Recently found a steal if anyone likes younger islays. This was $30 at my total wine and I believe it to be caol ila. NCF, NCA, and quite tasty. https://www.totalwine.com/spirits/s...-islay-single-malt-scotch-whiskey/p/230383750
Need to spend another $500 before end of the year to hit the highest reward group at total wine. Any suggestions? Been drinking a lot of mortlach 16 lately, but not against something similar to lagavulin
I love this one It’s not a very pricy bottle and it’s not like lagavulin at all. Not Smokey or peaty but it’s a good smooth whisky with a different taste. It’s a good bottle to have edit, not a scotch though so maybe i am off topic here a little
Yeah those are two completely different flavor profiles. Do you like peated stuff like Lagavulin, or just want to start trying some out?
I appreciate this. I like scotch whiskey and bourbon in order. I always get a bottle of crown around Xmas and new year. It may or may not last 2-3 bowl nights which is why it’s only purchased once a year.
My preference is more smooth, but I’m not against something with a lot of peat. Preferably 2-3 bottles.
As mentioned, the two you mentioned are pretty different, so I'll break down some recs for something similar to both: Sherry (mortlach): Glendronach is sort of the gold standard. The 18 is probably what I'd get, but you may find a decent deal on the 21. Glenfarclas 25 or 21 is probably the best bang for buck/age While hard to find, the arran 21 or 18 would be my personal pick. Love arran stuff. Peat: Older islays are less aggressive than younger ones. That might be a better bet for finding something that tastes smooth. I'd go with something like: Caol ila 25. The 18 is good as well and easier to find. Any independently bottled bowmore. The stuff from the distillery isn't great, but the ones bottled by 3rd parties are the tits (signatory, a d rattray, etc.) Ledaig is my personal favorite in the peated world. You'll find the 18 or some older independent bottlings in this price point. whiskybase is by far the best review site for individual bottles, so it may be a good idea to cross reference what you see in store before buying.
ned's head gave you you alot of good suggestions. Here are a few of mine as well: Non-peated - glenmorangie signet - glendronach 18 - glenalliche 15 - Oban 18 Peated - Talisker 18 - Talisker distiller's edition - lagavulin 16 - caol ila 18 Those are all in the price range where you could mix and match 3 or 4 of them to hit $500
2nd the signet. That's my favorite of the sherried scotches. Especially if you like coffee/chocolate notes
Picked up a bottle of this to give to my dad for Christmas last week. Love oban. Really like this one as well.
I'd check out the Port Charlotte 10 if you like Lagavulin 16. A little younger, and 100 proof, but I find the taste similar to Lagavulin.
I realize this has been asked 100 times before, but any recommendations for a complete scotch novice? I’m a bourbon guy, if that helps. Thanks!
I'd go for something bourbon matured/finished. Depending on the budget, I'd go for deanston 12 or 18. Clynelish 14 would also be a good choice
Oban 14 is my favorite younger than 18 years. You can usually find it for 70ish. Johnny walker green (15 years) is surprisingly good, as is monkey shoulder
what are you looking for, a more crisp and clean taste or a smoky kind of taste that stays with you for a while?
I’m guessing more of a clean taste at first, then as I get used to it, transition more to a smoky taste. Like I said, I’m a big bourbon fan, so I figure I could start as close to bourbon then work my way up.
Not "scotch" but maybe lookup Hibiki Harmony (dark fruits/Sherry notes) or Amrut Fusion (a tiny bit of peat but mainly licorice / dark fruit notes).
I’d say start with Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Macallan. Then transition into taliskers, then Lagavulin, and then if you’re really digging the smoky you can head on into the territory of real men and try Laphroiag.
I'd personally stay away from the glens and macallans to start. Those are generally sherry forward and may be a more jarring transition if you wanted something closer to bourbon. Also don't give up, never give up if you try a few and don't like it. I eventually found that I don't really like an entire region. Scotch flavor variation is pretty wild.
Gifted to me, originally from the 50’s or 60’s I’m told. It’s about half full still. When I first was asked if I wanted it, I immediately said yes because we have a bar and I wanted to display the bottle, I think it’s cool as shit. It’s probably the only thing I collect, and you could not label me as prolific. Will be interesting to taste, will keep you posted.
It's probably going to be oxidized quite a bit if it's half full. If you're interested in stopping that oxidation, you can pour it into a smaller bottle (probably a clean 375 ml bottle).
Cork went on it twice and the current cork is bad. Have a rubber band and bag over it now. Definitely will perform surgery over the weekend on it. Ultimately I think I am going to use one of the 284 wine stoppers we have in the house, saw off the top and glue the bottom on. Also who the fuck users a wine stopper? Finish the damn bottle.
The more empty the bottle is, the faster it happens. I wouldn't worry about a mostly full bottle for a couple of years. With his, I suspect it will change the taste quite a bit. But that's not to say it won't be great. I'd just guess that if you had a side by side with a fresh bottle, they would taste different.
Lmao. Corks (for scotch bottles at least) are pretty universal. I always keep a few spares for that reason.
Right should have clarified, not planning to keep any of the contents in there after surgery is performed.
So finally uncorked that Chivas. That was the most peat I’ve tasted in a scotch ever. If you love peat look it up. I don’t, absolutely disgusting to me.
I was given two pours of Macallan 25 recently by a wealthy friend of the family. I did not know at the time what it was except “would you like some scotch, lazybum” and was pretty floored when my uncle told me how much the 25 was afterwards. I really enjoyed what I had, though, and am looking to get into others. I know anything in the lower price ranges likely won’t touch what I experienced with the 25, but any suggestions?
What price range? And do you want something in the same flavor profile? If not, give me some bottles you like or flavors you're chasing and I can get you some recs
I'd go for a glendronach 15 if you can find it in your area for that price (the 12 would work for something more entry level). You may also be able to find a glenfarclas 17 around there. On the cheaper end, see if you can find an arran bodega. If you can't find any of those, find something sherried and from either speyside or the highlands