scotch recommendations?

S

Sii

1,000+ Posts
for the experienced scotch drinkers around here what would be a good starter scotch good enough for every day drinking? (well not every day but you know what I mean)

I'm mostly a beer and wine guy but have always wanted to get into scotch...but never have. What should I start with that wont empty my checking account but will also give me a good impression to start with?

whats the best way to drink it? straight? I've never really liked straight liquor so something smooth and easy to drink would be preferable
 
definitely want to go single malt. Glenfiddich or Glenlivit are both good. A lot of people here swear by Macallan, but i haven't tried it yet.
 
this question can really only be answered with a price bracket.

i think the famous grouse 12 yr gold reserve (blend) is a great buy at $15-20 and i don't feel guilty about having it on the rocks and even adding some water.

for the $30 range, i would suggest the dalmore cigar malt though i'm not sure if that is a blend or single malt...probably blend.

for $40, you absolutely cannot go wrong with macallan 12 yr single malt. cube or 2 of ice or a splash of water to open the flavor up.

purists would probably ****, but glenmorangie 12 yr portwood single malt is what got me drinking scotch. $45 range. cube or 2 of ice or splash of water.

the dalwhinnine 15 yr single malt is a bit "mild" for my taste but a great place to start if you are trying to get into scotch - about $45 as well. just a cube or 2 of ice or a splash of water works here.

my favorite to keep around for $50 is the balvenie 12 yr doublewood single malt. cube or 2 or a splash of water as well.

anything over that price range and you really shouldn't be putting anything other than a splash of water in it.
 
As a man who prefers bourbon, but loves me some scotch, I have to say that the Captain pretty much nailed it down with his first sentence.

There are some scotch maestros on this site. They can lead you to the promised land.
 
When I first started drinking scotch, I drank mainly blends like Chevis and Dewars with water or on the rocks. I quickly graduated to straight single malts. A good scotch needs no water. A great moderatly priced single malt to start with is Highland park 12 year old. Enjoy.
 
Highland Park 12 and Macallan 12 are my "everyday" scotches.

Scotch is definitely an acquired taste so take your time with it. It took me a couple of years on the interview circuit before I really began to like it and appreciate it. And, even now, some of the more "peaty" Scotches (Bowmore, Laphroaig) are too much for me.
 
there is a nice bar here in SA that has a single malt sampler on the menu where you can pick up to 6 choices to try for one price...they have most everything listed in this thread so far

I'm going to have to do that before I just go grab a 50.00 bottle at the store
 
Lots of good recommendations here, the Macallan 12 YO being pretty much the standard by which all "reasonably priced" single malts are judged, but you might also consider Oban 14 YO. It has a floral character which makes it somewhat unusual, but to me, it also has a very nice balance of malt & peat.
 
Spec's carries Strathisla. A 12 year old is $41.33/bottle, while a 16 year old is $69.79.

Prices quoted per the Spec's website.
 
BTW, for Sii...

Old Pulteney is what I've been enjoying as an everyday Scotch recently, and it is less than $40/bottle. Very tasty for the money. If you just want to dive right in, then that's my recommendation.
 
Well I was in the liquor store today getting a bottle of wine and decided to **** it...and just take the plunge.

bought a bottle of The Macallan 12 yr for about 40 bucks. I figured for that price if I didnt like it I could give it to a friend or something

opened it with much anticipation of course. put in a slight splash (very slight) of filtered water. Aroma was very strong at first...couldnt really tell when I was smelling

tried a taste and at first seemed strong but was smooth...didnt burn or anything like some straight liquor I've had in the past

ended up letting it sit out in the glass for about 15 mins while I was doing something else and it seemed much better after that. Enjoyed the taste (even though I dont really know what Im enjoying at this point...kinda like the first time I tried wine way back when)

by my second glass I was of course feeling good and it was getting better. I like it
smile.gif
 
When I still lived in Austin, my favorite scotch was Glenfarclas. In terms of how strong the flavor is, it's between a Glenlivet (not a fan of Glenlivet) and MacCallan (I can get this still). I haven't had Glenfarclas in a couple of years, and based on how much my tastes seem to change from year to year, maybe I wouldn't like it as much. In the past couple of years, I have found that I really like cognac. It is far smoother than scotch, but still has a lot of flavor. I still drink both.

BTW, my first glass of scotch was a 25 year old MacCallan that a drunk friend bought me to showcase how cool he was for drinking scotch. That is damn good scotch. Just don't buy it at the Driskell since it goes for $10 less at the SFA, at least 5 years ago it did.
 
Just read this thread for the first time, and I agree with Bozo.

FIrst glass of scotch ever was Oban... I was hooked. Never had blended before, but quickly learned the difference when a friend ordered up a Chivas for me (horrible).

Anyway, for everyday drinking, I've got Glenmorangie (14 I think?) and Oban.

Also, I think Kraggenmore should get a little more love on here.

That is all.
 
Puddle

I love the Strathisla. I live about 75 miles from the distillery, and they have a great tour and sampling there.

I guess it depends on what you prefer in whisky. I'm a fan of the Islay malts, although I generally prefer the softer ones such as Lagavulin or Caol Ila. Occasionally I like an Ardbeg, but that stuff can peel the paint off your car.

I'm also a big fan of other Speysides like Mortlach and Glenfarclas.

For Highland malts, Glengoyne makes a great 10 year that is usually at a reasonable price. I agree on the Oban 14, also one of my favorites.
 
I always try to keep at least 7 or 8 around. One of the great things about scotch is the variety. I always have Lagavulin and a McAllen 18 (or 17 now) around. I would not waste my time on a McAllen 12 after recently tasting it side by side with the 15 or 17.

Note that the smokier/peatier single malts like Lagavulin are not for everyone, so a beginner may want to start with a good Highland malt. With the price of scotch these days a taste testing is a great investment.

I have a nice 17 year Glenfarclas with butterscotch notes (from diaceytls) too it that I really love, but I like butterscotch. Unfortunately too much diacetaldehyde in the brain is a *****.
 
When I recommended Oban 14 YO, I neglected to mention two things:

1. it tends to be ~ 50% more expensive than several of the quality single malts already discussed

2. it's nearly impossible to find these days
 
I am relatively new into Scotch. For Christmas, I asked the wife to go to Specs and get me a good bottle. I never thought she would follow through, but on Christmas morning I received a bottle of this:
Springbank 10-Yr 100 Proof
I've been sick and didn't want to waste it while I can't smell. Anybody tried it. Thoughts?
 
DougE, I loved the 17yo Ardbeg but it is unavailable over here now. All we can get is the 10yo. Can you still get the 17yo over there? Presently, Lagavulin is my favorite along with Talisker.

LazyEngineer, that is a fantastic bottle. I picked one up just a little before Christmas from Specs. Enjoy!

Oban is stina's favorite.
 
usige

Believe it or not, the Ardbeg 17 is impossible to find in Scotland. I've travelled all over this country and have never seen it for sale.

You can easily find the 10, Still Young, Almost There, Uigeadail and Airigh Nam Beist in many stores, but not the 17.
 
I am working on a Laphroaig 10. It was recommended as an acquired taste to practice on; that when I can appreciate its strong, peaty flavor, I will be ready to savor the subtleties of every other scotch.

I will also be able to savor the subtleties of commercial mouthwashes and medicines.
 
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