Good scotch as a gift?

[paulney]

I'd like to send a gift to a colleague of mine for a favor at work. Budget - $50-$60. I'm thinking of shipping a bottle of scotch, but I know next to nothing about them (just never got into it). What would be a good brand/label to send?

Thanks!

 

[effowe]

I'm partial to Glenmorangie (The Quinta Ruben) and Macallan 12. Those should hit that price point.

 

[deadlyapp]

for that amount of money you can probably get a well known 12 year or a lesser known 18 year. Scotch tastes are as varied as they come so you're fairly safe just grabbing one off the store shelf of a decent store (bevmo, total wine, etc). If you want to stick to the well known names: glenfiddich, glenmorangie, glenlivet are the first three that come to mind and that I like all of.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Macallan 12 was a good suggestion, as was Glenmorangie. Someone who drinks Scotch regularly probably drinks and enjoys Glenlivet and Glenfidditch, but those two are among the cheapest single malts. Even so, they're both better than the far-too-frequently-mentioned Johnny Walker.

I really think your safest bet is Macallan. Everybody I know appreciates Macallan 12 year.

 

[paulney]

Thanks for bringing up Johnny Walker. Naturally, I was thinking of getting one (a Green Label), but if you guys say Macallan is a better choice, I'll stick to that.

 

[noobsrevenge]

Why macallan, glenmorange, glenlevit when those are EVERYWHERE and can be gotten ANYTIME and are not special or "gifty" at all.

Goto a speciality liquor store and get a rarer, great scotch, I recommend Balvenie, which fits your price point

 

[uclaLabrat]

Why macallan, glenmorange, glenlevit when those are EVERYWHERE and can be gotten ANYTIME and are not special or "gifty" at all.

Goto a speciality liquor store and get a rarer, great scotch, I recommend Balvenie, which fits your price point

Because unless you know the guy's palette, you're likely to get him a bucket of piss he doesn't like. McCallan is well known, very well balanced, and even a guy who isn't a big fan of scotch (myself) can appreciate it.

A good bottle of Laphroig or Oban would make me puke.

 

[biostud]

high quality rhum is the new scotch

 

[Colt45]

no such thing, scotch is disgusting. Mmm delicious burnt peat flavour.

 

[andylawcc]

going away Colt45, you are drunk

 

[mistercrabby]

I'd like to send a gift to a colleague of mine for a favor at work. Budget - $50-$60. I'm thinking of shipping a bottle of scotch, but I know next to nothing about them (just never got into it). What would be a good brand/label to send?

Thanks!

Are you sure they really, really like scotch?

Maybe a bottle or two of good wine?

Grey Goose or K1?

 

[bbhaag]

I'm not a huge fan of scotch but the last time I had Highland Park 12 it was pretty good. I think its around $50 a bottle which fits in your budget.

 

[Rakehellion]

Lagavulin 16, or if that's too pricey at your store, Talisker 10. Talisker is very strong for a 10 year.

 

[vi edit]

Lagavulin 16, or if that's too pricey at your store, Talisker 10. Talisker is very strong for a 10 year.

Careful with Lagavulin. It's not for everyone. It's like getting punched in the face with a smoldering chunk of peat.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I have a bottle of McAllan 12 sitting on my shelf right now, it is good stuff indeed.

 

[noobsrevenge]

Because unless you know the guy's palette, you're likely to get him a bucket of piss he doesn't like. McCallan is well known, very well balanced, and even a guy who isn't a big fan of scotch (myself) can appreciate it.

A good bottle of Laphroig or Oban would make me puke.

more likely you are not very versed in your scotches, the ones you say make you puke are very peaty islay scotches.

Which Balvenie is not. I accounted for that in my recommendation. So go get educated about scotches you noob.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm not a huge fan of scotch but the last time I had Highland Park 12 it was pretty good. I think its around $50 a bottle which fits in your budget.

Seconding Highland Park. It's a great scotch, and not ubiquitous, so it'll be somewhat special in it's price range. It's also unoffensive, and if someone likes whisky of any kind, they should like that.

Edit:
you could also go with Irish. Red Breast would make a great gift. If you gave that to me, you'd be my new best friend.

Edit2:
You could also split the difference and get Connemara Irish whiskey. It's a peated Irish; the only one of its kind AFAIK. It's not as good as scotches in a similar price range, but it's quirky, and not something you see everywhere.

 

[uclaLabrat]

more likely you are not very versed in your scotches, the ones you say make you puke are very peaty islay scotches.

Which Balvenie is not. I accounted for that in my recommendation. So go get educated about scotches you noob.

Bitch please, I don't need to be educated about scotches. Why anyone would even recommend an islay if they're not sure the recipient is a scotch fan is beyond me. I tend to prefer the speysides myself, but again, I'm not a huge scotch fan. Stop being a pretentious prick.

I've had Balvenie doublewood, tasted like soap and I could barely finish the bottle. I had another type of balvenie that escapes me and I thought it was quite good.

The point is, your recommending a bunch of scotches that purists or aficionados would prefer, but if you don't know the guy, play it conservative.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

no such thing, scotch is disgusting. Mmm delicious burnt peat flavour.

I agree. Scotch sucks and most of the people who drink it are poseurs who only drink it because they think it makes them look/sound cool. It's the same with wine snobs and cigars. That being said, the best scotch is whatever one the poseur in question likes. Find out first and foremost if he's a scotch drinker and if so, what he drinks. Send that. If he's not a scotch drinker it won't matter what you send.

 

[Gibsons]

Seconding Highland Park. It's a great scotch, and not ubiquitous, so it'll be somewhat special in it's price range. It's also unoffensive, and if someone likes whisky of any kind, they should like that.

Edit:
you could also go with Irish. Red Breast would make a great gift. If you gave that to me, you'd be my new best friend.

Edit2:
You could also split the difference and get Connemara Irish whiskey. It's a peated Irish; the only one of its kind AFAIK. It's not as good as scotches in a similar price range, but it's quirky, and not something you see everywhere.

Irish is a good suggestion, depending on the recipient. Red Breast is great imo, but you can go a little more different and cheaper with Knappogue. I probably misspelled that.

 

[BladeVenom]

Glenlivet 12. It's your standard good Scotch, something anyone will like.

 

[Scotteq]

Another vote for Mac 12, with the added comment that a younger drinker might prefer the Sherry cask over the Fine Oak as it has a sweeter nose and aftertaste.

 

[MotionMan]

I'd like to send a gift to a colleague of mine for a favor at work. Budget - $50-$60. I'm thinking of shipping a bottle of scotch, but I know next to nothing about them (just never got into it). What would be a good brand/label to send?

Thanks!

Are you sure they really, really like scotch?

Maybe a bottle or two of good wine?

Grey Goose or K1?

Are you sure he drinks alcohol at all? Some people don't for many reasons (religious, member of AA or, like me, allergic to alcohol).

MotionMan

 

[Rakehellion]

Are you sure he drinks alcohol at all? Some people don't for many reasons (religious, member of AA or, like me, allergic to alcohol).

MotionMan

All men drink Scotch. If not, you can get him a nice pair of lacy panties or some tampons.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

MacAllan 12 is your safest choice. Highland Park 12 is a better choice but still completely safe. I also like that Redbreast suggestion.