The Hard Liquor and Miscellaneous Stiff Drinks Thread

[Ser Clegane]

Hmm... isn't Scotch meant for women (and Englishmen... same thing) to begin with?

I assume you have not tried a real cask strength Islay Scotch yet

[Reverend Joe]

I assume you have not tried a real cask strength Islay Scotch yet

No, and I haven't tried turpentine fresh from the factory either.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[naut]

I've developed a disturbing predilection for straight gin.

[HopAlongBunny]

Best whiskey I have ever had the good fortune to sip was made by a Saskatchewan farmer.

Absolutely smooth.

Water is essential to enjoying a good whiskey. Scotch, Irish, Bourbon benefit because your taste buds actually get a chance to taste the parts; after that first sip of straight whiskey I doubt anyone can taste the full profile as the taste buds go into shock. For the good stuff water is essential.

[rajpoot]

OK, a science question (I mean I know I can search the internet for an answer, but why do so much work when I've got a group of excellent fellow guild men to help me out ... )
Right, so, why is it that alcohol affects us more when had on an empty stomach??

[miotas]

I have heard a couple of reasons why it slows alcohol absorbtion. One is that it dilutes the alcohol, and the other is that when we eat the stomach closes up to digest the food and stops anything from getting through to the small intestine. The small intestine absorbs stuff more quickly into the blood stream then the stomach, so having the alcohol stay in the stomach rather than pass to the small intestine would cause slower absorbtion. My scientific skills extend no further than yr12 biology, but they seem to make sense to me.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I believe that is correct. Carbonated drinks like beer and champagne open the valve to the small intestine and so get you drunk quicker on a full stomach than liquor will.