# Tell me about scotch. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2012, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647 "2012-12-31T07:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647/41 "2013-01-07T14:14:24Z")
I know I’ll take a beating for this but: Try Dewar’s. It’s inexpensive, fairly smooth, and I happen to enjoy the taste. It makes for a nice “everyday” scotch, and a sort of template from which you can branch out and try various single malts (of which I prefer the Glenlivet). Sure, I’m a cretin, a lowlife, and a blasphemer, but I like the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647/42 "2013-01-07T14:21:53Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I know I’ll take a beating for this but: Try Dewar’s. > > It’s inexpensive, fairly smooth, and I happen to enjoy the taste. It makes for a nice “everyday” scotch, and a sort of template from which you can branch out and try various single malts (of which I prefer the Glenlivet). > > Sure, I’m a cretin, a lowlife, and a blasphemer, but I like the stuff. Well, you may be right on all three, but I keep a bottle of Dewar’s 12 around for those of our guests who don’t have the tastebuds for a decent single. It’s a “not all that bad” blend that won’t break your wallet. ---
**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 7, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647/43 "2013-01-07T17:18:40Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > you’re not going to experience what a good single malt is until you (or someone near you) is willing to drop $70-$120 a bottle to get it. I suppose it depends on your definition of “good,” but plenty of tasty single malts are available in the $50 price range. The Macallan 12 is about $50; Ardbeg 10 is about the same; Glenlivet 15-year French Oak Reserve, too, as is Laphroaig 10, Bowmore 12, etc. Jura 10-year is $40. (And I personally think the standard Glenlivet 12, although a bit sweet and thin for my palate now, is “good”, and only $30.) My very favorite single malt is Ardbeg Uigeadail Cask Strength, and that only barely hits the low-end of your range at $70. No, scotch is not a cheap hobby, but you don’t have to spending a hundred bucks a bottle to get good single malts. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647/44 "2013-01-07T20:58:51Z")
> [@azraiel](#): > > For instance, one of my favorites is The Balvenie 12 year double wood. It still amazes me how adding a single drop of water opens and changes that whisky. And around here it’s also very affordable. One of my favorites, but I’m not a big scotch drinker. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647/45 "2013-01-08T03:41:31Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Better yet, let your palate decide. Oops thanks for correction smarty. Auto complete on my tablet is the real culprit. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647/46 "2013-01-08T06:13:10Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Rule 1 with scotch: remember it’s _whisky._ The word is actually the English version of an old Gaelic phrase for “water of life”, (“uisce”, water). Scotch is never spelled “whiskey”. And Scots is never spelled “Scotch.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647/47 "2013-01-11T04:59:35Z")
Just checking in to say I came home with my third scotch tonight, a bottle of Dalwhinnie 15. I added that to the Glenlivet 12 and Macallan 12 I already have. I was invited out for dinner last night and had a Macallan 18 as well. I liked it, but I’d like to have it in a side by side with the 12. I also lost fully one half my glass down my shirt when my elbow was bumped. Hilarious, actually. Not one drop on top of my clothing, it all went down the cleavage. I will continue to revisit this thread and the suggestions within, as this is going to be a process. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647/48 "2013-01-11T05:21:50Z")
On my palate there’s Scotch and there’s every other kind of whisky. Scotch is “smokey” or “peaty.” Other kinds of whiskey _can_ be, but usually aren’t From here on out, it comes down to personal taste, and I don’t care for Scotch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-scotch/645647.md?page=2)