What's a good Scotch for a first-time drinker to start with??

[p-man]

Looking to try Scotch - what's a good starter Scotch to try? And should I have it neat or with water?

[Doc4]

Glenlivet 12 year old. It's great! It has the depth and quality of a single malt, is generally available and inexpensive (for a single malt) and is not overpowered by regional characteristics (you move on to that later!)

See the review of this in the ... reviews section.

(If you are not interested in single malt quality, try Johnnie Walker Red as a basic 'scotch & soda' version)

[murchmb]

Glenlivet 12 year old. It's great! It has the depth and quality of a single malt, is generally available and inexpensive (for a single malt) and is not overpowered by regional characteristics (you move on to that later!)

See the review of this in the ... reviews section.

(If you are not interested in single malt quality, try Johnnie Walker Red as a basic 'scotch & soda' version)

Ditto. It's the Taylor's Avocado of the Scotch world. Excellent, yet inexpensive and readily available. Try it neat, with a few drops of water, or on the rock(s). See what works for you.

[TimmyBoston]

Glenlivet 12 (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13809) brother

[boboakalfb]

Glenlivet 12 is a great place to start. If you happen to have a Costco nearby they usually carry it. It's a great deal.

[Doc4]

Come on guys, can't we ever agree on something? :lol:

(That was sarcasm, BTW.)

[galpman]

Ditto. It's the Taylor's Avocado of the Scotch world. Excellent, yet inexpensive and readily available. Try it neat, with a few drops of water, or on the rock(s). See what works for you.
+2/3 Only way to go. Costco is indeed a great resource. Neat with a few drops of water. Let us know how you like it.

[p-man]

great, thanks for the suggestion.

question - what is the point of a "few drops of water". seems like you would either drink it with NO water or more than just a few drops - i wouldn't think such a small amount of water would make a difference.

[TimmyBoston]

It's decided. Go pick up a bottle of Glenlivet 12. A bottle can be found for around $30 most anywhere from drug stores, to wholesale clubs to fine liquor stores.

Something I want to warn you about with your first Scotch. Scotch has a very unusual flavor profile for the novice. If you've never had it, it will taste unlike anything you've ever had. I was really shocked the first time I tried it, honestly I didn't care for it, but I tried it again and a third just to really give it a chance, then the cravings began. I'm not kidding, I actually dreamt about the taste of Scotch, it's that good, but make sure you give it a chance.
I would try it neat, possibly with the addition of drops of water. Finally make sure you are takikng very small sips. When I started to drink hard liquor neat, I tried to drink it like wine. IMO this doesn't work, you have to take very small sips, first letting the spirit hit the tip of your tongue to pick up all the the sweetness, then let it roll back across the rest of your tongue.
This may sound a little silly, but in my experiene I have found that the way you drink a spirit has a tremendous impact on your enjoyment of the experience.

Good luck; Glenlivet 12 and small sips!

[murchmb]

great, thanks for the suggestion.

question - what is the point of a "few drops of water". seems like you would either drink it with NO water or more than just a few drops - i wouldn't think such a small amount of water would make a difference.

Try it neat and with a few drops of CLEAN (bottled, spring, distilled) water. You'll be surprised. A single cube of ice (made with the above mentioned water) can also bring out some interesting dimensions.

[p-man]

thanks for the advice.

how about the same kind of advice for pipe smoking??

[murchmb]

thanks for the advice.

how about the same kind of advice for pipe smoking??

Mine would be don't do it. I'm sure there will be some conflicting and more detailed advice to follow mine.

[joselastra]

this is not scotch, but still plenty good. Evan Willams Vintage Bourbon. at a little less than 30.00 a bottle its a steal, iven blown thru the 1996, trying to find a 94.

[chef8489]

thanks for the advice.

how about the same kind of advice for pipe smoking??

Do you have a pipe yet? If so I can give some suggestions, if not I can also give some suggestions on a pipe and baccy.

[Woknblues]

I'll dissent with the others and though you chose already, I would have gone with blended like cutty sark, j&b, JW black or chivas. these are absolutely wonderful, and I think a more appropriate starting point than the glen 12. however, "The Glenlivet" is great, so, enjoy! :thumbup:

[ZiggyDeath]

i must have gotten a bad bottle of 12yr glenlivet because the stuff goes down about as badly as jack daniels

[doctorsimon]

I would advise you to NOT buy a blended whisky. The cheap ones are made with grain whisky and taste foul. I don't understand why someone would buy an expensive one when a good single malt is available.

If you are interested there is a nice little tasting book published by Dorland Kingsley and written by Micheal Jackson (not THE MJ) which explains lots of whisky terminology and has tasting notes on lots of whiskies you'll find and even more you'll never see in your life.

I'd suggest three whiskies to any beginner. One is the Glenlivet 12 year old. Another is the Glenmorangie 12 year. Finally Aberlour 14 year old is a nice bottle.

A little water helps open up the flavours more, making it less complex. Adding ice is for Americans, but I do it occasionally -- it is a nice way to ensure that each sip changes in flavour getting more diluted and more cooled.

[TimmyBoston]

this is not scotch, but still plenty good. Evan Willams Vintage Bourbon. at a little less than 30.00 a bottle its a steal, iven blown thru the 1996, trying to find a 94.

I like the Evan Williams Single Barrel stuff, but I wouldn't recommend it as a starter bourbon. First off it's too hit and miss by year and secondly it's a very love it hate it bourbon, I know lots of guys who swear by it and others who wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. I like it, yes, but I think it's a little more advanced.

For a starter bourbon, I always recommend Buffalo Trace, it's 4 years old, 90 proof, very consisent, and has many characteristics commonly associated with bourbon. Runs around $16 and is available at any liquor store.

[Woknblues]

I would advise you to NOT buy a blended whisky. The cheap ones are made with grain whisky and taste foul. I don't understand why someone would buy an expensive one when a good single malt is available.


I'll go along with avoiding an overly cheap "grain" whiskey, but a good blend of grain and malt if done right is fine, and when you ask for scotch, that will be the beast that you get at least in my humble neck of the woods. As scotch, it will generally have gone through the distinct maturation and distillery process phase that makes a scotch a scotch. I would say that at best, you can enjoy some interesting nuances (smoothness, good flavors) with goodblended scotch at a much more affordable price than some, if not all single malts. I would only recommend the better regarded blends, and IMHO, a few of the better blended brands can rival some of the best singles.


i must have gotten a bad bottle of 12yr glenlivet because the stuff goes down about as badly as jack daniels


well, as always, YMMV, but I have the same experience with glenlivet 12 as well... reminded me of an ex-girlfriend's apartment full of vanilla candles. I still have the bottle....

[180gVinyl]

I'll dissent with the others and though you chose already, I would have gone with blended like cutty sark, j&b, JW black or chivas. these are absolutely wonderful, and I think a more appropriate starting point than the glen 12. however, "The Glenlivet" is great, so, enjoy! :thumbup:

The Glenlivet 12 is a sensible choice, as is the main malt component of J & B


Knockando

Then there's the ubiquitous Glenfiddich

If somebody wants to try Scotch then give them a head start with an easy drinking malt instead of a blend. If the same person wanted to migrate from an electric shaver to a razor/cream combo, I wouldn't send them down the disposable/canned foam route.

[SmoovD]

I agree with most everyone's choice of Glenlivet 12 when neat (with one cube). IMHO, the only time to touch blended is in a cocktail. In such case, I would recommend J&B and soda, with a "twist" of lemon.

[p-man]

I like the Evan Williams Single Barrel stuff, but I wouldn't recommend it as a starter bourbon. First off it's too hit and miss by year and secondly it's a very love it hate it bourbon, I know lots of guys who swear by it and others who wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. I like it, yes, but I think it's a little more advanced.

For a starter bourbon, I always recommend Buffalo Trace, it's 4 years old, 90 proof, very consisent, and has many characteristics commonly associated with bourbon. Runs around $16 and is available at any liquor store.

i bought a bottle of buffalo trace for the holidays, and although i've only had it with coke thus far - i really enjoyed it. much different from my usual jack and coke.

[AandW]

Something I want to warn you about with your first Scotch. Scotch has a very unusual flavor profile for the novice. If you've never had it, it will taste unlike anything you've ever had. I was really shocked the first time I tried it, honestly I didn't care for it, but I tried it again and a third just to really give it a chance, then the cravings began. I'm not kidding, I actually dreamt about the taste of Scotch, it's that good, but make sure you give it a chance.


Tim,

So far I am in the "Tried it once" camp. I really did not like the taste at all. I tried JW Black. If I give Scotch another chance as you suggest, will Glenlivet 12 taste better and possibly make a convert out of me?

On a side note, Irish Whisky? Similar to Scotch without the "Peat" process(I know I am greatly simplifying things). Is Irish Whisky a more palatable product? What is a good recommendation?

[180gVinyl]

Tim,

So far I am in the "Tried it once" camp. I really did not like the taste at all. I tried JW Black. If I give Scotch another chance as you suggest, will Glenlivet 12 taste better and possibly make a convert out of me?

On a side note, Irish Whisky? Similar to Scotch without the "Peat" process(I know I am greatly simplifying things). Is Irish Whisky a more palatable product? What is a good recommendation?

IMHO Glenlivet 12 is a superior to JW Black

Not all Scotch is heavily peated, it tends to be the Island and Campbelltown offerings which have the peat signature.

Irish whisk(e)y is usually triple distilled and there are only a couple of malt offerings, the best known being Bushmills Malt.

Irish whiskey is usually lighter in body but has less character YMMV

[Doc4]

i must have gotten a bad bottle of 12yr glenlivet because the stuff goes down about as badly as jack daniels

Scotch is an acquired taste! For those thinking of starting, don't get pt off by your initial reaction.

[Doc4]

I would advise you to NOT buy a blended whisky. The cheap ones are made with grain whisky and taste foul. I don't understand why someone would buy an expensive one when a good single malt is available.

The mention of grain whisky prompts me to briefly describe the main division in scotch. Traditionally, scotch was made of malted barley in a slow process that produced a fine product ... malt whisky. In 1831 a fellow invented a mechanical process of making whisky in a still, usually called a Patent Still because he got a Patent for it. This process uses various grains, and can be called grain whisky or Patent Still whisky. This stuff is much cheaper and faster to make, and thus much more common.

Single malt whisky is a 100% malted barley whisky from one distillery. Single grain whisky is a grain whisky from one distillery (it does not have to be made from a single type of grain). Vatted or Blended malt whisky is a malt whisky created by mixing single malt whiskies from more than one distillery. Blended grain whisky is a whisky created by mixing grain whiskies from more than one distillery. Blended Scotch whisky is a mixture of single malt whisky and grain whisky, usually from multiple distilleries.

There is, of course, a range of quality with both malts and grain whiskies. Just about everyone will tell you that the Malts are better. (Which is true, IMHO.) If it doesn't say 'single malt', it ain't.

[Woknblues]

:rolleyes:
well, I'll just say that to each his own. the single malt club here is pretty tight nit. I guess I just happen to believe that there are some offerings at the local drugstore better than some "fill in the blank" single malt scotch. Anyways, a moot point since he decided. enjoy, thats the point here.

[johnniegold]

Since you are just starting out, one of the faux-pas of single malt scotch is the use of ice. However, I would recommend the addition of one or even two ice cubes to your scotch to let it open up until you get used to the taste. Then you can drink it neat with a water back. By the way, the Glenlivet 12 as a starting point is an excellent selection.