Whisky, bourbon or scotch and what's your favorite?

[kiddiedoc]

Looks like a winner. Have you tried Monkey Shoulder? Seems to be another one the the misses may be able to palate.

It's pretty good, but I don't prefer blended Scotch.

 

[2EastTnVols]

I prefer bourbon but Dalmore 12 is pretty good.

 

[pismonque]

Honestly, I drank a crap ton of cheap bourbon in high school and thought it would be nice to start in a different direction, just to trick my brain. My father in law usually brings Dewars to family dinners and I like it. He is going to buy a bottle of my suggestion for Thanksgiving so Im just kinda learning on the fly here.

Okay, so here's another approach: If you're liking the Dewar's, try a bottle of Johnnie Red. It's a bargain blend like Dewar's but has a slight lean toward the more smoky, peaty end of the spectrum, relative to Dewar's.

And just to pimp the brand whose logo has been my avi here for many years, if you ever find yourself looking for the perfect single malt in the smoky/peaty range but not all the way over in the land of medicinal iodiney pours (which are also great), Highland Park is the perfect balance of everything scotch wants to be.

 

[orange parmejohn]

Okay, so here's another approach: If you're liking the Dewar's, try a bottle of Johnnie Red. It's a bargain blend like Dewar's but has a slight lean toward the more smoky, peaty end of the spectrum, relative to Dewar's.

And just to pimp the brand whose logo has been my avi here for many years, if you ever find yourself looking for the perfect single malt in the smoky/peaty range but not all the way over in the land of medicinal iodiney pours (which are also great), Highland Park is the perfect balance of everything scotch wants to be.

I looked up Highland Park. They also have beautiful artwork and bottles.

 

[2EastTnVols]

Probably not for the purists but Knob Creek Smoked Maple is awesome IMO. Bought it on a whim once and now I always have some on hand.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

Probably not for the purists but Knob Creek Smoked Maple is awesome IMO. Bought it on a whim once and now I always have some on hand.

It’s always on sale at my local Kroger, one day I’ll pick some up

 

[txbo]

If you are getting a bottle for family Thanksgiving, go with this:
https://www.totalwine.com/spirits/s...ruban-14-year/p/220061750?s=2001&igrules=true

While I absolutely love peaty, medicinal scotch like Laphroiag and Lagavulin, it is very polarizing and some of your family (and maybe even you) will hate it.

Good call. Worse case scenario, some will only like it…..some will love it.

 

[txbo]

Looks like a winner. Have you tried Monkey Shoulder? Seems to be another one the the misses may be able to palate.

If you’re looking for that special holiday Scotch, that’s not the one.

 

[orange parmejohn]

Good call. Worse case scenario, some will only like it…..some will love it.

It’s advice I intend to take. It’s out of stock online though. Have to go pay more at the ABC.

 

[orange parmejohn]

So, gonna make old fashions tonight with pops. What’s your guys’ go to bourbon for said drink? Need something available at the ABC. I have some Maker’s here which is fine but what’s the fun in not asking my friends for suggestions?

 

[txbo]

So, gonna make old fashions tonight with pops. What’s your guys’ go to bourbon for said drink? Need something available at the ABC. I have some Maker’s here which is fine but what’s the fun in not asking my friends for suggestions?

For old fashions, Makers is fine.

 

[NorCalVol67]

For old fashions, Makers is fine.

I assumed you used Boss Hog for Old Fashions.

 

[txbo]

I assumed you used Boss Hog for Old Fashions.

I think it's about time for a new edition of Boss Hog.

 

[SpecialKVolfan20]

Hi all, I could use some of your expertise without having to read 48 pages, lol.

I want to buy a gift for a special friend and I know nothing about scotch.
He likes Smokey, peaty flavors. I’m looking to spend around a hundred, maybe a little more.
Any good suggestions would help. Also the best place to buy would help. Thanks a bunch!

 

[NorCalVol67]

Hi all, I could use some of your expertise without having to read 48 pages, lol.

I want to buy a gift for a special friend and I know nothing about scotch.
He likes Smokey, peaty flavors. I’m looking to spend around a hundred, maybe a little more.
Any good suggestions would help. Also the best place to buy would help. Thanks a bunch!

Lagavulin 16 year old. My favorite scotch. It is probably in the 100-125 range now.

Talisker 10 year old is a little less expensive and really good.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

Hi all, I could use some of your expertise without having to read 48 pages, lol.

I want to buy a gift for a special friend and I know nothing about scotch.
He likes Smokey, peaty flavors. I’m looking to spend around a hundred, maybe a little more.
Any good suggestions would help. Also the best place to buy would help. Thanks a bunch!

 

[SpecialKVolfan20]

View attachment 513161

Lol!!!

 

[VOLifornia]

Hi all, I could use some of your expertise without having to read 48 pages, lol.

I want to buy a gift for a special friend and I know nothing about scotch.
He likes Smokey, peaty flavors. I’m looking to spend around a hundred, maybe a little more.
Any good suggestions would help. Also the best place to buy would help. Thanks a bunch!

SpecialK,
If you are looking for peaty and smoke you want just about anything from the Islay region. I have never acquired the taste for a peaty whisky but appreciate those that do. A couple friends of mine swear by the Lagavulin that NorCalVol mentioned but also Bowmore 15, Ardbeg and Laphroaig.

Good luck!

My go to is a Dalmore 15, their Cigar Malt or Oban 14 all from the Highlands region.

 

[GVF]

Surely answered multiple times, but what is a good introduction to scotch under $50? Same question, under $100.

Aerstone 10yr single malt sea cask. $28.00. It is hard to fins a better place to start or settle for 1 10 year old single malt, and under $30.

 

[GVF]

Under $30, and very, very nice. THere is a Land Cask release if you prefer peated.

 

[GVF]

For old fashions, Makers is fine.

Nothing wrong with Maker's neat or on the rocks either. I like the red winter wheat effect better than rye.

 

[GVF]

If you are getting a bottle for family Thanksgiving, go with this:
https://www.totalwine.com/spirits/s...ruban-14-year/p/220061750?s=2001&igrules=true

While I absolutely love peaty, medicinal scotch like Laphroiag and Lagavulin, it is very polarizing and some of your family (and maybe even you) will hate it.

That's going on my list for sure. Looks like a good grab for $50. I've been on a run of Aerstone Sea Cask. Great stuff. And can be a daily drinker single malt for the price. One of my next two purchases will be Redbreast. Haven't settled on #2 yet. Wish the change purse could provide Macallen. One I got about a year ago (Irish) was The Dead Rabbit, and thought it was excellent. But, the store that carries it is typically out of my way. Yet, you can pick up a brand here and there my other store does not have.

Have you tried this one vs. the one you posted here? This is on my list, but I have a difficult time justifying $$$$ for alcohol. My annual $50 plus range splurges will come via gift cards from work, lol.

 

[GVF]

Honestly, I drank a crap ton of cheap bourbon in high school and thought it would be nice to start in a different direction, just to trick my brain. My father in law usually brings Dewars to family dinners and I like it. He is going to buy a bottle of my suggestion for Thanksgiving so Im just kinda learning on the fly here.

The whisky palette seems to develop with age. Many moons ago, I thought it all to be nasty, and was more into wine, which I still am. But, I've diverged into some scotch and irish to try different things and now find sipping a smooth import to be quite nice. Buffalo Trace almost killed my venture into bourbon, but I will definitely sip on some Makers or Wild Turkey. Not sure why those 2, except they are not JD Black Label. Had some Evan Williams at my nieces wedding and was not bad.

The catch 22 with whisky venturing is nowadays with that market exploding, you're looking at $30 plus not to gag. I have very nice wines I like, and 80% can be had for $13-$20.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

The whisky palette seems to develop with age. Many moons ago, I thought it all to be nasty, and was more into wine, which I still am. But, I've diverged into some scotch and irish to try different things and now find sipping a smooth import to be quite nice. Buffalo Trace almost killed my venture into bourbon, but I will definitely sip on some Makers or Wild Turkey. Not sure why those 2, except they are not JD Black Label. Had some Evan Williams at my nieces wedding and was not bad.

The catch 22 with whisky venturing is nowadays with that market exploding, you're looking at $30 plus not to gag. I have very nice wines I like, and 80% can be had for $13-$20.

I have a buddy that works at a distillery and told us the mark up on bourbon right now is ridiculous because they know people will pay it and they’re trying to cash in in case the market dies off again like it did in the 90s where they were dumping barrels out because nothing was selling

 

[GVF]

I have a buddy that works at a distillery and told us the mark up on bourbon right now is ridiculous because they know people will pay it and they’re trying to cash in in case the market dies off again like it did in the 90s where they were dumping barrels out because nothing was selling

Yeah. I was browsing all the bourbons on the shelf the other day, along with their prices, and even just American Whiskeys, like High West. Didn't recognize most labels, and could hardly see how one bourbon adhering to the stnadard can be so much better than anothero f equal mash bill and aging for two and three times the price. It's probably qite a few pages back by now, but one regarded Russell Reserve 10 as one of the best and most underrated bourbon's on the shelf and comes in around $30. Maker's and one other I saw recently and can't recall the name uses red winter wheat verse rye, which supposedly is slightly sweeter and less bite. For the money, when I have bought bourbon lately, it was Makers.