Official Scotch Thread

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Chewie, May 30, 2010.

  1. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Order on the way. Should hold me through the quarantine

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    #501 ned's head, Mar 19, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2020
  2. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    Can't see anything. But I fully support any liquor order during these trying times.
     
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  3. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    Philadelphia 76'ersArsenal

    Received a Balvenie 21 year portwood for my birthday recently.

    :banderas:
     
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  4. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

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  5. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
    Donor TMB OG
    Miami HurricanesMiami MarlinsMiami DolphinsFlorida PanthersTiger WoodsInter Miami CFGame of ThronesMiami Heat

    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
     
  6. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
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    Notre Dame Fighting IrishCleveland BrownsMontreal Canadiens

    I love this one

    upload_2021-12-23_18-52-15.png
    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
     
    #506 IHHH, Dec 23, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2021
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  7. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    One bottle or multiple? Like anything other than those two?
     
  8. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Yeah those are two completely different flavor profiles. Do you like peated stuff like Lagavulin, or just want to start trying some out?
     
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  9. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Philadelphia 76'ersArsenal

    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.
     
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  10. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
    Donor TMB OG
    Miami HurricanesMiami MarlinsMiami DolphinsFlorida PanthersTiger WoodsInter Miami CFGame of ThronesMiami Heat

    My preference is more smooth, but I’m not against something with a lot of peat.
    Preferably 2-3 bottles.
     
  11. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    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.
     
  12. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    I'm a fan of most things from Dalmore, Balvinie, and Highland Park.
     
  13. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    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
     
  14. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    2nd the signet. That's my favorite of the sherried scotches. Especially if you like coffee/chocolate notes
     
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  15. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Miami HurricanesMiami MarlinsMiami DolphinsFlorida PanthersTiger WoodsInter Miami CFGame of ThronesMiami Heat

    Picked up a bottle of this to give to my dad for Christmas last week. Love oban.
    Really like this one as well.
     
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  16. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    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.
     
  17. WhiskeyDelta

    WhiskeyDelta Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Bowmore 15yr Sherry is my preferred Islay
     
  18. gritzy

    gritzy I am a hurricane on the golf course

    Just grab some octomore
     
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  19. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Philadelphia 76'ersArsenal

    Received a Balvenie 21 year portwood for Jesus’ birthday.

    :banderas:
     
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  20. Mr Mortisay

    Mr Mortisay Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Arkansas Razorbacks

    My fave non peated is Macallan 18. Oban 18, Glenlivet 18, and Highland Park 18 are all good too
     
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  21. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    St. Louis CardinalsTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsMiddle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

    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!
     
  22. Bo Pelinis

    Donor TMB OG
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsBig 8 Conference

    Monkey Shoulder
    Macallan 12 or 15
    Glenfiddich 12
    Glen Moray sherry cask finished
     
  23. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    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
     
  24. Bo Pelinis

    Donor TMB OG
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsBig 8 Conference

    Deanston 12 real nice
     
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  25. Mr Mortisay

    Mr Mortisay Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Arkansas Razorbacks

    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
     
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  26. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    St. Louis CardinalsTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsMiddle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

    Thanks everyone
     
  27. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
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    Notre Dame Fighting IrishCleveland BrownsMontreal Canadiens

    what are you looking for, a more crisp and clean taste or a smoky kind of taste that stays with you for a while?
     
  28. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    St. Louis CardinalsTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsMiddle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

    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.
     
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  29. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    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).
     
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  30. The Banks

    The Banks TMB's Alaskan
    Donor TMB OG
    Oregon DucksGreen Bay PackersDetroit Red WingsBayern Munich

    Got the Offerman Lagavulin for Xmas.
     
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  31. Craig Pettis

    Craig Pettis Que será será motherfucker
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    Memphis TigersTennessee VolunteersSt. Louis CardinalsMemphis GrizzliesMetalPoker

    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.
     
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  32. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    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.
     
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  33. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Only try Ardbeg after you've grown some chest hair from drinking all that Scotch.
     
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  34. Craig Pettis

    Craig Pettis Que será será motherfucker
    Donor
    Memphis TigersTennessee VolunteersSt. Louis CardinalsMemphis GrizzliesMetalPoker

    79927059-70CA-4A5B-80BF-B226A29C03E3.jpeg

    SIL got me that for Christmas a couple years back. Delicious
     
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  35. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Philadelphia 76'ersArsenal

    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.

    0548D137-35C7-4F86-ABF0-2A455C2BFBBF.jpeg
     
  36. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    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).
     
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  37. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    How long before oxidation generally becomes an issue?
     
  38. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Philadelphia 76'ersArsenal

    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.
     
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  39. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    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.
     
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  40. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Lmao. Corks (for scotch bottles at least) are pretty universal. I always keep a few spares for that reason.
     
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  41. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Philadelphia 76'ersArsenal

    Right should have clarified, not planning to keep any of the contents in there after surgery is performed.
     
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  42. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Pretty neat, though. What were they using for ABV in those days? 40%?
     
  43. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Philadelphia 76'ersArsenal

    Close! 43%
     
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  44. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Philadelphia 76'ersArsenal

    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.
     
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  45. lazy bum

    lazy bum active consumer
    Donor TMB OG

    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?
     
  46. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    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
     
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  47. lazy bum

    lazy bum active consumer
    Donor TMB OG

    Probably would start with that same flavor profile somewhere in the less than $100 range.
     
  48. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    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
     
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  49. Mr Mortisay

    Mr Mortisay Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Arkansas Razorbacks

    Glenlivet 18 is always a reasonable place to start
     
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  50. Speirs

    Speirs Of Topmost Class
    Florida Gators

    Anyone had the ‘21 Laga 12 Distillers Edition?