# What's your favorite scotch? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181 "2004-12-05T06:11:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/41 "2004-12-06T18:17:53Z")
Oban. Delicious, delicious Oban. Runner up: The Balvenie ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/42 "2004-12-06T18:24:37Z")
For those of you who dislike scotch, I recommend trying a sip of Johnny Walker Blue. I hated scotch more than you could imagine. Upon tasting the Johnny Blue, however, I finally understood what the appeal is. That stuff is amazing. I still woudn’t drink scotch regularly, but I would enjoy going to a tasting or something. It turned me from a scotch-hater into a scotch-appreciater in one sip. > [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I bought my mom and her husband a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label two Christmases in a row. At $160/bottle, they wanted to ‘save it for special occasions’. (Mom, I bought it for you to _drink!_) Well, her husband died las New Year’s Eve, and she still has the two bottles. I was really hoping she’s have opened one so that I could try some. (Her husband used to come home from work, and they’d relax with some scotch and water on the rocks. Since he died, she doesn’t drink alcohol.) I looked for JW Blue last year so that I could get them another bottle, but you can’t get it in Washington. It has to be on the state’s list, and it isn’t. Also, it can’t be sent to Arizona. The Duty Free shop is about five miles away from me, and I could get a bottle there for about US$130/bottle; but my financial situation isn’t such that I should be buying such things. (Besides, I rarely drink.). Open one this New Year’s with your mom and drink a toast to her husband! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Canadiangirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Canadiangirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadiangirl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/43 "2004-12-06T18:25:37Z")
Laphroig is my hubby’s favourite (I’m a beer drinker). There is a bottle of Lagphroig called Quarter Cask…it is not sold in Canada however. I can’t order it from their website because of that. Anyone near Islay? Can you see where I’m going with this? ---
**Author:** ![Tikster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@Tikster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikster)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/44 "2004-12-06T20:12:55Z")
I prefer Higland Park, my bf prefers Laphroigh(sp?). -Tikster ---
**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:** [December 6, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/45 "2004-12-06T20:22:06Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > “independent bottlings”? There are a number of independent bottlers that buy stores of whiskey in the cask, and age them themselves. Signatory, Gordon & McPhail, The Cooper’s Dram, etc. Some of these are very nice, as they are different ages from the official released bottles. You can generally find them at any large, well-stocked liquor warehouse, or at an on-line retailer. Personally, the only Islay malt I can stand is the Bowmore 17. Well, and maybe the Bunnahabhain. The rest are just too…too. Bowmore 17 is just right. \*\*Trunk \*\* - I don’t think the cask-strength Macallan needs that much water to open it up. A bit is called for, I agree. But I like it powerful. Hell, I drink 107 proof bourbon all the time! 😃 ---
**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:** [December 6, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/46 "2004-12-06T20:23:59Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I’ve only tried J&B blended scotch which I despise. I’ve heard that single malt is a different story than blended. Any recommendations for a novice or should I stay away? Glen Livet. I can’t stand blends, but I love single-malts. Wierd, that. But The Glen Livet is very accessible. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/47 "2004-12-06T21:34:00Z")
Alright, hopefully sometime in the near future I’ll have an opportunity to try out the suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/48 "2004-12-06T21:44:34Z")
Cheri, a product of Washington State. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/49 "2004-12-06T22:13:22Z")
Thanks for all of the responses everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/50 "2004-12-06T23:34:52Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Butter. The cold must be slowing down my brain functions. I only just got this. ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/51 "2004-12-06T23:48:55Z")
> [@dasgupta](#): > > I’m a Glenmorangie fan myself. I really enjoy the wood finishes, especially Madeira. \ Yum. I love the Madeira Glenmorangie too. 😃 I also want to hang out with **silenus**. I’ve been trying to get my hands on Edradour. Other favorite Scotches are: Dalwhinie, Laphroaig, Oban, Talisker, and Bunnahabhain. Yum. Yum. Yum. 😃 ---
**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:** [December 7, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/52 "2004-12-07T00:34:29Z")
So… then the party will be at my place, I take it? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/53 "2004-12-07T01:26:22Z")
Glenlivet is my standard pick. I’ve tried Johnnie Walker Blue once at a local restaurant, but haven’t been able to find an extra $170 for a bottle of my own. I’ve never tried Laphroaig, (I think it’s something about not consuming something I can’t pronounce), but I think I’ll have to get a bottle for the holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/54 "2004-12-07T01:51:29Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > For those of you who dislike scotch, I recommend trying a sip of Johnny Walker Blue. I hated scotch more than you could imagine. Upon tasting the Johnny Blue, however, I finally understood what the appeal is. That stuff is amazing. I still woudn’t drink scotch regularly, but I would enjoy going to a tasting or something. It turned me from a scotch-hater into a scotch-appreciater in one sip. > Open one this New Year’s with your mom and drink a toast to her husband! 🙂 Mom’s in Phoenix, and I’m in NoWA. I’m having a houseguest over Christmas through New Year’s. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/55 "2004-12-07T02:01:14Z")
[Bunnahabhain Single Highland](http://www.blackbottle.com/) has the best ‘nose,’ IMO, but Laphroig has a slightly better ‘mouth.’ Either would make me very happy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/56 "2004-12-07T04:57:04Z")
I like scotch but evidently haven’t had the opportunity to appreciate it as much as you folks. Johnny Walker Red is my favorite. I like it better than Cutty or J&B. I’ve never even heard of nearly all of the brands mentioned here. So what makes Johnny Blue worth $100.00 a bottle more than Johnny Red? ---
**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:** [December 7, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/57 "2004-12-07T05:03:34Z")
Ummm…make that $200 [more](http://www.beerliquors.com/buy/liquors/johnnywalker.htm)! 😃 **Johnnie Walker Blue Label** **Character** _Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s intense and luxurious nature recalls the authentic character and taste of the pioneering 19th Century Walker blends. A toasty, sweet aroma is complemented by a peaty and spicy taste that develops into heady flavours of oak, dark-chocolate and rich fruitcake. Comprising just 16 of the world’s rarest whiskies, Blue Label’s appeal to true Scotch connoisseurs rests on the blend’s dominant Islay malt whisky, balanced by several rich Speyside malts that have undergone exceptional periods of sherry oak maturation._ ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/58 "2004-12-07T08:08:14Z")
Bottles I will gladly shell out money for are Lagavulin 16, Laphroaig 15 (very similar to the Lagavulin), and Glenlivet 12. I’ve tried quite a few others that didn’t stick with me as much. I like the 10 year Laphroaig too but I have to be in the mood for it. It’s great when I’m in the mood. I prefer Islay malts and I don’t like sherry finishes as much, which is why I don’t like the Glenlivet 18 as well as the 12. That’s also why I don’t like McCallan very much. It’s really good whisky, it’s just not to my taste. I’m currently working my way through a bottle of Ardburg 16, which is also very good, but a bit tamer than some Islay malts. This thread made me realize that I need to go whisky shopping again soon. One of the bars kind of close to my area a has a decent scotch selection, surprisingly good considering that it’s in a relatively small city in Japan. They recently got a small barrel of Caol Ila cask strength. Wow! Getting to taste one cask strength whisky definitely made me want to seek out more. ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/59 "2004-12-07T11:21:50Z")
I like Glen Moray, but that’s mostly because it is distilled near where my ancestors came from. The best to drink? Glen Rothes by far. It’s got a hand-written label, so you know it’s good! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181/60 "2004-12-07T13:25:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Ummm…make that $200 [more](http://www.beerliquors.com/buy/liquors/johnnywalker.htm)! 😃 That’s insane! It makes me want to go to the Duty Free shop and pick up a bottle just because it’s a bargain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-scotch/278181.md?page=4)