Favorite Scotch?
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Favorite Scotch?
Bogleheads,
You all strike me as the type that are likely to gave good taste in scotch.
What is your favorite brand of scotch, overall?
What is your favorite brand of modestly priced (say, <30$) scotch?
I have been drinking Famous Grouse lately, myself.
You all strike me as the type that are likely to gave good taste in scotch.
What is your favorite brand of scotch, overall?
What is your favorite brand of modestly priced (say, <30$) scotch?
I have been drinking Famous Grouse lately, myself.
- fishnskiguy
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I'm rather embarrassed to admit that, when I tried Johnnie Walker Blue Label, I actually quite enjoyed it. If you buy it duty-free, the price is merely comical, rather than completely outrageous.
I think Glenmorangie is probably the best single-malt value [EDIT: among widely-available single malts], though I'm sure others will violently disagree.
I think Glenmorangie is probably the best single-malt value [EDIT: among widely-available single malts], though I'm sure others will violently disagree.
Last edited by LH2004 on Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Scotch(es)
Agree on the Laphroaig - the aged ones are a little smoother (but you still get the peat in your teeth)
I have a friend that always has cask strength Laphroaig around - I'm always nice to him
MaCallan is on the other end of the spectrum, very smooth.
Bargain - Isle of Jura, so much more character than Glenlivit or Glenfiddich.
I have a friend that always has cask strength Laphroaig around - I'm always nice to him
MaCallan is on the other end of the spectrum, very smooth.
Bargain - Isle of Jura, so much more character than Glenlivit or Glenfiddich.
- Sunny Sarkar
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McCallin, nice and smooth single malt. Have to admit as aWEB Griffin fan I had to try Famous Grouse. Must admit that for a blended it is very good. Usually stick to those two. Along he same lines I can not take Scotch any way but neat. Water ,sode or ice just totally alters the taste. Rather than wine I do a shot every day instead.
Musn't say Macallan. It's the Macallan. Was introduced to it on the Isle of Skye at a pub called "The Hebridean." Darned if it wasn't the bar scotch. What a revelation. :lol:
Two nights ago a friend opened up an 18-year Macallan produced just before "the nose" retired from Macallan. Zowie! Something to linger over.
Have also tried Cragganmore, which I like. I'm not up to Laphroaig anymore. I'm a wuss, or at least my gut is. Bob U.
Two nights ago a friend opened up an 18-year Macallan produced just before "the nose" retired from Macallan. Zowie! Something to linger over.
Have also tried Cragganmore, which I like. I'm not up to Laphroaig anymore. I'm a wuss, or at least my gut is. Bob U.
- DocHolliday
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Cigar malt
I bought a bottle of Whitte&Mcay (sp) Cigar malt in the local shop. It's a blend but I found it quite good. ~$25 or so a bottle.
Never met a single malt I didn’t like
Deciding on a favorite scotch is like deciding on a favorite beer. There are many good ones and they vary greatly; depends on what you are in the mood for at the time. For an Islay malt I agree with most on Laphroaig. I also agree with Famous Grouse for a blend (and reasonably priced too). For an easy drinking single malt try Glenmorangie. My wife was introduced to it in Scotland, and even she, the scotch hater, liked it.
John
Deciding on a favorite scotch is like deciding on a favorite beer. There are many good ones and they vary greatly; depends on what you are in the mood for at the time. For an Islay malt I agree with most on Laphroaig. I also agree with Famous Grouse for a blend (and reasonably priced too). For an easy drinking single malt try Glenmorangie. My wife was introduced to it in Scotland, and even she, the scotch hater, liked it.
John
- SoonerSunDevil
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What's all the fuss about a single malt scotch? The only scotch I've had was Johnnie Walker, and I was told that it was a very good scotch, but there is hardly a mention of Johnnie Walker on this thread. Is it because JW is a blended scotch? From the looks of things, single malt is almost always preferred to blended, is that the case?
The only liquor I truly enjoy is Crown on the rocks with a good cigar, preferably a Dunhill or a Cohiba. Maybe I need to start a thread about cigars...
John
The only liquor I truly enjoy is Crown on the rocks with a good cigar, preferably a Dunhill or a Cohiba. Maybe I need to start a thread about cigars...
John
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YOU BLASPHEME AGAINST THE CHURCH OF SINGLE MALT?!? SILENCE!!!OUJohnNasr wrote:What's all the fuss about a single malt scotch? The only scotch I've had was Johnnie Walker, and I was told that it was a very good scotch, but there is hardly a mention of Johnnie Walker on this thread. Is it because JW is a blended scotch? From the looks of things, single malt is almost always preferred to blended, is that the case?
The only liquor I truly enjoy is Crown on the rocks with a good cigar, preferably a Dunhill or a Cohiba. Maybe I need to start a thread about cigars...
John
- SoonerSunDevil
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I've had the Red and the Black Label, but I've never had the Green, Gold, or Blue. I thought the Red was very average, but the Black was a nice treat, although I didn't enjoy it as much as Crown Royal.Nitsuj wrote:Red? Black? Blue or green?OUJohnNasr wrote:only scotch I've had was Johnnie Walker
I got a bottle of The Peat Monster the other day that wasn't bad at all.
The typical single malts aren't too bad, i.e. the glen*s.
John
I'm feeling a little tentative here, since someone has already been called out as a blasphemer! But I have to admit that I too am a blasphemer. Bear with me, don't freak out yet....
I don't like scotch. Shame, shame on me, I know. But I want to learn to appreciate it. The way people rhapsodize about scotch makes me want to learn to love it.
So, then, why do you like scotch? How do you think one could go about developing an appreciation for it? Help a poor lost soul!
I don't like scotch. Shame, shame on me, I know. But I want to learn to appreciate it. The way people rhapsodize about scotch makes me want to learn to love it.
So, then, why do you like scotch? How do you think one could go about developing an appreciation for it? Help a poor lost soul!
Oldie but Coldie
Give me a tall, cold, refreshing beer anytime.
But if you LIKE the taste of dirt....hey....go for it.
But if you LIKE the taste of dirt....hey....go for it.
Blended Scotch whiskey is the market leader by a good margin. It is the index fund of Scotch ... many good whiskeys blended together.OUJohnNasr wrote:From the looks of things, single malt is almost always preferred to blended, is that the case? John
"I advise you to go on living solely to enrage those who are paying your annuities. It is the only pleasure I have left." |
(Voltaire)
Goggles! I was a Scotch hater too until I was offered a drink, neat. I was told it was the only way to truly enjoy a good Scotch. Happend that was Famous Grouse, a good sippin whisky, so to speak. To this day I can not stand scotch any way but neat. Try Famous Grouse. The trick is sip not drink. One shot can last quite awhile.
Be careful of the clubs in Phoenix, Asking for a shot neat is a half a whiskey tumbler.
Be careful of the clubs in Phoenix, Asking for a shot neat is a half a whiskey tumbler.
- ddb
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Impossible to answer!
No way to answer this question, just like I couldn't say what is my favorite bottle of wine, favorite movie, favorite book, etc. There are so many good ones!
Having said that, I second (or third?) the earlier "props" given to Laphroaig. The 10-year represents a great value among mass-market single malts, IMO. I liked it enough to pick up a bottle of 15-year for rarer occasions.
I'm not much of a blend guy. Even the Johnnie Walker Blues of the world don't excite me too much. Bourbon, on the other hand...
- DDB
Having said that, I second (or third?) the earlier "props" given to Laphroaig. The 10-year represents a great value among mass-market single malts, IMO. I liked it enough to pick up a bottle of 15-year for rarer occasions.
I'm not much of a blend guy. Even the Johnnie Walker Blues of the world don't excite me too much. Bourbon, on the other hand...
- DDB
- DocHolliday
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I do not think this poll was started to determine what scotch was the best. Everyone has there own taste preferences. Some people do not like scotch and never will. I prefer good beer over scotch, whisky, vodka, or wine but I like alcohol in general. That is probably not a good thing.
I continue to read praise for Famous Grouse and need to try it shortly.
I continue to read praise for Famous Grouse and need to try it shortly.
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I married into a Scotch family. I found the easiest way to "learn" to enjoy the taste of Scotch is to start with a nice blend (I chose JW Black) and a nice Single Malt (I chose Glenmorangie). Once you know whether you prefer a blend or single (or both as I did) then you can "work your way down" the price list.goggles wrote:I don't like scotch. Shame, shame on me, I know. But I want to learn to appreciate it. The way people rhapsodize about scotch makes me want to learn to love it.
So, then, why do you like scotch? How do you think one could go about developing an appreciation for it? Help a poor lost soul!
Unless you already have a taste for hard alcohol, then it might be easier to transition without starting with the more expensive ones.
Rick dba Yuba
Red? Black? Blue or green?
I have tried all the Johnny Walker colors. By far my favorite is the Green Label. It's about $50 a bottle here in TX where Blue Label goes for $200 (found it for $150 at Costco in San Diego recently). The difference in taste is almost zero- both Blue and Green are very smoothe but you can buy 4 bottles of Green or 1 bottle of Blue. I'd say that's a Boglehead Bargain.
Also enjoy Crown Royal. Everything over crushed ice, of course.
Cheers!
Pat
I have tried all the Johnny Walker colors. By far my favorite is the Green Label. It's about $50 a bottle here in TX where Blue Label goes for $200 (found it for $150 at Costco in San Diego recently). The difference in taste is almost zero- both Blue and Green are very smoothe but you can buy 4 bottles of Green or 1 bottle of Blue. I'd say that's a Boglehead Bargain.
Also enjoy Crown Royal. Everything over crushed ice, of course.
Cheers!
Pat
Pat...aka psquared
- SoonerSunDevil
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- SoonerSunDevil
- Posts: 2000
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:32 pm
- Location: The desert
- SoonerSunDevil
- Posts: 2000
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:32 pm
- Location: The desert
The Crown Royal Special Reserve is way overrated, but the original Crown Royal is downright delicious! What don't you like about the taste? I've never met a man who enjoyed whisky and scotch but didn't fancy a little Crown.Nitsuj wrote:IMHO, it's overrated and tastes poorlyOUJohnNasr wrote:WHAT?!?!?!
- schellhase
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Smooth and boring, not necessarily something I look for in a drink. If I want to get drunk why spend more than 10 bucks? If I want to sip something I want something that tastes good.bettega wrote:Crown Royal doesn't taste that good but what sets it apart for its price is that it is so smooooooth without a hint of burn. Simple and boring, yes, but far more palatable than anything close to its price range. Compare it to other whiskeys that cost ~20 dollars... what a difference! Granted it's no 15 year old scotch, but for the money it's a steal.
For the ~$20 mark I'd go with a Makers Mark or similar. Knob Creek for a little more bite. Black label JW is passable.
One pretty high on my list is an Oban Highland...
Highlands are my favorite
Of course neat, with one drop of distilled water...
Highlands are my favorite
Of course neat, with one drop of distilled water...
Last edited by jms969 on Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather, not screaming like the passengers in his car.
- SoonerSunDevil
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Maker's Mark is a nice drink, especially if you've got a Maker's Mark cigar to go with it. If you love the taste of Maker's Mark but don't want the alcohol, try a Maker's Mark cigar. They're delicious!Nitsuj wrote: mooth and boring, not necessarily something I look for in a drink. If I want to get drunk why spend more than 10 bucks? If I want to sip something I want something that tastes good.
For the ~$20 mark I'd go with a Makers Mark or similar. Knob Creek for a little more bite. Black label JW is passable.
Knob Creek is atrocious.
I enjoy Black label Johnnie Walker.
Wherever I go, Crown and Makers are within a dollar of each other in price.bettega wrote:Well I don't drink to get drunk, but the topic is scotch. Yes, I know I hijacked the threat by bringing up crown royal, and I really like Maker's Mark, but where on earth do you get it for 20 dollars a bottle not in a duty free in some 3rd world country where liquor taxes are negligible???
Makers was 22.99 at the local Marsh, Crown was 25.99
750ml
Last edited by Nitsuj on Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
xx What is your favorite brand of scotch, overall? xx
Highland Park...distilled north of Scotland near Kirkwall, Orkney.
It's available in NC ABC stores.
http://www.highlandpark.co.uk/distillery/
Highland Park...distilled north of Scotland near Kirkwall, Orkney.
It's available in NC ABC stores.
http://www.highlandpark.co.uk/distillery/
- Downeastah
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