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What would be your list of the top 10 whiskeys for a beginner looking to get into whiskeys/scotch/bourbon? I know you recommend Buffalo Trace specifically Eagle Rare, but I'd like to know more of what you think beginners should buy in order to be more cultured about what whiskeys they're drinking.
I'd say:
The start of an excellent cabinet.
Can I throw my hat in the ring? I am a neophyte by all accounts, but I can attest that Redbreast 12 is a good starter as you work up the chain towards scotch. Most Irish whiskeys older than 8-10 taste like wood to me, but I find the Redbreast pleasantly complex for an Irish.
In other words, start with a flavorless version of malt whisky and go up from there? I wasted about $60 on a bottle of Redbreast 12, and that is why the Connemara is on the list.
My list of excellent beginner whiskeys (all under $45)
I had spinal fusion (L5, S1) about 10 years ago. After a lifetime of squatting, I quit for almost 10 years out of fear. I finally decided to get back into squatting after reading this forum and deciding I needed to do low back squats, which I never did before. Rip tried and tried to get me to do those when I lived in Wichita Falls in my 20s but I was stubborn. Living in Austin, there really aren't any good gyms, so I bought a squat rack for my home. I'm now up to 260 for my last set of 5 and my back actually feels better than when I wasn't squatting. I'm 52 years old and weigh around 190 so I know that I still have plenty of room to improve.
I'm writing this to give encouragement to those that have had back surgery. Rip told me I should be squatting again and I finally listened.
You were a stubborn kid. But welcome back to the board.
Incredible! I was discussing this with my wife just yesterday. We're going to the doctor to discuss options on her kyphoscoliosis and I have been worried that spinal fusion would impede lifting. Good to know you've had success with it.
Have you done anything different to what's in the book? Could you relate your experiences?
I was very disciplined about doing the rehab exercises that the therapist recommended after my surgery. This seemed to help a lot. I didn't have the same condition that your wife has so I'm hesitant to give any advice. My disc disintegrated basically from years of abuse and my job, so I had no choice but to have the surgery. I'm a fireman, which can be hard on the back.
Other than focusing on doing low back squats correctly, the other thing I got out of the Practical Programming for Strength Training was to quit doing any kind of clean. The few times I tried to squat over the years, I tried to do some kind of clean as well, which made my knees so tender that I couldn't squat anymore. After reading the book, I realized that I was just too old for Olympic lifts.
Good timing on this...I needed to hear something encouraging. I had spinal fusion (C 5/6) three years ago, and just three weeks ago I had a total disc replacement on C 3/4. I was out for 15 months after the fusion, and then I started back into Army PT, with mostly extra running and not much lifting. This time I've already been cleared to begin working out, and my doc told me to focus more on getting my strength back ... Today will be my first day starting back on SS, so it's good to hear other people have been through something similar and are turning out okay.
A Pilot Study of Strength Training in the Memory-Impaired Elderly: Reflections of a Coach –Inna Koppel
Stop Catching Your Cleans Like a Fool –Phil Meggers
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