Recommend a nice single malt for a SCOTCH newbie.
 

I've had Balvenie Doublewood and liked it a lot. I've has some nice old Glenfiddich and liked it as well, though not as much.

Give a scotch newbie some ideas, and maybe recommend a perfect glass for sipping fine scotch.

Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish ahh!

Macallans 18 and 25 year old, Glenmorangie 18 year old soaked in various types of Oak Casks, Barrel Strength Macallans

However as of late Trader Joes has been selling Single Malts under their own label. One of the Brands has been Macallans 10 year old for $19.95 a bottle. It is a good everyday swill of the amber liquid.

I prefer a single malt Irish Whiskey. Knapouge Castle is da bomb.

Tabs is on target here. Macallans is one of those scotches that can make a scotch drinker out of somebody who thinks they don't like scotch. I've done this many times. Some folks like the peaty scotches, but many folks don't care for that feature. Macallans is just a touch rougher tasting than water.

Yeah, I'll third the Glenmorangie. But also give Bushmills 21 year old and Middleton Rare a try. The last two are 120-150 a bottle.

Big fan of Lagavulin.
But Laphroaig is my all time fav. Not cheap but fairly easy to find.

Tabs is right on the money here. These are my favourite steady drinkers. And they are probably best for a newbie because they don't explore the extremes of the single malt taste spectrum. They are right in the middle - but incredibly smooth, rich and voluptuous.

As I get older more expensive doesn't mean better.

OK, The Macallan 17 is $99. The Macallan 18 is $150. Is the extra year worth $50, or are they completely different whiskeys? PS, I'm not drinking Macallan 25 unless Tabs is buying. :D


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1187654044.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1187654070.jpg

As I get older I try to drink less - but better.

More expensive doesn't always mean better - quite right about that. Johnnie Walker black is - for my taste at any rate - just about the best blend going. And if you fly a lot it's dirt cheap in the Duty Free shop.

Moses: I haven't seen the 17 year old Macallan before. In fact I usually drink the 12 - and sometimes the 18.

A few months ago a close friends father died and left an extensive whisky collection. My friend is not a whisky drinker and passed the entire collection on to me. Interestingly enough of all of the bottles I've sampled - and this will sound heretical to some - is an old bottle of Japanese Suntory. Extraordinarily round and smooth and satisfying. Quite astonishing really.

Oban.

Tabs has only bought ONE bottle of the 25 year Macallan..that was for $150.00 and he opened it on his 50 th B day. Don't need to go there again.

I had also bought 10 bottles of the 18 year old Macallan for $40 each. Still have 4 left. Bought 10 bottles on Remy XO for $75 each and have 6 left. I bought that nearly 10 years ago when FEDCO was going outa biz.

Daddy gave me a bottle of Johnny Walker Red and a Bottle of Canada Dry Bourbon that he got from the President of Canada Dry as a present back in 1964. I wonder if I will ever open them?

The Johnnie Walker red, a bit of honey, soy and ginger will make a nice meat marinade.


Canada Dry Bourbon? Ho, ho, ho!

Bet you have never seen a bottle of that have you?

glenmorangie 18. [kind of light]

talisker. [really peaty]

I'll second the Talisker and Lagavulin already mentioned. Both are quite peaty, if you want to try something a little more along those lines than the Doublewood. I keep all three on hand. The progression in "peatiness" would go Doublewood - Talisker - Lagavulin. Laphroaig goes even one step further, but you really have to kind of work your way up through the progressively peatier single malts before trying the Laphroaig. Jumping in with both feet like that might be too much too soon.

I love Talisker too, but I don't think a non-single malt person would like it. It tastes like sticking your head under a bbq grill lid smells. Its smokey taste is amazing, but it's as acquired a taste as is scotch itself.

Having a rough day at the office there Moses?

No I have not. Have you?

After dropping a fair amount on various suggestions I have settled on Jameson 12 year or if I'm feeling saucy I'll do the 18 year. I also like Bushmills Black Bush. The Jameson 12 and BlackBush are $30-$40ish so cheap enough for everyday use:D The 18 year is about $90.

Yes I know they are not "Scotch" but I have found Irish Whiskey is more my huckleberry. In fact, thanks for the reminder...I just poured three fingers of 18 year:D

my brothers wife went to a charity auction last year and was the only bidder on a bottle of glenfarclas 1961. she paid $100.00 for the bottle. last thanksgiving i went to visit, after dinner my brother pours us all a good sized snort and we sip. and sip again, damn good stuff. later on one of my sisters gets on the computer and punches in glenfarclas 1961, turns out that if you would like to buy it ,the retail price is $3000.00. we all sit stunned, and sip a little more. life is good.

Never been into the stuff myself, but I was very impressed with a sip of The Glenfiddich 18 year old.

Remember, if its old enough to vote, its not corrupting a minor. Think of the children.

Awful. I just finished a two week stretch of on-call. That means I'm available 24/7. If I'm not in the hospital, I'm on the phone. The last 6 days I had surgeries or deliveries every night between midnight and 6 AM. No sleep.

Last night I delivered a 20 year old girls baby. She was a train wreck. Bad attitude. Cocaine and heroin addiction. She delivered about 6 weeks early (likely because of cocaine). Perfect baby. Two hour later I delivered a wonderful young woman who was diagnosed with lymphoma during her pregnancy. Her baby girl has Hirschsprung's disease. She needs major surgery and may spend the rest of her life with a colostomy.

I need a drink.

Two Distilleries who make wonderful single malts from the Islay region.
Laphroaig (already mentioned) and Bruichladdich which has only recently started making again (2001).

Both make a range of ages and styles including cask strength.

If you can get your hands on any of the Bruichladdich bottles from the past year or so you will not be disappointed.

I married a Scotsman's daughter and she has a great love of single malts of all types - On ice, dash of water - never mix it with anything. Her father brought her up well!

Tim

If you like the Doublewood, try Oban, smilar but even better!

huge difference. Sherry Oak were aged in Sherry Oak casks, Fine Oak are blend of different Oak and Sherry Oak cask. You can't go wrong with the 12 YO Sherry Oak or the 18.....

Riedel Vinum. This is what you are after. Enjoy.

http://www.liquorsnob.com/archives/p...sses-thumb.jpg

Now I understand the difference between "wanting" a drink, and "needing" a drink. Hang in there man!

Oban, SPRINGBANK !!!! Glen morangie


nothing like bbq'ing on a nice summer eve sipping a good single malt scotch
-neat-

Moses,
Check out this page...

http://www.maltmadness.com/

...some decent information on here and pretty entertaining too!

New single malt drinker? Start with the Mac. I keep a bottle on hand for guests.

Talisker, Laphroaig Quarter Cask, and Caol Ila are what I drink depending on????

It's not a Scotch, but an Irish single malt pot still whiskey called "Red Breast". It's fantastic and very easy to enjoy! I've given this Irish whiskey to many single malt Scotch drinkers and they have all enjoyed it. It runs about $45 a bottle.

I'll second that Red Breast as well. And third, and fourth...

+1 on the redbreast. Highland Park also makes some nice single malts. Personally I am more into islay, with Ardbeg as my favorite.

After I finish my chores tonight, I might just pour myself Red Breast on the rocks!

Let me know when the first tasting session begins. I've had Isle of Jura and Bushmills, but I always keep my favorite 12 yr. Dalmore stocked.

Aerkuld that website is great for a novice like me.

Moses Man - I wish I could buy you one!:(

I've got a good recommendation for all you guys--particularly lendaddy; John Mark Robbo, or "JMR" (http://www.jonmarkandrobbo.com/). Most of their whiskys are irish/scots blended. Sounds a little unconventional until you learn that Robbo was a master distiller at the Macallan, knew he wasn't going to get #1 for a long time, and set off building a very drinkable whisky for under $30.

The stuff is terrific and I now drink it instead of Mac just about all the time. Rich and Spicy is my favorite.

Sheepdip is also making a comeback as an inexpensive single malt and it's ok, but I prefer JMR to almost anything nowadays.

Hope today was better than yesterday, Moses. I can say selfishly it's good for us mortals to hear that MDs can be tormented by events like those--even though you probably have to put on the brave face at work.

Jack

Another vote for Lagavullin. It was my 1st single malt... I have never looked back.

Soldiers and sailors are not the only contributors in society that get ALL my respect and gratitude. Doctors deal with WAY more emotional stuff than I do. If I may, I'd offer two thoughts. First Moses, as you know, the decisions and fates of your patients are not in your hands. And second, regardless of their decisions and fates, they need you. You are helping, as you can, and they (should) appreciate it. They certainly benefit from it.

My hat's off and my glass is raised.