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Name your favorite Scotch (and educate us)

similost

similost

Rockin and Rollin....
I've just recently taken up Scotch. I'm on my third bottle to try, so I'm still trying to figure out what I like or what I don't . I do know I like it better than Bourbon or Whiskey I've found out. At least when drinking anything straight (or over ice)

So far I've tried Glenlivit, Glenfiddich, and Highland Park.

I seem to like Glenlivit the best, smooth, well balanced flavor, and just the right amount of oak.. and Highland Park the least, but not sure why.. a tad too sweet maybe??? but the Fiddich seems kind of middle of the road between those two...

So what's your poison and why?
 
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I don't drink scotch any more because it jacks with my sleep. Used to visit Pints Pub in Denver when I lived there and they had a ton of different types. Have a gander and maybe use their menu as a nice little guide to the spirit. :D

http://www.pintspub.com/WhiskyList.pdf
 
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18 year old Macallan is simply the best thing I've ever drunk. Period. It's way too expensive nowadays, though. Their 12 year old is affordable and is quite good, but quite different than Glenlivet or Glenfiddich (I also prefer Glenlivet over Glenfiddich BTW). Macallan is a different animal, aged in once used Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. It imparts a richness and flavor that stands apart from other single malts. However, it could be considered a bit "sweet" (the 12 year old, anyway). The 18 year old is simply Nirvana in a bottle - too good (and expensive) for everyday drinking.

BTW, don't drink (or admit to drinking) single malts on ice. The cognoscenti will frown heavily. Drink it neat or with just a splash of water. It's fine, however, to drink blended scotch on the rocks, with water and ice or even a splash of soda water.
 
I'm one of those that don't care what others think..

I've got this thing about snobs.. I'm sorry, caviar on duck liver IS NOT an acquired taste.. People don't acquire taste for stuff that tastes like crap... it's snobs trying to show off...

I'll sit and chug a bottle of what ever you think you are too good to water down with ice, but if it tastes better with ice than without ice, then that's the way I'm gonna drink it..
 
Try Johnny Walker Black and see if you like it. Think of it a signpost, just pointing in the general direction of smoky scotch. If you want to try the very peaty, smoky side of single malts from Islay, I really like Lagavulan.

BTW Finnbow speaks the truth Macallan 18 is incredible and spendy. Last time I had some was on a very special occasion and it was $30 a hit, I had 2 with soda backers. Not suborning snobbery, but single malts like this just don't deserve to be watered down with ice, especially at the price. They really should be savored. One doesn't take a $15 cigar and dip it in rum.
 
I've had Johnny Walker through the years.. Red and black... never cared for it that much, but I've also never tried the blue..

Guess I've just never had a really good scotch that didn't need ice. I'll keep my eyes open for something special at a bar to try without the ice..
 
Simi - I apologize if I sent off a snobby vibe about the single malt with ice comment. Scotch on the rocks is a fine drink indeed, but for on the rocks you can probably scratch your itch with a blended for much less money. For such purposes, give Famous Grouse a try. I think it's the most popular blended in the UK. Another decent reasonably priced blended is Dewar's White Label.

That said, for single malts I also recommend Glenmorangie. It's in the same league as The Glenlivet IMO. It's highly regarded and favorably priced (~$32 at Magruders in DC). Nothing earth-shattering like an 18 year old Macallan, but it's 1/5 the price.
 
No.. no bad vibe.. I knew exactly what you were saying about guys that are single malt aficionados... Just kind of funny, because me and the wife were talking about high end food and some restaurants the other night and some of the nasty **** we've been served in the name of fancy..

I don't have a problem with picking up a bottle that runs higher than most so long as it's something that just oozes of greater quality flavor.. I hate those that price it high just because people associate price with quality when the two don't match..

I'd love to do a really great scotch tasting.. plain, with water, with ice, so on and so forth trying to point out all the differences with each...
 
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Simi - Not to threadjack, but have you tried any really good rum? I've had all sorts of rum (I thought) until I drank some Ron de Barrilito 3 Star while in Puerto Rico. This is a spirit that's worth seeking out to see how fine/different a good rum can be. For me, it was a revelation. A friend from Puerto Rico brings me back a bottle every year now. It's available here, but costs about the same as a single malt. Over there, it's about 1/2 the price.
 
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Geeze, I'm almost scared to post.

Opinions are asked for but it doesn't matter what others think???

:arrow:

I'm not a big Scotch drinker so I was pleasantly surprised by Arran single malt 10 yr last week and felt compelled to post. It is a relatively new distillery and I didn't purchase it so I can't give many details. This review sums it up nicely.

http://www.connosr.com/reviews/arran/arran-10-year-old/genuinely-charming-dram/

And I like pate. My grandmother made various pates from scratch for holidays.

Hated caviar the first time I tried it as a young adult. Now I enjoy it. It was an acquired taste.

Like Scotch.

:thmbsp:
 
Laphroaig Cask Strength with a touch of water. Peaty and complex.
Johnnie Walker Green ( Blended with only Single Malts) if you like Blendeds.

"Good Music,Single Malt and Old Motorcycles"
 
Haven't had scotch much recently but I always enjoyed Glenmorangie for a readily available decent single malt.

10-15 years ago I discovered Aberlour at about half the price of the big names. Haven't shopped it recently but it compared favorably to the better known names, IMO.
 
HandyHamlet said:
Geeze, I'm almost scared to post.

Opinions are asked for but it doesn't matter what others think???

:arrow:

I'm not a big Scotch drinker so I was pleasantly surprised by Arran single malt 10 yr last week and felt compelled to post. It is a relatively new distillery and I didn't purchase it so I can't give many details. This review sums it up nicely.

http://www.connosr.com/reviews/arran/arran-10-year-old/genuinely-charming-dram/

And I like pate. My grandmother made various pates from scratch for holidays.

Hated caviar the first time I tried it as a young adult. Now I enjoy it. It was an acquired taste.

Like Scotch.

:thmbsp:
Click to expand...

Sorry if I came off wrong there as far as saying I didn't care what others think... I was saying that some people turn their noses up at things just because it doesn't fit into what they have been taught, whether it's right or wrong, they turn their noses up when someone does something different... that they don't have an open mind...

I never could understand the "acquired" taste bit.. it's either bad, or good.. you don't acquire a taste.. you just learn to put up with it.. and I don't have time to do that... too many other things to enjoy from the get go..
 
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Ardbeg Uigeadail Traditional Strength Islay Single Malt Whisky.


Here's a review of the lesser 10-yr Ardbeg (to give you a hint): "The 10-year-old (46 vol.) is a pale gold color, with a powerful smoke, seaweed, iodine, and faint nutty notes to the nose. The body appears a bit oily but feels thinner on the tongue. The palate is very sweet at first, then a big rush of smoky, iodine flavors. The finish is bold and peppery, with a lingering interplay of sweetness, salt, smoke, and pepper."

In other words, tastes like harbor water. ;-)
 
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My dad has about 40 plus bottles of Scotch. He visits the UK once a year and always brings back a stash. While I keep Laphroaig 10-year around as my house Scotch, that Ardbeg shown above is heavenly. My dad and I will pour two glasses after dinner and discuss manly things.

Many Scotch makers use U.S. Bourbon casks and the link between Kentucky (where many a Scott settled) Bourbon and Scotch should be obvious to even the most inebriated sipper.

Ken
 
I fall squarely into the 'blends on the rocks, single malts neat" camp. I drink them accordingly, anything on the rocks before dinner and single malts after dinner.
The best reasonably priced blend I have encountered is The Famous Grouse. I did an extended side by side with Dewar's, of which I have drunk an ocean, and the Grouse was the winner hands down. On the rocks with a splash of water or with soda and a twist, a great value.
Moving up the scale Johnnie Walker Red, & Black, Chivas Regal and Pinch are all fine blended whiskies.
Like others I am a big Glenmorangie fan, particularly the "Portwood Finish" which is now called "Quinta Ruban", it is an excellent whisky.
Macallan, "The Rolls Royce of single malt whisky", is the standard bearer for the industry. The 12 year old bottling is indicative of the house's style, I prefer the "Sherry style" to the newer "Fine Oak" bottlings which are milder. It's just what I cut my teeth on, and am used to.
There are many fine single malts worth seeking out from the various regions of Scotland, Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Islay. Each region has it's own style and some, especially Islay, is radically different than the rest.
Some worthwhile names to seek out, Talisker, Oban, Dalwhinnie, Auchentoshan, Bunnahabhain, etc... Aw heck, just keep trying them until you find the ones that fit you like a glove.:D
 
similost said:
I've had Johnny Walker through the years.. Red and black... never cared for it that much, but I've also never tried the blue..

Guess I've just never had a really good scotch that didn't need ice. I'll keep my eyes open for something special at a bar to try without the ice..
Click to expand...

Johnny Walker is a blended whisky - quite different to a Single Malt that most are encouraging you to try, apples and oranges IMO.

Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, Glenlivet, Talisker, all liked here - however Glenfiddich a bit 'oily' for my taste.
 
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