What to get a macho, hard liquor snob? Selection list now included.

[J. Roger]

I'm planning to get my brother a really good bottle of hard liquor for Christmas...yes, I'm planning ahead

The problem is I really don't know what to get him because I'm not into the stuff.

My brother is:
-late 50's
-high ranking military officer
-macho type
-"hard stuff" connoisseur (or maybe just a brand snob (haha))
-I believe his favorite is single malt scotch whiskey

My questions:
-what types of liquor are avoided by macho men (either considered too fancy or "girly" ...cognac? gin? brandy? rum?)
-Ideally, I would like to surprise him with something unusual, but something he probably has heard of, but not yet tried.
-Not sure if I should go the safe route, ask his wife, and buy something he is known to like.
-Is there something a liquor cabinet should not be without?
-Will $75-$100, get really good stuff...something to brag about?



If you fit my brother's description (or know the type) what would you like (and not like)?






Please see Post No. 37 for the list.

 

[Acmemfg]

Booker's or Pappy Van Winkle..both legit rock steady bourbons.
If you hook him up with a bottle of Pappy he will worship the ground you tread upon

 

[saltypete]

G'day!
if your brother is into his single malts then that is a good way to go for a gift. The problem is that there are many malts, all with their own character and distinctive flavor profiles. If you can get a look at his liquor cabinet or bar, take note of what brands he has in stock . If you come back and post what kind of scotch he drinks it will be far easier to recommend something. There are many guys here who know their stuff when it come to spirits so you're sure to get excellent advice. We just need a starting point.


Pete

 

[JetsMets#1fan]

My questions:
-what types of liquor are avoided by macho men (either considered too fancy or "girly" ...cognac? gin? brandy? rum?)
-Ideally, I would like to surprise him with something unusual, but something he probably has heard of, but not yet tried.
-Not sure if I should go the safe route, ask his wife, and buy something he is known to like.
-Is there something a liquor cabinet should not be without?
-Will $75-$100, get really good stuff...something to brag about?

1. As long as you don't get him Baileys or Amaretto you should be good.
2. Glenmorangie 18 years (single malt scotch) fit this description quite nicely. Not too many ppl have had it but enthusiasts have heard about it.
3. Nooooo, it will make for a meh present.
4. Yup, johnnie walker black label but that's a blend and "cheap."
5. Glenmorangie 18 is within your budget... A bottle costs around $90 I think.

 

[goatee]

dalwhinnie 15 is a good single malt and well within your budget.

 

[InkEd]

It's not bourbon but Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Whiskey is nice. Chopin vodka is great.

 

[J. Roger]

Thanks for all the advice guys, please keep it coming, I really need the education.

G'day!
if your brother is into his single malts then that is a good way to go for a gift. The problem is that there are many malts, all with their own character and distinctive flavor profiles. If you can get a look at his liquor cabinet or bar, take note of what brands he has in stock . If you come back and post what kind of scotch he drinks it will be far easier to recommend something. There are many guys here who know their stuff when it come to spirits so you're sure to get excellent advice. We just need a starting point.


Pete

Thanks Pete. I took a look a few weeks ago, that's when I noticed several bottles of single malt. The only one that really stood out to my eyes was one that came in a fancy wooden display box "Edition One Highland Park aged 15 years". When I commented on the box he told me it was the "good stuff".

 

[ackvil]

Thanks for all the advice guys, please keep it coming, I really need the education.
Thanks Pete. I took a look a few weeks ago, that's when I noticed several bottles of single malt. The only one that really stood out to my eyes was one that came in a fancy wooden display box "Edition One Highland Park aged 15 years". When I commented on the box he told me it was the "good stuff".

Your brother has good tastes. HP is an excellent single malt scotch. Some possiblities: Glenfiddich 18 YO single malt, Glenmorangie 18 YO (one of my favorites), and just above your price range HP makes an 18 YO but I like the 15 year old one better.

 

[Kostas1]

Some really great Scotch recommendations so far! A few of my favorites have already been listed.

If your brother likes smokier, heavier Scotch...a nice single malt from the Islay region would fit the bill perfectly.

Another option, if you have a Sams Club near you, is the single malt they carry. I believe it is a 19-year-old from the Macallan Distillery. The version Sams carries is not really well known, but the Macallan definitely is...and for around $65, a great deal.

 

[Slash McCoy]

It is pretty hard to please a true booze snob with your own selection of booze. They will politely thank you but it is a 50/50 chance the bottle will gather a lot of dust before it is emptied. But accessories are a pretty safe bet. Try this:
http://theglassfox.com/moavrogl.html
monogrammed crystal rocks glasses. Or snifters, but rocks glasses are more manly. Of course you can drink it neat from a rocks glass, without the wimpy ice cubes. The heft and feel of a high quality good solid rocks glass is very satisfying and sort of puts you in a booze connoisseuring mood.

If you just got to go with liquor, a sampler might be good. Check your local high dollar liquor shop.

A box of cigars, maybe a sampler pack, with a bottle of 20 year or older Tawny Port would be something different, and I pretty much guarantee once you get him to try a fine Tawny with a nice Robusto, he will not let either go to waste. Ports in general have a satisfying warmth going down like a whiskey does, but without the fumes. Makes a cigar much more enjoyable, to me. A Tawny has a lot more character than a Ruby or Vintage port, and leftovers can be saved in the bottle for a couple of weeks with no ill effect, unlike vintages.

 

[ReAndyMator]

If you want to go macho, you can't beat Laphroaig, Ardbeg or Lagavulin, ideally a cask-strength variant....

Or Bruichladdich Octomore. That'd put hairs on anyone's chest.....

 

[Jeff C]

If you want to go macho, you can't beat Laphroaig, Ardbeg or Lagavulin, ideally a cask-strength variant....

Or Bruichladdich Octomore. That'd put hairs on anyone's chest.....

+1 on this. I like peated, earthy, smoky Scotch. Some Scotch is more gentle and refined. In general saying something that is 40% alcohol is less macho is kind of silly in my book. That said, nobody would disagree that Lagavulin 16 or Laphroaig QC is somehow un macho.

I recently had a tasting of the Talisker 18. This may be hard to find by now in the USA. Talisker is also a smoky, macho kind of Scotch and this expression was fantastic.

 

[Giant Kiwi]

Here's some options.

http://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/-price-100-results-1-z-search_results.htm

 

[Samurai-5]

+1 on this. I like peated, earthy, smoky scotch. Some scotch is more gentle and refined. In general saying something that is 40% alcohol is less macho is kind of silly in my book. That said, nobody would disagree that lagavulin 16 or laphroaig qc is somehow un macho.

I recently had a tasting of the talisker 18. This may be hard to find by now in the usa. Talisker is also a smoky, macho kind of scotch and this expression was fantastic.

l a g a v u l i n !!!!

 

[Doc4]

Why not do a bit of recon with your brother. If you visit him on a regular basis, next time bring up the subject of single malt scotch ... "golly I was thinking of giving that a try ... I don't know the first thing ... you know all about that ..." then as you choke down the glass of "intro scotch" that he gives you, you chat him up about the hierarchy of good-better-best scotch, and voila: your shopping list is ready for you.

If, OTOH, he lives far away, you phone him up and ask his advice ... need to buy a present for (insert plausible individual here) who is really into scotch ... what would Bro recommend as a good single malt for someone who really knows his single malts? ... and voila &c.

If you want to go macho, you can't beat Laphroaig, Ardbeg or Lagavulin, ideally a cask-strength variant....

... those were the ones that came to mind for me. Or you could do fairly well with whatever bottle of 18-year-old single malt you can afford. Any 'single malt man' will be keen to try anything that old.

 

[saltypete]

Thanks for all the advice guys, please keep it coming, I really need the education.





Thanks Pete. I took a look a few weeks ago, that's when I noticed several bottles of single malt. The only one that really stood out to my eyes was one that came in a fancy wooden display box "Edition One Highland Park aged 15 years". When I commented on the box he told me it was the "good stuff".

The fact that your bro likes Highland Park is a good thing as far as choice goes. The brand is usually held to have a flavor profile which represents all the good bits of the various malt whisky regions.
Based on this you could pick him up any of the good Speyside, Islay or Highland or even lowland whiskies.

My suggestions would be
Speyside:: Aberlour A'bunadh, Glenfarclas 101 cask strength, or MaCallan 18 year old
Islay: Laphroaig quarter cask, Ardbeg 10 year old
Highland: Oban
Lowland: Auchentochen Valinch
you could also mix it up a wee bit and pick up a bottle of Talisker 18 year old. It's an island whisky from Skye ( as opposed to Islay) the brand has somewhat of a cult following among whisky enthusiasts.

Pete

 

[Walter Sobchak]

Your brother has good tastes. HP is an excellent single malt scotch. Some possiblities: Glenfiddich 18 YO single malt, Glenmorangie 18 YO (one of my favorites), and just above your price range HP makes an 18 YO but I like the 15 year old one better.

+1 and another +1!!
Good choices, I'd say.

 

[J. Roger]

First of all, I must say that I'm blown away by the number of responses...It is very appreciated.


Judging by the responses thus far, it seems clear that I should stick to some type of aged single malt whiskey, and forgo looking into other types of liquor. Happily, this helps limit my search quite a bit.


I've jotted down your suggestions and will see what is available locally.


Now as stated in my original post, this will be a Christmas Gift. Do distilleries come out special "limited editions" during the holiday season? Is there a reason to either wait for December or buy now(besides having the constant temptation to open the bottle for myself )?

 

[saltypete]

First of all, I must say that I'm blown away by the number of responses...It is very appreciated.


Judging by the responses thus far, it seems clear that I should stick to some type of aged single malt whiskey, and forgo looking into other types of liquor. Happily, this helps limit my search quite a bit.


I've jotted down your suggestions and will see what is available locally.


Now as stated in my original post, this will be a Christmas Gift. Do distilleries come out special "limited editions" during the holiday season? Is there a reason to either wait for December or buy now(besides having the constant temptation to open the bottle for myself )?

I'm not sure that distillers do special Christmas bottlings although many distileries do put out limited edition bottles regularly (Ardbeg seem to have more special edition bottles than regular bottlings). Here in Australia we get a lot of gift sets at Christmas time. Usually they include the malt and a couple of glasses, a flask or maybe miniatures.
Also, I don't know how it works in other countries, but we get specials on liquor. At times you can get 10 or more dollars off a bottle of scotch (i got $49 off a bottle of XO Cognac recently).
If it was me I'd narrow my choice down to 2 or 3 bottles and watch the prices for a bit. See if you can snag a good deal.
Your brother is lucky to have a sibling who is putting so much thought and effort into buying him a gift. Kudos

Pete

 

[ReAndyMator]

There are plenty of limited Christmas editions, but generally they go to continental europe, or they're actually Chinese new-year ones that go to the far east. We're currently bottling a special edition for Portugal.