Our Favorite Quotes

-- Hayek’s 1974 Nobel Prize lecture, "The Pretense of Knowledge"

 

Anybody who has followed this thread to this point should be interested in the following link -- it's non-political, yet fascinating (given the scope, background, and disciplines of the participants).

Taubes interviewed by Roberts.

It includes a few dozen "best quotes" ...

 

There are two that I like:

non illigitimis carborundum (anonymous): "Don't let the ******** grind you down."

"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." (Mark Twain)

 

Beer! The cause of - and solution to - all of life's problems - Homer Simpson

 

'I'm a son and I'm a father, I am just a middle man.' Loudon Wainwright

'By the time i was old enough to know that my father was right, i had a son who thought i was wrong.' Henry Winkler

 

One of my brothers once had a tee shirt that read:

"I killed a 6-pack, just to watch it die."

And another that read:

"I don't have a drinking problem.
I get drunk, I fall down, I go to sleep.
No problem...."

 

was your brother know as "The Man in Black Label"?

 

Nice play on the Johnny Cash theme...

I just bought a fifth of Jim Beam Devil's Cut 90 proof, out of Idle curiosity. I've never seen it before, so I googled it as well as tasting it.

For those who aren't into whiskey, "the Angels' Share" is what evaporates through the charred oak barrels while bourbon is aging, or just soaks into the wood and stays. Jim Beam has come up with a process to extract the whiskey that has soaked into those barrels, and they add it to a bourbon aged for six years. Being good marketers, they call it "the Devil's cut."

What do I think of it? I dunno; the jury is still out. I had a couple of drinks down me before I bought it, and I'll have to try it from scratch tomorrow. But unsurprisingly, it has a strong oak flavor. The other flavors are fairly strong also... this isn't a subtle whiskey. On the other hand, it's surprisingly smooth for a 90 proof whiskey. It would probably be a shame to waste it by mixing it, instead of sipping it straight.

My (very) preliminary judgment? I'm not super-impressed, but it might grow on me.

Interesting sidebar: bourbon is always aged in new charred-oak barrels; they can't be reused. But many of the used barrels are sold to wineries in Europe. So that high-dollar French wine or Spanish brandy you enjoy might have a touch of down-home Kentucky or Tennessee in it, from being aged in used American whiskey barrels.

 

I don't drink, but I do like these and make them occasionally, using Jim Beam exclusively:

 

Sounds good. What size do you make them?

 

That's like buying Kobe beef out of idle curiosity. Treat it gently.

A "shame" -- it would be a sin! To any guest who requests a whiskey and Coke, serve the 'Old Arm Pit' ...

 

Troy, I thought the receipe was for one.

 

"Guests"? Vot iss dis "guests"?! I have twenty bucks invested in this bottle. You think I'm gonna pour it for someone else just because they strolled through my door?

I normally drink bourbon and water: a shot of bourbon, two shots of water, and fill it up with ice. But diluting this stuff doesn't work very well. Somehow that brings out the oak tannins, and kind of leaves the more complex flavors behind. What does work is two fingers of it in a glass, with just one little chip of ice floated in it. It's definitely a sipping whiskey, and it's growing on me.

 

Dear Abby:

I didn't come from a drinking background so it took me many wasted years to acquire a taste for single malt scotch. It used to taste the way some toilet cleaner smells. OK, it still does, but now I can appreciate it. How will I ever succeed in becoming an alcoholic though?

Signed: headache after only one

 

Trust me: if you're willing to work at it long enough, you can get there.