MisterCairo
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 7,005
- Location
- Gads Hill, Ontario
filfoster said:
Good to know if I'm ever in the neighbourhood!
-
The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.
What's a good entry-level single malt?
- Thread starter vintage68
- Start date
Good to know if I'm ever in the neighbourhood!
filfoster
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,329
Nicholson's
Let me know if you come and I will buy you two drinks! ( We will certainly want a 'chaser').
MisterCairo said:
Let me know if you come and I will buy you two drinks! ( We will certainly want a 'chaser').
PoohBang
Suspended
- Messages
- 781
- Location
- backside of many
It's my goto scotch! I love Balvenie Doublewood 12... It's truly excellent and won't kill your wallet as it's right around the $35ish mark...
Panache said:
Chiliarches
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 344
- Location
- Chicago suburb
Hm. The suggestions to go to a well-stocked bar are right on the money (though often hard to do, since most bars don't carry a lot of single malts). I can definitely give some specific suggestions of standard bottlings, though, along with tasting notes (from memory)...
UNDER $50 with (though you might have to shop around)-
$50+
Personally, I would try the Glenlivet Nadurra to get a lighter taste of outstanding malted whisky, then try maybe the Highland Park 12, and then dive into the Talisker or Lagavulin...
I have my short "awesome but affordable" bourbon list too if you are interested.
Cheers!
UNDER $50 with (though you might have to shop around)-
- Highland Park 12 - has everything that makes Scotch whisky what it is - little bit of peat, smoke, maltiness, saltiness, so many other flavors hinted at...
- Dalmore 12 - absurdly cheap for what you get - spices, sugar, leather...
- Speyburn 10 - thin and a little simple, but nice and warming, with just enough peat to get used to it - there are some light fruits in there like pear
- Laphroaig 10 - want an introduction to "big peaty bruisers"? This is classic - smoke, peat, raisins, baked bread...
- Talisker 10 - want a big smoky bruiser without the peat? Outstanding, and most people love it right off. Pepper, brown sugar, wood smoke, barbecue sauce...
- Glenlivet 12 - pleasant, sweet, subtle, - obvious flavors are vanilla, toffee, and young wood. Best investigated after MORE Scotch experience, in my opinion
$50+
- Highland Park 18 - WOW! Caramel, little bit of smoke, leather, honey, creme brulee...tiny hint of peat on the back end. Beautiful.
- Lagavulin 16 - Sherry, earth, smoke, peat, iodine, salt, sugar...all perfectly laced together. Classic.
- Glenlivet Nadurra - spices, sugar, vanilla, tasty. Just good. Only had it once, but it made a great impression.
Personally, I would try the Glenlivet Nadurra to get a lighter taste of outstanding malted whisky, then try maybe the Highland Park 12, and then dive into the Talisker or Lagavulin...
I have my short "awesome but affordable" bourbon list too if you are interested.
Cheers!
filfoster
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,329
La-Frog
Not sure I would start anyone with Laphroaig unless they had been given coal oil tonics as children. It's an acquired taste, isn't it? On the bright side,one bottle may last a lifetime and it will make most of the others taste better.
Not sure I would start anyone with Laphroaig unless they had been given coal oil tonics as children. It's an acquired taste, isn't it? On the bright side,one bottle may last a lifetime and it will make most of the others taste better.
Chiliarches
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 344
- Location
- Chicago suburb
filfoster said:
I have given big peaty malts (Lagavulin, etc.) to non-Scotch drinkers and watched them love it. I think the "intimidation" factor of peated malts is exaggerated.
Optionseeker
New in Town
- Messages
- 41
- Location
- Victoria, BC
MisterCairo said:
I have been in that very shop myself and have enjoyed more than one pint on the patio at Spinnakers Pub overlooking the inner harbour. Been a while since I was in your neck of the woods but lived in London, ON before moving out here.
And then there's this, which I sincerely hope is a joke: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-08/24/pissky
interjake
New in Town
- Messages
- 14
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
You might want to try Glenmorangie. According to a WSJ article a few years back, this the best selling single malt in Scotland. Interestingly, it's more expensive in Scotland than in the USA. They actually use old Bourbon casks, shipped from the US in the production/aging process! By far one of my favorites. I typically drink it 50/50 with ice cold water, no ice. I think it might make for an interesting transition from bourbon to scotch.
- Messages
- 54,308
interjake said:
A good Glenmorangie Nectar d'Oro is also decent choice. The aging in Sauterne casks givs it a very singular taste.
I also like McClelland's offerings as good starter fodder as they have several incarnations: Lowland, Speyside, Islay and Highland. I like the Highland the best. They also have a Journey Tin that gives you a small bottle of each of these if you can find them where you are. Rumor has it that Bowmore and Auchentoshan are also made near McClellands.
AtomicAnnie
New in Town
- Messages
- 5
- Location
- Eugene, Oregon
Panache said:
"..don't like scotch" -- what do those words mean?
- Messages
- 54,308
AtomicAnnie said:
It means they don't like good whisky.
flix
New in Town
- Messages
- 31
- Location
- Darmstadt, Germany
I would suggest to try a 12 year old bowmore islay whisky. very mild and yet a full flavour
Chiliarches
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 344
- Location
- Chicago suburb
Geesie said:
...even Black Bush?
- Messages
- 11,579
- Location
- Covina, Califonia 91722
Glenmorangie 10 year old single. $30-35
I would also reccomend as a blended Scotch "The Famous Grouse" which is quite nice and fairly inexpensive.
I would also reccomend as a blended Scotch "The Famous Grouse" which is quite nice and fairly inexpensive.
Chanfan
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 371
- Location
- Seattle, WA
A bar is a good bet, for sampling. Try various highlands, lowlands, and perhaps speysides, while avoiding the Islays (although it doesn't hurt to try one or two to confirm that you won't like 'em).
I'd also skip things like cask strength versions, port wood finishes, etc. - not because those aren't wonderful, they are. But they are distractions from finding what you like as a baseline.
My second favorite is The Macallan. The standard 12 year old should be fine to try. My favorite is Laphroaig, but as has been mentioned, it's very smokey/peaty. Yes, I have had to buy new bottles - many times. The Macallan is my favorite in the "smooth", non-smokey/peaty category.
Oh hey, this thread is a few months old - that's what I get for not double checking. Any update from the OP on what he liked?
I'd also skip things like cask strength versions, port wood finishes, etc. - not because those aren't wonderful, they are. But they are distractions from finding what you like as a baseline.
My second favorite is The Macallan. The standard 12 year old should be fine to try. My favorite is Laphroaig, but as has been mentioned, it's very smokey/peaty. Yes, I have had to buy new bottles - many times. The Macallan is my favorite in the "smooth", non-smokey/peaty category.
Oh hey, this thread is a few months old - that's what I get for not double checking. Any update from the OP on what he liked?
1961MJS
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,363
- Location
- Norman Oklahoma
John in Covina said:
Hi John
I read somewhere that "The Famous Grouse" is the bar brand Scotch of Scotland. That kind of says something. Down South, the bar brand Bourbon is Jack in the Black...
Later
