Road Fan

What do you do with the ginger?

jimmuller 

"...and it makes [single malt] drinkers feel hip and intellectual even if it tastes like crap."


FWIW, technically Jack Daniels isn't a bourbon. Not that it is a decent whiskey.

mechanicmatt

Drink it. Trust me it is quite good.

bici_mania

Black coffee, no sugar. 32 oz. a day.

I believe it is my moral imperative to drink all alcohol, even if only once.

I enjoy beer but the one I drink most often and enjoy the most is Shiner Bock. There is nothing more satisfying.

I emphatically believe that Monopolowa Vodka is by far the vodka available. I have and continue to drink more than my share of vodka.

Monopolowa

mattk42

She's fermenting! It'll look prettier once I've racked it over to a carboy for secondary.

Six jours

Very, very, technically. So "technically" that the difference essentially does not exist in the real world.

At any rate, I've noticed over the decades that Jack Daniels does very poorly in taste tests where everyone knows what they're drinking. In blind tests it tends to finish in the top third or so. I would never call it a great whisky, but most testers who aren't looking at the label tend to find it better than average. I'm perfectly happy to drink it when I don't have any decent rye handy - and prefer it over some of the fashionable bourbons of the moment, like Knob Creek.

Ed.

Depends...

The Golden Boy 

Well, I just dumped some Jim Beam and some Wathens into a glass- about 1/4 full and filled the rest with Diet Coke.

Steve Urquell

Matt, I have 3 of those flimsy topped fermenters. Brew mostly lagers. What's in yours in the pic?

ironwood

Berkshire Brewing Co. Cabin Fever Ale(in Winter), or Berkshire Ale, or Steel Rail Ale. Jack's Abbey Session beers with lower alcohol are also good as you can drink more without getting drunk.

Lonesome rider

I like Jägermeister and Beefeater. Jack Daniels is massively overrated or it's just me who feels nothing but disgust drinkin' that?

mechanicmatt

Funny thing, I was in Ireland last year and they all thought of it as quintessential American whiskey. Also they liked it a lot. I'm more a Maker's Mark dude but the stuff has seemed to be more a more diluted flavor over the last few years.

I know my Irish whiskeys but what would you all suggest for someone who prefers Maker's Mark for American whiskey. Bourbon or otherwise?

jimmuller 

I can't suggest any whiskey in particular. Of course JD comes in different versions, the cheaper stuff being not so good. Bourbon is a regulated name with specific requirements. IIRC, one is that it be made in Kentucky, which immediately rules out JD. There are other requirements too such as age, but I am not the person to ask. It's been a long time since I paid much attention to those details.

mattk42

They work pretty well for primary I think. I always have enough CO2 that I don't worry about making primary airtight and I've never had any foam-overs. I need to attempt a lager yet! I think the garage will be staying cool enough for a while to do some lagering.

Here's a more recent photo, it's still settling out in secondary but it's looking clearer and clearer (not necessarily easy to see here). It's a milder IPA target range of 40-50 IBU brewed with Northern Brewer, Cascade, Amarillo and a bit of Tettnanger I had sitting around.

kunsunoke 

Bulleit makes very good bourbon and rye whiskeys. Woodford Reserve bourbon isn't half-bad, either. Four Roses has some limited release products that are outstanding, and will cost you.

IMO - Jack Daniel's Tennessee gets a lot of hate, for no reason. It's smooth, slightly smoky / caramel-esque and doesn't offend - so it's a bit like the Glenfiddich of American whiskeys. The taste is better if you aren't the one who's paying.

badger_biker 

Something that stands out with character like a C&V bike. That means pretty much all micro brews with the emphasis on local finds. I've been on a quest for good local farmhouse ales with Belgian yeast qualities but still like a good IPA, barrel aged beer, or Scotch ale now and then.

Italuminium

So, what's for Christmas? In Casa Italuminia, it's back to the roots of the continental wine tradition... Poilly Fumé, Saint Emillion and Jegbor (the Hungarian version of Eiswein). Yum!

Six jours

This.

One of these days I am going to refill an empty bottle of some high-class "whisky of the moment" with Jack. I expect most of the guests will rave over it.

Sir_Name 

Thanks to Santa.

Yes, I can tell the difference.
I also enjoy Jack from time to time. To each their own. Can't do JB though.
@mechanicmatt : yes, I believe the Maker's Mark formula was changed a couple/few years back to keep up with demand (?). So it goes. Try Hudson Whiskey bourbons if you get the chance. Not distilled in Kentucky, but quite tasty (if a bit sharp and dry).

3speed

I love a good craft beer of most any style if it's well done and not overly sweet or Offensively hoppy. I like a good IPA, but I don't get the extreme varieties. I'm a huge fan of good beer on a nitro tap. I also love a good scotch. My current go to bottle is Isle of Skye 8yr. I like single malts for their character, but Isle of Skye is just too good to pass up. At $30/bottle, it's on par with several $50 single malts that I've had.
I expect you should get some new drinking buddies if they do in-fact rave over Jack. Not that you shouldn't be friends with someone who likes Jack, but if they rave over something of it's taste, just because they think it's something better, they're annoyingly pretending to be something they're not just to ride the trendy boat. Anyone who knows Half-way decent whisky won't rave over something of that level. It's certainly not the worst whisky, but their success has to be more marketing based than taste based. It's not worth the price. There are several other easily available American whiskies in the $20 price point area that are definitely better.

Vonruden

An excellent IPA

kunsunoke 

Latest acquisitions.

Six jours

Actually, I greatly prefer my current drinking buddies to the previous ones, who were into being snobby about things like Jack Daniels.

Vonruden

Highly recommended for the Belgian tripel fans

gomango

Agreed.

But not tonight.

We already got into the Bulleit bourbon.

Not the greatest thirst quencher after a ride though.