whiskey/whisky
whiskey/whisky
recently i have discovered the joys of bourbon.
after a foul bottle of jim beam, i got a bottle of makers mark, which is pretty nice.
I now want to investigate scotch. what is a good starters bottle, I dont want to spend a fortune incase i hate it, however I dont want to make the mistake i did with bourbon, and nearly get put off it, by buying a bottle of shit.
after a foul bottle of jim beam, i got a bottle of makers mark, which is pretty nice.
I now want to investigate scotch. what is a good starters bottle, I dont want to spend a fortune incase i hate it, however I dont want to make the mistake i did with bourbon, and nearly get put off it, by buying a bottle of shit.
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I'm a huge Scotch drinker. When I first started drinking it I used to go with the Johnny Walker Black. I still find it's one of my favorite sipping Scotches. I'd suggest trying that then moving on to inexpensive single malts, i.e. McClelland's. McClelland's is a great pick as they have 4 inexpensive choices from all 4 regions in Scotland, Islay, Lowland, Speyside and Highland. They're simple and not aged too long so they give you a good entry into the different tastes. My favorite region tends to be Islay as they're very peaty and full bodied. Tonight I'm on a Double Cask Matured, cask strength Laphroaig, which is an Islay. Super peaty and formidable at %48 and I'm really enjoying it. I'm up to 32 bottles in my collection, most of them about half empty, left to enjoy or sample for guests. It's a very enjoyable drink to get into, but it does take some time to really appreciate and enjoy the differences.
[WYD]
Right there with you on the Islay, especially the Laphroaig, but it's the last one I'd recomend to the beginning Scotch drinker.Dark Metal wrote:My favorite region tends to be Islay as they're very peaty and full bodied. Tonight I'm on a Double Cask Matured, cask strength Laphroaig, which is an Islay. Super peaty and formidable at %48 and I'm really enjoying it.
Not that you did

Dark Metal wrote:I'm a huge Scotch drinker. When I first started drinking it I used to go with the Johnny Walker Black. I still find it's one of my favorite sipping Scotches. I'd suggest trying that then moving on to inexpensive single malts, i.e. McClelland's. McClelland's is a great pick as they have 4 inexpensive choices from all 4 regions in Scotland, Islay, Lowland, Speyside and Highland. They're simple and not aged too long so they give you a good entry into the different tastes. My favorite region tends to be Islay as they're very peaty and full bodied. Tonight I'm on a Double Cask Matured, cask strength Laphroaig, which is an Islay. Super peaty and formidable at %48 and I'm really enjoying it. I'm up to 32 bottles in my collection, most of them about half empty, left to enjoy or sample for guests. It's a very enjoyable drink to get into, but it does take some time to really appreciate and enjoy the differences.
A couple of days ago, I went to buy a couple of bottles.
1 scotch. 1 bourbon - because I owed someone a favour and I knew he liked whiskey, I just didnt know if he prefered scotch or bourbon.
I was looking at the laphroaig, but I ended up getting glenmorangie 10yr malt, as the 48% kinda scared me.
In the end he chose the scotch, and I ended up with a bottle of makers mark (which i love)
I dont want to make the same mistake that I made with bourbon, I bought a cheap bottle (jim beam) and thought it was shit, but I kinda realised it was due to it being cheap shit, and gave bourbon another chance with a semi-decent bottle.
Im gonna hit the shops later today, and see if I can find something interesting.
Drinking at 33 is far better than when I was 18, I no longer get really drunk, and I can apreciate the drink, not just the effect it has (as opposed to when I was 18)
I wouldn't necessarily classify Jim Beam as cheap shit, more like mid-priced shit. (or not even shit at all, very much a good example of a Straight Bourbon, while Makers Mark has a different taste because of some other grain they use in place of rye)
How are you drinking your bourbon? Some, like Beam and some of the cheaper brands are definately meant for mixing with at least some water or coke while others like MM and Knob Creek are meant to be smooth for sipping straight.
How are you drinking your bourbon? Some, like Beam and some of the cheaper brands are definately meant for mixing with at least some water or coke while others like MM and Knob Creek are meant to be smooth for sipping straight.
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Ditto. I love the Islay malts, so much character and complexity. Of course I wouldn't recommend them for someone starting out, and some people never do like them, but they are amoung my favorite of all the Scotches. I need to get my hands on some 15 year Laphroaig, so far I have only been able to get the 10 year. How long was that Double Cask Matured Laphroaig matured Dark Metal?Dukester wrote:Right there with you on the Islay, especially the Laphroaig, but it's the last one I'd recomend to the beginning Scotch drinker.Dark Metal wrote:My favorite region tends to be Islay as they're very peaty and full bodied. Tonight I'm on a Double Cask Matured, cask strength Laphroaig, which is an Islay. Super peaty and formidable at %48 and I'm really enjoying it.
Not that you did
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Anyone try ever try Fireball? It's great when you down it with orange juice.
You forgot to try imitating Pete.Pete wrote:I used to drink Jack Daniel’s, Black Velvet and Crown Royal. Chivas has a pine gum taste and I don’t like it. I’ve always been wondering what is the difference between whiskey and scotch and bourbon and some are named whiskey/scotch…
I normally drink the bourbon straight, with another glass with ice water, however when I'm feeling like a pussy I mix it with ginger ale.Dukester wrote:I wouldn't necessarily classify Jim Beam as cheap shit, more like mid-priced shit. (or not even shit at all, very much a good example of a Straight Bourbon, while Makers Mark has a different taste because of some other grain they use in place of rye)
How are you drinking your bourbon? Some, like Beam and some of the cheaper brands are definately meant for mixing with at least some water or coke while others like MM and Knob Creek are meant to be smooth for sipping straight.
horton wrote: I normally drink the bourbon straight, with another glass with ice water, however when I'm feeling like a pussy I mix it with ginger ale.
Well, drinking it straight, I'm prbably not gonna be to fond of JBeam much either.
I've found the longer I have been drinking Scotch that now almost any Scotch has become sippable. The Glenmorangie you mentioned before would have been a great choice to try

I don't know if you have ever even tried a sip of scotch before, but if you haven't just be prepared that it isn't going to have a taste even remotely close to any american whiskey or canadian blend.
I recomended a cheaper blend before, but it sounds like a was probably going too cheap. The Johnny Walker Black label that Dark Metal mentioned would be a good first choice, especially if you are gonna sip.
Good luck with that. Buy a small bottle and let us know how you like it.
