ATOT Scotch Drinkers - help!

[silverpig]

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or. Best bang for your buck in that price range. (It's like $90 here in Canada, but our liquor taxes in BC are pretty nuts).

 

[AdamK47]

Loch Dhu

 

[lxskllr]

Loch Dhu

Never had that, but I find it's color highly suspicious. It gets very poor marks at this site...

http://www.maltmadness.com/bad-whisky.html

This site doesn't look bad, but I'd take their ratings with a grain of salt. There's a few I don't agree with, and it strikes me as similar to ATOT rating women, where they're a little pickier than most people would be. I wouldn't reject a whisky they gave mediocre marks to, but if they flat out call it bad, it's worth noting. Especially look at the comments. Some are poorly rated just for being mediocre, while others have an active hate which I consider more telling.

 

[Viper GTS]

I hate these threads when they come up I spend money.

Picked up the Oban, Highland Park 12 year (I liked the 18, figured I'd give the 12 a try), and Johnny Walker Black (had some in a restaurant a few nights ago & was impressed).

So far I've opened the Oban, very interesting stuff. Highland Park is up next.

Viper GTS

 

[grohl]

Another vote for Glenlivet 12 yr. Best all around at that price IMO

 

[child of wonder]

I hate these threads when they come up I spend money.

Picked up the Oban, Highland Park 12 year (I liked the 18, figured I'd give the 12 a try), and Johnny Walker Black (had some in a restaurant a few nights ago & was impressed).

So far I've opened the Oban, very interesting stuff. Highland Park is up next.

Viper GTS

Despite being only 43% ABV, I find that Highland Park opens up quite nicely with a little cool water and a minute or two to settle. The sweet nose becomes more profound and the dry, lasting smoke is delightful.

 

[Cheesetogo]

I found Glenmorangie 10 to be pretty good. I wouldn't say I love it, but I'm not really that big of a fan of scotch. I don't enjoy Johnny Walker Black Label at all though. I found that it has a very harsh flavor -- not in the alcohol burn but in the actual taste of the scotch. I'm guessing it's due to it being a blended whiskey. There's a lot more flavors going on in it than a single malt.

 

[lxskllr]

Johnnie Walker Black is a favorite of mine, and I'll generally take it over Glenlivet if that's all the bar has. Around here, if a bar only has 1 malt, it's Glenlivet, but if they have Glenlivet they also have the Black, and Chivas Regal, both of which I prefer.

 

[SirStev0]

I like Glenlivet. inexpensive and tasty.

 

[lozina]

I hate these threads when they come up I spend money.

Yeah especially when you pair them with a fine Cuban cigar :biggrin:

 

[child of wonder]

Yeah especially when you pair them with a fine Cuban cigar :biggrin:

And high class hookers.

 

[Anubis]

I'm surprised you rank the Glenfiddich above the Macallan, but there's no accounting for taste. That's why I said anything over $30 a bottle. I think they're all good at that price, and it comes down to individual preference.

Glenfiddich has come along way over the years. It used to be undisclosed age, but presumed by most to be ~9 years. When they standardized at 12 years for the base, the quality went up tremendously. From what I've read, it benefits more than many from long times in the cask, and can go to ages that would ruin other whiskys. Older isn't always better. Highland Park is exceptional at 12 years old, but lackluster at 25 years. All whiskys have a best age, and you need to try them all to figure out what that is. I've easily had over 100 different scotches over the years, and they've all been good. I have a hard time picking favorites because a lot of it depends on mood. Islay is probably my favorite style, but sometimes I just don't want that. It's a little too much, and a Speyside is more appropriate.

the 18 IMO is the best one they make, Ive had up to the 25. I do agree with what you posted as well. I like Highland Parks 12 and 15 as well as most of them mentioned in this thread. the bowmore islay 12 and 18 are very good and very smoky if you want to go that route

Currently im stocking Some Bowmore islay 18, Dimple Pinch, Highland park 15, laphroaig 10 cask strength, and some Blue Label

 

[lozina]

the bowmore islay 12 and 18 are very good and very smoky if you want to go that route

Felt like I was drinking liquid smoke - a bit overwhelming IMO.

 

[Taughnter]

I'm not familiar w/ scotch. Looking for the best bottle @ around ~$50, if such a think exists.

Thanx!

Not to be difficult or turn this into more of a question than it is, but is this a gift or to drink yourself?

I'm assuming you mean single-malt (like most of the others), because you could get pretty good blended scotch for around 30 bucks (JW black), but as you'll see from the other posts there's not really going to be a consensus on "best" for $50. Without going into a detailed description, Scotch is classified by the region it comes from and generally speaking, scotches from the same region are similar (not as a rule, however).

As an example, Islay malts are smoky and peaty. If that's your thing, check out Laphroaig 10 year which I've seen for $40-$60 depending on the location. For comparison, I've had a few Highland malts (Macallan, Highland Park, Glenmorangie) and they seem sweeter (may have been shery cask but I can't recall right now). Macallan 12 year seems to be a pretty common choice in your price range there.

FWIW, I've heard a lot of good things about Glenfiddich, but the person who I frequently drink scotch with told me he hates it. I gave some of my favorite scotch (Laphroaig) to a guy who prefers bourbon, and he asked me to finish it for him because he didn't like it.

I guess my point is that if its for you, you should check out the regions and figure out which one you think you'd prefer and then choose the best in your price range from there. If its a gift, unless you know a preference, it'll be harder so you just go with a "top seller" (Macallan is probably safest bet if you ask me).

 

[Spydermag68]

My current fave is Glenmorangie 18 year old.

QFT - But a little pricy at $180. I bought a bottle of it for my wife on our wedding day last year.

 

[Anubis]

Felt like I was drinking liquid smoke - a bit overwhelming IMO.

yea its not for everyone

 

[lxskllr]

QFT - But a little pricy at $180. I bought a bottle of it for my wife on our wedding day last year.

Your wife drinks scotch? Lucky... :^)

 

[ThePresence]

Your wife drinks scotch? Lucky... :^)

My wife does. She better. We have too much invested in our scotch collection for her not to like it.

 

[child of wonder]

My cousin just found a bottle of Glenmorangie Burgundy wood finish at a local liquor store that's been sitting on the shelves for years. I told him to hide it away since the Burgundy finish was discontinued when Moet Hennessey bought them out, but he's intent on cracking it open. Reviews are positive so this should be good.