Scotch

[drew_goring]

Well, after some great advice by Roham, I have decided to give Scotch a shot. Can somebody recommend me a bottle for around 50 dollars? I am thinking maybe some Glenfiddich 12 year, but is there anything else I could buy to get a better bang for my buck?

[Cabaiguan Juan]

This seams like a question AVB. I like my JW Black Lable but I usually just drink Gentlemen Jack, so I'm not wwell versed in scotch.

[SideWinder]

I'm a bourbon drinker. I've tried GlenFiddich 18 year single malt and I've tried Macallan 18 year single malt. I'm told by friends who drink scotch they are both very good. My scotch drinking friends say 12 year scotch still has too much of a bite. To enjoy it, go single malt and 18 year. Personally, I'm still a bourbon drinker.

[Newfie]

I agree with Jon. I believe AVB knows more about Scotch than Jonnie Walker!!!

Personally, you can't go wrong with either The Glenlevit (my favourite) or Glenfiddich.

[Baron Porthos]

Dalwhinnie 15 yr old


Baron

[derivation]

I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly...

I love poetry, and a glass of scotch, and, of course, my friend Baxter here.

I also am interested in trying a good scotch, but $50 is a little high for me. Anyone recommend a cheaper bottle?

[sprangalang]

I like Tomatin 12yr. It's in the $22-$25 range. A pretty good value, IMHO. YMMV.

[Sgt_Smoke]

I am a scotch guy and I gotta tell ya it is about $15 or so more than you want to spend but johnnie walker gold lable is fantastic its an 18 year old scotch and smooth as hell. you can go green lable for a little cheeper and its good as well. most 12 year old scotch wiskeys,(ie johnnie black, chivas regal,etc) in my opinion are better suited to use in a mix drink do to them being quite a bit more harsh.

[nhcigarfan]

Dalmore 12yr is tasty, around 25 bucks. I don't usually drink blends.

[Kenyth]

Scotch has a smoky bite in comparison to Bourbon, period. If you must have it though, and price is no concern, then Glenlivet or JW gold is your drink. IMHO cheap scotch isn't worth drinking straight. Bourbon, brandy, or dark rum is better, you can get a decent sipping spirit for a more reasonable price. For instance, Gentleman Jack is an excellent sipping whiskey for $25 bucks a bottle.

[godfather]

My favorite scotches:

Macallen 12 ($40).
Glenmorangie Line 12yr ($40)
Glenlivet 12yr (varies)

From the others advice, Dalwhinnie is good...can't go wrong with that. Personally I think there are much better scotches to be had than Glenfiddich (12 year at least, haven't tried the more aged ones). I would vote against getting that.

[drew_goring]

Cool. Thanks for all of the help guys

[prophetic_joe]

As far as Glenlivet goes I went out and bought a bottle of that and it was just plain nasty. Got to mix that stuff imho. I'm not much of a scotch drinker though. I have had Johnny gold though and that stuff is damn good, smooth as hell, you don't really even need water with it.

[Monk]

Laphroaig is a nice peaty, smoky scotch and, in fact due to a college "mishap" with scotch, one of the only ones I can drink. Glenfiddich isn't that great. Definately go single malt though rather than a blend.

-W.

[Quint]

For single malts the following I think are excellant :

Speyside Scotches:

The Belvenie
Cragganmore

Highland scotches:

Dalmore
Dalwhinnie

Islay Scotches:

Lagavulin
Laphroaig ------------ My favorite to compliment a cigar


The above all get better with age as long as your pallete has aquired the taste. Early on you my find a 10yr old to be much more paletable then an 18 yr old. You my also find blended scotches much more to your liking in the early stages. I still like some blends sort of as the "everyday inexpensive but tasty" same way you have your inexpensive cigar. For that I would recommend:

Johnny Walker Black---- excellant blend for small money
The Cigar Malt by Dalmore ---- another excellant blend for small money

But just like cigars its an aquired taste and everybody has there own favorites.

HTH

[hex1848]

For single malts the following I think are excellant :

Speyside Scotches:

The Belvenie
Cragganmore

Highland scotches:

Dalmore
Dalwhinnie

Islay Scotches:

Lagavulin
Laphroaig ------------ My favorite to compliment a cigar


The above all get better with age as long as your pallete has aquired the taste. Early on you my find a 10yr old to be much more paletable then an 18 yr old. You my also find blended scotches much more to your liking in the early stages. I still like some blends sort of as the "everyday inexpensive but tasty" same way you have your inexpensive cigar. For that I would recommend:

Johnny Walker Black---- excellant blend for small money
The Cigar Malt by Dalmore ---- another excellant blend for small money

But just like cigars its an aquired taste and everybody has there own favorites.

HTH

Mmmm Balvenie DoubleWood!

[VegasWoody]

I would also recommend Macallan 12. At $40-$50.00 it's not over the top smokey/peatie and is my go to scotch in this price range.

Glenmorangie makes several different single malts in the $50/$60 price range, at least by AZ prices. I like the Sherry Wood Finish and Port Wood Finish.

For a little less, Dalmore makes a decent 12 year old single malt for $25-$35. For something different you might enjoy their cigar malt especially with your favorite cigar.

For a little less than Johnny Walker Gold, try Oban 14.

[CoventryCat86]

Ya REALLY oughta ask AVB over on CigarPass. I was never too much into the whole single malt scene but I became interested when I read some of his posts and reviews. He gave me some great recommendations for bottles to have on hand for entertaining. I got in on one of his scotch buys and my first bottle was Glenfiddich 21yo. I absolutely LOVE this stuff! I could not believe how much I liked it. So, I asked AVB for some other recommendations since I really liked the Glenfiddich 21yo (aka "Gran Reserva") so he said "Well, you've set the bar pretty high." I think a bottle of this goes for $120.00 or so now. I've bought a couple of other bottles, a Balblair 26yo and a Glen Elgin 12yo. I still like the Gran Reserva the best. I have since tried some Glenfiddich 12yo when I'm at a bar and it just does not compare to the Gran Reserva.

I'm very new to this whole world of single malts but I think I can safely say you'd like the Gran Reserva.

[cigar no baka]

Mmmm Balvenie DoubleWood!

I'll second that!! This goes best with a medium-bodied full flavored smoke, a match made in heaven.

[tbroadley]

try Taliskers or MaCallan Cask Strength. Both should be below $50 and both have a smoky taste

Tim