Whisky, Old Fashioneds, and the Quest for Clear Ice: What I’m Learning Later in Life

Pilates, Korean, and a Piano I Can’t Play Yet

I started this blog because I’m always learning things later in life. Not on purpose, exactly. I just stay curious.

Lately I’ve been busy. I go to Pilates 5–6 days a week and my weight is going down, which is good because I feel better when I’m thinner. I have more energy and sound less creaky.

I’ve also been making time to study Korean and work on video editing. I’m reviving my YouTube channel (again) with the same format but much better editing so the words aren’t wonky and the video isn’t subpar. I’m also adding practice time on my Akai Mini Play keyboard.

And here’s something I’m excited about: my local library has a piano room. If I can find my music books in all those boxes in our storage unit (yes, we’re still not fully unpacked, and I’m not sure we ever will be until we retire into a permanent home), I want to practice piano again. I don’t play well. I read music a little better than I read Hangul. So beginner at both.

But that’s the point. Being a beginner, over and over.

How I Fell Into Whisky (and Whiskey)

One thing my husband and I have been learning about is whisky. Or whiskey. Turns out there’s a difference:

• Whiskey (with an ‘e’) comes from the US and Ireland.
• Whisky (no ‘e’) comes from everywhere else (Canada, Scotland, Japan.)

We’ve tended to like the Scotch varieties. Glenfiddich is our go-to right now.

It started as a me thing. Then my husband had a Glenfiddich 21 and now he likes a small glass before bed some evenings. I only drink on days I don’t have a morning exercise class the next day. It is a good balance.

Back when I was packing up our house to move to New England, I had a bunch of liquor. Some went down the drain. Some got given away. Some got drunk. I kept the whiskeys to drink. That’s when I discovered I liked Bulleit best out of the ones I had at the time (Woodford Reserve and Johnny Walker Black Label were there too. These were smaller bottles that were originally bought for recipes).

Since then we’ve ventured into Glenfiddich 12, 14, 15, 18, and 21. Balvenie 16. Makers Mark.

The Taste Test (I Failed Part of It)

We ran a little taste test at home to see if we could tell the difference between Glenfiddich 12, 15, and 18. I could tell the 18 apart from the others right away, it was much smoother. But the 12 and 15? I mixed them up. I enjoyed all three, though. No shame.

The Old Fashioned Situation

The funny thing about our whisky adventure is that I also really like Old Fashioneds.

Now one of my kids likes to say I’m a middle-aged man since I like them. But I think they’re back in vogue. Every restaurant we go to seems to have their own version.

So far my favorite would have to be the Old Fashioneds at a restaurant chain called Fish City Grill. My second favorite was from a pub in Boston on the Freedom Trail, they did this fun smoky thing to it. The worst was from a restaurant called Hemenways in Providence. Personally I think the bartender made it wrong because she shook the whiskey with something sour. It was gross. And somewhat fizzy.

The Balvenie 16 Regret (and Revenge)

When we first bought Balvenie 16, my husband talked me into it. At the time we had only had a high-end Glenfiddich at a restaurant called Marcelinos in Providence. I wanted to try a less expensive bottle to compare. My husband wanted Balvenie. I caved.

At first, he didn’t even like it. I thought it was okay. So I started using it for Old Fashioneds. (Those were some expensive Old Fashioneds.)

Then apparently my husband changed his mind and finished the bottle neat, as it should be served.

The Curious Case of Whisky Ice (Temporary Obsession)

For a little while, this new obsession with whiskeys and whiskys had me curious (as I easily am about anything) about whisky ice. You know, clear ice cubes. No cloudiness. Sometimes blocks, sometimes fancy round ones.

I tried to make my own.

It was a mess. No, they were not clear.

I think it has something to do with making them from boiled or distilled water. The silicone mold I used was messy too, so maybe I need a better mold. I have currently lost interest but will probably get curious again in the future to make the perfect whisky ice cube.

That’s how my curiosity works. I go deep, hit a wall, wander away, and circle back months later.

So Tell Me

Are you a whisky or whiskey drinker? Do you like Old Fashioneds? Ever tried making clear ice? I also enjoy a good glass of wine from time to time. Let me know in the comments.

And if you’re new here, I’m someone who does Pilates almost daily, studies Korean slowly, plays piano badly, and drinks Scotch like a stereotypical dad. Subscribe if you want to follow along. There’s always something new I’m learning later in life.