Foo - Favorite Scotch?

I'm looking to buy a bottle of single malt scotch as a gift. What are you favorites? No, the gift bottle isn't for you...:D

12 YO Glenlivet

I hate hard stuff so I'm going with this:

http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/graphics/scotch_tape2a.jpg

Butter. In pudding form.

http://www.scotsmanpub.it/scotdb/pudding.jpg

NTWC!!!!!!!!!
In da howwwwwwwwwwse!

If you're looking for something that is very reasonably priced but tasty, I'd suggest Aberlour. I have a soft spot for it because the town where the distillery is located is my grandmother's hometown, but it's also an excellent whiskey. Nice overtones of vanilla.

For a good deal more money, Lagavulin is very good. They market a fifteen year old that is marvelous.

Depending on how sophisticated a scotch drinker your giftee is, Laphroaig is also good, but it is something of an acquired taste. Very peaty, and if you just try to slug it back, it feels like it'll peel the inside of your throat off.

Oban 12 year, Glenlivet 12 yr, Dalmore 12yr, The Dimple Pinch

OK, Chivas Regal then. It's not single malt, it's lame and terribly overpriced, but if it's not for me...

I'd be happy to receive a bottle of Llagavulin or Laphroaigh, both quite peaty stuff. And I would personally consider it nice but wasteful gesture if the bottle (or the stuff inside rather) was much older than 18-20 years. I don't think the super-expensive 40y old stuff tastes that much better.

--J

NTWC!!!!!!!!!
In da howwwwwwwwwwse!

It's not night time, so be quiet! :mad: :)

I know nothing about scotch, so I'd just buy one of the more expensive bottles on the shelf. :rolleyes:

Hennigans

The no-smell, no-tell scotch.

Favorite scotch (especially single malt) is really a personal taste. I prefer full bodied, peaty stuff like Laphroaig or or Lagavulin. Talisker is good too. McClelland's Islay malt is a great bang-for-your-buck single malt at under $20 for a fifth. (In Vermont, at least.)

Wood malts are nice and complex, too. (Aged in casks previously used to store various overpriced grape juices.) :)

In general though, it's hard to go wrong with the "name brand" malts. They're all "good", it just depends on what you really like. Dalwhinnie is a nice light malt. Good for girlie drinkers. :p My wife likes it.

Scotch quiz! Why do some brands have the word, "The" in front of their names? There's a reason. A.K.A., "The Glenlivet."

Maccallan 18 year old.

Indonesian single malt.










BAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHA

RedHairedScot(ch)

Favorite scotch (especially single malt) is really a personal taste. I prefer full bodied, peaty stuff like Laphroaig or or Lagavulin. Talisker is good too. McClelland's Islay malt is a great bang-for-your-buck single malt at under $20 for a fifth. (In Vermont, at least.)

Wood malts are nice and complex, too. (Aged in casks previously used to store various overpriced grape juices.) :)

In general though, it's hard to go wrong with the "name brand" malts. They're all "good", it just depends on what you really like. Dalwhinnie is a nice light malt. Good for girlie drinkers. :p My wife likes it.

Scotch quiz! Why do some brands have the word, "The" in front of their names? There's a reason. A.K.A., "The Glenlivet."
Because they were the "House Whiskey" of a particular Lord!

I agree, by the way on the Peaty Scotches . My choice would be Talisker

I thought "the" is there for copyright reasons?

Give me a JD or bourbon any day.

Nope. I'm a wino. :)

It's not night time, so be quiet! :mad: :)

I know nothing about scotch, so I'd just buy one of the more expensive bottles on the shelf. :rolleyes:

Oh my bad. Shhhhhhhhhhh~

After many years of intensive research

It has to be

The Macallan

george

After many years of intensive research

It has to be

The Macallan

george
12 or 18?

Boodles!


Wait, that's Gin. ***NEVERMIND***

Give me a JD or bourbon any day.
Whisky man (Crown Royal) myself....although even that is pretty rare these days. I hardly drink at all anymore.

12 or 18?


Maccallan 12 is a little different than the 18...your taste buds may vary from mine. If you want to save a little coin try this scotch from Jon, Mark and Robbo...there are three flavors....I got the Rich Spicy One. Don't let the goofy label fool you, it is very close to Macallan's in taste but only about $27 per bottle.

Glen Keith of course!

If the person loves scotch please do not go with Glenlivet. Don't go near Chivas Regal or Johnny Walker - both are blends. It's the equivalence of everyone giving chocolate at a holiday party and you bring Hershey's. Yeah it may taste good but it's out of place.

If the person really loves peaty and smokey scotch big +1s to Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Talisker, Oban (in decreasing order of smokyness).

To impress a bit go with Caol Ila. Smokey and smooth, not as widely known but oh so good.

If you don't think the person would like smokey then go with Dalwhinnie. Smooth and almost sweet.

Higher years are more expensive. For a good bottle you're looking at around $50. If it's for a boss or someone I'd go one vintage year up (so if the youngest is a 12 then go with an 18). The next vintages can shoot up in price from $75 and higher. There's a place by me that has over 400 types of single malt scotch - some are in the thousands. Step away from anything that's not above $45.

Scotchy, scotch, scotch - I love scotch! Good thing I won't spend the money on it more often otherwise none of my posts here would make much sense!

Balvenie Double Wood or MacAllans...

Balvenie DW. Another good choice. D*mn, who knew cyclists had such good taste in whisky? :)

Okay who has been to distilleries? I've been to Oban (another good one) and Talisker.

Laphroaig (actually, this is the worst thing i have ever tasted... )

Balvenie DW. Another good choice.

Excellent choice, yeah. That was one I'd forgotten, but it's good.

Laphroaig (actually, this is the worst thing i have ever tasted... )

You gotta drink the stuff right. Hold it in your mouth and let it dribble down your throat. You try to slug the stuff and it's pretty damned harsh.

το τέλος αυτού

I need booze like I need my front teeth knocked out. No alcohol for me thank you very much.

I need booze like I need my front teeth knocked out. No alcohol for me thank you very much.
Cool, I am keeping your "bottled" gift! Now could you bend down and smile please, so I can give you your new gift?:D

My favorite is Glenmorangie with Port wood finish. Don't like Lagavulin, and Abelour is only so-so.

But this is all highly personal. I have friends who love Lagavulin. Probably better to ask why someone likes a scotch and figure out if that's what the giftee likes.

I like Glenmorangie because it has a spicy aspect to it.

My favorite is Glenmorangie with Port wood finish.

That's the kind Norm Abrams drinks.

http://img.timeinc.net/toh/images/bios/abram_bio.jpg

I generally go for the one with the most ridiculous name -- that led me to Bruichladdich, which is the scotch that made me realise I like scotch. (Edit: I think it was The Twelve)

I'm torn between 12yr bowmore, and 12yr Balvenie "doublewood".

Both are amazing whiskeys

Glenlivet is good single malt for the price. I could never talk myself into dropping a Benjamin for a bottle of scotch.

(in no particular order)

Bowmore, 12 Year Old
Dalwhinnie, 15 Year Old
Glenfiddich, 12 Year Old
Glenmorangie, 10 Year Old
Glenmorangie Port Wood, 12 Year Old
Lagavulin, 16 Year Old
Macallan, 12 Year Old
Macallan, 18 Year Old
Oban, 14 Year Old
Talisker, 10 Year Old
The Balvenie Port Wood, 21 Year Old

Balvenie DW. Another good choice. D*mn, who knew cyclists had such good taste in whisky? :)

Okay who has been to distilleries? I've been to Oban (another good one) and Talisker.

Talisker, Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich, Glenturret, Aberlour, Dewars.

I know I am missing some from the list, family still lives in Inverness in Scotland so fair chance I will be in another one in May when I am over.

I guess I'm lame, I really love Chivas

I guess I'm lame, I really love Chivas

No, it's good stuff. That's what I used to drink.

I'll second the Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich(Brook laddie) Glen Morangie, and Balvenie DoubleWood and PortWood.

I'll add the Balvenie Single Barrel 15yr., and the Highland Park 16yr., from the Orkney Islands.

Dalwhinnie, Macallan, and Oban were all right but not memorable, to me.

Talisker and Laphroag are also very good, very peaty.

I love the fact that every single malt Scotch I've tried has tasted different. I didn't much care for the 12yr. Glenlivet or Glenfiddich. I live very close to the Jack Daniels Distillery and that's some good whisky, too. They send a lot of their used barrels to Scotland for use in aging Scotch.

Foo trivia time: anyone know the differences between Scotch, Bourbon, Canadian, Tennessee whisky, and Irish whisky?

Foo trivia time: anyone know the differences between Scotch, Bourbon, Canadian, Tennessee whisky, and Irish whisky?
No, but send a bottle of each over and I will figure it out for you!:D

I guess I'm lame, I really love Chivas

It's not bad - but it's a blend. There are certain qualities that a blend has that makes it a good gateway scotch.

Johnny Walker has free tastings - they'll walk you through a few of the single malts that make up a blend. After going to that I gained a whole new appreciation for the simplicity of a single malt which makes me appreciate a good blend better.

But as a gift unless it's the person's favorite it's not a good choice :)

This thread inspired me. My dad loves scotch so I got him a bottle of The Macallans for Christmas. He's going to crack it open later today but I think he'll like it compared to what he has been drinking. I was going to get him the Balvenie I like but I figured the Macallans was more to a general level of taste...more "main stream" ....

You gotta drink the stuff right. Hold it in your mouth and let it dribble down your throat. You try to slug the stuff and it's pretty damned harsh.
yeah, first time i had it, i only had about half an ounce, and i could barely keep it down, i felt ill all night and kept burping up the taste, truely one of the worst experiences ive ever had with a drink..

second time, i kept her in there for a bit, let it swirl around for a few seconds and swallowed it slowly, it was 50 times better than the first time, but still, its still not all that pleasant.

Foo trivia time: anyone know the differences between Scotch, Bourbon, Canadian, Tennessee whisky, and Irish whisky?


Scotch: Must be made in scotland, and be grain and water (some coloring allowed) only. The malted grain is smoke dried, sometimes using peat. Double distilled

Bourbon: aged in charred oak barrels, single distilled

Tennessee whiskey: ran through the "Tennessee process" of charcoal filtering. Think Jack Daniels for a common example of this style.

Irish: Triple distilled

http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/graphics/scotch_tape2a.jpg

+1

But, if you'd like to know what my favorite whisky is, then it's a tough call - i'll never say no to a short of bowmore, springbank, highland park, or scapa.

Foo trivia time: anyone know the differences between Scotch, Bourbon, Canadian, Tennessee whisky, and Irish whisky?

yep. scotch is tape, and there's no such thing as ''tennessee, canadian, or irish whisky', seeing as the only whisky comes from scotland.