Scotch drinkers...

[DitchPanda]

Never been a big scotch guy...leaning more towards bourbon and Irish to a lesser extent...but I'm starting to get into it more. I need recommendations for a decent bottle under $50? For background I've had monkey shoulder....it was so so...glenlivet...not my favorite...Johnnie walker black...another so so...and glenfiddich 12 which was my favorite by far.

[Junger]

Do you like peated whiskey? Laphroaig tastes like a bowl of campfire ashes and should be just a tad over $50. I love it. My whiskey journey started with scotch, but more of a brown liquid kind of guy now, and also enjoy the high proof stuff more. Tariffs really put a big price jump on Scotch and other imports in my liquor stores.

[DitchPanda]

I've had laphroaig...forgot to mention it...and it tastes like you took a bottle of whiskey threw in a handful of cigarette butts then left the cap off and hung it over a tire fire. A little on the smoky gasoliney side for me.

[Junger]

Try Oban Little Bay; it's not quite as tropical fruit/peppery as Oban 14 to me, but still has a lot going on. I got it at Costco for $30, but should MSRP around $50.

11 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

it tastes like you took a bottle of whiskey threw in a handful of cigarette butts then left the cap off and hung it over a tire fire.

 

Delicous!

[FryDog62]

Scotch? huh, welcome to the dark side...

 

Oban and Macallan in increasing years are the journey ~

 

If you are untested, skip the Johnny Walker's and Dewars of the world - and just start with the liter of Trader Joe's Scotch at $10.99 and work upward from there  

 

 

[MN Fisher]

Glenfiddich liker, eh

 

14yr Bourbon Barrel Reserve - hint of bourbon flavor from being aged in casks that had held bourbon.

Right at that $50 mark from Total Wine.

 

Or - IPA Cask - aged in former IPA casks

again - right at that $50 mark.

 

[DitchPanda]

7 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Glenfiddich liker, eh

 

14yr Bourbon Barrel Reserve - hint of bourbon flavor from being aged in casks that had held bourbon.

Right at that $50 mark from Total Wine.

 

Or - IPA Cask - aged in former IPA casks

again - right at that $50 mark.

 

Well its the only scotch he enjoyed so far. Definitely open to other options!

[ATA]

I keep it simple with Johnnie walker black. Cheers

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

Scotch? huh, welcome to the dark side...

[Cigarguy]

I love a good scotch paired with a good cigar.

 

As for recommendation....where to begin.  The Oban and MaCallan recommendation is good.  Lagavulin 16 is also favourite of many.  There have not been a Glendronach that I have not liked. 

 

Of those Lagvulin and Obans are very peaty.  Most new scotch drinkers will not like it but I've seen many who gravitate towards peatier scotch as their taste changes.  MaCallan are also fantastic.  In my books the MaCallan 12 are fantastic for the price and the MaCallan 18 is one of my all time favourite.  We can't get MaC 12 and 18 anymore in Canada which is bloody bummer laddie.  Getting taxed to death is not good either.   Finally, I love most any scotch that is cask with Oloroso Sherry cask as they tend to be on the sweet side and pairs well with a cigar.

 

So many others I could recommend but start with these.  Cheers.

[TnRiver46]

Scotch is my fav. Laphroaig and lagvulin are awesome but I like the smoky/peaty flavor very much . Teachers is the one I keep on hand, because it’s $9.99/bottle and surprisingly good for the price and somehow tastes like an islay though it’s labeled highland creme. Talisker is another great drink but pricey, distilled on the isle of skye

 

There are four main categories based upon the region of Scotland they came from 

Highland

Lowland

Speyside

Islay

 

if you don’t like the smoky/peaty, the islay category will most likely not be for you 

[Jigfishn10]

I drink it but I'm not a connoisseur of Scotch and really only drink it when my father asks me to sit down for a drink with him...how to say no?

Anyway, I do prefer a blended Scotch over a single malt. Never had any like the one's @TnRiver46 posted about. I'll see if our store's have any and will give it a try.

[TnRiver46]

16 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I drink it but I'm not a connoisseur of Scotch and really only drink it when my father asks me to sit down for a drink with him...how to say no?

Anyway, I do prefer a blended Scotch over a single malt. Never had any like the one's @TnRiver46 posted about. I'll see if our store's have any and will give it a try.

Scotch is also good for a few reasons I forgot to mention : 

1) when you offer it to people they typically turn it down, so more for me!

2) unless you sip it slowly it burns like hell, so it has built-in “drink responsibility” qualities

[NYWayfarer]

I am a Canadian Whiskey guy but if I have scotch it’s a glass of Macallen 12

[Jigfishn10]

Just now, NYWayfarer said:

I am a Canadian Whiskey guy but if I have scotch it’s a glass of Macallen 12

Lately, same here. 

[CrankFate]

Glenmorangie Original 10 year. Great stuff with a little ice. Around $40 a bottle. 

[volzfan59]

On 2/11/2021 at 5:01 AM, Cigarguy said:

I love a good scotch paired with a good cigar.

 

As for recommendation....where to begin.  The Oban and MaCallan recommendation is good.  Lagavulin 16 is also favourite of many.  There have not been a Glendronach that I have not liked. 

 

Of those Lagvulin and Obans are very peaty.  Most new scotch drinkers will not like it but I've seen many who gravitate towards peatier scotch as their taste changes.  MaCallan are also fantastic.  In my books the MaCallan 12 are fantastic for the price and the MaCallan 18 is one of my all time favourite.  We can't get MaC 12 and 18 anymore in Canada which is bloody bummer laddie.  Getting taxed to death is not good either.   Finally, I love most any scotch that is cask with Oloroso Sherry cask as they tend to be on the sweet side and pairs well with a cigar.

 

So many others I could recommend but start with these.  Cheers.

I'm a MaCallan man myself! Nothing beats a MaCallan and a good cigar. Love to sit outside the tent, watch the river flow by while enjoying both. You're right, 12 is good and 18 is even better.

[CrankFate]

After the last two extremely busy weeks at work, with take out from a decent place tonight, I went with the Glenmorangie 12 year La Santa. With 2 ice maker ice cubes, the smoky woodiness tastes just like it came from a well seasoned, sun parched, wooden dock somewhere that you’ve been fishing before, at some point in your life. Anyone who’s been fishing their whole life would recognize that flavor in this stuff, from somewhere you've been before.

[E-rude dude]

Glenfiddich

but only this one

https://www.glenfiddich.com/us/collection/product-collection/core-range/bourbon-barrel-reserve-14-year-old/

[CrankFate]

I have to try that. I don’t like bourbon, but I like scotch made with bourbon barrels.