Please check this thread from a few days ago for some good thoughts on great Scotch.
Hope this helps…
For shame on you BIH Boy ! I was always taught that it was whisky from Scotland, and whiskey from Ireland.
I’m going back a few years now, but Johnny Walkers Red Label had such a poor reputation in the UK that they stopped selling it here. Their Black Label was a better scotch (but much more expensive) I think it’s back on sale here again now, improved I hope, too late for me though- I’ll never trust it again. Too many bad morning afters. :eek:
V
Others are right that you should only bring a single malt (and Glenlivet is a good one) if people are going to drink it straight or with a drop or two of spring water.
If you don’t know for sure whether they want the scotch to drink straight or with mixers, why don’t you get a premium blend like Chivas Regal? It’s likely to please those who want to drink it straight and it won’t be a crime or bad form to mix it as it would with a single malt.
Mixing a single would be akin to hanging fuzzy dice from the rearview of a Rolls Royce, (except that you could always undo the dice thing when someone pointed out how tacky it was.)
BIH Boy - FYI Jack Daniels is not bourbon, it’s tennessee whiskey.
A tasty beverage nonetheless.
Those other bourbons are good, but try to lay your hands on some Woodford Reserve.
I find Glen Livet to be really pedestrian. I’ll drink it if it’s the only scotch a bar has. But I don’t find it unique or particularly satisfying.
For casual drinking, I really like Macallan a lot, and second what others say. You can usually get a pretty good price on it at Trader Joe’s if there is one in your area. Pity about what holds for the future.
For challenging scotch drinking, I really like the Islay scotches. These are the heavy, smoky, earthy tasting whiskys that come from the west coast of Scotland. I like Lagavulin and Laphroaig the best.
Lastly, there are a group of 6 scotchs that are called the 6 classic malts. Supposedly, each of them is said to best represent one of the different producing regions in Scotland. I can’t remember all of them, only Oban, Talisker, and I think Dalwhinnie. I’m quite fond of Talisker, but I think it’s challenging too.
Good luck!
Bourbon, now we’re talking! I second Rib Eye’s recommendation of Woodford. Maker’s Mark, also good, not quite to the level of Woodford. For my money, the best of the best is Blanton’s. It is premium priced - $45/bottle or so. As good or better than any of the super-premium bourbon’s (the $100+ bottles).
I actually like American scotch. Seriously, during prohibition, many producers in Scotland hurried to cash in on the bootleg market in the US, and produced whisky of a lighter colour and mild taste. So if you’re going for a cheap blended whisky, then something like J&B or Cutty Sark will possibly be more well-received by American drinkers (if the Scots back in the 30s did their marketing correctly, that is), rather than Johnny Walker Red. I like the milder blends.
Thanks again for your responses…
I just found out that they drink the scotch with ice. On the rocks as it where.
So, that dilutes it. Hmmm.
Does that mean anything as too what kind of scotch he may like?
I’m making way too much of this. He may typically drink a less expensive scotch. But I think it would be nice to present him with something a little different, but not over the top. After talking to my Mom, I found out that they are more middle class and frugal than I had originally thought.
TheLoadedDog - ( love your username ) Dewars. hmmmmm.
I’ll find something. If nothing else, it will likey be something that he does not usually drink. So, it’ll be fun, and different. As long as it isn’t just plain bad, I don’t think I can go wrong.
Thanks for all your suggestions.
If he opens it that night, I may even try it.
The Islay malts are Lagavulin and Laphroaig (as mentioned), and also Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Bowmore, Ardbeg and Bruichladdich, I think. They’re my favorite as well, along with Talisker – I want a malt that’ll be quite confident about letting me know it’s Scotch. I recently found a bottle of Ardbeg, which is well worth the price.
The six malts and their regions are:[ul][]Dalwhinnie, Highlands[]Glenkinchie, Lowlands[]Cragganmore, Speyside[]Oban, Western Highlands[]Talisker, Skye[]Lagavulin, Islay[/ul]
enipla, keep it simple. Go for a Glen Livet, it’s a drinkable, respectable example of a Speyside single malt. Do not kill your budget.
The others regions, like Islay, highlands etc will give wonderful single malts, but the flavours may not be what these people are used to. I’d say buy some minis for yourself while out, but keep it simple.
Lagavulin 16 years old. It is absolutely exquisite. Forget the ice - just add a few drops of water to help release the taste, sit back, and sip away. Heaven.
I’d wager you could get a 750ml bottle for around $70, give or take some.
I was recently acquainted with both Scotch and Whiskey on a trip through Europe this summer. I went to several distilleries and had numerous tastings from all over Scotland, Ireland and Germany with a friend who really enjoyed them.
Highland Park 12 year ranked up there as one of my favorites. I think it’s reasonably priced too.
Take that for what you will.
You can never go wrong with anything that starts with “Glen”.
If they are drinking on the rocks go with the Chivas Regal. Ice is a no-no with single malts.
Well the point is to enjoy the drink. If they like 25 year old Macallan with water or ice that’s their choice. It’s an expensive choice and it might detract from the flavour but that’s their call. That’s why I recommend Glenlivet, its light, drinkable, and the cost is small enough that if they choose to dump ice, water or Coke in it, you’re not out of a lot of money.
So enipla, what did you pick up?
Nothing yet. It’s still 2 weeks away.
I will try to revisit this thread and let everyone know.
Thanks.
I’m quite partial to Glenfiddich reserve; surprised nobody mentioned it…
Well said Grey! There is some whiskey snobery going on here. Drink your drink the way you enjoy it. There is no ‘correct’ way.
Personally, ( dedicated scotch drinker for 40+ years) I drink mine chilled from the fridge, and with a small amount of ice. As the ice slowly melts, the water releases the taste to perfection.
My absolute favorite, but quite hard to find, even here in good old England, is Spayburn. If you can find it, buy it! Its almost certain that it will be something they haven’t had before, and I’ve never yet met a whiskey drinker who hasn’t agreed with me on its wonderful taste.
Cheers!
…trots of to fridge…
“Spayburn”:smack: “Speyburn”…sorry
From here: http://www.scotchwhisky.net/drinking/
"There is no right or wrong way to drink Scotch whisky - it’s all down to personal taste at the end of the day. However, here are a few suggestions:
Many who drink Scotch whisky neat say they do not want to spoil the taste by adding water. However, equally as many will say that adding a touch of water, particularly if it is pure, soft spring water, (ideally the same spring water used in the making of the particular whisky!) serves to enhance the distinctive aroma and flavour of a whisky. Tap water may contain high amounts of chlorine and therefore would not complement any whisky - your best bet is to opt for bottled Scottish mineral water!
**"Adding ice to a whisky is such as a shame because it will only dull the fine taste and wonderful aromas. Similarly, carbonated water is not an ideal accompaniment for whisky as it may interfere with the aromas also.
Adding mixers such as ginger ale, soda and even coca cola, is a popular trend, however it begs the question - why drink whisky at all if you need to mask the taste?"** (emphasis mine)
It’s not a matter of snobbery. It’s a matter of well established traditions that are founded in real science: A little pure water may dilute the whisky enough to release flavorful compounds and negate some alcohol pungency. But ice just numbs the tongue. If you are going to spend money on a product that is touted for it’s complexity, why deliberatley mask that complexity?
I would wager that a 25 year old Macallan with melting ice in the glass would be nigh on indistinguishable from a glass of The Famous Grouse treated the same way. And the Grouse is WAY less expensive.
My point is that if you guests are knowlegeable single malt whisky drinkers they will probably either prefer to drink it straight or with a drop of water.
However if they are more casual fans or you may be facing multiple individuals with different tastes, why not buy a really good blend? It won’t break the bank and straight drinkers will still have a moderately complex glass to sip at and those who want ice or mixers won’t feel guilty about dumbing down an elegant single.