I'm a late bloomer in the world of spirits but I've had a few scotch tasters lately and I've liked most of them. I had a few BevMo gift cards saved up so I thought I'd sample a few different brands. How'd I do in picking out some standards to try? Any good recommendations for scotch beginners?
Try Glenmorangie. It's very good
Glenmorangie, Balvenie, Glenlevet, Aberlour, McCallen all great picks.
I'll stick to butterscotch, lol.
i like Macallan 12 and Cask Strength. the 18 is too high now. before the craze it was very well priced and i would splurge from time to time. now it is about a third or higher more.
Aberlour 12
Gary, some good recommendations above.
I would take a slightly different approach to answering your question by asking a question:
What appeals to your palate? Sweeter whiskies - try Highlands or Speysides. Smoky / peaty - try Islays. More earthy with hints of salt - try Lowlands.
Your photo shows a wide spread of sweet to smoky (Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Macallan are Speysides - sweeter; Laphroig is from Islay - smokey (the peat they use to fire their kilns imparts the flavor heavily into the whisky).
Try them neat and then add a small amount of water - a few drops - and sip again.
Enjoy!
QuoteLonghorn - 1/6/2019 9:54 PM
Try them neat and then add a small amount of water - a few drops - and sip again.
Enjoy!
Or do what Longhorn does: Melt an ice cube under the spigot until its the size of a quarter and then throw it in. He taught me that trick!
QuoteLonghorn - 1/6/2019 6:54 PM
Gary, some good recommendations above.
I would take a slightly different approach to answering your question by asking a question:
What appeals to your palate? Sweeter whiskies - try Highlands or Speysides. Smoky / peaty - try Islays. More earthy with hints of salt - try Lowlands.
Your photo shows a wide spread of sweet to smoky (Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Macallan are Speysides - sweeter; Laphroig is from Islay - smokey (the peat they use to fire their kilns imparts the flavor heavily into the whisky).
Try them neat and then add a small amount of water - a few drops - and sip again.
Enjoy!
This is right on the mark. Identify the flavor profile you like - Highland/Speyside - some of which can be dry or sweeter if they're aged in sherry casks or the like - or smoky, peaty Islay and go from there. It's like going from a Connecticut stick to a strong maduro.
QuoteLonghorn - 1/6/2019 9:54 PM Gary, some good recommendations above. I would take a slightly different approach to answering your question by asking a question: What appeals to your palate? Sweeter whiskies - try Highlands or Speysides. Smoky / peaty - try Islays. More earthy with hints of salt - try Lowlands. Your photo shows a wide spread of sweet to smoky (Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Macallan are Speysides - sweeter; Laphroig is from Islay - smokey (the peat they use to fire their kilns imparts the flavor heavily into the whisky). Try them neat and then add a small amount of water - a few drops - and sip again. Enjoy!
Excellent advice! Getting into the world of Scotch is not for the feint of heart because of the varied properties of taste they have and when you add cigars in the mix of tastes it can overwhelm the user. Sipping the libation will help to introduce these tastes...diluting it with a splash of filtered water or small filtered ice is recommended as one eases into this practice to train your taste buds to accept it. If one has never really drank Scotch the opinions usually are described as tasting iodine...that hardly ever goes right afterwards when drinking it. Remember your first taste of whiskey???? I remember mine and thought somebody spiked it with cough medicine and then lit it on fire....ease into it and savor the overall flavor as good filtered water will brace your taste buds.
QuoteCigary - 1/7/2019 5:28 AM
If one has never really drank Scotch the opinions usually are described as tasting iodine...that hardly ever goes right afterwards when drinking it. Remember your first taste of whiskey???? I remember mine and thought somebody spiked it with cough medicine and then lit it on fire....ease into it and savor the overall flavor as good filtered water will brace your taste buds.
Not to go off on a tangent, but why would you want to try something like this ever again? I've never understood the phrase "It's an acquired taste". I'm sure if you eat enough dog $hit you would develop a liking for it too!
I did not like Scotch at first, but i'm a fan now.
I like all of your chosen ones. And I will agree that Glen Morangie is worth a go, my favorite two are the Original and the Nector D'or. I like pairing different spirits with cigars. There is much good stuff out there to sample, including bourbons, dark rums, cognac, Irish whiskey, etc. Enjoy the journey.
Make sure you give Monkey Shoulder a go.
A great blended scotch.
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. It's no secret that the three malt components that form Monkey Shoulder's smooth, malty and fruity character are derived from William Grant's three Speyside distilleries: Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Kininvie.
second on the Monkey Shoulder
Quoteshakinghorizons - 1/7/2019 8:31 AM
QuoteCigary - 1/7/2019 5:28 AM
If one has never really drank Scotch the opinions usually are described as tasting iodine...that hardly ever goes right afterwards when drinking it. Remember your first taste of whiskey???? I remember mine and thought somebody spiked it with cough medicine and then lit it on fire....ease into it and savor the overall flavor as good filtered water will brace your taste buds.
Not to go off on a tangent, but why would you want to try something like this ever again? I've never understood the phrase "It's an acquired taste". I'm sure if you eat enough dog $hit you would develop a liking for it too!
My definition of "Acquired Taste": A developed sense of taste for a particular thing developed over time, perhaps. Some things require more than one go at it to appreciate it. The blue veined cheeses tasted like vomit to me when I first tried them, but after small amounts disbursed through a dish, the complex tang became appealing. After that, eating it straight up was lovely. For some, olives may be found in this category, or bitter greens, or other sharp aged cheeses. The same applies to spices and the same goes for wine, spirits, beer and cigars no doubt. I never liked a double IPA in the long ago past, but by trying a variety of beers and not giving any one up just because the first time was not good is not enough of a reason not to try it again over time, and again, and again if needed. Why? Because by doing so you invite a larger spectrum of choices and experiences and discovery and adventure into your life, you acquire a taste for it, which in return bring me more satisfaction and happiness. Is this not the same with everything in life? I personally would not get accustomed to dog s**t because it would be toxic and make you very ill.
Quotejunglepete - 1/7/2019 3:29 PM Quoteshakinghorizons - 1/7/2019 8:31 AM QuoteCigary - 1/7/2019 5:28 AM If one has never really drank Scotch the opinions usually are described as tasting iodine...that hardly ever goes right afterwards when drinking it. Remember your first taste of whiskey???? I remember mine and thought somebody spiked it with cough medicine and then lit it on fire....ease into it and savor the overall flavor as good filtered water will brace your taste buds.
Not to go off on a tangent, but why would you want to try something like this ever again? I've never understood the phrase "It's an acquired taste". I'm sure if you eat enough dog $hit you would develop a liking for it too!
My definition of "Acquired Taste": A developed sense of taste for a particular thing developed over time, perhaps. Some things require more than one go at it to appreciate it. The blue veined cheeses tasted like vomit to me when I first tried them, but after small amounts disbursed through a dish, the complex tang became appealing. After that, eating it straight up was lovely. For some, olives may be found in this category, or bitter greens, or other sharp aged cheeses. The same applies to spices and the same goes for wine, spirits, beer and cigars no doubt. I never liked a double IPA in the long ago past, but by trying a variety of beers and not giving any one up just because the first time was not good is not enough of a reason not to try it again over time, and again, and again if needed. Why? Because by doing so you invite a larger spectrum of choices and experiences and discovery and adventure into your life, you acquire a taste for it, which in return bring me more satisfaction and happiness. Is this not the same with everything in life? I personally would not get accustomed to dog s**t because it would be toxic and make you very ill.
Tastes change esp. as we age...my point as to acquired tastes is this... If taste does not change then expect the same opinion you had with the original tasting. There are cigars that I just did not like early on but twenty years later I enjoy them quite a bit. Scotch just like any hard drink is a take-it-or-leave-it scenarioand if you don't like it from day one there's a good chance you're not going to like it until your taste change and accept the taste that is somewhat diluted. Remember that no two tastes are the same so you have to give some room for individuality and personal taste.
Awesome advice all! Thank you! I did try to mix up the profiles in what I bought so I could see what it is I like better. This map at BevMo was really helpful in being able to tell what I might be in for with what I picked.
As to acquired taste, how can you deny it exists if you were ever a kid Colin? If you think hard enough there's TONS of examples in food alone that you can point to where you didn't like it when you were a kid but you do now. Beer, then wine, then spirits were all acquired tastes for me. Cigars were too. The first cigar I ever tried I hated (granted I'm sure it was a dog rocket)...
I'm a Bourbon guy but I do have a few bottles of McCallan which I enjoy... That flavor profile map is cool
(https://pics.me.me/when-that-first-sip-of-whiskey-touches-your-soul-27523901.png)
Quoteheadfirst - 1/7/2019 6:38 PM
As to acquired taste, how can you deny it exists if you were ever a kid Colin? If you think hard enough there's TONS of examples in food alone that you can point to where you didn't like it when you were a kid but you do now. Beer, then wine, then spirits were all acquired tastes for me. Cigars were too. The first cigar I ever tried I hated (granted I'm sure it was a dog rocket)...
I don't recall much of my childhood, or really anything from age 20 and prior - due to a traumatic motor vehicle accident.
I enjoyed the first cigar I ever had, hence why I am still in this hobby. If I smoke something and don't care for it, I don't smoke it again.
Quoteshakinghorizons - 1/8/2019 9:49 AM
Quoteheadfirst - 1/7/2019 6:38 PM
As to acquired taste, how can you deny it exists if you were ever a kid Colin? If you think hard enough there's TONS of examples in food alone that you can point to where you didn't like it when you were a kid but you do now. Beer, then wine, then spirits were all acquired tastes for me. Cigars were too. The first cigar I ever tried I hated (granted I'm sure it was a dog rocket)...
I don't recall much of my childhood, or really anything from age 20 and prior - due to a traumatic motor vehicle accident.
I enjoyed the first cigar I ever had, hence why I am still in this hobby. If I smoke something and don't care for it, I don't smoke it again.
I had no idea, sorry man, talk about THE wrong example to use to make my point. :shamebag:
Quoteheadfirst - 1/8/2019 9:05 AM
I had no idea, sorry man, talk about THE wrong example to use to make my point. :shamebag:
No offense taken at all! I was just posting that my opinion is obviously not in the majority.
Give the Glenlevet 15 year a try. They age it in Sherry Casks. It gives it a completely different taste profile (kind of a bourbon/ scotch hybrid flavor).
Quoteshakinghorizons - 1/8/2019 2:13 PM Quoteheadfirst - 1/8/2019 9:05 AM I had no idea, sorry man, talk about THE wrong example to use to make my point. :shamebag:
No offense taken at all! I was just posting that my opinion is obviously not in the majority.
The only thing that matters is what we think....if we like something then that's what we go with...if we don't like it then we try something else.
I used to HATE all of the sherry Macallans. My friends thought I was nuts. But they all have one common flavor that I found offensive. Before the Mac reached my lips, I could smell that awfulness coming. Then I somehow learned to taste it past that one thing, and love the other things it brings. That was thanks to a friend sharing a bottle that had been open for many months. It turns out that the offensive part of Mac burns off with air exposure. See, Mac is one of the distillers that uses a closed tun for mixing, and that keeps air away from it. Anyway, now Mac is one of my acquired tastes. Currently working on a bottle of Classic Cut 2017; a rare Mac at cask strength (58%).
I have a similar problem with peaty, smokey scotches. Can't even get past the aroma.
Welcome to the dark side! Or as ly friends at the lounge call it. Dirt drinker... But hey so be it. There have been some great suggestions in this thread. I would also suggest Singleton, GlenDronach 12 and bowmore. There are so many great scotchs! Get drinking.
Well it was an acquired taste than you'll definitely get used to over time.
Took my first sip of Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or (excellent!) and thought I'd post up what my thoughts are a year later here.
Favorite tried so far is Laphroaig, it hits my taste buds in super distinct sequential phases, pretty mind blowing something homogeneous can do that. Nothing else I've tried does that to the same extreme. Nectar D'Or is kind of similar that way but stays on the sweet side, not much peat, but the buttery finish on that one is nice. Glenlivet is probably the smoothest and probably my favorite of the original sweet ones I bought because of that, very drinkable. Glenfiddich 18 was good but overall it is my least favorite so far since I really wasn't into their 12 year.
Any recommendations given I've enjoyed Laphroaig the most so far?
Hi Gary, have you tried lagavulin 16 yet? Very good! I would suggest caol ila 12 yr and Talisker 10 also.
Haven't tried any of those, thanks for the suggestions Ed!
That Lagavulin is mighty peaty..... Kinda like drinking liquid smoke~! I do, however love that stuff late at night~!
Speaking of Laga 16 it helps to think about smoked bacon while drinking it, as far as smoke goes it's up there but so very smooth and enjoyable. I typically like cask strength so if you can find an Alexander Murray or independent bottler release at cask strength buy 1. I just recently picked up a Gordon & Macphail Clynelish 11 that I'm going to open shortly(not CS but 46% typical release of Clynelish). Check out Bruichladdich, the Islay barley releases are nice and unpeated but still have that slight Islay brine and the Port Charlotte is great among other and they run 100 proof or better.
QuoteVroomp - 2/18/2020 4:20 PM
That Lagavulin is mighty peaty..... Kinda like drinking liquid smoke~! I do, however love that stuff late at night~!
Laphroaig is very peaty tooo... that is why i suggested it.
India has some great whisky as well, Paul John and Amrut usually have higher proofed offerings. Very similar to whisky produced in Scotland.
QuoteThe Burn Ward - 2/20/2020 11:41 AM
India has some great whisky as well, Paul John and Amrut usually have higher proofed offerings. Very similar to whisky produced in Scotland.
Wouldn't have associated India and whiskey, I'll keep my eye out for those, interesting...
I had a couple of Indian whiskies (several different Glen Els). I loved them so much I immediately bought a case. There was one that had five different wood finishes. Schizophrenic like a hot redhead, fun and crazy.
I'm a fan of Islay whiskies, almost any of them. Laphroiag is a staple, because it's cheap and good. Costco has the 10 for $24/bottle now! Lagavulin 16 and Ardbeg 10 are treats that cost a bit more. Anyone who has enjoyed Islay even a little should invest in a Laphroiag 10 cask strentgth. Sit around with a dropper and water, and try it at different dilution levels over time.
Glenfiddich 12 yr is a great mix with smokey, spicy, cigars.