# Suggest a good scotch for my drinks cabinet **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489 "2011-01-13T18:20:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/41 "2011-01-15T01:42:06Z")
Allow me to recommend Teacher’s Highland Cream. It’s a blended Scotch, and in the same price range as Dewar’s or Johnny Walker, and nearly as easily found. But it’s better, at least to my taste. My favorite single-malt is Laphroig, and sometimes I wonder if the base malt in Teacher’s is Laphroig. It has something of the same flavor, but toned down quite a bit. It’s quite good. For those who enjoy Laphroig, but don’t like dropping that kind of money for their regular drink or two before dinner, it’s definitely worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/42 "2011-01-15T01:57:47Z")
Lagavulin is the best Scotch I’ve ever tried. The aroma is incredible–like sitting next to a fire. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/43 "2011-01-15T02:12:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Hmmm…Laphroaig as bong water. Might be the only practical use for the stuff. You certainly aren’t supposed to _drink_ it. It is, however, the absolute finest choice for adding a shot to a pan of bacon (after it’s cooked, with a lid to keep in the steam, for a minute or two) to add a nice, peaty scotch flavor. Lagavulin being the other really fine choice for that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/44 "2011-01-15T19:11:11Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Anyone heard of Té Bheag? (Pronounced something like “chey vek.”) No, and to prove the point I likely would have pronounced it “Tea bag”, as in _I want to try something neat, can you give me a Té Bheag?_ Wow, **Chimera** , I’ve got to give that a try as I’ve several bottles around reserved for guests. Wish I’d read this 30 minutes ago. **Alpha Twit** , you develop a taste or want some specialty recommendations for your guests, this group can offer all kinds of remarkable suggestions because there are a multitude of rare and wonderful creations out there. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/45 "2011-01-15T22:00:58Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Allow me to recommend Teacher’s Highland Cream. It’s a blended Scotch, and in the same price range as Dewar’s or Johnny Walker, and nearly as easily found. But it’s better, at least to my taste. > > My favorite single-malt is Laphroig, and sometimes I wonder if the base malt in Teacher’s is Laphroig. It has something of the same flavor, but toned down quite a bit. > > It’s quite good. For those who enjoy Laphroig, but don’t like dropping that kind of money for their regular drink or two before dinner, it’s definitely worth a try. I mentioned Teacher’s already. In fact, if I didn’t know better I’d think I wrote this post myself! Do I have another personality (with the same taste in scotch) who signed on to the SDMB? If I have multiple personallity disorder, does it still count as a sock? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/46 "2011-01-15T22:41:19Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The OP didn’t ask for “decent.” He asked for “good.” That rules out all blends. 😃 I’ll put forth a blend (a vatted malt, to be exact) suggestion, then. Johnny Walker Green label. Retails at around $60, and I like it more than a good number of single malts. I think it’s a steal for the price, and it offers a mix of all the regions of Scotland in a single bottle. I love this whisky. As for single malts, Laphroig and Ardbeg are my favorites (I’m a big fan of peat.) For something a little more middle-of-the-road, but still with a touch of peat, Oban 14 is perfect. When I’m in the mood for Scotch, I need something with peat in it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/47 "2011-01-16T00:01:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’ll put forth a blend (a vatted malt, to be exact) suggestion, then. Johnny Walker Green label. Retails at around $60, and I like it more than a good number of single malts. I think it’s a steal for the price, and it offers a mix of all the regions of Scotland in a single bottle. I love this whisky. I went to a Johnny Walker tasting and the only one I really had a problem with was the Green. Of course I liked the Blue, and the Gold and Black were quite nice, the Red was fine, but I couldn’t stand the Green. Take that for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/48 "2011-01-16T00:15:13Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I went to a Johnny Walker tasting and the only one I really had a problem with was the Green. Of course I liked the Blue, and the Gold and Black were quite nice, the Red was fine, but I couldn’t stand the Green. Take that for what it’s worth. Different strokes and all that. It’s by far my favorite. Well, I do like the Blue, but it’s not worth double or triple the price of the green. I’ve always enjoyed this fine Scotch [gentleman’s review of the Green Label.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7WNdeVcJLY&feature=player_embedded) He summarizes better than I can everything I like about this whisky. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/49 "2011-01-17T12:10:14Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > What is a decent mainstream scotch… nobody mentions Johnny Walker. If I’m just stocking a bar I’d get the Black. Johnny Walker make different blends with different characteristics. I have had a 15 yo pure malt that tasted really good. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/50 "2011-01-17T17:12:41Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Your basic, please anybody single-malts include Glen Livet, Balvenie Double-wood, and Glen Rothes. Any will be acceptable to 95% of Scotch drinkers. > > Those with tastebuds will go for Macallan Cask-Strength. 😃 I just opened a bottle of Macallan Cask-Strength last night; I hadn’t tried it before, and was quite pleased. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/51 "2011-01-17T17:46:25Z")
My lovely wife bought me a sampler of 10 tiny bottles of scotch a couple of years ago. It’s a great way to discover new tastes. As I recall, my favourites were Oban and Dalwhinnie but neither of those are particularly cheap or easy to find. My favourite when I was 18 and still my go-to, grab-a-bottle of not-too-expensive-but-delicious scotch is Glenfiddich. I’d put Glenlivet in a similar bucket even though the tastes are quite distinct. Hey! Why not get both! Laphroaig was my favorite for going on 20 years. I even used it as my handle in online games. I suddenly decided one day that I don’t like it any more. More saliently, I have never known anyone to like it who doesn’t already greatly enjoy single malts. Recommending Laphroaig to a first-timer is like recommending Blue Velvet to someone who has never seen a movie before but had heard they are quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/52 "2011-01-17T18:53:23Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > Recommending Laphroaig to a first-timer is like recommending Blue Velvet to someone who has never seen a movie before but had heard they are quite good. I’m going to steal this! ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/53 "2011-01-17T19:22:52Z")
I think the best scotch I’ve ever tasted was the Aberlour A’bunadh. Really, really excellent scotch, and it costs about 60 bucks a bottle. ---
**Author:** ![ThePylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@ThePylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThePylon)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489/54 "2011-02-01T16:07:47Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Anyone heard of Té Bheag? (Pronounced something like “chey vek.”) > > It’s blend, but a darned nice one, and reasonably priced. Of course if Laphroaig and Macallan are hard to get a hold of, I suppose this will be impossible. > > Perhaps the LCBO is good for something after all: selection. “Teabag” was my intro to scotch. A great blend to get a taste for it. I’m still new, and have since tried the usuals (Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Talisker) as well as some more obscure ones (Auchentoshan, Kilchoman). The LCBO has Laphroaig Quarter Cask in right now - I got me one. AMAZING. I would, as a relative newbie, recommend the 12-year old Glenlivet as a staple if you want a single malt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-scotch-for-my-drinks-cabinet/567489.md?page=2)