I'm looking for suggestions on what may be the best whiskey to buy a buddy who has decided he has developed a taste for the stuff. He's got a birthday coming up in a couple of weeks and mentioned to me that he is sort of getting away from beer for a little bit (damn near pulled a Fred Sanford when he told me that one).

He's been drinking Jack & Coke but it sounds like he's more interested in finding a sipping whiskey than a mixer, which is what I've always thought of Jack to be. I know he doesn't like single malt scotch so I'm not going to throw money away on that for him even though I'm sure I'd end up drinking the majority of it for him.

Any suggestions on what may be a good place to start? I'm more of a gin guy myself so I need some help on this one. I know that when we were teenagers we both enjoyed the bottle of Southern Comfort we stole from his old man's liquor cabinet and we did the occasional Wild Turkey shots when we could get into a bar without getting carded. I've heard there's a Wild Turkey 101 proof that's pretty good. Not looking to break the bank with this purchase, just looking for the everyday kind of stuff that some of you may like.

I am mostly a scotch drinker, so I'll save all the great scotch recos I have for another time.

However, I *really* like Maker's Mark.

__________________
Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney

He's a lot hotter now than he was in New Kids, isn't he?


I'm not much of a drinker, but do enjoy scotch as well.

__________________
Though I am different from you,
We were born involved in one another.

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Complete surrender should not just come at moments in which one faces overwhelming odds, but in the calm when it seems one is personally in complete control of one's life.

Especially with a good cigar.

__________________
Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney

do you dip the cap of your cigar in the scotch(or whiskey)? my dad does that.

__________________
Trees give peace to the souls of men * Nora Waln

The forest would be very quiet if no other birds sang than those who sing the best * Henry van Dyke

some fairly sordid tales, rambles, and anecdotes
Hypothetically Speaking * Something More * Cammy Interrupted * An Experimental Vacation * Masked * so..damn..hot * Thank You * My toy, his idea * no.19 Maple Lane * I Have A Surprise For You * Yesterday * In a Quiet Kitchen * help me decide * untitled prose * more untitled prose

On the rare occasions I do drink, I'm too much of a sissy drinker for whiskey lol

__________________
I like the bed I'm sleeping in, just like me it's broken in; it's not old -- just older.
Like a favorite pair of torn blue jeans, this skin I'm in it's alright with me; it's not old -- just older.....Bon Jovi

Iowa try George Dickle, Canadian Windsor or Canadian Mist. Back when I used to drink I prefered Canadian Windsor.Others are Wellers,Crown Royal or good ole Wild Turkey

__________________
The mind never forgets what the hands have learned

Is he a Scotch, a Bourbon or an Irish drinker?

As a new sipper, you may want to get him a bottle of Jamieson's Irish Whiskey.

__________________
Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

Actually, you can *buy* Maker's Mark dipped cigars. Those are good.

I don't like soggy cigars...so I don't dip.

__________________
Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney

I hear Crown Royal is decent

__________________
hungry? why wait.....eat me.

I really don't think he knows which he prefers at this point. I do know though that he's not a big fan of Scotch. Lots of good suggestions so far though. Makes me think that perhaps I should pick up a bottle for myself and give it a try. There's a little bit of frost on the ground today, I'm sure a few sips would warm me up a little bit. Well, not necessarily at 8:45am but maybe later on this evening.

There's never a bad time to have some whiskey! Just put it in some coffee and you're respectable.

__________________
Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney

I've always heard that Jack Daniel is intended as a sippin' whiskey, as is Geo Dickle (the other TN whiskey), some people would nearly scream when they saw me mixing Jack w/Coke...of course, the best thing mixed with Coke would be rum, I preferred Ronrico over Barcardi, never got around to trying it with the Captain...Southern Comfort I found way too fruity, & it gave me the only hangover I ever had in my life...

__________________
Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

I'm not much of a drinker for over 20 years now. I will have a glass of wine with a good dinner (most of the time not), drink a Guinness once in a while (bought a six pack this summer and only have 2 left) and I do a shot with special people on very special occasions. Most of the time I'll have a 'pretend' beer when I'm out in a bar as I was never much of a beer drinker, but you can't fool me about bourbon. I have no recommendation on white liquors but can share a wee bit of tasting of the browns (half a fifth, mostly in old fashions, 2 or 3 nights a week at one time )

I can add to the above endorsements for Wild Turkey as a nice sipping bourbon (with soda or water on the side) and you don't have to spring for the 100 proof unless he is interested in a side job of threading sewing machines while they're running, the next day. The 86 proof will catch up to him soon enough. Same goes for the Old Grand Dad. You can save some coin and try Ancient Age or Heaven Hill that I found to be respectable sippers for much less $$.

I think Jay and Zoid's choices of Jack (ONLY black label, stay away from the green for sipping) and especially the Dickle , would be "bourbons" if they were produced across the state line in Kentucky. These are ALL sour mash, corn whiskeys, and was my preference over even the better blended and rye whiskeys. I could never get gin past my nose and didn't drink potato juice. A good bottle of straight bourbon is a cool macho gift for a buddy and a hell of a tool to find your limits.

__________________

Potato juice?

Vodka from the freezer with 20% fresh grapefruit juice. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

__________________
Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating