This is a frivolous topic but probably won't end up any worse than a lot of more technical threads around here. But right now I'm settling down to listen to music for a few hours. I've got a glass of Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon on two cubes of ice which is a pretty good substitute for when you can't get your hands on a bottle of Blanton's.
I also like Aberlour A'bunadh single malt Scotch. No ice. Usually neat but maybe a few drops of water.
So when you sit down for serious listening do you like to have drink? If so, what? Doesn't have to be alcohol of course.
three-easy-payments, I always equated peat and smoke as the same thing. Most of the Islay Scotches (maybe not Bunnahabhain) burn peat to dry the malted barley which gives it the smokey flavor (which I like). If there is a peat quality separate from the smoke I was not aware of it. But I might be completely wrong.
Anyway, I got a bottle of Caol Ila 12, one of my favorite smokey Islay’s and it tastes really close to the Lagavulin 16. And, it comes in the exact same bottle with the exact same cork. I’ve heard that the Caol Ila distillery sends most of its stock to other brands. Not sure what the relation between them and Lagavulin might be, if any.
Edit: Both Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries are owned by Diageo.
@n80 My favorite quality of Lagavulin 16 is the smoke more so than the peat. I've never tried the 12 yr. Looks like I need to add it to my list.
In the bourbon category I recently discovered a really good Brooklyn (of all things) bourbon. Kings County Distillers Bottled-in-Bond bourbon. Surprisingly good!
Tonight: Lagavulin 16. I like it but not sure I like it any better than their 12. The 16 is just as peaty but with a softer edge. I kind of like the edge. I find it similar but maybe less full-bodied than Caol Ila 12 which is probably my favorite Islay (and costs about $15 less.)
@n80I see you like Dalwhinnie, do you drink the Dalwhinnie Winter Gold ? Very smoth with a beautiful finish . Another one in the same kind of line is Cardhu which is gorgeous but my big grouse is that I live in Scotland where it is made and our goverment makes it dearer to buy here than most other places in the world. They say it is to curb alchoholisim but the alchoholics here drink cheap high alcohol beers and ciders. Yes I believe you !!!!
When you have at last found your perfect system and your lstening to 'Dance Macabre' by Saint - Saens and you hear that perfect timbre and the expected tone of the violins; this ocassion demands nothing less than the elixir drop of single malt whisky of Dalwhinnie.
Seems we have the best of both north of 45th parrel. I like a nice chilled glass of Jim bitters and then all depending on what I'm listening to on my Maggie's, let's see .. White widow or some Jack, maybe Blue dream for Pink Floyd. The list is endless in my music selection as it is with my cannabis. Yes my friends, now that it is legal here in Canada. Ahh.
A nice cup of tea is the best accompaniment to a listening session. Made with a strong malty Assam leaf with just a splash of cold milk. Perfection. And the music sounds better. A cheap tweak for sure.
John Hartford said in his song “Granny Won't You Smoke Some Marijuana”: “I used to get high and listen to the Beatles. It ain’t much fun now that it’s legal.”
It’s still illegal in my part of this fine land.
But when I DO drink, my preference is Cote du Rhône.
I didn't say I enjoyed Laghroaig, it is harsh, but I think it does have a character. Lagavulin was good as I remember, tasted it once. You know, sometimes you drink what your friends and relatives bring, but I no longer buy anything myself but French wine.
Tonight: Mark Knopfler's Privateering plus a Guiness Stout, an Emperial Stout (from the brewery around the corner, literally) and then, to break the theme, a glass of Four Roses. Then bedtime.
@slaw :"I feel the music thread has now been compromised. No thit! Thanks, @n80"
I'm okay with the mods moving it to wherever it needs to be or deleting it altogether if they want.
@inna I was never fond of the Laphroaig 10. Harsh and without much character. 17 year old Balvenie is great but not better than their 12, just different. Bought it once. Will stick with the 12 from now on.
@mickeyb, I love Lagavulin but you have to have a taste for smoke with that stuff. It also tends to be pricey. Another good peaty one is Caol Ila. A little less expensive than Lagavulin. Its probably my favorite peaty Scotch.
I've never smoked marijuana and don't plan to start even when it is legal. Not moralizing, I just don't need another bad habit.
2005 vintage from France, now I know, thank you, wcfeil. No-one drinks Californian wine around here..or port wine. 18 years old Glenlivet is definitely better than 12 years old, by far. 10 years old Laphroaig is unusual, that's for sure.
Ahh...this is a question that is truly aimed at the masses. I live in a rustic environment. When I'm really in the mood to do some serious music listening things have to be perfect. First, the drink. A large tumbler of Golden Grain with just a dash of kerosene to mellow the edge. Then, I slip into my most comfortable lounging clothes...a loin cloth made from 2 Freuhauf mudflaps. Then, I pop my favorite cassette of polka music into my Panasonic boombox and just let my mind float away with the music. True nirvana.
Mccallam single malt lagavulin island malt sapphire and tonic Amstel light The more I drink of any of the above libations the louder the music gets and the more upset my wife becomes.
Like the suggestion of 1990 Angelus - lovely wine (and I still have a few bottles in the cellar).
If I am listening to digital, if not a glass of wine, then a snifter of single malt, usually
Laphroaig, Lagavulin, an older Ardbeg, or a Talisker.
If I listen to analogue, nothing at all - my cantilever is worth more than a moment of alcoholic bliss, and no amount of pleasure from the drink would make up for months of waiting and retip costs into the thousands.
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