been exploring scotch.
 

ok, i like scotch. tasting a few along the way. i seem to always go back to johnny walker black. maybe i just like the blends better.

any other faves?

what the heck does a $350 bottle of scotch taste like?

I've been doing the same thing lately. It's kind of fun. My current sample is The Balvenie "Doublewood", which I have really enjoyed. Some others I have tried lately and really enjoyed are Tamnavulin Speyside, Bowmore Islay, and Aberlour. These are all middle of the road, $30-$60 bottles. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for some Glenn Farlach, but have not been able to find any locally.

I got my coworkers to go in for a bottle of 18 y/o Lagaluvin (sp?) for my Boss's birthday based on some helpful recomendations from folks here on the board. He likes it plenty.

Chivas for "everyday"...Macallan when company comes over. I typically have 3-4 other types (Bowmore, Glenfiddich, Laphroaig) around just to have different brands. I think I'll go fix a glass now...good suggestion. :D

v/r
Wayne C.

Glenn Morangie 12 year blend or JW red\black\gold\blue.

Got my father a bottle of JW Blue last X-mas - very smooth.

I confess to the blasphemous method of drinking it with two ice cubes and a splash of water.

AFJuvat

Lagavulin is my personal favorite especially the double wood I found in Europe. Sublime.

This is by far my favorite Scotch, it is also one of the highest rated Scotchs in the world.

If you want to explore the different Scoth flavors, get a good $40 - $75 bottle from the 3 major areas, Highland, Lowland and Islay Isle, the Lagavulin is from the Islay Isle and has a tremendous somkey flavor that you will still taste the next morning.

I tried Glengoyne last year because I believe it's the only single malt scotch that doesn't use peated malt. I didn't care for it and gave it to a friend. I drink Red Breast, which is a single malt, pot still Irish whiskey. It's fabulous!

Laphroaig all the way baby!

I received a bottle of 25yr old McClellan as a gift once. It goes for $225- $250. Good whiskey but I didn't like it as well as Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish which is abot $50 a bottle. For lower priced whiskey I get either Jameson's or Bushmill's Irish whiskey (same ingredients, like the difference between Tennessee whiskey & Kentucky bourbon) . To get what is IMHO bette whiskey than that you have to spend 2 or 3 times as much.

My favorite whiskeys are:

Red Breast
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, 10 year old
Rebel Yell (cheap, but tasty Bourbon)

I was invited to a Johnny Walker "tasting" last month here in town. Had a very good time and sampled every version that they make.

Just received another invite to a future event. Free Whiskey is my favourite!

JoeA

I've been to the JW tasting in St. Louis.

Very nice time and learned alot about Scotch - enough to know that I prefer Bourbon.

If you can ever find it around, its called OBAN.

Here is a site with a photo of the bottle (pretty good site by the way).

http://www.scotchwhisky.net/malt/oban.htm


Good stuff.

Oban is wonderful. So wonderful that it jumped from $40 / bottle to $68 / bottle in the last year. If you like Chivas, try Glenlivet. It is a very nice single malt.

Randy,

Agree and drink a scotch from time to time but usual drink is bourbon as well!

Joe A

if you can find it, try *anything* by "Springbank"
http://www.gawine.com/springfeet.html
http://www.awa.dk/whisky/spribank/
http://whisky.com/distilleries/springbank_news.html

I'm a bourbon lover myself!

You guys got it goin' on.

Oban is awesome if you like the smokey peaty taste that I do.
Glengoyne is a good "beginner" scotch as commented above, no peat.
Macallan is awesome. 12 is good, I remember when 18 was $40 a bottle!
Springbank is excellent. Had the 33 year old several years ago at a tasting, QUOIT TOIT! I liked the 15 a bit better though, more character.
Others to try:
Balvenie Double Wood - nice.
Glenlivet as an "every day" scotch.

I've always preferred the Speyside Malts. To me they are smoother with better finishes. If you want an experience, any cask proof speyside cut with a tiny bit of bottled water is a wonderful experience for the mouth.

Whatever you do, drink it straight. Water chaser if you must. I can't imagine why anyone would ruin a perfectly good scotch or bourban with water, soda, or ICE!


Nothing wrong with a good Bourbon either. Knob Creek is a good everyday one. Bakers is good. I got a vote from an informed friend of "Old Rip van Winkle 10 or 13." It sounds like rotgut to me, but he said it was awesome and about $40/bottle.

Oban is real nice. I also like Dalwhinnie.