeve]

13. Heresy!

I'll agree on the Islay; it transforms the taste entirely. The Irish just seems to be watered down--I find the same with most Scotch blended whiskies.

But then..."To each his own," said the lady as she kissed the cow.

[RogueTrooper]

14. Only add a teaspoon of water to single malts

only a teaspoon.

On maters of heresy - Mine is I prefer Irish Whiskey to Scots Whisky. After telling my ( whisky loving ) father this some years ago he has resorted to a campaign of trying to woo my tastebuds with Scottish single malts.

I have not changed my opinion but I do enjoy the wooing :evilgrin:

[Maeve]

15. I'll agree only with SOME single malts

Matters of taste, after all....

Hubby was always a Scotch drinker, but he's mostly converted now. Altho, if the wooing were done with the finer single malts...yeah, I'd enjoy that as well!
Slainte!

[RogueTrooper]

16. Slainte Mhath! Maeve

[mrgorth]

2. Bushmill's is prod whiskey

I'll take some Jameson's 1780.

[Maeve]

3. I believe they are both owned by the same company now

I know they are both imported by the same company (Pernod Ricard, who also handles Chivas and The Glenlivet)--just not sure if Pernod owns them or not.

[mrgorth]

4. Stop trying to make sense

Bushmills is orange and that's that.;)

[Maeve]

5. As is a third of the flag!

So. :P

(I had no idea of the sectarian split among whiskies when I first tasted the stuff and my taste buds didn't, either.)

[dbt]

7. I turn my back for a minute and a "discussion" breaks out!

I'd offer to buy a round, but I fear negotiations would have to be undertaken!

:beer:
dbt

[mrgorth]

9. I'll have what smiley's drinking.

[Maeve]

10. I think that is one we can agree on!

I think it's what my husband calls "the blonde in the black skirt."

:beer:

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

11. Actually when I'm in Ireland I prefer Jameson's over

Bushmills.

I just like the taste of Jameson's better.

Actually Bushmills was and may still be the sponsor of the County Antrim Senior Gaelic Football Team. Can't get much more green than the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association).