Who's got favorites?

I'm in the middle of a bottle of Glenfiddich Special Reserve. It's really good. Makes me wonder what their others are like besides freaking expensive. $80 - $200 a bottle.

I bought a $80/bottle scotch for a friend's birthday. I sat and tried some. I found that I am not a scotch drinker whether it be cheap or expensive.
I will stick to my wiskey/bourbon/tequilla/rum/gin.

Scotch, for many, is an acquired taste and many don't have the palate for it. Single malts such as Glenfiddich and Glen Levitt are preferred by many. Others prefer blended scotches such as Chevis. It is strictly a matter of taste. I prefer the single malts personally. My distilled drink of preference is cognac which I enjoy on an occasional basis since I am more a hophead and prefer the variety found in the beer world.

I have been a scotch fan for many years and I like both some blends and single malts. I very much enjoyed a bottle of Aberlour recently. Johnny Walker Gold is an excellent blend, and McCallan is an excellent single malt both priced around $45-50 as opposed to some very expensive bottles for which there is little to support the price being charged.

Scotch is not only an acquired taste, but one to be savoured. That is, you don't sit down and drink an entire bottle of $80 single malt. I became acquainted with Scotch at the age of 18 (which was then legal drinking age). I still like the occasional Scotch on the rocks. That's the only way I know of to drink it, although I have some friends who drink it neat, and some who drink it with soda.
I also have a fondness for Irish Whiskey, which is really not that far removed. But, most of the time, I drink beer which I insist is the healthiest drink in the world, next to V-8.....
Sallie

I really like Chevis, although I rarely drink it.

Sallie you and I are on the same wavelength with how to enjoy scotch. It is an acquired taste and is best enjoyed in a relaxed setting. You cannot chug, shoot, or lime drench your scotch--it is as the Scots would say "So uncivilized".

Of course, you do not swill the Scotch. You sip. You enjoy.
Sallie

I normally drink my scotch neat, although on occasion I will pour it over the rocks. If you are drinking something like scotch, you only destroy its character if you mix it with soda or something else. Life is too short to dilute a quality scotch. Sip and enjoy.

I rarely drink scotch, but when I do, I make sure not to drink the cheap sh*t.
For me scotch is more of an night time drink during the winter.
If there are any scotch lovers out there, I recomend to you Johnny Walker Blue. You'll be lucky to find a bottle of this stuff for less than $250. I've never seen Johnny Walker Blue for less than $30 a shot at any bar...

Johnny Walker Blue is available at Costco in a 1.75 L bottle with a leather case and cradle for $389.00. It is also available in 750 ml at Beverages and More (Northern California) for $159.00. Johnnie Walker Gold is $54.00 for 750 ml. I know that most board members do not live here in the West, but it might be helpful to at least see some prices for well known brands.

What a woman......

mutt

you got it right....although I am one of those who do not do blends......

mutt

Had a glass of Glenmorangie single malt Sherry cask finish the other day and it was very nice indeed. This has gotten some high ratings from Wine Enthusiast and Beverages and More customers. Full body, nice smooth finish and the sherry accent that is not too heavy. Nice price too--$45.00 per 750ml. Reinforces my faith in not having to rob a bank to have a wonderful scotch to savor. Highly recommended.

"scotch, scotch, scotch I love scotch."

Ron Burgundy

Thanks for the tip.....as I have to head down to restock the bar today I will have to grab a bottle to add to what is already there for choice....


mutt

And you favorite flavor is?????

mutt

I think the next bottle of scotch I try will be JW Gold. Sounds like a good deal. I really liked the Glenfiddich Special Reserve and the price wasn't bad at $45 for the 750ml. Any other suggestions out there?

The Glenlevit 18 or 24 year old single malt(the 12 year old still has an edge) or the McCallan single malt......the older the better.....and the more exspensive.....but don't go crazy.....


mutt

Hear, hear.

I like Macallan single malt as well. I recently had Highland Park, which was probably the scotch I've liked the least of any that I tried in my life. It has a note of surgical disinfectant that I just couldn't shake.

I like Balvenie, though the bartender where I sample suggests cutting it with Evian, I am no fan of the addition of water.

Just picked up a bottle of Lagavulin 16 year old single malt today and am enjoying it right now as I write this post. Fairly heavy smokey peat with sherry overtones. Nice finish in spite of heavy aroma. A very different scotch from some of the others that I enjoy, but I need to give this one some time to grow on me I think. At first wiff I thought it so heavy with peat that it would be very sharp on the palate and there is some of that, but not as much as I expected. Will follow up with a second impression in a few days--I also am just getting over a cold and my taste buds are not exactly back to normal and this may influence my thoughts on this bottle.

Many years ago when I still drank alcohol my preference in Scotch Whiskey was Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Of course I was also a fan of Jack Daniels Tennessee Sour Mash (also Black Label) or Wild Turkey (100 Proof) Bourbon.

Nothing else ever appealed to me much.



Mac

Agreed. I like 18 yo Glenlevit when I can afford it...

My Faves:

Talisker (the distiller's editions are especially nice)
Longrow
Springbank
Lagavulin
Longmorn
Bowmore Darkest
Macallan 18 Yr.
Port Ellen
Balvenie Portwood
Glenmorangie Sherry wood & Port wood
Caol Ila

My tastes run toward Islays and Campbeltons, but I like Highlands, too. There are a lot of great single malts out there.

LS

I had my first taste of scotch at age 16 when my father poured it for me during a family holiday gathering. My father drank Chivas Regal. I do too. The first one was Chivas and water. Today I will occasionally have it on the rocks, but I most often drink it straight up. Even today I seldom drink scotch without remembering the day my dad elevated me from one of the kids to one of the men. I miss him.

To paraphrase ZZ Top, I've felt the Wild Turkey bite- though (thankfully) I've never driven while blind.

Wild Turkey may be the best lesson Hunter S. Thompson ever taught me.

LS

My favorites:

Lagavulin (16 Year) - peaty overtones
Laphroaig (10 Year) - strong peaty and smoky overtones
Bunnahabhain (12 Year) - mild peaty overtones

These three require an acquired taste, so if you're just starting out (especially with something as mild as Glenfiddich), you may be turned off.

There's always the tried and true 18 year Macallan (12 Year will do on a budget) if you want to try a decent reasonably priced scotch.

If you really want to try higher end scotches, there are scotch bars that sell it by the glass. It's a good place to try the more expensive ones so you don't buy an expensive scotch you don't like.

This thread needs a bump.

Over the past month I've picked up two bottles of 25 year (1982-2007) Port Ellen. It and Laphroaig are the only scotch I've ever tasted that I really liked. But I'm planning on hanging onto the Port Ellen for a long time-- maybe passing it on to kids or grandkids. In 50 years it might be worth a fortune.

i am rather sorry to have missed this thread earlier.

i do not keep scotch at home. it likes me more than it should.

however, the islay single malts mentioned here are all good and to them needs be added ardberg.

of the neglected speyside single malts, my favorite is glen rothes.

of blended whiskey one can only ask, why bother?

the lagavulin and glen rothes are the personal favorites.

I've been meaning to try Lagavulin as I've heard it compared to Laphroaig. I'll add Glen Rothes to the list.

Hey Trit,

I'm with you. How did I miss this thread?

Over the last year or so, I've been turned on to the single malt thing. Had been doing the dry G Goose martinis on the boat (a lady sailor turned me on to them one night on a moonlite sail.... yeah it was that good.)

But I do my Scotch with crystal ice and a splash of spring water. Tried most of 'em (except the JW Blue). I've found that as a rule, 18 yrs flips my switch. Not that the others aren't worth considering, but there is a difference at around 18 yrs to my way of tasting.

Gotten into drinking whiskey the same way, for me its George Dickle, or for a bourbon, the $50 bottle of Wild Turkey (had to go out and get some "kentucky bourbon" for the mint julips on Derby day and the quart was gone three days later - that's quick for me. But MAAAAAN was that that some good hooch - scary good.

For now, I'm back to the George Dickle (at $25, it doesn't seem so silly) but that JW blue still keeps giving me the eye at the liqour store (I act like I don't notice).

Lat year when I was in California enjoying all the glory of their liquor stores

I asked a guy from Scotland what kind of Scotch was good
and he said he likes

Talisker

Speyburn and Aberfeldy


I am not sure if they sell Talisker here but I have seen the others at BevMo.


I'm an Old Crow kind of gal...
;-)

The big problem with scotch is being assaulted by the bottle when you walk by with your shopping cart at the display. Those expensive bottles just jump off of the shelf and man you have to beat them back or they will take over the basket. I, unfortunately, lost a battle with a bottle of 12 year old Aberlour last week and I am still recovering from my wounds--and the soda bottle supply has also taken a big hit....Oh well--we will just have to see what happens next...

I have long been a scotch drinker. I prefer blended. Chivas Regal suits my taste quite well.

I agree! Just opened a bottle of Chivas on Sunday. It's going way too fast. I like to just swill it around in the glass while inhaling before drinking. Also, been drinking it neat, so it's not going as far as it would over ice. Maybe I'm not into it enough, but I don't find a great difference between Chivas Regal and other comparably priced Scotches....
Sallie

I have a new favorite: Ardbeg 10. The very pale straw color put me off at first, but it's delicious, smoky and floral at the same time, sweet like honey and fiery in the throat without any harshness getting there. It's a limited run item, I think, the first batch of Ardbeg distilled since the distillery reopened now at ten years of age, and not like, say, Laphroaig 10 which is continuously produced, so it may get scarce. I'm not sure aging will make it any better.

personally, the islay houses, (lagavulin, talisker, with ardberg or bowmore a good, balanced taste for newcomers to the island (and laphroaig the least balanced to my taste)) and the speysiders (glenrothes) are my favorites. i no longer have these around, however, and but seldom have a dram these days. single malt, water side, of course, unless cask strength taken, then a dribble of spring water only.

blended scotch/ proves the motto that there is something for every taste.

Lagivulin is great. I got some after you recommended in a previous post, and it was my favorite until I tried the Ardmore. I do like Laphroaig and Talisker too. Bowmore (15 year 'Mariner') was a disappointment but I've put it to good use in cooking.

I'm working my way through the Islays before moving on to the mainland. I'm starting to notice a preference for younger releases. The more mature ones are mellower but in that lack the high points, the slight imbalances that make them interesting and hit places on your palate you never knew were there before, in the same way slight asymmetries and blemishes make faces more interesting and beautiful. I'd love to get my hands on a 12 year Port Ellen, but they're as scarce as hens teeth and priced accordingly. Pretty much all you can find now is 22-26 year olds from 1978 and later.

Slåinte. you may enjoy the glenrothes, it has a spicier note but does not have the boom of peat and sea as the islays.

I do.. humbly salute all who enjoy their scotch..

I failed my attempt at acquiring it's taste but found a worthy alternative in Irish whiskey ..

Bushmills (Protestant) or Jameson's (Catholic)..

I like them both and have no problem refraining from religious discussion whilst drinking either of them..

A fine old Dutch gentleman and liquor retailer in Amsterdam introduced me to Tullamore Dew on one of my visits there .. been my favorite ever since..

a tough find here in the States though.

..