OT: Scotch Drinkers, what is a good one to try?
So I love beer, and from all the many beer threads here have found many great ones to try. I also drink bourbon and whiskey, same thing. I'm interested in getting some scotch, which I've never really tried with any frequency. What is a good scotch to try?
Important note: I'm a pussy and drink bourbon with a 2-3 ice cubes, so something mellow but flavorful would be my style.
February 25th, 2018 at 9:40 PM ^
Scotch is smoother than Bourbon or rye, in general, so it might be just your thing. With any new drink, I recommend getting two or three different (affordable) bottles that represent a spectrum of styles. That way, you can start to get a sense for the nuances and for what you like. For example, you could get one Highlands (e.g., Glenmorangie), one Speyside (e.g., Glenlivet), and one blend (e.g., Dewars) for about $100 and make a party out of it.
February 26th, 2018 at 8:55 AM ^
I disagree. For me, at least, bourbon tastes smoother, and not in a good way. It just tastes syrupy and lacking in character.
February 25th, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 9:43 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 9:45 PM ^
Also...don't start with cheap stuff. It's cheap for a reason and like trying your first steak at a Denny's.
I am not a fan of the big names- Macallan, Glenlivet, etc. What they are is consistent, and while not bad (in the older bottles anyway), I find them to be a bit bland relative to other options (many of which are less expensive than Macallan).
Master of Malt is a good place to shop.
February 26th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^
Seconded. You're selling yourself short if you stick to the more recognizable brands (Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan). Be prepared to spend $55-65 and get a higher end 12 year old single malt (Balvenie, Dalmore, etc).
My advice, find a nice bar that deals in whiskeys and settle down a couple of weeks from now when Michigan plays its first round game. Get a flight with a variety of scotch producing regions and work out what your palate likes. Pick your bartender's brain. At a higher end bar, there's a good chance he's pretty well versed in scotch and whisky in general. A lot of what I've learned has come from just chatting up the bartender at my favorite cigar bar during a Michigan game.
February 25th, 2018 at 9:51 PM ^
February 26th, 2018 at 1:40 AM ^
Great way to ruin a good single malt. That's like taking a really prime piece of filet mignon and slathering it with ketchup...
February 26th, 2018 at 10:07 AM ^
"Scotch on the rocks" is a phrase best uttered when being served a blended scotch. If you're at a wedding and they're serving Dewars, J&B, or Grants, then "rock" on.
February 25th, 2018 at 9:52 PM ^
As mentioned only single malts distilled in Scotland can be called a Scotch but (I feel blasphemus for saying this as my father was born in Scotland), a friend of mine gave me a bottle of Yamazaki single malt, and it was pretty good.
February 26th, 2018 at 9:19 AM ^
they make about 3-4 different grades, though, and the top one runs about $400/bottle.
Whatever the Japanese do they do well.
February 26th, 2018 at 5:48 AM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^
If you are a scotch newbie and don't like the "heat" (burning of your throat) that can often come from whiskey, I would try Oban 14 year. It's not super cheap but it is extremely smooth. My personal favorite of everyday scotch is Talisker 10 which has a great combination of sweet and smoky without a lot of heat.
February 25th, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 11:29 PM ^
February 26th, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
Oban is great, if you can stomach the price tag. They are a smaller distillery, so they produce limited amounts every year, which as scotch popularity rises, has been driving the price up. I remember being able to pick a up a bottle for around $65 in the mid-2000s. Now it's $85 and the price keeps climbing.
February 26th, 2018 at 5:06 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:07 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
It's Suntori time!
February 25th, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
glenlivet 12 is a good neutral one to start with
talisker 10 or bowmore 15 are good Smokey ones
glenmorangie is very aromatic
Lagavulin is the best. Deep Smokey taste.
February 25th, 2018 at 10:21 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:17 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:17 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:20 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:21 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:29 PM ^
Start out with Glenmorangie, GlenLivet, or Glenfiddich. If you try the peaty/smoky stuff right away it will turn you off (kind of like drinking an IPA as your first beer).
When your ready to move on to the peaty Islay's ---Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg, Caol Isla, Taliskers (actually a Skye, but close enough), they will become your friends for life.
February 25th, 2018 at 10:29 PM ^
I lean to the Smokey Islay brands, no ice and no more than a drop or two of water.
February 25th, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
Good point...ice with a single malt is a crime
February 26th, 2018 at 6:02 AM ^
February 26th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^
Yes, a drop (good places, especially in Scotland, will give you distilled water with a dropper).
Even a single ice cube is a ton more than a drop
February 26th, 2018 at 12:41 PM ^
Let's not get all homeopathic here. A drop does nothing, but a few drops in a single shot are enough to change the proof, and that's really what you're going for. It's actually kind of fun to add water progressively throughout the glass to see how the flavors change - some will be more pronounced at higher proof, others will only start to shine at lower proof. Eventually it will get too thin and dull everything.
Ice (cold) will dull some of the flavors in addition to being an imprecise way to add water, and often ice in bars is made with crappy water, so that's the main reason not to do it.
Remember that all whisky that is not "cask strength" already has water added - water is added to the cask whisky before bottling to take it to the desired proof. The distiller selects a proof that fits their flavor profile (but probably a bit on the strong side, knowing that many drinkers like to add water). That may not be your favorite proof though, so feel free to experiment.
It's your Scotch, there's no wrong way to drink it. Yeah you're throwing your money away if you're mixing fine single malt with cola, but it's your money. I would just say to be open to trying it multiple ways to find what works best for you. Don't force yourself to drink it neat and hate it, if you love it with plenty of water, just because some snob told you your way was "wrong". This is supposed to be fun.
February 26th, 2018 at 9:40 AM ^
Several years ago in an Edinborough restaurant I asked our server to recommend a good single-malt whiskey. She did, and then, recognizing my Yankee accent, said, "I suppose ye'll be wantin' ice with it." I said yes, that's usually the way I take it. She responded "that's a terrible thing to do to a good whiskey."
A further thought. When you're about to board your next overseas flight, stop in the duty-free and pick up a litre of Johnnie Walker Black Label. For price and quality, it's as good a blended Scotch as you'll find. Buying at the duty-free results in some savings, and it'll make your European (or other overseas trip) that much more enjoyable. Of course on your return trip you can bring back the unused portion of the bottle, but better yet you can drink and share the whole bottle while out of the States then buy another at the duty-free (1 litre per person) for your return home.
February 26th, 2018 at 5:59 AM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
Glenfiddich 12 is my best recommendation for starter Scotch.
Or you could try Irish Whiskey.
Bushmills Blackbush is truly excellent for the price and easy to find.
February 25th, 2018 at 10:43 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 10:59 PM ^
February 26th, 2018 at 4:00 PM ^
showoff
February 25th, 2018 at 11:03 PM ^
There are so many varieties out there that without knowing what you like, it's impossible to say "THIS ONE!"
My advice: When trying something, don't go cheap. My first experience with scotch was Dewars. It took over a decade before I tried scotch again. Just awful. When trying to save money I tried Cutty Sark. Again, it's for people who want to just kill brain cells without enjoying any sort of taste.
Currently on my shelf is a bottle of Glenfiddich 12 year and another of JW Black Label. The difference is vast, but the Glenfiddich is too expensive to drink too regularly.
(I also have a bottle of JW Blue that I save for occasions, and an unopened JW Gold... which they no longer make. The "Gold Reserve" is awful.)
Also, avoid gimmicks. The JW Double Black is like sucking on a charcoal brickette.
That said, the Glenfiddich Boubon Barrel Reserve is an excellent starting point. Carmel & fruity. Just a good bottle of alcohol.
February 25th, 2018 at 11:04 PM ^
I would say, though, that what I'd suggest would depend on the bourbon you are currently pouring yourself. If you're drinking something like Angel's Envy, then go with Glenmorangie, Macallan, Balvenie or Dalwhinnie (or secondarily, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich).
February 25th, 2018 at 11:08 PM ^
Really? Its not good and bad hangover if you have a few two many.
February 25th, 2018 at 11:23 PM ^
Seconding the Dalwhinnie. Also I'd put Ardbeg up there for sure.
February 25th, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^
my dad always had a bottle of glenlivet in the house and its smooth even tho I don't like it. I think his stuff was 15 or 18 if I remember?
February 25th, 2018 at 11:16 PM ^
that if you run it thru a brita filter, its even better? I never had the balls to do that, but makes a bit of sense. I am not that rich! hahah
February 25th, 2018 at 11:24 PM ^
February 25th, 2018 at 11:54 PM ^
February 26th, 2018 at 6:20 AM ^