Blended vs. Single Malt

[EAL]

I've always loved single malt whiskys and think I've tried a very good number of them. I alternate between buying a bottle of a standby and looking for a bottle of one I haven't tried.

Recently I began trying out various blended Scotch whisky. I haven't found one I can tolerate outside of the Johnnie Walker products, all of which I enjoy. In fact, lately I've gravitated to the Red Label which is at the bottom of their line, but I like it very much, even to the exclusion of my favorite single malts for the last several weeks.

Any other whisky drinkers find a blend that suits them?

[KittyT]

I only drink bourbon, so I'm probably not of much assistance with this one :-)

[Prairie Shade]

OK< OK, I guess I've swallowed as much or more than I should. I have had more discussions than I care to admit about this subject. Just how many distilleries can there be in Scotland. After MUCH study, I find that when it comes right down to it, Johnny Walker is as good a factory whiskey as I have found. From Cigar Malt to Sherry Cask, there very good, but day in and day out, give me JW Red. Barley whiskey is Barley whiskey. I do think that in order to call yourself a master distiller, you have to be able to distill single malt for the sake of consistency at least. It is easier to blend whiskey for a consistent taste thats for sure. SO, I think I'll have another JW Red with soda and see if I'm wrong.

[BellyTank]

The "famous" blends are, in my opinion over-rated and over-priced.
A good Malt can be had for less than a blend.

But that said, I would never say no to a glass of Chivas with plenty of ice,
on a hot, summer's day.

I would also never buy a blend again.

Springbank, Ardbeg, Laphroaig and The Glenlivet wil keep me happy.

B
T

[rockyj]

For many years I didn't notice or care If it was single or blended. But over the years at all the Highland games and gigs that I played in. Also when it was "TIME TA PAY THE PIPER" (That's a shot after a tune) I got spoiled on the good stuff, 15,20 year single. It is sorta like good roasted coffee over the can stuff.

[Lancealot]

I tend to prefer The Glenlivet. However for Christmas I was given a bottle of DeWars 12 year special reserve and have enjoyed it very much.

[EAL]

OK< OK, I guess I've swallowed as much or more than I should. I have had more discussions than I care to admit about this subject. Just how many distilleries can there be in Scotland. After MUCH study, I find that when it comes right down to it, Johnny Walker is as good a factory whiskey as I have found. From Cigar Malt to Sherry Cask, there very good, but day in and day out, give me JW Red. Barley whiskey is Barley whiskey. I do think that in order to call yourself a master distiller, you have to be able to distill single malt for the sake of consistency at least. It is easier to blend whiskey for a consistent taste thats for sure. SO, I think I'll have another JW Red with soda and see if I'm wrong.

I think we're on the same page. Well said Prairie Shade. The only place we part ways is the soda, but I'm not a whisky snob, I enjoy mine on the rocks mostly which is another mode the purists will scoff at, so enjoy it as you like it.

When I was in Thailand helping out with the Tsunami relief, after things cooled down with the search efforts I got to spending more time outside the hotel I was staying in, and I began spending a lot of time across the street at a shop house. The locals preferred their Scotch - they drank some product produced by Seagrams called "100 Pipers" with soda water. I'd sit around this little plastic table with these local guys and drink it their way, smiling and wondering what they were saying, and for the time and place, it was great.

The lady who ran the place started going into town at some point on here little motorcycle just for me to buy JW Red for me. Red was available at the hotel's convenience store, but she got it at half the price somewhere. I could go on and on. In a nutshell, good times. I spent over a month there and loved every minute of it. Great people.

Anyway, that was the only time I ever drank scotch with soda - living in Hawaii, it melds with the 'rocks" quick enough to cut it into a potion that is nice to drink. Once in a while I'll drink a single neat or cut with a little water, but heathen that I am, I prefer whisky over ice.

Thanks for the replys all - great discussion.

Keep drinking that bourbon Kitty, that leaves more of the good stuff for me!

[Chanfan]

I'm kind of partial to the Dimple Pinch for blends…

[olive bleu]

I've had my nose in the air for quite a few years about this, and would never dare let the likes of a blend darken the door of my liquer cabinet, till my brother-in-law (who never comes to stay with us without 3-4 bottles of something under his arm)introduced us to Johnny Walker Red. It doesn't replace my Dalwhinnie, mind you, but I don't mind keeping a bolltle of it around for emergencies(like a storm), or serving to people you don't particularly like, .........or to those who really couldn't appreciate the difference anyway

[lindylady]

I've had my nose in the air for quite a few years about this, and would never dare let the likes of a blend darken the door of my liquer cabinet, till my brother-in-law (who never comes to stay with us without 3-4 bottles of something under his arm)introduced us to Johnny Walker Red. It doesn't replace my Dalwhinnie, mind you, but I don't mind keeping a bolltle of it around for emergencies(like a storm), or serving to people you don't particularly like, .........or to those who really couldn't appreciate the difference anyway

Johnny Walker Red isn't bad. What about their black label? I can't remember how that tasted. I would like to taste single malt scotch one of these days.