Scotch drinkers ONLY!

[ScottH]

Do we have any?

Do you prefer single-malt to blend, or the other way around?

What brand/age is your favorite?

Which (if any) of the Johny Walkers have you had, and what were your impressions?

[Allie]

OK. You got me at the word "ONLY!", in all caps no less! Put that up and I am hooked.

First, it's the boy's only; now, it's drinkers only. I'll expect the ladies only next. In the meantime, I'll have a water and wait with you...

[ProgFusionRoman]

Come on down......me!!!!!

Single malt only.

I like Ardbeg and Talisker among others.

I usually only buy 10 or 12 years as the case may be because it costs so much.

All JW is undrinkable for my taste. I am very fussy about everything though don't let me put you off.

Allie...pull up a chair....sit down....now try this Ardbeg.....sniff with your left nostril....now the right.....now take a sip and keep it in for 11 seconds...don't swish it around mind you but let it gently go from one side to the other.....now drink........oops sorry forgot to warn you.........you probably feel like you have just eaten a box of cuban cigars and some antiseptic......yummy yum yum!!

[MaJor LeAguE]

Within Johnnie Walkers - Green, even in comparison to the blue, I'd have to say Green has a distinctive taste...

[Aviatrix]

Talisker all the way. Ardbeag is a close second for me. Nothing beats the smokiness. If I want something a little bit less expensive, I go for Te Beag. By the way, the duty free is the best place to pick up a bottle of scotch for less money.

I can't stand Johnnie Walker.

[muguly]

I'm a fan of J. W. Black label

[Kisai]

Glenlivet. Scotch must taste smooth. I have a snooty friend who likes to buy things because they're 'cool' or 'expensive' not because they're of a actual quality.

First he thumbs his nose at Glenlivet, then makes me try two scotches:

He says "The first one's a bit peaty". It tasted like lawn clippings.
He says "The second one's smoky.". It tasted like someone stirred a cigarette in it.

[ScottH]

Excellent thoughts, fellow Scotch lovers.

Personally, Glenlivet 18 is the best I've had, in my opinion. I haven't had many, but I tend to like a "crisp, clean" single malt, and that one does it for me.

Of the JW's, I drink a fair bit of Black. It's not as crisp as the Glenlivet, but it's not bad. Ironically, I've found the Blue to be nowhere near worth the sky-high price tag. It's a blend, and to me it tasted weak and unworthy.

I'm going to search for Talisker and Ardbeag and give them a try :-)

[metamagnet]

JW Black Label is the most price efficient for myself (although Green and Blue are obviously better).
I enjoy blends more than single malts usually.
I'm not old and I don't smoke a pipe or wear fine suits so I don't feel privileged enough yet to be picky with scotch.

[ScottH]

Wow, awesome thoughts on the Talisker. It's a bit early for drinking, but I bought a bottle on my way home and just had to try a taste. This stuff is terrific; bright, crisp, and very--maybe even a bit too--strong. I bought 10-year, but will try the 18 some time in the near future.

I couldn't find Ardbeg anyplace near me, but I'll keep my eye open for that too.

[ProgFusionRoman]

Talisker all the way. Ardbeag is a close second for me. Nothing beats the smokiness. If I want something a little bit less expensive, I go for Te Beag. By the way, the duty free is the best place to pick up a bottle of scotch for less money.

I can't stand Johnnie Walker.

Yes yes yes yes yessssssss! Smokiness rules!

You hate JW - I AM NOT ALONE!!

Er...sorry for that, I am a Monty Python fan (I hope that explains it)





ProgFusionRoman added to this post, 4 minutes and 2 seconds later...

Wow, awesome thoughts on the Talisker. It's a bit early for drinking, but I bought a bottle on my way home and just had to try a taste. This stuff is terrific; bright, crisp, and very--maybe even a bit too--strong. I bought 10-year, but will try the 18 some time in the near future.

I couldn't find Ardbeg anyplace near me, but I'll keep my eye open for that too.

I am not sure but my understanding is that
1) Scotch whisky supply is limited outside the "biggies"
2) Ardbeg do not now sell to North America but they are selling to other countries.
3) Ardbeg will stop selling to those countries and switch to others eg China.
4) Thereby having given everyone a taste.
5) Demand will increase, price will go up but available worldwise from that point.

I think I should buy about 5 grands worth now.





ProgFusionRoman added to this post, 2 minutes and 17 seconds later...

JW Black Label is the most price efficient for myself (although Green and Blue are obviously better).
I enjoy blends more than single malts usually.
I'm not old and I don't smoke a pipe or wear fine suits so I don't feel privileged enough yet to be picky with scotch.

What are you saying you young whippersnapper!

[ElstonGunn]

Laphroaig 10 year single malt is my all-time favorite alcohol. It tastes like coal (I meant that in a good way). Most Islays seem pretty good to me. I had a Speyburn 10 year, which is a Highland, and I liked that a lot, too.

I won a shot of Johnnie Walker Blue from a friend of mine. It was part of a bet. I didn't think it was good enough to justify being so expensive, but it was alright for a blended whisky.

If I don't want to spend much money, I don't buy scotch. I think it's a lot like beer, in that the difference between the good stuff and the cheap stuff is really noticeable. With bourbon or gin or rum or wine, I can't tell much of a difference between good and bad, but with scotch the difference between

[Cicatrix]

I quite like JW blue but agree it’s a bit expensive for what it is.

Chivers Regal royal salute is another that I have enjoyed - I think it’s a blend too.

To be honest I quite like Glenfiddich too. I know it’s pretty common and doesn't have that exclusivity factor that some crave but its none the less good - especially the 18yo stuff.

I find there are a lot of single malt Nazis around but I don’t automatically ignore a scotch if it’s not single malt. Sure the majority of good scotch is single malt but don’t be put off if you enjoy something blended. I would much rather sip on something that I enjoyed drinking rather than drinking something to impress others.

Something else to think about... after listening for a good many years of friends stating one type of beer was better than another I ran a blind test with 8 different beers - 4 imported, 4 local and a mixture of types (ale, pilsner, lager etc). It started by everyone having a "taste" of each beer. This was about 100mls of each beer, one at a time, they were told what beer it was and everyone could take as many notes as they liked. 10 mins between each sample, water drunk between each to clear palette. Once this was done each beer came out again (100mls) and they had to guess what beer it was. Repeat for next 7 beers and their results were recorded on a sheet which I grabbed last of all and marked them. 25 people participated. The person who won got 5 correct - the winner was also a girl who didn't often drink at all let alone drink beer. Most were lucky to get 2 correct. Fast forward to today and now if anyone even makes a wimper about how one beer is better than another I can pull out their sheet and remind them that they really have no idea what they are talking about! I can't describe the pleasure that I get from this... and of course we all have a great laugh about it.

So anyway long story short, if you can’t tell the differences between scotches in a blind test then you are wasting your money. Grab a couple of bottles and have someone do the same test to you and see if you can pick the differences.

Oh and BTW it should be illegal to serve scotch with anything sweet and fizzy. I might accept Vermouth as a mixer if you are feeling a bit crazy but it seriously should be either neat, on ice or with water. :)

[ScottH]

Oh and BTW it should be illegal to serve scotch with anything sweet and fizzy. I might accept Vermouth as a mixer if you are feeling a bit crazy but it seriously should be either neat, on ice or with water. :)

I second that!

I agree also about the taste of some scotches being nearly indistinguishable. But, there are spectrums... for e.g., a friend was over one night and we were sampling a couple good cigars. We had both a bottle of JW Red and a bottle of Glenlivet 18 (yeah, I know, big difference). After a sip of the Glenlivet, we tried the JW, and it tasted just like lighter fluid.

For the price, Talisker is now what I'd choose for an occasion or company, right above Glenlivet 18. I'm eager to try others.

[Aviatrix]

heheeh. Another convert to Talisker. The only single malt of the Isle of Skye.

ProgFusionRoman: I too am a Python fan, but I didn't catch the reference. What's it from?





Aviatrix added to this post, 4 minutes and 4 seconds later...

Great book for Scotch drinkers: Whiskey Galore by Compton Mackenzie. Quite intriguing. I recommend having a bottle on hand, because you'll be craving it by the end of the book.