What's your weapon of choice? After a twenty six year lay off of da booze I figured at age sixty one I should have the wisdom not to over do it this time! My old favorite is "The Famous Grouse" it's a blended Scotch that's nice and smooth for me, poured over ice of course. I tried a few single malt's but so far no winners, a bit too harsh for my taste. I'm told that the good single malts are from the north of Scotland, any thoughts on that?

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Stay safe people!

After having sampled most of them I've settled on Aberlour & then also Edradour. both single malts. I really don't care for the heavy smokey stuff.
smooooth!

Try Balvenie Doublewood. That's a good starting point for single malts, and always in my bar for folks who don't know scotch at all. I prefer Islay heavily peated - Laphroaig, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Ardbeg.

BTW - a "single malt" could come from anywhere. They even make one in Texas. For starters, go with a Speyside (Scotland) brand (Balvenie is that).

Single malt is just that, single malt. What's in the bottle is what was in the barrel when it was distilled and aged. It can be from anywhere and doesn't mean it's automatically good. With blends they take some from the older barrels but mostly from the younger ones. You can have 20 year old blended but in reality it's 30% 20 year old and 70% 5 year old. The age on the bottle will be whatever the oldest aged liquor was used even if it's only a small %. And again it doesn't necessarily make it bad

You have it backwards:

"All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years.[1][3] Any age statement on a bottle of Scotch whisky, expressed in numerical form, must reflect the age of the youngest whisky used to produce that product."

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

The age on the bottle is the youngest whisky (when discussing "Scotch" whisky). That is why there are so many out there with no age statement, and there will be more as the older products are used up. The distillers have to sell something, but they may have to add some very young barrels to get the volume / ABV that they need.

After years drinking the peated single malts, I have returned to the smoother blends. One of the "oldie but goodie" blends is Haig's Pinch Bottle 12-year old. Balvenie Doublewood is indeed a very smooth single malt; highly recommended.

Only whiskey distilled and aged in Scotland can be labeled "Scotch". Which is why the very nice, but elusive "Balcones Single Malt Whiskey", is labeled that way. Same with the very nice, not elusive, but very expensive single malt from Japan.

Famous Grouse is a very good blend, in part because it has MaCallan 12 as one component. It's also not outrageously expensive.

Dalmore Gran Reserve was good and inexpensive when it was Dalmore Cigar Malt. Now I understand it's pretty pricey.

All of the preamble having been said, The Balvenie Doublewood, is a favorite of mine. Along with MaCallan 12. Those are very good not too expensive single malts. If you want to spend some more, try MaCallan 15 Fine Oak, or Balvenie Portwood.

Those are the ones I like, but the truth is you have to taste a good number of them before you decide on what YOU like.

It's all about what tastes good to a particular palette.

Celebrate diversity, try them all.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Ah, Haig & Haig Pinch Bottle. . .My first taste of whisky, 1966, Whisky Row, Prescott, Arizona. I've tasted others since.
Scott

I'm a Scotsman and I don't always drink Scotch but when I do I prefer Johnnie Walker Black with a little splash of water over ice.

Never found a single malt that I really liked.

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Back to back World War Champs.

I am a died in the wool scotch drinker, and switch back and forth from blended to single malt. My favorites are the Islay malts, especially Lagavulin. A sleeper is Singleton, (comes in a green oval shaped bottle that unfortunately I can't find in my home town). If you live in the Seattle area, there is a small place in Snohomish, Fred's River-town Alehouse. They have the largest selection of Single Malts I have ever seen, as well as a huge selection of local brews. His list is now a book of many pages of malts. The food is excellent as well. We can't visit the state of WA without a stop at Fred's. It's also a neat area to Antique.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Black Label is very nice.
I also like the heavy stuff.
Famous Grouse's crusty uncle; Black Grouse,
and Laphroaig.
Lotsa flavor.

Best,
Rick

Oban is worth trying it seems to be a bit less costly here. On a very wet chilly day try a 50-50 mix of Laphroaig and Drambuie it isn't so much about taste as running off the chills.

Well folk's, I learned a bit about Scotch! I'm one of those fellow's who having found one I like I stick with it. Figured I would test the waters a bit to see whats out there. Thanks for the info all!

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Stay safe people!

Glenlivet 15 year old and Glenfiddich 18 year old are worth a try. Famous Grouse is my everyday scotch

I'm no expert but I prefer scotch when it comes to spirits.

I like Johnny Walker Black. Dewers isn't too bad. Chivas is nice as well.

Dewars, on the rocks (very little ice) or Johnny Walker Black if
Dewars isn't available.

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

Good question to ask, glad to see all the answers; makes the cockles of my Irish heart warm up to know there's that many Scotch aficionados out there.

Personally, I like Laphroaig, especially on a cold winter's night. You literally can taste the sea battering the island's rugged coastline, and if you close your eyes you can almost see it, too....

However, some folks think it is way too harsh, and I admit it took a full bottle to understand it. The first guy I bought from (a Wiggy's on 6th Street in Austin) told me:

"Try this. Trust me. After the first drink you'll say 'I can' believe I just paid $45 for this rot!' but by the end of the bottle, you'll say 'I can't believe I got this for only $45!!'

He was right, I did.

One reviewer once wrote of Laphroaig that it was like fighting a bog monster that was on fire to the death, but in the middle of the death grapple your eyes lock, you fall in love and suddenly kiss. Strange metaphor, but bizarrely accurate...it's the stuff dreams are made of.

The Balvenie Doublewood is also excellent, and the Glenlivet 12 is always a great place to start, but I preferred the Glenfiddich 12, as it seemed a bit lighter, a bit thin and didn't have the slight heft Glenlivet did, but both are very good. The Macallan 18 is a favorite for special occasions, but it costs about half what a Sig SP2002 does these days, but it is as warm and butter smooth as can be imagined.

And yes, while Irish whiskey is NOT really Scotch, my heart and blood did descend from Éire, so I have to say that Tullamore Dew and Jameson's are a great way to go on an 'everyday' tear, at least for one tumbler, anyway.

Cheers!

Livet or fiddich 18 year old is my poison

Islay is where the good stuff is made. After I had a taste of the lowlands, I never wanted to go back to the highlands again.

Lagavulin 16 is good most of the time. There are good years and not-so-good years, in my experience. Their distiller's reserve is not worth the extra bucks (also in my opinion).

Laphroig 10 is always a good one to have around.

I am currently enjoying a bottle of MaCallan Amber...very good for having no age label, and before that was a bottle of Glenfidditch 12 year Caoran Reserve that was very good as well. I prefer mine over 2 ice cubes..

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1st smiles,lies.Last,gunfire.

For a reasonable priced 18 year blend I like Chivas Regal.
The best single malt Islay is Lagavulin 18 year old for me.
Still have a bottle I got almost 5 years ago and is for my birthday, New Years Eve and Anniversary.
Only one drink and then back to the plain 12 year old stuff....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Is this you?

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I like Haig's Pinch, and it was one of the two duty-free bottles that I brought back from Canada after being stationed there.

I've also liked Ballantine's, esp. their 12 yr. old and Dewar's is an excellent standard Scotch.

I detest the heavy peaty ones like Johnny Walker, Cutty Sark, and the like. I think these are why many people hate Scotch.

I prefer the heather and honey tones of Chivas Regal and the single malt, The Glenlivet.

I have, BTW, got a book on Scotch. Interesting...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

Many years ago, a very good friend of mine gave me a bottle of McCallan 25 and it spoiled me forever. I can not (or maybe should say will not) spend that kind of money on a bottle of scotch, so have sampled just about all affordable Scotch whiskeys from Campbeltown, Highland, Island, Islay, Lowland, to Speyside for something like the McCallan 25 to no avail. Nothing compares to that bottle.

I guess the moral of that story for new Scotch drinkers (or returning) is start at the bottom and work your way up. You will never be disappointed with your next purchase that way. Oh, and stop before you reach the top, or you will be in the same situation I was.

BTW - I have reconciled my predicament and now find Islay is my preferred region for Scotch. It is mostly affordable and with almost a dozen distilleries to choose from, it never gets boring.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I got spoiled on Scotch I can't afford. I prefer the blended Irish Whiskey if I want something strong. Tullamore Dew is a good inexpensive option.

Sorry, I'm a recovering alcoholic. Can't help you, hope I never can, not preaching, still working on it. It's a demon I couldn't control, the evil being loves me, but not like our Father. Wish you all well and be safe. Pray for this man, you may not need it, but I surely do. Thank you!

Glenmorangie


Thewelshm

I've tried several single malts and just don't care for them. Johnny
Walker Black has been my choice for many years but lately I find that
I choose Double Black more and more often.

Blend, Johnnie Walker Black.
Single malt, Glenfarclas

Johnny Walker Double Black..


Dalwhinnie..


But for Sloooow sipping



A mere 116 PROOF

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Aberlour 16 and Glenlevit 12..... Aberlour if I can find it is my fav.
Tasted 100 year old stuff once. Something like $1200 a bottle. Way to smokey for me.

Sipping/savoring/special occasions...can't beat Balvienie Double Cask

For everyday power drinking Dewars is hard to beat! It's cheaper by the half gallon (1.75 liter).

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Forum consigliere

One of my favorite single malts is any of the Highland Park bottlings. It is well balanced with some smokey peat. During the depths of winter give me a nice smokey peat monster from Islay. During the summer I tend towards lighter more floral whiskies like Balvenie and Glenmorangie.

For blended I've been enjoying Johnny Walker Double Black wish has Taliskers in the blend giving it slightly more peat flavor. I also am a fan of Famous Grouse's Black Grouse.

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Bill Bates

Scotch-drinking is just like shooting. Start with the basics and work your way in. Don't waste your money on the expensive older vintages until you have explored the characteristic differences between the different styles by sampling the 10 and 12 year expressions. That's where you learn the most.

For non-peated, I like a nice mainstream Speyside like Balvenie Doublewood 12. There are many others, all the Glens are good, Glenfiddich, Glen Dronach, Glenlivet. Macallan of course. Aberlour. Most have been named.

For smoky scotch, try Johnnie Walker Black to make sure you like the peat; that one is very gentle, and every bar stocks it. Then go to a medium-peated Islay like Bowmore 12, one of my favorites; smoke all the way through, but other complex flavors too. Then you can try the "smoke grenades" like Ardbeg, Laphroig and Lagavulin; great whiskies, but you'll still have the smoke hanging in your sinusses the next morning. Another great island malt is Talisker, not from Islay, but Skye, also pretty aggressive.

Be warned, getting into Scotch is considerably more damaging to your wallet than American whiskeys. I'm into both. Adding to my bourbon shelf is a lot less painful. There are some great bourbons even under $20, but single malts don't really start until around $50.

I hate to be the only naysayer here but here goes.....I've tried Scotch a number of times, mostly those recommended by friends. I didn't really like any of it and thought some was worse than taking bad medicine. I'm thinking maybe it's an acquired taste like cigars. Can't figure that habit either.

I drink Scotch when I don't want to drink much but to have a nice evening after a day afield.
These two worked fine over a week long fly in fishing trip up in Quebec.



I also like the inexpensive Macallams, lowland, highland, Islay. I don't mind the peatier ones because a glass will last me most of the evening.

John

The only pub... and I mean the ONLY pub... in Thurso, Scotland that had this was the one right next to the Yank housing. Any other pub would give you a bit of a sneer.

The best blend I tried there was called "White Heather." VERY smooth. Bell's & Famous Grouse were probably the most popular with the locals.

Single malt was pretty much all over the board. The only real agreement was that if you put ice or water in it you should be immediately deported.

I have enjoyed Scotch for many years. However, I refuse to pay the price for the really good ones. It's just not worth it to me. So, I have settled on Dewars. It's not the best but it doesn't cost $75 for a fifth.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

When I was drinking I was a fan of Scoresby's. Dirt cheap & not really all that bad with ice.

Always had a bottle of good stuff for company though...

I am part of a couple of groups that do formal tastings a few times a year. One guest, instructed on the way we do things, was invited to not ever come back after he sloshed in several ounces of water before even so much as nosing a $500+ 25 year old single malt. There was total silence around the room. He didn't have a clue why everyone was aghast. There is a process, and everyone uses it so we all compare the same aspects.

To add a note about blends:

There is no need to be too self-deprecating if you like a blended scotch. Only in the US does a blend equal cheap and lower quality. That's a result of US law, which requires a US-made beverage labelled as "blended whiskey" to only contain 20% actual whiskey; the rest can be and usually is neutral spirit, that is, industrially mass-produced vodka.

In other countries like Scotland, Ireland and Canada, where the majority of whisky produced is blended (80% of all scotch sold are blends), blended whisky still contains 100% whisky, with only small amounts of additions allowed. Chivas and JW are making blends that are considerably rarer and pricier than many single malts.

As Samuel Bronfman, the founder of Seagram's, once said, "distilling is just craft and science, blending is the art." In some Scottish distilleries, the master blender supposedly is more respected and better paid than the master distiller.

MacCallan Cask Strength, MacCallan 18, Balvennie Doublewood or Portwood (depending on your income) or for a blend I like the Black Grouse...

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Even older, even crankier....

VAT 49 only the best for Mrs. Dixon's son.

Scotch... hmmm. It's what I do to keep my trailer from rollin' off down the hill.

There ain't no likker.... like my Uncle Elwood's Tennessee sour mash No. 4. A certified... double-rectified, pop-skull... aged in a great big tub. I got some right now... dated... June. It was a good month.

Scotch... I use it to tape up stuff.

Like this? I found it a few weeks back. Run down shopping strip liquor store. Dusty shelf on the back wall.

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Oh Yeah, that is a bottle to saved for a very special day. Like the day you find a Registered Magnum in the box at a pawn shop marked as a Model 27 with a price tag of $799. It gets no better, pure heaven in a glass.

For every day the 12 year old bottling will do nicely.

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Bill Bates

I have a pal who spends considerable chunks of his wife's considerable fortune on snooty Scotches. I am happy to sample his offerings, then come home and have a wee dram of American Rye.