Which Single Malt do you serve with your Leica?

[jackflesher]

It's 5:30 PM on the West Coast, and I am to head downstairs to fetch an adult beverage... Per an earlier post, a few of us agreed that an open discussion of Single Malt Scotch would be appropriate for this forum. (Yes, I was surprised too.) Anyway, I thought I'd take the plunge at significant risk of geting blackballed from LUSENET. Here goes my "A" list...

 

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First off, I must clarify that to me drinking Scotch is a lot like shooting with Leica lenses (on topic!) -- I've never found one I didn't like, just some that were better than others!

 

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Spring and Summer: Glenlivet or Glenfiddich (12 or 18) on the rocks with a splash of soda (Pellegrino is by far the best) and a small zest of lemon peel wiped over the rim of the glass.

 

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Fall and Winter: Glenlivet 18 or Glenfiddich 18 neat, with a touch of branch (Branch is bourbon-ese for spring water).

 

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On the very rare occasion when it is available and I can afford it: MacLallan 50.

[john_chan2]

Jack,

 

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I'm not much of a scotch or whiskey drinker but I'd settle for a 90

Latour Grand Crux or an 83 Chateau D'Yquem Sauternes (for the summery

months that is...)

 

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Call me pretentious but I do enjoy the synergy of complex structures in

French wines. Kind of like the Bokeh of my best lenses... always about

the right compromises to approach perfection.

 

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Perfection is the paragon of compromise.

 

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Cheers,

[david_smith12]

If it's a single malt scotch I'll serve Oban.

 

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Me, I'm a Wild Turkey man.

 

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I will drink your single malt however.

 

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The only thing worthwhile to mix with either of the above is ice!

[paul_chefurka3]

Islay or no way, I say :-) At this very moment I'm savouring a glass

of 1979 Lagavullin Distiller's Edition. I love Laphroaig and Caol

Ila as well, along with Talisker. For those days when I don't feel

like being challenged quite so much, it's Highland Park.

 

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After a few glasses, the whole world is bokeh...

[tony_rowlett2]

I rather enjoyed a recent bottle of McClelland's Lowland (not sure of

its age), but I normally like the Glenlivet 12.<p>

By the way, I learned a neat trick. When drinking S.M. straight (of

course, the only honorable way to do so), dribble just a couple of

drops of cool water into your vessel. It knocks the edge of that

nasty, hot bite you sometimes get at first.<p>

Not a single malt, but another VERY nice nip is the Elijah Craig 18

year old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It's absolutely

luscious!

[mike_foster]

Make mine a bottle of '45 Mouton, please. Of course if I spill it

over my M6/35Lux I will be crying for the loss of the wine! (at $5000

per bottle)....

 

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Seriously though, you can't beat a decent claret! California

(taxi?) "cabs" or whatever they call them are for those who don't

know but pretend to know! Like those dot.com IPO lucky bozos...

[wilhelm]

Well, La de da.

[edward_steinberg]

Hi,

 

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Well, I am wine affectionado and most likely pop open four or five

bottles weekly. I actually had the privilege of going to wine school

in Bordeaux four years ago and had a real life experience of what it

is like to be an alcoholic for ten days. Truly, it is the nectar of

the Gods.

 

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Although I collect wine with some exhaustive research and lab

(drinking), my best wine is the next bottle that I intend to open.

Hopefully, the same holds true with my next Leica photos. As John

said in one of the earlier posts, the complexity of wine is really

its bokeh. By the way, the 2000 Bordeaux is overall rated superior

to the great 1982 vintage the chief guru, Robert Parker. Great

question, Jack. Cheers!

[bill_lee2]

After reading the question I right away went and poured myself some

Glenlivet 12. I will try his recommendation about the Pelligrino and

lemon peel, sounds delicious. I would go for Macallan 12 or 18 too.

They are wonderful. I haven't tried their 25 yet.

 

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I think a Leica also pairs very well with a nice aged tawny or

colheita port. Play with a black paint M4, sip some Niepoort and

smoke a Cuban Upmann. Mmm. I don't own a black paint M4 but that's

what I'd do to celebrate if I got one--and take photos with it

ofcourse.

[john_chan2]

Also depends on the scenario,

 

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If I was street shooting in a crowded Marakkesh market (a frequent

fantasy of mine) then I might opt for a delightful Hungarian Tokaji...

I think a 4 puttonyos is about as much sweetness as I can handle. But

I also agree that a subtle tawny port is not entirely out of the

question. Just not a cigar wine!

 

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On the other hand, if I was crashing a gala event with my M in-cognito

(as I sometimes do at gallery openings) there would be no question that

a premier bordeaux such as a Chateau Latour '82. Ahhh, I can just

taste that velvety-voluptuousness right now! Lyke the bokeh of my 35

Cron at F5.6... or the tapestry of blurred background from my 75 at F2.

 

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Damn Jack, now you've got me all worked up on the philosophy of

bordeaux and bokeh.

 

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Our goals and pursuits in life,

Of that we are omnibus,

But the tapestry of life,

Is that which mystifies us.

 

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;-)

[buzz_andersen1]

Did anyone see National Geographic Traveler this month? It just

so happens that there is an article about touring Scotland's

Speyside distilleries which features some excellent photos by

NGS' Jim Richardson. Although Richardson is a confirmed

Nikon user, he does seem to share your love of Scotch :-).

 

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The story isn't online, but you can see one of the photos here:

 

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http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/0107/whisky.html

[buzz_andersen1]

<p>Sorry, I forgot to make that clickable:</p>

 

<a

href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/0107/whisky.ht

ml

">http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/0107/whisky.html

</a>

[mark_johnson3]

Jack:

 

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I prefer a handfull of fresh mountain water straight off of the

glacier that it melted from about 5 minutes ago. This goes well with

the Leica that I use to shoot this magnificent scene, M6 classic with

a 28 Elmarit. The bottled imitations are imported from water

recycling centers and ruin the taste of almost everything they touch

(my taste buds). The expensive part of this beverage that I enjoy is

the time and energy to get there, the handfull of water is FREE.

 

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Mark J.

[mike_foster]

2000 may be a fine Bordeaux, but look at the prices already!

The "futures" are going for MORE than 1995 or 1996, both great years.

Hell you can buy some good 2nd Growths of 1982 for slightly more than

what the same 2000 wines are going for! And you won't have to wait 10-

20 years to enjoy them!

 

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2000 Bordeaux market has gone crazy .... stay away! Pick up some

1997's, the real bargains right now...

[kens]

Glenfiddich 18 on ice, any time, any place, any season, Beethoven or

Motzart, M3, Noctilux, a roll of Delta 100, evening light and shadows.

[bobtodrick]

Sorry - you guys are all wrong!! Jack Daniels - nectar of the Gods

(or Goddesses if you're so inclined). Often I go into the darkroom

with a neg, a 25 sheet pack of Agfa Multicontrast, a Leica neg and a

fifth of Jack. Hours later I come out with a perfect print (IMO), an

empty pack of paper, and no Jack. Only downside is that I have to

wait until the next morning to be sure the print is as good as I

though it was the prior evening. But it's worked for 20 years!

[oliver_s.]

If your town is called Siete Aguas and does have a few springs, what

do you go for? I'm willing to bet more than that Eos 50e beside me

right now that it can compete with Mark's glacier water.</p>Right now

I live in Bavaria, but nothing will make me drink beer. Leica - mate.

Voigtländer - lapacho. (Zorki - <i>Ruhrgebiet</i> tap water.)</p>And

for quiet evenings with friends, there's that Valpolicella...

[jackflesher]

Well, well, well� we are a diverse group after all! The good news is

that we seem to be able to agreeably disagree on just about any

topic! I am surprised however, that nobody weighed in with support of

some of the fine Canadian whiskeys available... Maybe there are no

Canadian's on this forum ;-)

 

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John, interestingly, I agree with you on the sauternes � especially

the Chateau D'Yquem�s. But here in California we do make some

outstanding late harvest Rieslings that are almost as good :-) And

Mike, were you referring to the M. Cadet or M. Rothchilds? In either,

I think the �55�s had better fruit, and a nicer finish. (And yes

John, almost any of the Chateaux Latour�s are awesome!) Also, we

really do have some very nice Cabs here in California, but you need

to pay for the good ones or the reserves and lay them down for a few

years to really enjoy them � But I agree, that there are far to many

non-descript cabs in the $15 - $25 range out here, and for the money

a simple claret is a much better quaff :-)) Bill, ditto�s on the

ports and the Cuban, but make mine a �70�s vintage Graham�s and a

Monte Cristo #2! Mark, you should try mixing your glacial melt 1:1

with any good single malt � you�ll be converted in about three

seconds :-))) Tony and Bob, yes there are some phenomenal bourbons

as well. Black Jack is tough to beat on a regular basis, but the

single barrels from Blantons, Elija Craig, and even JD are wonderful

too. John and Paul (and Ringo and George)... Bokeh and Bordeaux???

What are we going to do with you guys :-))) Oliver � What the heck

is Valpolicella???

[bobtodrick]

Thanks Jack, you've made me feel like a traitor!! :-) I am Canadian

and yet have never really aquired a taste for Canadian (rye) whiskey.

Scotch, J.D. and some brandies, but rye always seems best with pop

(soda, Coke, Ginger Ale, whatever). Seems a shame to mix a good

liquor. I too am amazed at what a diverse group we have here, and it

is why I enjoy it so much. To bad the 'net is worldwide, otherwise

there would be a chance of us all getting together. I'm sure we

could arrange a great weekend. Maybe we should. I used to be a

member of the Alfa Romeo Owners group and they arranged a regular

(every two or three year) get together. Pretty much open to all

North Americans (there could be a European version for our Leica

friends there). Any interest?

[jay_.]

I had a sip of whisky when I was about 14 I think, and a swallow of

beer in college, and then about 10 years ago I was at a wine-and-

cheese party and downed an entire glass of something that tasted to

me like vinegar (which made me dizzy and then sick). Same with

smoking, one puff on a cigar at a friend's bachelor party in my 20's

was enough for me. I'll stick with you water guys, but what comes

out of my tap tastes fine to me.

[roberto_watson_garc_a]

Glenfiddich when abailable, but hard to find, Chivas Regal is another

choice of mine, but usualy I drink Tequila, now there are a lot of

new brands from small houses, like Don Julio or Don Porfirio, also

Sauza has got better and of course Herradura, I far better apreciate

Tequila than any other thing, you should come to Mexico and have a

try. Great place and I´m celebrating it.

 

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Let´s say cheers to Tony and this wanderful place he has made.

[tom_bryant]

Booze on the Leica net? And not gentle beer or good-for-you wine, but

Hard stuff: <B>Whisky</B>, and by the sound of it, unrefined and

unblended whisky, from the far north! Gasp! What's this site coming

to? :-)

 

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Whisky: From the gaelic "uisge beatha", the "water of

life".^{<small>1</small>}

 

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I'll go for 15 year old Laphoraig, or 18 year old Glenlivet, if I'm

feeling in a celabratory mood. Then there are Glenmorangie, aged in

sherry casks, Oban, Lagavullan, Macallan 12, Glendronach 15,

Strathisla 12 (the best of the twelves, IMHO), Cragganmore, Glengoyne

17... Ad tipsum. Despite attemts to find cheaper potables, I always

find myself coming back to the single malts. Sort of like Leica. One

of the few expensive things you can buy that are worth what you're

paying, and their much cheaper competition just doesn't make the

grade.

 

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Avoid anything with the name Grant in it.^{<small>2</small>}

With the exception of Glen Grant 12 (no longer imported, though I'm

told it's still made) the others all taste like vapid blends.

 

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Purist that I am I drink the stuff neat, at room temperature.

 

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My Leicas, on the other hand, are indifferent to their alcohol.

Rubbing alcohol or 18 year old Glenlivet cleans their exteriors

nicely, and they require only drops of the stuff.

 

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1) From David Daiches:Scotch Whisky(1969). A wonderful old book,

worth looking for, as it's filled with lots of whisky arcana.

 

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2) It's nothing personal, all you Grants out there. FWIW, I qualify

for membership in the Grant Clan many times over on my mother's side.

It's just that the whisky is, well, dull.

[albert_smith]

In my continuing effort to break all of the obvious Leica

stereotypes, (as stated in the "Daily Bread" thread, I'm neither a

doctor or lawyer), I'll forgo the Scotch and continue with my

Michelob. It is not economics... I just like, no make that Love

Beer.

[art_karr]

Now, I can agree with most of your choices. But let's not limit it to

us. Take a cold winter printing day. I go to the dark room with

number one cat and number one dog [yeah, they go with me;

hair is hell]. The cat likes a saucer of Jack D and the dog prefers

good brandy in a dish. I limit their intake, but it makes them

happy.

 

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Art

[wilhelm]

I presume that, out of appreciation for his efforts, some of you big

talking boozers are gonna send Tony a gallon of your favorite single

malt rot-gut hooch. For my part, I'll be pleased to send him a

refreshing bottle of liquid Florida tap water, tasting only slightly

of hydrogen sulfite and chrorine. I understand that in his part of

the country, water comes in more-or-less solid chunks (which sort of

reminds me of my film wash water, come to think of it.)