"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

black mamba said:
Paul, have you tried the relatively new Powers John's Lane 12 year old pot still whiskey?
It could wade right in amongst the Islays and come out winner.
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I have not. I tend to get a poor selection here and stock up when I'm on the mainland (which isn't often). I shall look that up.
:)
 
pmew said:
Then I moved to Cardiff in my late teens and was introduced to Penderyn (welsh single malt). It was mind blowing. A revelation. So many subtle and distinct tastes in a drink, I had no idea it was possible.I then graduated to Irish and Northern Irish malts (there is a distinct difference, I am about to marry a girl from East Belfast and I have to make that clear) when I moved to Ulster.
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I experienced that very phenomenon you described. My first foray into single malts was 10-year-old Laphroig. Not exactly for the faint of heart. It was so different from anything I've ever tasted. Very interesting though. I'm no fan of Laphroig or the Islays in general, but that one dram got me hooked on whisky. I had finally found my "grown up" drink. (Confession - I dislike beer and wine.)

pmew said:
There is also a modern misconception that an aged single malt is the best. Which is absolute nonsense. Single malts have only really been sold on their own during the last century. Up until then blends were the true art. Take some superb ingredients and combine them to make a truly fantastic sensation. If you eat a steak with no seasoning, no sauce, nothing to go with it, just the flavour in its own right, a delicious steak it may be but there is only steak. Don't get me wrong, I love single malts. I adore single malts, but many people drink only single malts out of snobbery. More fool them.
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I don't know, plenty of people are fond of Johnny Walker. A bottle of Blue Label will set you back $180 here. And even the Red Label has a certain cachet throughout much of the world.

- Christian
 
I haven't given up on scotch, I want to like it and realize that it may take a while for my palette to adjust. There are just so many different brands and types to try and so little money, I don't like buying a whole bottle of something I may not like. The bars around here don't have much in the way of scotch.

Any suggestions that aren't very expensive that I may be able to find at the local liquor store?

Bourbon can get a little sweet sometimes and I prefer the spicier higher proof and high rye whiskey like wild turkey 101, bulliet rye, or old grand dad bib, but enjoy the easy sippers like Evan Williams and Jack Daniels.

I too could talk and taste whiskey all day. It's my other hobby. Just attended a whisky tasting earlier month and sampled some things I wouldn't normally be able to afford.
 
Just to clarify, it's not the harshness of scotch that gets me, I like a little burn, it has been the medicinal off taste that turns me off, reminds me of really cheap hooch. I am sure I just haven't tried the right one yet though.
 
pmew said:
nowhere have I ever found any kind of bug more ferocious than the Highland midge. To the untrained eye I resemble a bad case of measles.

Paul
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Paul, some folks are actually allergic to the bites of various bugs. You might try a mild antihistamine and see if the bumps are reduced. Oddly enough, nettle extract has been through formal double blind testing and been found to be an antihistamine. It has no side effects. I use that on my daughter for mosquito bites and it works quite well.
 
BJE said:
Any suggestions that aren't very expensive that I may be able to find at the local liquor store?
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Why, yes. But you have to look in the right liquor store.

I note there are two Trader Joe's Markets in the Columbus area. (Trader Joe's was started in the 1960's in South Pasadena, Ca by a fella whose first name was Joe. Their specialty is imported foods at reasonable prices.)

At least in the TJ's stores around here, they carry an inexpensive single malt called "Lismore". Nobody seems to know exactly whose secret brand it is, but it goes for about $19.00 per bottle and is very drinkable. There are a fair number of positive reviews about it. It isn't epic, but it is a very reasonably priced single malt scotch which is pretty darn good for the price.
 
The trader joes around here only carry beer and wine, no liquor that I have seen.
I feel comfortable spending around $20 to $25 a fifth, maybe a little more for something special. I have a blue collar job and budget.
 
BJE said:
Any suggestions that aren't very expensive that I may be able to find at the local liquor store?
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Where do you live mate, if you're outside the UK I have no idea honestly, how much of a difference you'll get in an import price-wise.
 
You'd have to drive to Louisville, KY to find a Trader Joe's with hard liquor. That good, it is not.
 
Nice. I notice it has a Fairbairn-Sykes. There was a thread about iconic knives a while ago where I proposed the F-S and got slated by someone for it. I feel vindicated. Ha ha!
:)
 
pmew said:
Nice. I notice it has a Fairbairn-Sykes. There was a thread about iconic knives a while ago where I proposed the F-S and got slated by someone for it. I feel vindicated. Ha ha!
:)
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Well it worked for Commando Comics! :D

Just picked you up a Richards in tartan ;) PM me an address and it's yours :)



(That IS a clean bandana BTW!)
 
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Hi folks,
yesterday I had the whole day off, and decided to drive a hundred miles or so to get to the NE coast of Sardinia...day at the beach here (not my pic - I just brought my beach bag and a SAK but no camera):

o8f6.jpg


And then an afternon walk in the nice quiet village of San Pantaleo:

ry7w.jpg


where I had to use my Spartan to cut sandwiches and stuff :)
Hope you're all enjoying your weekend ;)

Fausto
:cool:
 
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