Looks like I’m going to lose a bet, and the price was “a nice bottle of scotch”. It was a bet that I’m happy to lose, and I’d like to show the person in question appreciation as well. But, I’m not a scotch drinker.
Let’s say, for somewhere around 100 bucks, is there a bottle of scotch you could recommend, having no other information about the likes and dislikes of the drinker?
Laphroaig would be my choice. Not sure of the price where you are.
You should be able to get a bottle of Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel for under $75-pick up a couple of nice shot glasses with the change.
edited to add: If you want to blow the whole amount on the scotch, I would suggest Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay Single Malt Whisky-so damn fine, your friend will feel that he owes you a favor now.
Was the bet in writing? If not you could claim you said “a nice box of scotch”. Or a nice roll of scotch. Or a nice game of hop scotch.
The Macallan 17 yr fine oak would be a safe choice for that ballpark price range, although that will run about $20 more than your budget. The 15 year oak should clock in at the $80-$100 range. If you know the person likes very peaty scotches, the Arbeg Uigeadail is really nice and will cost you in the neighborhood of $70.
Or some nice butterscotch. Oatmeal Scotchies, anyone?
Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.
Lagavulin is great if you can find it.
The peaty Islay scotches have a strong, specific taste. If you don’t clarify what he likes I’d shy away from those.
Exactly. I don’t think any Scotch lover will leave a bottle of a respected Highland malt undrunk, even if they’re more into the peat, but an Islay malt can be a risky purchase if you don’t know the drinker’s tastes.
Without knowing his (her?) taste I think The Macallan is a safe and very “nice” choice.
I like the traditional Sherry Oak, 18yr is probably ~$135 though (with the 12 yr about $45).
Macallan Cask Strength. It’s different enough that they will go “Ooh,” but safe enough that any Scotch drinker will love it. Stay away from Islay altogether. This is advice not only for the bet, but for Life.
Damnit, man - I’m trying to quit challenging people to rapiers at dawn, but you’re making it very, very difficult.
Oh, yah. I really, really need to grab a bottle of that. I’m sure I earned one somehow.
Knew that this was the place to come for the answer. Thanks for the recommendations.
Maybe if you were the Dalai Lama in a previous life.
My brother’s a Scotch drinker and prefers Glenlivet 21, which retails for about $100 for a 750 ml.
I’ve heard mixed reviews of Johnnie Walker Blue with some saying it’s worth the money and some saying not. A 750 ml bottle is around $175- I don’t know if there’s anything smaller. (If there are miniatures of nice then an assortment might be a good gift.)
This thread is making me drool. Macallan is the only one I have experienced, and not near the $100 per bottle range, but you have to give it a shot.
The one big thing I don’t know is how your friend feels about peatiness. I love it, myself, but I accept that there are others who don’t enjoy a really smokey flavour. Laphroaig, mentioned above, is delicious but very peaty. May I recommend Glenrothes, a Speyside which is not peaty at all, but which is bursting with a very large palette of tones. It is one of my favourite whiskies, especially for a large gathering of people who aren’t necessarily whisky drinkers.
A bottle of Highland Park 18 will run just under $100, and is just far enough off the path beaten by The Macallan and The Glenlivet to be appreciated by nearly any single malt drinker. It’s got a touch of peat in it, certainly more than a true Highland, but certainly nothing like an Islay. It’s just a great whisky.
I like the idea of combining Patty O’Furniture’s idea with your real payoff.
Find a place to hide the real bottle - and show up with a small bottle of scotch mints. Wait for the laugh and then bring out the real scotch payoff.
