What types of spirit other than whisky do you drink?

[Dan G]

None of the above! I drink a lot of wine (well, not a lot - 3 or so bottles a week) and beer. And lately I've been sipping from a really great bottle of lemoncello as an after dinner thing. And just finished bottle of an Australian eucalyptus liqueur. But no hard liquor other than whisky.

[Bullie]

I voted 'Other' since I like several of the ones listed. A single cask Armangnac or a Grand Champagne Cognac can be very enjoyable and Calvados matured for longer time is always great. Aquavit is a must for christmast, easter and midsummer (and I prefer a danish dram called Holger Danske). Rum is just great with my precious cigars and matured tequila is just righteous porn every now and then...

[Deactivated Member]

This website might interest you / everyone: http://www.calvadosonline.co.uk/

Thanks for the link--have had a quick look, and will look more closely later. Alas, it does not appear that they will ship to the US. Maybe I'll get some shipped to Scotland for pick-up next October. (Means less whisky brought home, though... )


This is the sort of old-fashioned circular apple-pressing trough--l'auge--I was talking about. The wheel is mounted on an axle, and was turned by muscle power (human or animal, I'm not sure). There are more efficient means now.

[laphroaig10_65]

At the moment the only spirit I drink is whisky. In the past I have sometimes drunk fruit liqueurs, cognac, vodka, amaros.
Bye
Luca

[irishwhiskeychaser]

The only other spitrit I would drink anywhere near a regular basic would Gin once a month maybe with tonic and a slice of lemon of course ...

However if I had access to Akevitt/Aquavit I might drink a bit of the premium offerings after Christian turned me on to it.

I don't know whether to say thanks or Baa Humbug


Of course Absinth is a nice after dinner mint but never possessed a bottle

[Rory B Bellows]

I always keep a bottle of Martell VSOP cognac in the house. Armagnac is also one of my favourites, outside of whisky.

I've noticed that most people who like whisky, also tend to like French brandies such as these ones.

[Cam]

For the most part the only other spirit I drink would be Bacardi Gold mixed with Coke and ice.

Cam

[kljostad]

I am a big fan of Norwegian Akevitt. What I like is dependant on if I drink it together with food, or if I use it as an avec. If I drink it alone, the favourite is Gilde Non Plus Ultra.

I also enjoy Grappa and Calvados.

[killerwhale]

I like good ales.... Innis & Gunn, Guiness, some English ales like Tetley are okay aswell.... and I'll have rum from time to time... appletons reserve is rather nice.... oh and I'll also drink red wine, I enjoy Spanish reds, can get some tasty ones for $9-14 range...

[Ann-Helen]

Ale is good
Innis & Gunn , Riggwelter, Holy grail,Wee heavy,Hobgoblin ,Black wytch
those are some I have at home I also have other beers.
Anyone tasted Arran blonde , dark and sunset ?

[killerwhale]

Anyone tasted Arran blonde , dark and sunset ?

I've not seen it in my store but I would try it for sure if it was.
good ale is lovely

[kljostad]

I agree. Ale can be very good. One of my best friends is a national home-brewing champion, and he makes the best ales you could imagine. And I am so lucky that he is not a stranger to sharing what he makes!

[Mr Fjeld]

I am a big fan of Norwegian Akevitt. What I like is dependant on if I drink it together with food, or if I use it as an avec. If I drink it alone, the favourite is Gilde Non Plus Ultra.

My favourite akevitt too. I haven't tried many of the "newcomers" though.. but have heard the Sundnæs Kroningsaquavit is quite good?

[Deactivated Member]

One of my best friends is a national home-brewing champion, and he makes the best ales you could imagine. And I am so lucky that he is not a stranger to sharing what he makes!

Homebrewers are like that! No sense making the stuff if you can't show it off.

There's nothing like a pint of real ale with your dram--it's one of the things I yearn for as I'm planning my visits to Scotland. I've mentioned many times here my fondness for Timothy Taylor's Landlord (and the appropriateness of Landlord being brewed in England, and Tennent's in Scotland).

I think I must have had the Arran brew somewhere, Ann-Helen, but I didn't mention them in my journal, during my stay in Arran this past October. I think the pub I was in had closed down the handpumps for the season. Cask-conditioned ale is highly perishable, and so needs to be turned over in a reasonably short time. And I'm sure I haven't had it bottled. The bottled beer is fine, but is a mere shadow of the fresh goods.

[kljostad]

Yes, it is quite good. A bit flowery, but well worth a try.

If you haven't tried the "new" makes, you have a lot to look forward to. How about trying the Bergen Akevitt?

I say "new" because all the recipies are old, restored by Halvor Heuch at Arcus.

[Mr Fjeld]

Yes, it is quite good. A bit flowery, but well worth a try.

Thanks, I'll have to check it out when my "rum fascination" is worn off...

If you haven't tried the "new" makes, you have a lot to look forward to. How about trying the Bergen Akevitt?

I say "new" because all the recipies are old, restored by Halvor Heuch at Arcus.

Think I'll have a go at the Bergen Akevitt in the nearest future - and the Trondheim Akevitt too. It seems to have won every major test and was of course sold out before christmas....

[kljostad]

There has happened a lot to Norwegian Akevitt the last decades. I was at an Akevitt evening at Arcus last week, and got to meet Halvor Heuch, the man behind most Norwegian Akevitts. When he started at Arcus in the end of the 70ties, there was only 8 Akevitts made in Norway. Now Arcus makes 28. Halvor Heuch has made a lot of effort to dig up old recipes from around the country, and because of his work, Arcus now produces a lot of locals Akevitts. But all of them are made at Arcus in Oslo. It is only the recipes and some of the ingredients that are local.

There is some other Norwegian Akevitts, like Mesan Skjøt, and some foreign Akevitts posing like Norwegian. But beware. Only the Akevitts from Arcus is matured in sherry casks. Most of the are matured between one and three years, and the sherry casks adds depth and complexity. The “big city” Akevitts (Bergen, Trondheim, Oslo) are very good. You shoud also consider Steinvikholm and Skipper Worse, that both contain some peated malt. My personal favourite, Gilde Non Plus Ultra has been stored for 12 years in sherry casks, and does not stand back for any cognac or whisky. It is simply perfect!

[Mr Fjeld]

Thanks for the information kljostad I'll certainly try some of them later on! The Gilde Non Plus Ultra is my favourite but I also qutie like the Linie akevitts too!

[Ann-Helen]

Kljostad og mr Fjeld
Do you have any suggesteons for akevit that doesn`t taste Anis (liquorice)
I can`t get around to liking it.

[kljostad]

The Gilde Non Plus Ultra does not have the usual Anis taste. Since it has been stored for so long, it has taken a lot of taste and aroma from the sherry casks. If you like Whisky, you will like Gilde NPU. I am quite certain of that.

Other Akevitts I can recommend is Steinvikholm and Skipper Worse, both with some peated malt. Akevitt and Whisky was once very similar, apart from our use of spices. We also used malt in Akevittproduction up until we found out it was much cheaper to use potatoes. Now all Norwegian Akevitt is made from potatoes, also our most exported Vodka, the Vikingfjord. These two are the closest you could get to whisky these days. Steinvikholm has become a favourite at our house.

If memory serves me right Lysholm Throndhjemsaquavit, Simers Oslo Aquavit and Lauritz Aquavit does not taste too much of Anis either. But you could check that with the people at Vinmonopolet. I have only tasted the first two, and they are well worth the money.

[Mr Fjeld]

That's interesting kljolstad, I have to try one the akevitts with peated malt! Great info!

[kljostad]

You are most welcome! Please let me know what you thougth about it. Always interesting to see if others agree with me.

[Di Blasi]

I drink so little, especially lately, that when I do, it's only whisky when it comes to spirits. Whisky is truly all I'm interested in so I'll keep myself ignorant of these other choices and leave it for the rest of you.

[Ann-Helen]

I will try to get ahold of Gilde non plus ultra and Steinvikholm
I already have Gammel reserve and Aalborg krone akvavit then I should have Akevit for everyones taste, don`t you think!