Scotland now #2 in the World, Japan #1!

[Grumpy Gramps]

Scottish drinkers could be forgiven for crying into their drams after a single malt from Japan was named the best whisky in the world for the first time.

Whisky expert Jim Murray awarded a record-equalling 97.5 marks out of 100 to Suntory’s Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013, hailing it as “near indescribable genius” in his comments in the forthcoming 2015 World Whisky Bible.

Source...

Ouch, second bummer this year after losing their independence...

[Mike Oxlong]

Scottish drinkers could be forgiven for crying into their drams after a single malt from Japan was named the best whisky in the world for the first time.

Whisky expert Jim Murray awarded a record-equalling 97.5 marks out of 100 to Suntory’s Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013, hailing it as “near indescribable genius” in his comments in the forthcoming 2015 World Whisky Bible.

Source...

Ouch, second bummer this year after losing their independence...

Wasn't that in 1707?

[J.A.F.O]

Was reading that if they won their independance the outcome would have different. ... still remember this post though: http://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/fo ... ice-whisky

[Grumpy Gramps]

Amazon sells a bottle of Yamazaki Single Malt for 8 man. Way out of my league.

[J.A.F.O]

Amazon sells a bottle of Yamazaki Single Malt for 8 man. Way out of my league.

I hear you, I'm looking at a bottle of elijah craig for close to 3000 yen and thinking .... "meh to rich for my blood"

[Samurai_Jerk]

I'm not saying this guy is wrong but I do think a lot of people give high rankings Japanese things just because it's cool to do so. Like all the Westerners who go on about how great the Italian restaurants in Tokyo are. That either means that where they're from Italian food is absolute shit or real Italian food is absolute shit and the North Eastern US makes it better.

[matsuki]

I'm not saying this guy is wrong but I do think a lot of people give high rankings Japanese things just because it's cool to do so. Like all the Westerners who go on about how great the Italian restaurants in Tokyo are. That either means that where they're from Italian food is absolute shit or real Italian food is absolute shit and the North Eastern US makes it better.

Cue the Chinese music...

But but it's foreign! Imported! Asian! Exotic!

[Russell]

I'm not saying this guy is wrong but I do think a lot of people give high rankings Japanese things just because it's cool to do so. Like all the Westerners who go on about how great the Italian restaurants in Tokyo are. That either means that where they're from Italian food is absolute shit or real Italian food is absolute shit and the North Eastern US makes it better.

In Italy it is not easy to get a good meal, unless it is organized by an Italian.

So when you are in Italy on your own, you are on your own...

[Samurai_Jerk]

In Italy it is not easy to get a good meal, unless it is organized by an Italian.

So when you are in Italy on your own, you are on your own...

You might be onto something. I've never been but a lot of people have told me they were really disappointed by the food in Italy. The one person who told me he had the best meal of his life there was a CEO visiting from the head office in the US so the local staff in Tuscany made sure to hook him up.

[kurogane]

I'm not saying this guy is wrong but I do think a lot of people give high rankings Japanese things just because it's cool to do so. .

I and many others silent thank you for that. It was certainly my first impression. I will say he's wrong, and I think whiskey is a foul beverage invented by barbarians and would like to believe that it is drunk by easily convinced suckers, but I have enough friends that are neither that stupid nor that credulous that swear by it, so I put it down to personal taste and my lack thereof. Having said that, I simply don't believe the credibility of such contests.

As for food, most North American versions of anything are better than the original: the ingredients are better, the food isn't served by cretins that think customer service is a byword, and, most importantly, it's made for out delicate and discerning palates. The top level sushi in Vancouver (say, $300 per head) is a full length better than anything most peoons could get in Japan, and god help me or anybody stupid enough to say that around either Japanese or Japanotards. I put it down to the postmodern fetish for Real Authenticity (sic), and the dupes that buy into it.

[Russell]

As for food, most North American versions of anything are better than the original: the ingredients are better, the food isn't served by cretins that think customer service is a byword, and, most importantly, it's made for out delicate and discerning palates. The top level sushi in Vancouver (say, $300 per head) is a full length better than anything most peoons could get in Japan, and god help me or anybody stupid enough to say that around either Japanese or Japanotards. I put it down to the postmodern fetish for Real Authenticity (sic), and the dupes that buy into it.

I assume you mean $300 per human head, not fish head.

But anyway, it seems Obama really liked his $300 Sushi meal in Japan.

[Russell]

In Italy it is not easy to get a good meal, unless it is organized by an Italian.

So when you are in Italy on your own, you are on your own...

You might be onto something. I've never been but a lot of people have told me they were really disappointed by the food in Italy. The one person who told me he had the best meal of his life there was a CEO visiting from the head office in the US so the local staff in Tuscany made sure to hook him up.

Yep, the best meals I've had in Italy were when attending conferences. In fact, Italian conferences rank very high in this aspect compared to other countries'.

However, once you are tourist, most Italian restaurants seem to find it necessary to serve a substandard overpriced meal. Especially Rome is horrible.

Further in the south and in non-tourist places it is better, though.

[kurogane]

No,　no, that's why I claim it's better. Unlike in Japan there's no human heads served..........

Funny to hear that a visiting president was served such a low end meal. $300 for sushi in Japan!!???? Maybe they didn't charge for all the extra mercury?

[J.A.F.O]

Yep, the best meals I've had in Italy were when attending conferences. In fact, Italian conferences rank very high in this aspect compared to other countries'.

However, once you are tourist, most Italian restaurants seem to find it necessary to serve a substandard overpriced meal. Especially Rome is horrible.

Further in the south and in non-tourist places it is better, though.

Tuscany had the best food in my weird opinion, Turin was also very good. but it seemed the closer I got to Rome the worse it got.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Recession-Hit Japanese Suffer Again as Whiskey Prices Soar

As people in Japan prepare to say good riddance to another year of recession, weary consumers received more bad news on Tuesday. It was bad enough that a big increase in the consumption tax helped sink the economy; now comes news from the country’s largest liquor maker that the drinking custom of kanpai, or bottoms up, will become a lot pricier in the New Year.

Suntory (2587:JP), the Tokyo-based company that this year bought Jim Beam, announced on Tuesday that it will raise prices by about 20 percent on 39 whiskey products.

That kanpai line almost made me post this in the newbie reported forum.

[Grumpy Gramps]

Could be a wise move, though. When the economy gets hopeless, then for many people drinking is the only solution. Raising booze prices will further increase their depression, and, therefore, thirst. Sounds like a clever marketing strategy.

[Mike Oxlong]

Maker's Mark at DonQui here goes for about half the U.S. price.

[IparryU]

Maker's Mark at DonQui here goes for about half the U.S. price.

Tempted to get some of that for new years...

[Mike Oxlong]

Maker's Mark at DonQui here goes for about half the U.S. price.

Tempted to get some of that for new years...

Beat the new tax!

[J.A.F.O]

Maker's Mark at DonQui here goes for about half the U.S. price.

Tempted to get some of that for new years...

Beat the new tax!

As my old man used to say "Selling Booze, Smokes, Coffee and Women are the businesses to be in when times are tough" Maybe I'll start selling some good old moonshine as a side business ... it worked for Capone right? well until that prison thing ... well nevermind maybe not.

[Grumpy Gramps]

I think the cigarettes are now out of fashion, no money to be made there. Moonshine, though, or whatever stuff it is that makes the Japanese drive like Russians, might be lucrative enough for a little moonshining.

[J.A.F.O]

I think the cigarettes are now out of fashion, no money to be made there. Moonshine, though, or whatever stuff it is that makes the Japanese drive like Russians, might be lucrative enough for a little moonshining.

Are you in the market?

[Grumpy Gramps]

Psssssst

[Greji]

"Selling Booze, Smokes, Coffee and Women are the businesses to be in when times are tough"

Not bad when times are good as well....

[J.A.F.O]

Not bad when times are good as well....

Touché

[yanpa]

The Scottish mother of Japanese whisky
By Magnus Bennett BBC Scotland news website
Scotch enthusiasts found it hard to swallow recently when a Japanese single malt was named the world's best whisky. But the fact that a Scot played a key role in establishing the hard stuff in Japan may make that news more palatable for some.

Jessie Roberta Cowan, from Kirkintilloch, had little idea how much her life was going to change when a young Japanese man took up lodgings at her family home in 1918.

Masataka Taketsuru had come to Scotland to study the art of whisky-making, taking up chemistry at Glasgow University before becoming an apprentice at Longmorn Distillery in Speyside and later at Hazelburn Distillery in Campbeltown.

Masataka and Jessie - who was known as Rita - soon formed a strong bond and on 8 January 1920 they married in a Glasgow registry office.

It was the beginning of a long journey that was to end with Rita becoming known as the mother of Japanese whisky.

...more...

[Samurai_Jerk]

The Scottish mother of Japanese whisky
By Magnus Bennett BBC Scotland news website
Scotch enthusiasts found it hard to swallow recently when a Japanese single malt was named the world's best whisky. But the fact that a Scot played a key role in establishing the hard stuff in Japan may make that news more palatable for some.

Jessie Roberta Cowan, from Kirkintilloch, had little idea how much her life was going to change when a young Japanese man took up lodgings at her family home in 1918.

Masataka Taketsuru had come to Scotland to study the art of whisky-making, taking up chemistry at Glasgow University before becoming an apprentice at Longmorn Distillery in Speyside and later at Hazelburn Distillery in Campbeltown.

Masataka and Jessie - who was known as Rita - soon formed a strong bond and on 8 January 1920 they married in a Glasgow registry office.

It was the beginning of a long journey that was to end with Rita becoming known as the mother of Japanese whisky.

...more...

There's a rumor going around that Greji hit that.

[matsuki]

Rumor? I'd be more surprised if he hadn't!

[J.A.F.O]

Been drinking this whiskey called Elijah Craig. It's a Bourbon Whiskey and fairly decent. Weird thing is that I never heard of it while in the states. Maybe it's just because I'm a yank. Anyone else find decent booze from their home country they never heard of before?

[American Oyaji]

Don't like Jack Daniels, but found Gentleman Jack in Japan.

That bottle got me laid.