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Originally Posted by
Willie5566 
Keep in mind I have not experienced the rum you are talking about. Rum has been the bane of many a night for me. I would never consider it to be an enjoyable experience, BUT you guys seems to be telling me there is another side to rum. I must admit I am curious. Anyone care to tell me what it tastes like? Is it complex, like scotch?
Haha, well, I hope then it can redeem itself, and that you now know what it can be like. All the spirits have a good side, except, well, my particular bane, which is Cynar. Don't ask.
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Originally Posted by
Willie5566 I am going to be at a descent liqueur store tomorrow. I am planning on taking Ama's tip and getting some Highland Park. I will take a look at the Ron Z while I am there. Couple questions- 1. Do you serve the rum on ice or neat? 2. Do you all take your scotch neat? From what I have read it seem like that is the only way to take single malt. 3. I want to pick up some proper scotch glasses. I have only been able to find wine glasses with the bowl in the bottom of the glass(no stem), then tapering off as the glass goes up. Is this the same thing or should I look specifically for scotch glasses? 4. What is your go to drink/spirit for less formal affairs? I do some tailgating in the fall and I feel like it is a crime to pour a good scotch into a plastic cup. Just curious to see if you would change your drink or if you still go for the good stuff. Sorry for all the questions but I am trying to elevate my drinking sophistication. I will be sure to post pics of my purchase tomorrow.
1. I serve Zacapa on ice or neat as I feel. Sometimes I go for rum out of a sense of 'it's hot out, I don't want a scotch." and then I might add a cube or two. 2. With malts, I always start out by tasting neat, and then tend to add water in small increments until it is where I want it, and the flavor/nose is balanced with the alcohol. Different whiskys call for different amounts of water (especially when you consider they commonly run from 80-130pf), and people differ on how much, too. But it's never more than like 10% by volume or so. 3. I use three different glasses -- a Reidel XO Cognac glass, which I happen to like for older whiskys, my small tumbler for when I just want a scotch, and the Glencairn glasses for all other times, they are truly great. You can get them from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&tag=...Mozilla-search 4. I went to the first sporting event of my life last week. I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I have on numerous occasions, brought some vermouth and bitters mixed in little bottles sized to make a Manhattan with 2oz of bourbon or rye if that was what I happened to want at the time. Flasks are also useful. But I've never tailgated.
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Originally Posted by
shademore too many micros way out west to do that sierra's tumbler autumn brown not bad this evening
Oh, mainly I meant that for Willie.
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Originally Posted by
Willie5566 It is done. Bought HP 12 AND drum roll....Ron Z!!!! Pictures and my review of Ron Z to follow. Tonight I finally got around to my Hennepin. I am a fan!! Good stuff. Huntsman-You have to tell me what Chimay is like. I was scared off by the clerk, who told me it is very sweet.
Those were good choices, I think. Highland Park is a much better scotch to start with than something less... encompassing like Macallan. I hope you find the Zacapa to your liking.' As for Chimay, as much as I do enjoy it, and always stock White, Red and Blue, I'm not a huge beer drinker (maybe 10 beers/year) so I shall leave that to others more qualified. Best, H
I wouldn't waste a lot of money on expensive liquor for tailgates, unless it was something of a gourmet tailgate. That seems a little odd to me though. If I was going to drink liquor at a tailgate it would be a mid priced bourbon or rum. For $20 - $30 you can get some very good stuff that won't put too big a dent in the pocket book. There are also a good number of cocktails you can make with those two.
I know someone that has access to glassware and have already contacted them.
It initially burns like rum but only for a second and then it dissipates and finishes smooth. 
Very surprising. Coming from a place of never wanting rum in any form to being able to drink it straight. I would say that was a success. Further, exploration is necessary to see if I can develop more of a taste for it.
