America needs a break.
Mired in the muck of a General Election replete with undesirable candidates and their excruciatingly banal rhetoric, we all need an opportunity to chill.
To sit back and sip a good whisky. To talk about happy things. To really hear one another.
To listen, for instance, to people such as comedian Andy Daly, who recently spent a bunch of time conveying people’s opinions on an issue soaked in argument and intrigue.
For 3 ½ hours, Daly — you know him from Comedy Central — stood behind a podium and talked about Laphroaig Scotch.
For the past three years, the good people at Laphroaig asked whisky drinkers what they think of Laphroaig Scotch, which, they say, is “born from the streams and blue peat smoke of Islay … a Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a distinct taste and story in every bottle.”
A whisky this complex will elicit a plethora of opinions, and Daly recites them all: It’s the Laphroaig Filibuster, and here are some thoughts, from people across the country:
“All the subtlety of Dumpster fire … but in the best way possible.”
“The only way I can describe the flavor is licking the inside of my barbecue. But I love it.”
“It’s like letting your taste buds drive a classic sports car with leather seats and oak trim.”
OK, then. Anyway, you get the picture. This goes on awhile … for 3 ½ hours, as I’ve said.
Daly is engaging and funny. It’s definitely worth a listen, and it sure beats the hell out of listening to Ted Cruz or Strom Thurmond drone on for days.
Laphroaig, in the interest of full disclosure, sent me four sample bottles representing distillery innovations in 2016 — the Lore, Cairdeas Madeira, a 25-year and a 30-year.
The Lore, I find, smells much like the county fairs I remember from my childhood, but that’s not bad. There are hints of barnyard,’ yet it’s velvety and creamy on the tongue. Chocolate and vanilla extract. Smoky just this side of burned. Spicy chili.
The Cairdeas, which celebrates friendship, is aged in used bourbon barrels before spending time in Maderia casks. It’s spicy, nutty and fruity, with a nose of fresh-cut flowers. The presence of bourbon is unmistakable, both in the Cairdeas and the barrel-strength 25-year, which is aged in European Oak Oloroso sherry casks.
The 30-year is exquisite. Also aged in bourbon barrels, it’s rich and satiny. Ripe fruit and savory herbs. It coats the tongue and lingers there, begging to be savored.
All quite special, all uniquely distinct.
“Like being slowly drowned in a peat bog by someone who loves you very much,” says one commenter.
Laphroaig welcomes your opinions and asks you to pick your favorite.
As for my vote, I chose the Lore.
Just too funky to ignore. But hey, it’s an election year, and it’s your vote.
As for Tuesday, well, good luck with that.
#OpinionsWelcome
See more from Trump at huffingtonpost.com/author/john-trump and halfwaysouth.com