I just wanted to ask the experienced drinkers here in the playground. Has anyone had the chance to sample their way through the various labels of this stuff and formed an opinion on its worth? Is blue label, for example, really worth spending 200 dollars more a bottle than on the red label? Or is it the sort of thing thats more about status than true quality? Where, oh yeah, its good stuff, but not THAT good. Some day, when I have 100 bucks or so to spend, and access to a bar that actually carries the full range, I may sit down to a taste test to see for myself if buying a bottle at such a price is actually worth it, or if I would rather save 200 bucks and get the basic stuff because the flavor isnt that much more impressive.
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Originally Posted by Nerd-o-rama
Traab is yelling everything that I'm thinking already.
"If you don't get those cameras out of my face, I'm gonna go 8.6 on the Richter scale with gastric emissions that'll clear this room."
It's mostly about status. Yes, Blue is delicious, smooth, and also delicious (did I mention that part?), but it is definitely not so much better as to warrant that price tag. It's mostly to rarely buy to kick back with your oldest, best, scotch-drinkin'est friends and enjoy a little bit while reminiscing. I find the Gold label to be 99% as good as Blue and available for $75ish if you shop around.
Either way, it's way too much to be spending on blended scotch. The true scotch snobs (like this guy) are all about single malt. I favor Bruichladdich myself.
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2e PHB fighter avatar by Kymme.
It's mostly about status. Yes, Blue is delicious, smooth, and also delicious (did I mention that part?), but it is definitely not so much better as to warrant that price tag. It's mostly to rarely buy to kick back with your oldest, best, scotch-drinkin'est friends and enjoy a little bit while reminiscing. I find the Gold label to be 99% as good as Blue and available for $75ish if you shop around.
Either way, it's way too much to be spending on blended scotch. The true scotch snobs (like this guy) are all about single malt. I favor Bruichladdich myself.
I had a feeling. I have had a few drinks of various types that are separated like this into standard, reserve, and other extra pricey, supposedly incredible vintages. And while yes, they usually are noticeably better, depending on the price difference its generally not worth it.
As an example, I recently tried out a brand of tequila, 1800. Its a good brand all things considered, but what attracted me was it had several types including one with a higher alcohol content, and some sort of reserve label. That reserve WAS good. I really liked the flavor, and because it wasnt THAT much more, (think like 10-15 bucks more for the bottle) to me its worth grabbing. But 200 dollars difference between the cheap stuff and the best stuff? It had better be orgasmically better.
__________________
"Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum"
Translation: "Sometimes I get this urge to conquer large parts of Europe."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nerd-o-rama
Traab is yelling everything that I'm thinking already.
"If you don't get those cameras out of my face, I'm gonna go 8.6 on the Richter scale with gastric emissions that'll clear this room."
I feel like tequila is a good example for how things should be. 1800, Don Julio, Cazadores, etc. are available for $30-40 or so, and are all excellent tequilas. Patron is some of the finest available and can be sometimes had for as little $100 for a 1.75 liter bottle. Yes, there are some absurdly expensive tequilas, but to me they're Patron with really cool bottles. For the most part, you can have top shelf quality without blowing nearly $100 and the really top shelf without breaking the bank either.
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2e PHB fighter avatar by Kymme.
I feel like tequila is a good example for how things should be. 1800, Don Julio, Cazadores, etc. are available for $30-40 or so, and are all excellent tequilas.
Aww, stop it, you
In all seriousness, though, Johny Walker Green is absolutely amazing. Never had a chance to try Blue. It's mildly musky, extremely smooth for scotch (Black, for example, is pretty strong), has a woody flavour and an amazing smell. Worth shelling out for. Reminiscent of Chivas Regal but with more flavour.
Gold, I actually like less (despite the price tag), although that's just personal preference. Whiskey purists will probably prefer this one though, it's more like other aged scotches.
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Bingo Bango Bongo its..
Cory Schneider?
Last edited by Don Julio Anejo : 05-18-2013 at 10:21 PM.
I think that Black Label is certainly worth the premium price tag, it's much nice (in my opinion anyway) than red.
I own a bottle of Blue that I was given as a present once, and have never been brave enough to open it for fear of wasting it. I'm curious as to how it tastes, but it's currently doing sterling service as a status symbol on my shelf.
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Ignore the above post, I'm just a sock puppet
Forgot about Green Label. It's good too. Extremely balanced and smooth. It's not an especially scotchy scotch. Red, Black, Gold, etc. are definitely very scotchy scotches. Unfortunately it has been discontinued since December 2011, and most supplies are gone by now. If you can find some to buy though, DO EET!
P.S: Also, just to nitpick: Johnnie Walker
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2e PHB fighter avatar by Kymme.
Frell blended scotch. Single malt is the way to go, and the variations are what you are looking for. If you want sweet, go to the highlands. If you want peaty, go to the Isalys. Blended whiskeys are what you want if you are mixing, and you shouldn't be at the price of high end Walkers.
As far as tequilas go, you want to be looking for an anjeo (which has been aged for at least a year). There's some decent ones at reasonable prices (tres generacions is not bad). Anything gold is not bad, but anything silver stay away from. Doubly so for mezcal (tequila is a variety of mezcal, but the most common in the US). Like whiskey, the longer it sits, the tastier it becomes.
Well, this is an interesting issue that depends on a few factors. Is Blue that much better than red? What are you lloking for I would ask? Blue is has a smoked, woody flavour that is stronger to the tongue tha than the sotmach. So, do you like "ight" whiskeys in the vein of J&B ro most blended "cheap" shikeys? Or to you relish the strong flavour of Lagavulin and other expensive and strong whiskeys that aren't easy to taste? Are you lloking to get drunk or enjoy the ride? Those are the things I would consider before answering any thing else. THe real question for me is what are you lloking for. I'm not a great fan in general of Johnnie Wlakers, although they are resonably priced and not bad, and owuld recommend Single Malt (blended I go more for J&B) and as my father told me "don't do whiskey pedophilia" as 18+ years are better for me, and Scotts do the best for me (with Cherry barracks, to get a slightly sweet aftertaste).
Tequila. Well that is a an interesting thing. As stated before there is a good deal of mezcal (fermentated agave cacti) is really similar to tequila. Tequila is a D.O. (as Bourdeaux, Rioja or Chianti in wines) and is sécific to a region of Jalisco, and it sint0 that different for Oaxacan mezcal. If you drink for flavour, añejo is the best, but in Mexico reposado is usually a midlde point that has decent taste and far less expensive than añejos and not a problem. It is slightly woody and good. Don't waste a decent tequila to dirnk in 5 de Mayo, silver (blanco) is enough to get you hammered with shots. In my family I think that Centenario is the go to brand, but if you ever go to Oaxaca an artesanal mezcal are far cheaper and better tha anything you can get in the standard US market.
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Johnny Walker, the various labels.
