since you are only shopping at the local megamart, i dont know how fancy you can get. my bread and butter scotch is johnnywalker black. i think it is pretty damn close.

have you guys ever done that johnnywalker "keep walking" tour thing? basically it is about free booze. apparently scotch is typically for the older generation. and JW figured if the trend is left to proceed without new blood, business will die. so they put out a scotch tasting tour where they highlight all their stuff from the worse to the best, even some hot singles. comes with food and booze. free. just to draft new scotch drinkers away from the kazi shots. very fun. look for it, it is a traveling thing every fall.

I'll take that as a compliment. I guess it's why I was always so accepted by the boys:D I'm also a compendium of female vanities, so I was one of "those girls" your mother would not have approved of;)
3m scotch?:D :D :D
First Scotch lesson: Avoid Linton - it cost 4 euros a bottle for good reason!

If he's used to the blends & you want to lay a malt on him, try Knockando, Craggenmore or Balvenie. They are smoother Speyside products. As you go to the Western areas, the whiskeys take on a more complex palate. Not for everyone. I would like to get my hands on another bottle of Glen Grant but its not sold on North America. Isabo, I envy you. The old guy who gave us a tour of the distillery said Glen Grant was the best selling malt in Italy. It is Smooth.
Les

Oban. By far my favorite.

She also drinks Pils lager and smokes cigars.;)

Glen Grant is usually considered a very downmarket malt in Italy and is priced accordingly. I don't think it is the same quality as sold elsewhere, It's labelled five years old which is quite young.

Went to teh stores last night to look and see what was available, spoke with a few people about it, and I think we've settled on a bottle of 18 y.o Lagavulin ..

Thanks to all of you for your insight and suggestions

Milu,
We were able to sample the 5 & 10 year old products at the tour. The 5 was drinkable, but the 10 was remarkably smooth for its age. Perhaps he "neglected to mention" it was the 5 Y.O. which they sold in greater volumes. While at Heathrow last March, I came across a 25 Y.O. bottle of Glen Grant.. at about 5 - 6 times the price of the 10 y.o. I had purchased in 2001. Too rich for my blood. Oh well, I'll get back sometime.
Thanks for the clarification.
Les

id10t,
Glad you were able to sort it out. One thing about this board: there's no shortage of opinion or diversity of same. I have had the 18 Y.O Lagavulin. It is a richly complex whiskey. At room temp. with just a bit of water.....it is an experience he should appreciate.
Les

Doesn't he know that scotch is liquid heroin? It's the last step before re-hab. I've been drinking it for years. Buy him J&B or Dewars White Label---best quality for the money.

Good choice. West is best when it comes to Scotch in my ethnically biased opinion! If he likes the Lagavulin he should also try the Bunnahabhain if it's available over there.

The most expensive & oldest scotch on the planet is still just booze....

Great Choice. Lagavulin is very unique...just like our Porsches.

Just curious since I know nothing about scotch. I went to an old freinds retirement yesterday and at the end we toasted him with 18yr gold lable Johnie Walker. I think this is more of a whisky/scotch blend. But I thought it was a bit strong and not smooth like I had expected.
Any comments how this would compare to some of those listed above?

Pat

Pat, Johnny Walker is an overpriced blended scotch. dewars white label and J&B rare are better tasting and cheaper than Johnny Walker Black IMHO. I cannot drink Johnny Walker Red at all. Single malts are a completely different animal.

I used to like an occasional Scotch until I had a really good bourbon. The best bourbon in the world can be had for $25 a bottle and is smoother than any scotch that can be had for 3x the price.