Scotch's that wont break the bank

[Slow Triathlete]

I second (or third or fourth?) the Glenmorangie Orignial. It is my favorite everyday.

Originally Posted by hammondc

Balvenie Doublewood.

Thats a good non peated one! Im into Islay and Campbeltown scotch..But I do like the double wood

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

IMHO, single malts are very, very, much overrated!

Blends are much less expensive for the most part and much more complex in flavor!

Hell, JW Black, a very reasonably priced blend is far more complex and most single malt. It is what many, many, hard core scotch drinkers favor.

Oh, got to disagree. there is a reason blends are cheap....
But, Campbeltown loch is a blend of only Springbank made Scotch Whisky....so its a blend...but not really. Its like 33.00.

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by wdwkelly

Oh, got to disagree. there is a reason blends are cheap....
But, Campbeltown loch is a blend of only Springbank made Scotch Whisky....so its a blend...but not really. Its like 33.00.

Just what might that reason be my friend?

Blends are made from different vintages and sometimes styles, of scotch (in this case), made by the same distillery.

[markem]

Originally Posted by wdwkelly

Oh, got to disagree. there is a reason blends are cheap....
But, Campbeltown loch is a blend of only Springbank made Scotch Whisky....so its a blend...but not really. Its like 33.00.

I used to be a very large (read: thousands of special bottlings and more of singles) collector of scotches. I am curious as to why a blend of Springbank isn't a blend?

For that matter, any non-single barrel is a blend. They key is to know what you are talking about.

Do you?

Cheap blends are cheap for a reason and expensive blends might be expensive for a reason. capiche?

[Porch Dweller]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

Just what might that reason be my friend?

Blends are made from different vintages and sometimes styles, of scotch (in this case), made by the same distillery.

Yep. JW Platinum is a blend, it ain't cheap, and it's very, very good. I'd take a bottle of it over any two bottles of Macallan without a second thought.

Originally Posted by markem

I used to be a very large (read: thousands of special bottlings and more of singles) collector of scotches. I am curious as to why a blend of Springbank isn't a blend?

For that matter, any non-single barrel is a blend. They key is to know what you are talking about.

Do you?

Cheap blends are cheap for a reason and expensive blends might be expensive for a reason. capiche?

Of course i know what I'm talking about. Single malts are just from the same distillery....different barrels.....(unless single barrel)The blend i was referring to " Campbeltown Loch is a blend of all scotch made at the same distillery. Its the only one like it. SOME don't consider that a blend....even though it is. Sort of.
But a single malt means just that..it is NOT a blend. By strict Scotland definition. A blend is from different distillers...and 99% of the time...YOUNG scotch. Hence...reason why they are cheap.
You saying all non single malts are blends unless single barrel....is 110% wrong. Its Scot. law how they are defined.
Campbeltown Lock is a "blend" that MANY will drink...that refuse to drink blends..due to its uniqueness of being 100% springbank and longrow scotch. All made under 1 roof.

[markem]

Originally Posted by wdwkelly

Campbeltown Lock is a "blend" that MANY will drink...that refuse to drink blends..due to its uniqueness of being 100% springbank and longrow scotch. All made under 1 roof.

But it is still a blend. By law.

Originally Posted by markem

But it is still a blend. By law.

YES, you are right. And its the only one many will drink that don't drink blends due to its uniqueness. As no other blends come from the same roof.

[markem]

Originally Posted by wdwkelly

YES, you are right. And its the only one many will drink that don't drink blends due to its uniqueness. As no other blends come from the same roof.

really? And you based this provocative statement on what evidence?

Originally Posted by markem

really? And you based this provocative statement on what evidence?

Evidence..... There is a great youtube site.."ralfy" he is from scotland..Hell have all the answers you'll ever need to hear. As for Me? I was stationed at Lakenheath AFB from 1992-1995 Even though it was England, I learned a lot about Scotch. The only folks that drank blends then, over there.. were folks that just didn't have a lot of$$ Single malts were popular..but NOT near as popular as today, Especially peated scotch from Isaly and Campbeltown.
I have gone back to the U.K. every few years ever since..and really...the only dynamic that has changed is the immense popularity of Islay scotch....and for good reason.. Look at it this way.....those cigars you can get at a filling station....we all know they aren't premium sticks....blends are kinda like those station cigars. But, it you ever want to venture to Islay or Speyside....Campbeltown...i've been there on the dime of the U.S. Air Force...and single malts are the only game in town.
Enjoy what you want... but seriously..listen to ralfy..he is quite the character....but so in the loop.
Someone mentioned expensive Johnny Walker....well...some gurkhas are expensive....but they are still rubbish.

Goodness....Time to move on.. Drink those blends....someone has to.

[markem]

Ah, ego as substitute for substance.

[Porch Dweller]

Originally Posted by wdwkelly

Evidence..... There is a great youtube site.."ralfy" he is from scotland..Hell have all the answers you'll ever need to hear. As for Me? I was stationed at Lakenheath AFB from 1992-1995 Even though it was England, I learned a lot about Scotch. The only folks that drank blends then, over there.. were folks that just didn't have a lot of$$ Single malts were popular..but NOT near as popular as today, Especially peated scotch from Isaly and Campbeltown.
I have gone back to the U.K. every few years ever since..and really...the only dynamic that has changed is the immense popularity of Islay scotch....and for good reason.. Look at it this way.....those cigars you can get at a filling station....we all know they aren't premium sticks....blends are kinda like those station cigars. But, it you ever want to venture to Islay or Speyside....Campbeltown...i've been there on the dime of the U.S. Air Force...and single malts are the only game in town.
Enjoy what you want... but seriously..listen to ralfy..he is quite the character....but so in the loop.
Someone mentioned expensive Johnny Walker....well...some gurkhas are expensive....but they are still rubbish.

Goodness....Time to move on.. Drink those blends....someone has to.

Some of us can appreciate a good single malt AND appreciate a good quality blend. It's not an either/or situation, at least to the non-snobs.

[markem]

Originally Posted by Porch Dweller

Some of us can appreciate a good single malt AND appreciate a good quality blend. It's not an either/or situation, at least to the non-snobs.

drink/smoke what you like and don't look down on others who are not "at your level of sophistication".

That's a paraphrase from Michael Jackson (the English one) from one of his private dinners.

[RWhisenand]

Originally Posted by hammondc

Monkey Shoulder

Had a couple bottles of this lately, it's damn good! I guess it's Balvinnie Glenfiddich and Kinitchy. Two of my favorites and one I'm not familiar with. Anyhoo it's really good. Thanks for the recommendation.

[pnoon]

Excuse me while I genuflect.

[CigarNut]

I enjoy a number of single malts -- Glenmorangie 21 year old single cask is about the best I have had. I also like Johnny Walker Blue... I don't fit your standards, but I am OK with that.

Smoke or drink what you like... Drink or like what you smoke and to include what Mark said -- don't look down on others for what they like...

[JohnnyFlake]

I must say wddwkelly, for a new member, you have an obnoxious attitude, not generally seen here with even older, crabby, members. But, I guess that's you and I expect that some of us will learn to get along with it.

That being said, The following link will explain what Single Malts are and what blends are, for those who wish to read.

http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2012/0...ed-whisky.html

BTW, I have experienced many, many single malt scotches, in my 73 years, but I love J.W. Black and Chivas 18, better than most single malts! Of course, that's just me!