Scotch?
- Thread starter hamerhead
- Start date
What's your budget?
Dewar’s 12 blended or Glenmorangie 10 year single malt
If you are rich, Ballentine’s 30 year
Benromach organic; crystal clear and clean single malt made from organic ingredients.
https://www.benromach.com/whiskies/the-classic-benromach/organic
https://www.benromach.com/whiskies/the-classic-benromach/organic
I like scotch quite a bit and have 30 to 40 bottles at any given moment, ranging from sherry bombs like Aberlour A'bunadh to heavily peated stuff like Ardbeg Uigeadail. I have a bunch of weird shit too like independent bottlings of Linkwood, Imperial, Mortlach... well, a lot.
If he's not really scotch drinker and this is just a gag, I'd go with the Dewar's 12 rec. Famous Grouse is another solid, inexpensive blend that has enough Macallan in it to make it pretty easy to deal with. Monkey Shoulder is a little more expensive, but also a really good and reasonable blended scotch, though it's a little less sweet, more along the lines of a Glenfiddich (which is more than likely still used in the malt) or a Balvenie. It has a Speyside character to it for sure.
For a single malt that is tasty but inexpensive, Aberfeldy 12 is pretty tough to beat. It's a mix of whisky aged in sherry and bourbon, and has some notes similar to other rich but not particularly smoky scotches like Aberlour and Macallan and can often be had for under $40. For something with a little more hair, Highland Park Magnus is pretty good and is relatively inexpensive. Every now and then, you can find Highland Park 12 for about $40, depending on your state.
All in all, if I was getting a casual scotch drinker a bottle of something on a lark, I'd probably get the Aberfeldy.
If he's not really scotch drinker and this is just a gag, I'd go with the Dewar's 12 rec. Famous Grouse is another solid, inexpensive blend that has enough Macallan in it to make it pretty easy to deal with. Monkey Shoulder is a little more expensive, but also a really good and reasonable blended scotch, though it's a little less sweet, more along the lines of a Glenfiddich (which is more than likely still used in the malt) or a Balvenie. It has a Speyside character to it for sure.
For a single malt that is tasty but inexpensive, Aberfeldy 12 is pretty tough to beat. It's a mix of whisky aged in sherry and bourbon, and has some notes similar to other rich but not particularly smoky scotches like Aberlour and Macallan and can often be had for under $40. For something with a little more hair, Highland Park Magnus is pretty good and is relatively inexpensive. Every now and then, you can find Highland Park 12 for about $40, depending on your state.
All in all, if I was getting a casual scotch drinker a bottle of something on a lark, I'd probably get the Aberfeldy.
Thundersteel
New member
If you're on a really tight budget--
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There’s a very enjoyable documentary about Scotch on Netflix or Amazon video. Can’t remember what it’s called, but gin martini is my excuse
++ on MacAllan. My one trip to Madrid, Spain, the wait staff was so used to serving sangria that when we ordered scotch, they pretty much poured until we said “when.” A memorable week, though I don’t remember much.
++ on MacAllan. My one trip to Madrid, Spain, the wait staff was so used to serving sangria that when we ordered scotch, they pretty much poured until we said “when.” A memorable week, though I don’t remember much.
The show is on Amazon and called “Scotch”. Really enjoyed it. A big focus on Jim McEwan, the master distiller of master distillers.
I've got a bottle of Bruichladdich 10 from right around the time he left. They turned it into a non-age stated offerening called "The Classic Laddie" after he left, which is a shame. That 10 was fantastic. I've consumed it rather slowly over the past five years since I found it.
Usquaebach scotch. It was good enough for the Highlander and my father’s favorite.
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Do you want single malt or a blend?
The quite ordinary (these days) Famous Grouse is pretty okay I think. It's often available a a good price in Tax Free shops.
When it comes to blends I like J&B, (because it is what Patrick Bateman drinks in American Psycho, haha). It's got a bit more bite than Famous Grouse.
I usually drink a blend when I rumble around in the kitchen of friday or saturday afternoons, cooking dinner for the family. It's like mandatory, can't cook unless I have a glass of whisky. I prefer Irish whiskey though, Tullamore or Jameson. They are a bit smoother. I have a bunch of single malts in the cellar too, those are more for late nights with the vinyl player or to share with the company of a good friend. Oban, that Stedge mentioned, is very good. Macallan and Tallisker are both good. I am not usually a big fan of whiskys that are too smokey.
Here is a link with some good reading on different brands of Scotch that are a bit more high class than the ordinary tax free brands: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2018/06/07/the-8-best-value-blended-scotch-whiskies-to-buy-now/#746e33c74f2f
The quite ordinary (these days) Famous Grouse is pretty okay I think. It's often available a a good price in Tax Free shops.
When it comes to blends I like J&B, (because it is what Patrick Bateman drinks in American Psycho, haha). It's got a bit more bite than Famous Grouse.
I usually drink a blend when I rumble around in the kitchen of friday or saturday afternoons, cooking dinner for the family. It's like mandatory, can't cook unless I have a glass of whisky. I prefer Irish whiskey though, Tullamore or Jameson. They are a bit smoother. I have a bunch of single malts in the cellar too, those are more for late nights with the vinyl player or to share with the company of a good friend. Oban, that Stedge mentioned, is very good. Macallan and Tallisker are both good. I am not usually a big fan of whiskys that are too smokey.
Here is a link with some good reading on different brands of Scotch that are a bit more high class than the ordinary tax free brands: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2018/06/07/the-8-best-value-blended-scotch-whiskies-to-buy-now/#746e33c74f2f