spirits

[sad old git]

Hello All. I quite enjoy a few shots of the "hard stuff" ie whisky, gin.vodka etc but I'm no expert on the quality of these drinks meaning that when you go to your local supermarket they have their own brands on sale at a much lower price than named brands such as Smirnoff, Gordons Gin etc so why is this?.

[mike11111]

Two reasons mainly:

1) They are mass-produced for the supermarket chain which helps keep down costs.
2) They are of inferior quality (though perfectly drinkable).

I drink Richmond gin, available at Morrisons for £7.78 (as opposed to Gordon's @ £13.00) and find it quite acceptable. However I would never offer it to guests. It's a bit of a snob thing I suppose.

[Answerprancer]

Oh I dunno, I've seen some fairly good quality whiskies in ASDA : Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie etc.
Also recommended - Courvoisier and Remy Martin Cognac, Cuervo Gold Tequila and Jack Daniels Bourbon.

[mike11111]

Hope that's not a cocktail, AP.

[Answerprancer]

tchoh ! Och noooo! - Nighty night :)

[bednobs]

it's just economics - it is the same with beans i suppose!

[sad old git]

mike11111. I guess I do the same as you; I buy the cheaper stuff for my own consumption.Then again if I have guests around I'm not sure if they could tell the difference between the brands as they usually dilute their drinks with some sort of mixer....Redhelen, I have never come across a whisky with an alcohol content as low as 30%, it's usually 40%....however gin and vodka are rated around 37%.....I have just been told that JAPANESE whisky is the best!!!!.Can this be true?. Once again thank you all for your replies.S.O.G

[jaydah]

yeh red, beans with gin sounds kool

[Answerprancer]

"..never come across a whisky with an alcohol content as low as 30%"
Me niether, yeuch - 'sherry' whisky.
I reiterate what I said: a good well-known single malt whisky or a good standard Cognac is the way to go IMO, all the major supermarkets do them.

My personal 'commonly found favourites': Glenfiddich and Courvoisier.

(Viva l'auld alliance!)

[mazie]

for special occassions, like christmas etc. I'll buy soeme Old Raj Gin, its a saffron gin and excellent

[sad old git]

Mazie. Old Raj Gin sounds good where can I buy it? I live in N.E. England.