What is your favorite Scotch Whisky

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

If you definition of "Good Stuff" is high-end & expensive, that is not true! Unless you decide to fall into the category of a "Scotch Snob" who believes that the only good scotches are High-End Single Malts, there are a multitude of Blended Scotches in the $35 or less range and even a few Single Malts in that range that are excellent scotches.

I have no clue, just assumed more expensive means aged or better porducts. Apparently not the way it works.

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

I have no clue, just assumed more expensive means aged or better porducts. Apparently not the way it works.

In some cases, that is true, but I think you would have to acquire the taste for Scotch in general to appreciate the higher end Scotches nuances. I didn't buy my first $50+ Scotch until I thought I felt I appreciated and understood Scotch and the different parts of Scotland that produce different types (FWIW, I still predominately drink the <$50 stuff).

Likening it to cigars, I wouldn't (and didn't ) buy a Padron 80th Maduro as my first foray into cigars...I knew I wouldn't appreciate it. Years later, I still smoke a lot of affordable cigars, while sometimes treating myself to something higher end. <----Substitute Lagavulin for Padron and Scotch for cigars and I think the sentence still has merit.

My tastes range from cheap blends to expensive single malts. I've sampled some high-end stuff that tasted like a burning truck tire and some low-end stuff that was smooth as silk.

Famous Grouse is good stuff for sure......

I recently picked up The Balvenie 15yr Rum Cask ($60) that is out of this world! Gonna pair it with an AF SG CB tonight. Yum.

Like Famous Grouse and Chivas. Both excellent and cheap. For blended Scotch, that is.

Personally I like Johnnie Walker Black Label as a regular drinker. Have had the Blue Label on a couple of special occasions nice but overpriced.

[Ferrari5180]

Talisker 10
Ardbeg 10
Lagavulin 16
Ardbeg Uigeadail

[BigAsh]

New favorite .... Drinking Glenlivet 21.... "Christmas In a glass".... It's that good...,
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[BigAsh]

Originally Posted by BigAsh

New favorite .... Drinking Glenlivet 21.... "Christmas In a glass".... It's that good...,
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[Matt-N-Ga]

Lately my favorite has been The Balvanie 14 yr Carribean Cask. love that bottle. have to keep it in stock at all times

My favorite right now is The Macallan 18yr old, Sherry Oak. The flavors, aroma, and smoothness are all amazing. Easily worth the $120 in my opinion.

[RWhisenand]

If I were to choose a favorate, I'd probably pick Oban. Although I mostly drink it at my wife's company events! Everyday I normally drink 12 YO Glenlivet, or 12 YO Macallam for more special events. There are plenty of <$50 bottles which are just great.

[Ogre]

So far for me its The Glenrothes 91.

[shark]

I've tried several once at a herf, where the manager of the club was pouring for anyone who wanted to try it, and even though I was a Scotch novice I found Ardbeg to be the best I've tried. Peaty, smoky, just very rich and good. Hard to describe exactly, but she asked if I wanted to cut it with a little water, considering it was a very heavy Scotch. I told her no way! The only way to drink Scotch is neat.

[LostAbbott]

Originally Posted by shark

I've tried several once at a herf, where the manager of the club was pouring for anyone who wanted to try it, and even though I was a Scotch novice I found Ardbeg to be the best I've tried. Peaty, smoky, just very rich and good. Hard to describe exactly, but she asked if I wanted to cut it with a little water, considering it was a very heavy Scotch. I told her no way! The only way to drink Scotch is neat.

Actually if you talk to any Scottish distiller they will tell you they bottle to scotch with the intention that you cut it with just a little bit of water. I tend to put about 1/4 of a shot of water for every 2 shots of scotch, of course this really depends a lot on the scotch. At a bar ask for the scotch neat and water on the side. It really cools Down the alcoholic spice and opens up the subtle flavors of the scotch.
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Originally Posted by LostAbbott

Actually if you talk to any Scottish distiller they will tell you they bottle to scotch with the intention that you cut it with just a little bit of water. I tend to put about 1/4 of a shot of water for every 2 shots of scotch, of course this really depends a lot on the scotch. At a bar ask for the scotch neat and water on the side. It really cools Down the alcoholic spice and opens up the subtle flavors of the scotch.
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Absolutely correct.

You may also find that some high-end scotch is bottle at cask strength - if you drink that without water, the alcohol concentration in it can end up anesthetizing your tongue, and you'll end up missing a lot of the subtle flavours. If you want to experiment with this (works best with a big Isla malt), get a good nosing glass, and try a little bit of scotch neat. Then add one or two drops of water, and try it again. And then a little bit more water, and try it again. At some point you will find that the added water has "opened up" the flavour profile of the whiskey, and you are noticing flavours that were hidden before.

Different scotches "want" different amounts of water to get to that "sweet spot" where the flavours are still concentrated, but the intense ones no longer mask the subtle ones.

[warpedcigars]

Been drinking alot of Glenmorangie 18yr, loving it.

[Zanaspus]

Still "green" in the world of single malts, but I could live on Laphroaig Quarter Cask and Talisker 10.

[jjmitchem]

I just started drinking scotch and I really like what I have tried so far:
The Glenlevit 12y
Glenfiddich 12y
and a glass of Laphroagh

All neat - didn't know about adding a little water, I'll have to try that

So far I prefer the Glenlevit over the Glenfiddich and I did not like the Laphroagh

Any suggestions as to what to try next are welcome. I need to find a good bar with some so I don't have to buy bottles

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by jjmitchem

Any suggestions as to what to try next are welcome. I need to find a good bar with some so I don't have to buy bottles

Some companies offer sets of 200ml bottles - you might want to see if your local liqourist carries them.

I would recommend trying Glenmorangie, Bunnahabhain, or Arran as your next step as malts that have a similar profile with some differences. Bruichladdich 08 (otherwise called "revival" is also pretty good and has a similar flavour profile. Auchantoshan and Glengoyne are both malts with less peat (smokiness) than your Glenlevit and Glenfiddich. If you want to dip your toe in the water as far as the peat goes, perhaps Highland Park might suit. Otherwise Oban (pricey), Glenkinchie, Bladnoch (HTF relatively), and Craggenmore are all scotches with low peat (smokiness).

Hope some of this helps...

[Kinky_yk]

I always keep a few certain bottles on hand (I tell the wife I need them just in case people stop over I need to have respectable offerings - then proceed to hoard them if someone did come over). I keep the Glenfiddich 12, 15 and 18yr on the shelf at all times, with the 15 hands down my favorite. I also just started drinking the Dalmore 12yr and really enjoy that one as well. For Christmas dinner this year I was able to put aside a bottle of the Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix to share with by brother-in-law/father-in-law. Also I just deposited a Dalmore Cigar Malt into my brand new (Christmas Present) monogrammed crystal decanter. A few Islay's; Laphroig and Lagavulin are good to have on hand too.