Good morning Dopers…I need some whisky recommendations.
For Christmas, I received a $50 BevMo gift card from my brother-in-law, with instructions to spend it on some good Scotch…so I’m coming here for recommendations. Just to be clear though, I’m not necessarily looking for a $50 bottle; while we were wandering through the store this past weekend, Rhiannon8404 made it clear to me: I would normally buy a $50-ish bottle on my own, so now I should be looking for a $100-ish bottle.
My default ‘go-to’ Scotch has always been Glenlivet, though currently I’m drinking Laphroaig Quarter Cask (in fact, it’s the only bottle of single malt left in the liquor cabinet). I’m not a novice when it comes to Scotch, but I’m by no means an expert…so I’m looking to expand my horizons a bit. And in case it’s not clear, I’m looking for single malts…unless there’s an incredible blended whisky out there that I just can’t pass up.
It’s rather difficult to say what I “like”, because I really haven’t had a terribly wide range of experience to pull from. I don’t have a problem with smoke and peat (Rhiannon8404 described my Laphroaig as “like drinking a glass of smoky mud”, as I recall)…and I must admit to deriving a bit of perverse pleasure from enjoying something that many people find totally and utterly undrinkable (kind of like how I feel about gin)…but I don’t necessarily want to shy away from something lighter and more nuanced, either.
In other words, I’ll try anything once. Tell me what you like, and why…
I’ll second silenus’s recommendation of Highland Park 18, then (and, if memory serves, it’s not the first time I’ve done so on this board) – it’s a great all-round whisky with enough peat to please the Islay aficionados but not too much to be offputting to those who don’t particularly care for smoke. It’s one of the very few single malts that’s (IMHO) worth a significant jump in price point from say, a 10-year- or 12-year-old, to an 18- or 21-year old (and for the HP 18, it’s not a very significant jump compared to other distillers – in fact, I think it’s a great value).
I’ll also suggest something from the Cragganmore distillery – it’s my favorite single malt after Highland Park. It’s from Speyside, so it’s not going to be as peaty as HP, but it’ll have more body and “oomph” than The Glenlivet.
I’m somewhat new to single malts- two years or so- but Glenmorangie is one of my favorites. I recently found Two Gingers, which I was surprised to discover I really enjoyed.
My most recent purchase was a bottle of 12-year Aberfeldy which was about $40. It’s not as peaty as some single malts and I like the balance of flavors. There was no way I could spring for the 21-year, which is about $170.
Balvenie Doublewood 12 for $40. I had a bottle of Balvenie Single Barrel 12 which lasted two years. The Doublewood was gone in a week–I wasn’t expecting the fruity portion to be so tasty. Went back to buy another at Trader Joe’s and they didn’t have any. probably best for my liver…
Didn’t note the increased price to $100 ish in the OP. In that case, I’d recommend one of the luxury Ardbeg’s, like Corryvreckan mentioned by DSeid, although my favorite of those is Ardbog. Good luck finding some.
One that’s easier to find, if you’re in the mood for the ‘treacle, smooth, intense, smoky’ type of older Highlands, is Glenfarclas’s 21 year. Just outstanding Scotch.
probably best for my liver…