When I was doing budget blended scotch many years ago I was into Scoresby. At least at the time I thought it was a good step or 3 above the Clan MacGregor. I did drink a fair amount of it.
Cheap Scotch
- Thread starter TheOldPro
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The more time you spend with bourbon, the more you realize that high-quality bourbons taste very much alike and the flavor range is quite narrow.
Single malt scotch is the opposite. The difference between a triple-distilled lowland malt and a heavily peated Islay malt is so significant they might as well be different beverages.
Most of the cheap scotches named in this thread are blends designed to level out those differences to some degree. Johnnie Walker, Chivas, J&B, Dewar’s, Ballantine’s, Famous Grouse are blended from various single malts (as the flavoring component) and cheaper industrial grain whisky (up to 85% of the total mix).
But blends are aged, blended, and priced for specific purposes. Cheap blends without age statement (which basically means they’re three years old, the minimum), what I call “pub whiskies”, are for mixing with coke or chasing with a pint. Anyone who complains that Johnnie Walker Red Label isn’t a good sipping dram is like a guy who buys an umbrella and complains that it doesn’t work as a parachute.
Black Label, due to its 12-year age statement, is a huge step up. And my favorite, Green Label is a blended malt, made from 100% single malts, has a 15-year age statement, higher proof, and is a very different animal.
CCantu357
Member
Sometimes it can be hit or miss. Some cheap booze will always be bad, and sometimes cheap booze can actually be pretty decent. If it is decent, but rough, mix it with club soda, tea, or water.
If it smells kind of sweet like Hoppe's 9, it might be decent for mixing. If it smells like Shooter's Choice, perhaps pass on it!
If it smells kind of sweet like Hoppe's 9, it might be decent for mixing. If it smells like Shooter's Choice, perhaps pass on it!
Cdog
Member
The Shooter's Choice makes me think that you may have gotten a bottle from the same batch of Old Forester 100 I did!
All depends on how much ice you add..............................
For the last year I've been using some insinuated copper mugs...... think Yeti...... really allows the beverage to get chilled but not watered down.
Had some really good Lagavulin 16 year old single malt "last" year...........no ice!
Been experimenting with Rye the last couple of years....... after doing some reading on W. Pa. whiskeys....... and local pre-prohibition distilleries.
For the last year I've been using some insinuated copper mugs...... think Yeti...... really allows the beverage to get chilled but not watered down.
Had some really good Lagavulin 16 year old single malt "last" year...........no ice!
Been experimenting with Rye the last couple of years....... after doing some reading on W. Pa. whiskeys....... and local pre-prohibition distilleries.
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I could NEVER develop a taste for Scotch no matter how many times I've tried! Currently I have about a half dozen bottles in my cabinet for guests but never go near the stuff. I guess I do not like the Peat flavor. Last night, (New Years Eve) I had people over from out of town and they loved the Scotch I put out. (Royal Salute, Chivas Regal, Johnny Walker Black, and Glenfidich Single Malt). I sat there quite content drinking my special bottle of Jack Daniels Sinatra Select which my Son bought me for my Birthday last year. Not a fan of Gin either - Bourbon, Sour Mash Whisky, Rye, Vodka, Cognac is what I like. I leave the Scotch for the guests.
Aggie1906
US Veteran
Back to cheap Scotch:
White Horse works.
As do private label offerings of Sam's & Costco.
In my small circle we refer to it as "retirement Scotch".
Longtime, Johnny Red drinker.
Don't get me started on brandy & Cognacs.
White Horse works.
As do private label offerings of Sam's & Costco.
In my small circle we refer to it as "retirement Scotch".
Longtime, Johnny Red drinker.
Don't get me started on brandy & Cognacs.
Rudi, I appreciate you responding. I was looking for other options to try within my budget, not advice on my lifestyle.
Texas Star
US Veteran
I didn't realize that Jack Daniels had a Sinatra blend, but he did mention that brand in his, Playboy interview years ago. Said he was for anything that'd get you through the night, be it prayer or a bottle of JD. I guess the distillery decided to honor his memory.
BTW, I could never find a liquor store or bartender who knew the difference between JD's green and black label products. I finally wrote to the company.They replied that green label is aged four years and black gets a whole year of added age. Didn't impress this drinker of 12 year old Scotch.
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In my misspent youth whilst at the University of London, I found a bar very close to the Cutty Sark Clipper Ship in Greenwich that had over a 120 different scotch whiskies on display. Most blends, but a few single malts. My aim was to finish tasting each until I finished grad school. Unfortunately, about half-way through both endeavours, my research group moved from London to the then new University of Sussex close to Brighton. Since I "migrated" to the USA as a post-doc over 50 years ago, I never finished my quest! If the bar is still there, well worth visiting, Dave_n
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mike from st pete
Member
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There I fixed it for you. Cheap or expensive...Scotch just sucks. I'd rather drink cheap moonshine!
A wee dram on a chill foggy night. I guess it is an acquired taste.
I gained a liking for scotch while stationed in England back in the 60's. I still remember a cheap ($1.50 a 5th) Sandeman Scotch that was very peaty. Yes, I like the peat taste, and especially Lagavulin. I'm into the single malts, but routinely drink Dewar's also. They say scotch is an acquired taste, but I acquired it at age 19, and kept it for 70 years.
My Sep son gave me a bottle of the Frank Sinatra blend last year for Christmas. Didn't taste different from the regular stuff to me. And over priced for sure!
Not mentioned yet is a brand of Scotch called "Sheep Dip". Not bad, I bought a bottle in N. Ca. years ago while travelling thru Redding.
pantannojack
US Veteran
I've been trying to like scotch for 45 years, won't give up yet. I started in the 70's on Passport. Made my liver feel like a dead frog. I tried Cutty Sark because I liked the ship on the bottle. At the bar when I asked for a "Sar-Krocks" they thought I said "Sour Socks". I played a dice game referring to Chevis Regal as Chevron Regular. I read a book by WEB Griffon and tried a bottle of something Grouse, I poured it out and my grass died. Lately I been trying some McClelland's Highland single malt. Only 30$ a bot. But don't show your nurse, she might think it is a urine sample. Those college girls think they are so smart. If Scotch is good enough for Pappy, it's good enough for me.
Best blended scotch for the money is Chivas Regal 18 year old...
And I like scotch more then bourbon.
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And I like scotch more then bourbon.
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You forgot the chewin' tobaccy.
I have a 45 year old bottle of Johnny Walker Red that sat in Dad's garage for almost 40 years before he died and I ended up with his liquor "cabinet". While I am sure the experts are right that spirits do not "age" in the bottle, they definitely mellow. That bottle of Red and everything else that was in that cabinet have all been the smoothest liquor I have passed over the tongue.
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There's something special that comes along with Dad's liquor just like with Mom's cooking. It's not in the bottle or the skillet.
I ruined it for myself. I was a young man who's brain hadn't fully developed. I was on base, off duty with a stomach virus. It was at the end of the month and I was broke. All I had was a partial bottle of Vat 69 so I sat in the day room watching tv and went to work on the bottle thinking it would ease my predicament.
Later on the Scotch and my stomach decided to have it out and my stomach won. I pulled an Earl Scheib on the latrine. To this day just the smell of Scotch makes me queasy.
If I could turn back time.
Later on the Scotch and my stomach decided to have it out and my stomach won. I pulled an Earl Scheib on the latrine. To this day just the smell of Scotch makes me queasy.
If I could turn back time.
Texas Star
US Veteran
I really hope that those who read my recommendation of Teacher's try a bottle and let us know your reaction. I felt it was quite good, especially for the money.
You can probably try a half or full pint before investing in a larger bottle.
Beware of Famous Grouse. I found it a disappointment.
You can probably try a half or full pint before investing in a larger bottle.
Beware of Famous Grouse. I found it a disappointment.
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