Scotch

[Quint]

When drinking scotch, I highly recommend going the single malt route and drinking it neat, or with a few drops of water (not tap water). I don't recommend pouring scotch over ice, unless you must drink a blend.

Most manufactures recommend adding a splash of water to the Scotch, single malts included. I would recommend any newbie to the scotch world have it over ice and slowly reduce the amount of ice as your taste matures until you enjoy it with just a splash. Instead of a few drops of water I usually put in 1 small ice cube or on occasion have it neat.

[420seth]

Most manufactures recommend adding a splash of water to the Scotch, single malts included. I would recommend any newbie to the scotch world have it over ice and slowly reduce the amount of ice as your taste matures until you enjoy it with just a splash. Instead of a few drops of water I usually put in 1 small ice cube or on occasion have it neat.

I go neat all the time. I don't like watered down booze. Cheapens the buzz

[drew_goring]

Most manufactures recommend adding a splash of water to the Scotch, single malts included. I would recommend any newbie to the scotch world have it over ice and slowly reduce the amount of ice as your taste matures until you enjoy it with just a splash. Instead of a few drops of water I usually put in 1 small ice cube or on occasion have it neat.

Exactly. I talked to a blender right out of Scotland at this tasting and the general consensus was that no matter if Scotch is 43% or Cask Strength, it is designed to be consumed at approximately 30% alcohol. This means watering it down slightly. It was very informative. Lots of very knowledgeable people there willing to talk your ear off. I would recommend that anybody who has a chance to go to a tasting do so. Definitely worth the price of admission

[Quint]

Exactly. I talked to a blender right out of Scotland at this tasting and the general consensus was that no matter if Scotch is 43% or Cask Strength, it is designed to be consumed at approximately 30% alcohol. This means watering it down slightly. It was very informative. Lots of very knowledgeable people there willing to talk your ear off. I would recommend that anybody who has a chance to go to a tasting do so. Definitely worth the price of admission

Thats how I was introduced to scotch it was actually an Scotch and cigar dinner. Awesome time and very educational. We got to sample from various manufacturers, blends to top shelf single malts and learn about each. Also 3 or 4 cigar manufacturers were there so we got about 13 different sticks as well, and talk with them. On top of that it was a gourmet restaurant that served a 5 course meal all for $75.

[Roham]

Most manufactures recommend adding a splash of water to the Scotch, single malts included. I would recommend any newbie to the scotch world have it over ice and slowly reduce the amount of ice as your taste matures until you enjoy it with just a splash. Instead of a few drops of water I usually put in 1 small ice cube or on occasion have it neat.

That's the advice I was waiting for Words to live by. I always add a drop or two to my shot of scotch, but I add so little water I still consider it neat... It is just a way to open the boquet a little bit.

Like I told you the night we had the herf, what ever scotch you decide to drink, just take your time. There is no rush, or time limit. As you taste buds mature so will the speed at which you can/want to drink it. Glad to see you are trying it out, and even happier to hear you went to a scotch event. Where was it at?

[MadAl]

That's the advice I was waiting for Words to live by. I always add a drop or two to my shot of scotch, but I add so little water I still consider it neat... It is just a way to open the boquet a little bit.

Like I told you the night we had the herf, what ever scotch you decide to drink, just take your time. There is no rush, or time limit. As you taste buds mature so will the speed at which you can/want to drink it. Glad to see you are trying it out, and even happier to hear you went to a scotch event. Where was it at?

Saw a program on Scotch whisky on TV a few weeks ago, they always add a small amount of water, and NEVER ice! I decided to follow that advice since it came directly from a master distiller.

[drew_goring]

That's the advice I was waiting for Words to live by. I always add a drop or two to my shot of scotch, but I add so little water I still consider it neat... It is just a way to open the boquet a little bit.


Like I told you the night we had the herf, what ever scotch you decide to drink, just take your time. There is no rush, or time limit. As you taste buds mature so will the speed at which you can/want to drink it. Glad to see you are trying it out, and even happier to hear you went to a scotch event. Where was it at?

It was at the Unicorn pub downtown in one of their private areas. I scored some tix from a geo-tech firm. I really surprised myself at how much I could drink and still feel fine. I remember getting a glass at the bar...must have been cheap stuff and I had trouble choking it down. I still remember my last glass...an amazing Islay from 1973.

[LeojVS]

with scotch, or whisky for that matter, I would get a single malt, 18 yo as a start. How you drink it is up to the individual, but... as rules of thumb, dont mix with anything other than water. Dont put ice in them, a master distiller in scotland was saying it does bad things to it. (?) just put a little water in it so it takes the bite off it It shouldnt be burning and making your eyes water. Like a good cigar, let it sit in your mouth for a while. Enjoy the taste on your tounge, then swallow, dont inhale

in saying all that, when camping, in order to get written off, I get some cheap stuff, mix it with coke, and smash it down. if its cheap, its not that good anyway, so treat it how youo wish!

[bigtoys]

Try Balvenie Doublewood, Talisker (smoky).
For more $$, try Macallan 15 yr old Fine Oak

Looking forward to trying these:

[aceswired]

Coming to the party way late, but since Scotch is another of my passions, thought I'd weigh in. For a newbie to Scotch, I'd strongly recommend starting with a quality blend. The newbie palate just isn't ready to appreciate a single-malt. Single-malts don't necessarily taste better, they just have more character and more unique overtones. A good 12-year blend like Pinch is an excellent place to start for a newbie. It's affordable and it's damn good Scotch.

You'll reach a point in time where single malts are something you'll want to enjoy for their uniqueness. But for me, blends are the place to start and develop a palate.

[AVB]

There is nothing wrong with a good blend and to say otherwise is falling into the SMS snob trap. The problem is that they don't sell too many in the US.

[drew_goring]

Try Balvenie Doublewood, Talisker (smoky).
For more $$, try Macallan 15 yr old Fine Oak

Looking forward to trying these:

Wow, very nice. My first and favorite bottle so far has been the Bowmore 12 year. I love Islay Scotches.

[ralford]

Frankly, if you aren't an "experienced" scotch drinker, I would suggest you avoid the pricier bottles and instead get a couple of single malts, McClellands offers an Islay (very smoky) and a Highland (lighter) for about 1/2 the price of most other single malts. Probably around $25/.75l. That will give you a couple of points of reference. I haven't found a bad single malt, all are interesting. I haven't drank a blend for so long that I can't speak definitively but never noticed them very memorable. Used to drink Famous Grouse when volume was a priority.

for grins googled and found http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McClelland's_Single_Malt

Cheers,

Rusty