Anything from Islay. My wife thinks it's dirty lighter fluid, but that just leaves more for me, unlike the fine red wines she's learned to love.

Double bonus: Goes well with a cigar.

For those who like blends, I also used to enjoy Johnny Walker Swing. With a slightly curved bottle bottom, it didn't handle life on a sailboat well.

I don't drink any more. Of course, I don't drink any less either. When drinking scotch, the smooth, smoky goodness of Laphroig is the best recovery drink there is.

The Balvenie single barrel 15 Y.O., splash of spring water, NO ice...

Lagavulin

All this stuff about scotch when the connoisseur's know that eventually you have to migrate into a 25 year old cask matured Cognac and then you have to be very carefull about who you offer it to. Then there is the problem of transporting it without the St. Bernard so thinking about adapting a bike for this.

Bowmore. Smokey delicious goodness.

My biggest gripe is Americans who refer to those of us of Scots descent as "Scotch." Scotch is a distilled beverage or a brand name of cellophane tape.

I am also partial to the Islay single malts. Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Caol Ila. I like the distinctive smokiness of the peat. Drunk neat, at room temperature. I also agree that enjoyment diminishes with amount consumed, so I limit myself to about a jigger. You can tell it's a good scotch when you think about the drink the next day, and you can still taste it in your mind!

Luis

Dalwhinnie

There was an extensive article about Scotch whiskey in the New Yorker magazine recently. I gather that all is not as it seems with origins, advertising, contents, etc. I have recently been in conversations with vociferous "connoisseurs" who knew not of which they spoke. Of course this seems to be the case with most connoisseurs of almost anything.

Odd story: My father died when I was three years old, in 1946. When my mother died several years ago I found among her effects a full, unopened bottle of scotch (Johnny Walker Red.) From my earliest memory of my mother to her dying day at age 90, she was tee-total. It had a Georgia tax stamp and an apparently intact closure from the war time or just after. It had been sealed with a tin cap with a twisted wire lever, like used to be used on root beer. I know that whiskey doesn't age or improve in the bottle, but it's an interesting artifact.

I haven't drunk scotch since September 4, 1969 (!) due to a terrible accident with a bottle that had my family name across the front. Filthy stuff that. A nice Canadian of the age of majority is a treat though.

I have to agree with you except.... If you put a wee splash of water with te Lagavulin and swril it a bit, the nose is much richer. I suspose you could get the same effect if you let your pour sit for 30 to 40 minutes, but in my house, that's not going to happen.

I also enjoy a wee dram of Scotch from time to time.

N + 1 also works with Scotch, my current ones I have to select from are:

Laphroaig Triple Wood, Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Laphroaig 10 Year old, Talisker Distillers Edition, Glenmorangie The Original, Ardbeg 10 Year Old, Caol ILA 12 Year Old, Aberlour 12 Year Old, Ardmore Traditional Cask, Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old, Macallan 18 Year Old.

The blended Scotch that I have and like is Teacher's.

Bob

Are you sure it's just Americans?

I often imagined I had drank at least a rail tank car of Johnny Walker Black. But that caught up with me and am limited. But "Pinch" begins back memories of when a Circle K in the 80's bought a warehouse inventory of Pinch and sold it for $9 a bottle. That sale last for several months and needless to say Johnny Walker sales were down during this period.

If you a scotch hobbyist this site is interesting. I worked with Jeff for a decade or so.

Other people doing it are okay; it's just the Statesians doing it that bugs him. But I hear him. Back to the subject, I don't think I've ever had scotch. I'm not much of a drinker, but wouldn't be against trying it. At least unlike smoking, there's evidence that alcohol in moderation has beneficial effects. Is there some brand I could try which might be a step or two above rotgut but not quite up to the standards of the elite epicureans here?

Laphroaig. Bike content -- good to have after dinner, by a fireplace, following a ride home from work on a snowy night.

First time I ever heard you folks referred to as Scotch it was from my boss, a RAF Wing Commander. Surely a Wing Commander can't be wrong!

A gentle reminder
There's good scotch, there's great scotch, but there is no bad scotch.

Ahhh... my three favorites! I prefer mine over ice however.

A nice, small Maduro Cuban with a snifter of Cognac... hmmmmmmmm

That's what I thought, until I tried a "single malt" made either for or by Trader Joe's. Tasted like gasoline . . . the worst stuff I ever drank.

Edradour. Smallest distillery in Scotland.

You mean all Americans, or just North Americans? Or maybe even North Americans south of Canada?

Laphroaig for me, please. Am I the only one who doesn't appreciate the very old vintages? I've had a chance to sample a 40yo single malt. It was good, but at about 1000 euros per bottle... not THAT good.

--J

Huh. Not a single mention of my favorite blended Scotch whiskey: Teacher's "Highland Cream". As for single-malts, I'll happily drink anything Islay -- love the peaty goodness!