Scotch recommendations?

RedRajah

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Got him the Speyburn and it was a success! Also gave him a list of the suggestions here in case he wanted to seek any of them out.

And the Glencairn tumblers were a big hit too. :)
 

Usher

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His usual suspects are Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, and Glenlivit.

As this is well after Christmas it is probably too late. Glenfiddich and Glenlivet are Speyside Malts.

Other suggestions (for future reference) in a similar vein might be Glen Moray (my favourite) or an Aberlour or more specialist a Benromach.
 
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RobLineberger

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The Grouse is good. Glen Moray is good. I actually have a nearly empty bottle of Ardbeg here, but damn is it peaty. good, but, you must reckon with it.

I am drinking Puysegur Armagnac right now. Mmmmmmmm
 

StephanieFox

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If I'm looking on the affordable end, I like Black Grouse. But the best of all is (strangely) Yamazaki Single Malt 12-year old scotch. It's Japanese. Medium body, not too peaty, oak casks, subtle, really nice.
 

blacbird

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If I'm looking on the affordable end, I like Black Grouse. But the best of all is (strangely) Yamazaki Single Malt 12-year old scotch. It's Japanese. Medium body, not too peaty, oak casks, subtle, really nice.

About 15 years ago, at Heathrow Airport outside London, I bought a book about Scotch whiskeys by Michael Jackson (no, not that Michael Jackson, another one who is a well-known non-fic writer in Britain) that talked briefly about Japanese efforts to produce Scotch-style single malts, in pretty complementary terms. My understanding is that they weren't going to be allowed to call them "scotch", but perhaps that is incorrect. In any case, I've never seen one on sale anywhere, but would be interested in trying such. Thanks for the heads up.

Oh, should they have labeled in Glenyamazaki?

caw
 

onesecondglance

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Michael Jackson is still singing the praises of Japanese whisky - I think he even named one as the best whisky in the world recently.

Off the top of my head, I think "scotch" has protected designation of origin, so while it's in the scotch style, it wouldn't be correct to market it as scotch.
 

Teinz

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Stay away from Ardbeg Single Islay Malt Scotch. Unless you like drinking campfires. I am not even kidding, it is that strong. Oddly enough, a splash of water is recommended with this one to cut the smokiness.

Don't try the Smokehead. I love me some smokiness, even Ardbeg, but the Smokehead got to me.
 

Usher

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I can't stand Grouse - ugh lol Roderick Dhu is my favourite blend but I think you have to buy that from the distillery and it's a limited supply because the distillery closed years ago.

My malt choice would be a Glen Moray or Benromach - both are Speyside style malts. (like Aberlour, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich) Highland malts are usually more peaty.

If I'm allowing myself a big treat then a Glen Moray 16 year one. But their 10 year is good too.
 

RedRajah

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The husband sampled -- and really liked -- Hakushu 12 yr. Unfortunately, according to the bartender it's difficult to get a hold of and practically non-existent in Cleveland liquor stores.

Anyone else familiar with this one?
 

RedRajah

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This year, I got the hubby a 12yr old Tomatin, which was much enjoyed by him and his father. A friend of his also got him Black Grouse, which he found to be too strong for his tastes.
 

Haggis

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It's been coooold here in Alaska, running up to Christmas, so I got me some Laphroaig. Very nice sipping before the fireplace of an evening.

caw

I have one in the liquor cabinet. I try to use it sparingly, but it's difficult. I may be forced to have one over the holidays.
 

MaryMumsy

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I was gifted a bottle of Laphroaig a couple of days ago. It will make a nice alternative to my Talisker that I've been nursing for about two years. Luckily hubby doesn't like either one.:evil Unfortunately he does like the Irish single malt I bought last month. He liked it a lot better before he found out how much it cost.

MM
 

Jason

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Can't believe I never saw this thread until now. Having said that, I got into scotch about seven years ago thanks (or blame) to my brother. Since then, I've sampled quite a few, and found my taste buds tend toward the middle. In my learning curve, I've taken away a few things:

1. Tastes range from sweet to peat.
2. The "peatiest" I've had has been the Laphroaig.
3. The sweetest I've had has been the Glenlivet.
4. My favorites thus far have been Oban, Tomatin, Macallan, and Dalwhinnie.
5. The older the scotch, the better (smoother) it is.
6. Drinking it with ice waters it down, and is definitely something newer devotees tend to do until their palette adjusts, before adapting to drinking it neat.
7. Per the above, the statement about scotch as a protected term is correct. Other whiskies made outside of Scotland cannot use the term.
8. Traditional thoughts are that scotches also are ranked according to their purity: single malts, double malts, and blended malts. The purer, allegedly the better.
9. Small casks production runs tend to be better than larger casks, and my understanding is because of how the alcohol absorbs the flavors - or something like that.
10. If you prefer to drink your scotch cold, then instead of ice, use those frozen tumbler balls to chill it without diluting it.
11. The correct glasses are definitely helpful as, just like wine, when scotch hits the air, it breathes better based on how oxidation hits it.
12. The best thing to pair with any scotch is a cigar of equal caliber.

This is all my own personal observation...your mileage may vary. :)
 

Bufty

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I quite like Black Grouse and water, but I'm not surprised he found the Black Grouse rough if he tried to knock a shot back on its own like a malt.

Black Grouse is a blended whisky the same as normal Grouse, and they aren't in the same league as a smooth single malt such as the 12-year-old Tomatin or the Laphroaig.

This year, I got the hubby a 12yr old Tomatin, which was much enjoyed by him and his father. A friend of his also got him Black Grouse, which he found to be too strong for his tastes.
 
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onesecondglance

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6. Drinking it with ice waters it down, and is definitely something newer devotees tend to do until their palette adjusts, before adapting to drinking it neat.

Having worked for many years in pubs in the UK, and served many whiskies to many scotsmen, having ice with scotch is definitely not just a "newbie" thing.

A single cube of ice is a very common way of drinking scotch, as is a small jug of water as Bufty (from Scotland!) mentions.

Drink your scotch how you like it best :)
 

Jason

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Having worked for many years in pubs in the UK, and served many whiskies to many scotsmen, having ice with scotch is definitely not just a "newbie" thing.

A single cube of ice is a very common way of drinking scotch, as is a small jug of water as Bufty (from Scotland!) mentions.

Really?? That's interesting. My company is based out of the U.K. (Enfield, north of London), and the pubs I've been to, never saw it. The guys from the company set out several labels for me to sample last time I was there (all were great btw), but no one offered any ice. LOL. To each their own I suppose though. :)

Drink your scotch how you like it best :)
Amen to that! Having a sip of my Oban Small cask in honor of my last trip across the pond. (My Dalwhinnee Wintter Gold is gone, sadly, but the Oban lives on...for now! :) )
 

Haggis

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I quite like ice in my scotch if I'm drinking a blend like a Grouse or Johnny Red. With a single malt, I'll have a glass of ice water along side but the whisky is consumed neat. I may or may not add a dollop of water.
 

Bufty

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Agreed. Good company and a bottle of fine malt will soon disappear.

I quite like ice in my scotch if I'm drinking a blend like a Grouse or Johnny Red. With a single malt, I'll have a glass of ice water along side but the whisky is consumed neat. I may or may not add a dollop of water.
 

onesecondglance

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Really?? That's interesting. My company is based out of the U.K. (Enfield, north of London), and the pubs I've been to, never saw it. The guys from the company set out several labels for me to sample last time I was there (all were great btw), but no one offered any ice. LOL. To each their own I suppose though. :)

There's a difference between sampling and settling in for a session :)

Tonight is a good chance to enjoy some nice Scotch!
 

Jason

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Agreed, and betwixt the two, I'll take either neat.

Tonight we we will finish our second bottle of Tomatin