Go Back   Cigar Weekly Community Forums and Discussion Groups > Community Centers > I'll Drink to That!

I'll Drink to That! What is your favorite beverage to have with a cigar? Juice? Cola? Beer? Port? Single Malt Scotch? This room is for the discussion of beverages, especially alcoholic beverages that go well with cigars!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-08-2013, 09:09 AM   #1
The JD
Herf Meister
 
The JD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 6,770
Scotch Tasting Help

Hello everyone! I could use some help for this year's cigar and Scotch tasting I'm hosting for our cigar club. I need help coming up with a selection of Scotch for the tasting. This will be our 6 year doing this event so we've had a lot of Scotches already and I'm hoping for helping coming up with new stuff for us to try.

One of the members posted our past tasting selections here:

http://www.goatshed.ca/scotch-tastings

But for ease of reading, here's all the Scotch we've done in the past:

2008:
Auchentoshan 3 WoodArdbed 10 yr
Aberlour 16 yr
JW Green

2009:
Glenkinchie '92 Distiller's Edition
Springbank 10 yr
Cragganmore 13 yr Distiller's Edition
Dalwhinnie Distiller's Edition
Lagavulin Distiller's Edition

2010:
Glenfiddich 12 yr
Glenfiddich 18 yr
Glenlivet 12 yr
Glenlivet 18yr
JW Blue

2011:
Auchentoshan 12 yr
Auchentoshan 18 yr
Balvenie 12 yr Doublewood
Balvenie 14 yr Caribbean Cask
Balvenie 15 yr Single Barrel
Balvenie 17 yr Peated Cask

2012:
Auchentoshan 3 Wood
Glenkinchie '92 Distiller's Edition
Glenfiddich 12 yr
Balvenie 15 yr Single Barrel
Macallan 18 yr
Laphroaig 18 yr

(*Note: He hasn't put up any of our notes and I noticed he's missing some of our cigars, but he Scotch listings are all up to date)

After our first tasting (which I just grabbed random bottles) we tried to have a loose theme with the tasting. 2009 was a Scotch from each of the regions of Scotland to show how where the Scotch was made has a general affect on its flavor. 2010 was a "Comparison" tasting where the difference in 6 years of aging was tasted. I believe we also tasted a DR Romeo y Julieta compared to a ISOM RyJ. 2011 was tasting a single malt aged for different lengths and methods. (We had to throw in 2 extra bottles last minute because of extra people). And finally last year was our 5 year anny so we did the previous 4 years winners and added on 2 nice bottles.

For this year? I'm not really sure. I'm thinking of maybe another trip around Scotland and tasting some Scotch from each region, specifically getting something we haven't tried yet. I might match that cigars that have distinctive regional flavors. (Honduras, Nicaragua, something like that?)

I was also thinking of trying out Scotches that aren't Scotch (not sure what these are officially called). Scotch style whiskeys made from other parts of the world. I've had Japanese "Scotch" before (the name escapes me at the moment) and wouldn't mind trying something like that. I'm just not sure how many of these are out there and how available they are.

Any ideas? Feel free to suggest cigar pairings as well.

Some constraints, obviously. I usually budget for 10 people with 2 cigars a person and 4-5 bottles. Assume around $200 for two sets of 10 cigars (20 cigars total) and $300 for 4-5 bottles of Scotch. I'm in WI so liquor tax is near non-existent. Another constraint is I have about 4-5 weeks to acquire the goods so it has to be easy enough for me to find and pick up or get delivered to me.

Thanks for the help guys! Let me know if you have any questions.
The JD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2013, 12:02 PM   #2
grtrx
Contributing Editor
Herf God
 
grtrx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Naperville IL
Posts: 44,579
SUntory and others make scotch like beverages in Japan, you could add some American offerings to that too

anotehr idea would be all blended as a play against all single malt
__________________
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill

"A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant
grtrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2013, 12:07 PM   #3
BigO
Publisher/Owner
El Chefé
BBQ Guru
Herf God
 
BigO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta.
Posts: 55,711
Talisker
Oban
Peat Monster
__________________
Every time you think you've become too cynical, the world finds a way to teach you that the real problem is that you haven't become cynical enough

Free speech is free speech is free speech. There is no qualifier.

If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention.

Never attribute malice to that what can be explained as stupidity.

Unborn lives matter too.

BigO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2013, 12:36 PM   #4
The JD
Herf Meister
 
The JD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 6,770
Quote:
Originally Posted by grtrx View Post
SUntory and others make scotch like beverages in Japan, you could add some American offerings to that too

anotehr idea would be all blended as a play against all single malt

I like the idea of all blended. Any recommendations?
The JD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2013, 01:26 PM   #5
grtrx
Contributing Editor
Herf God
 
grtrx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Naperville IL
Posts: 44,579
cutty sark would be a starting point
__________________
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill

"A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant
grtrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2013, 01:32 PM   #6
grtrx
Contributing Editor
Herf God
 
grtrx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Naperville IL
Posts: 44,579
johnny walker red, chivas regal, white horse 12 year, old grouse gold reserve, kingdom 17 year old, whyte and mackay original blend 40 year old (if you REALLY care you'll serve the W&M)
__________________
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill

"A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant

Last edited by grtrx; 04-08-2013 at 01:35 PM.
grtrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2013, 05:11 PM   #7
jazznut
Managing Editor Emeritus
Herf God
 
jazznut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 26,082
Quote:
Originally Posted by The JD View Post
I was also thinking of trying out Scotches that aren't Scotch (not sure what these are officially called).
Whiskies, pure and simple.

And along that train of thought, you may be able to get ahold of malt whiskies from various countries. This would make for quite an interesting taste experience. For example:

Amrut Single Malt or Amrut Fusion (the latter includes peat-smoked barley from Scotland in the mix) from India

Mackmyra Malt from Sweden (the First Edition is clean, fruity and very good)

McCarthy's Oregon Malt (a uniquely smoky whisky from the Clear Creek Distillery) from the U.S.A.

Bushmills Malt (either the much improved 10 Year Old or the richer and more expensive 16 Year Old matured in three varieties of oak) from Ireland

A Japanese malt whisky (Suntory's Yamazaki and Nikka's Yoichi are the 'big hitters' here, though there are many other options including Nikka's Taketsuru, which is a blend of malts from the firm's two distillery sites)

Yet another option would be to concentrate on one of my favourite locations for whisky... Islay, Scotland. With this tact in mind, you could offer a selection of malts ranging from the basically peat-free offerings of Bruichladdich through the gentle Bunnahabhain and medium-peated Bowmore and Caol Ila to the heavier hitters such as Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig. All great matches for cigars of varying strengths.

Blended malt whiskies (those that contain malts from more than one distillery) also represent an attractive proposal. Here, I'd suggest you search out fine examples such as:

Douglas Laing Big Peat (the name says it all, though the whisky is much more approachable than you might think)

Compass Box The Spice Tree (brilliant Highland blend)

Compass Box Oak Cross (way too drinkable)

Johnnie Walker Green Label (if you can still find it)

Or you could concentrate on the products from one distillery. In this case, I'd recommend the offerings from BenRiach as a good starting point, as you could try samples as varied as the 12 Year Old Sherry Matured and the 10 Year Old Curiositas (heavily peated, but in a distinctly non-Islay style), not to mention some very tasty wine cask finished bottlings (including Madeira and Tawny Port versions).
__________________
My whisky adventure began at the age of nine.
Good things DO take time!

Last edited by jazznut; 04-08-2013 at 05:22 PM.
jazznut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2013, 06:19 PM   #8
jazznut
Managing Editor Emeritus
Herf God
 
jazznut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 26,082
And some other notable, first-rate single malt Scotches absent from your prior gatherings that are definitely worth considering:

Clynelish from the northern mainland - one of a kind and complex. The 14 Year Old works just fine.

Highland Park from the Orkneys - a must try, and one of the world's great whiskies... period.

Old Pulteney from the northern mainland - sweet'n'salty bliss that will have you smiling.

Talisker from Skye - potentially explosive stuff, yet it slips down a treat.
__________________
My whisky adventure began at the age of nine.
Good things DO take time!
jazznut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2013, 08:42 PM   #9
OregonDuck
Club Member
 
OregonDuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: California
Posts: 3,788
As jazznut said, Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig.
OregonDuck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2013, 09:37 AM   #10
jazznut
Managing Editor Emeritus
Herf God
 
jazznut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 26,082
Might want to consider the Connemara (peated) cask strength from Ireland as well... a real blockbuster of a malt!
__________________
My whisky adventure began at the age of nine.
Good things DO take time!
jazznut is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Question about a Scotch tasting The JD I'll Drink to That! 11 04-14-2008 04:05 PM
Cigar and Port/Scotch Tasting slider9499 Herf's Up!! 1 11-15-2006 01:56 PM
November 3 @ 6:30pm – Cigar and Single Malt Scotch Tasting slider9499 Herf's Up!! 0 10-25-2006 12:53 PM
Scotch Tasting Tour I'll Drink to That! 0 10-30-2004 08:08 PM


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:48 AM.