Posted: 6/3/2009 7:36:13 PM EDT
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So, I turned 21 on Tuesday, my refund check came in and all my bills are paid for the month. I want to buy some liquor. Having never tried Scotch I figured I would give it a go. Only problem is I don't know whats good, and having looked up all the prices on the Va. ABC website some of it is deff out of my price range.
So thats where ARFCOM comes in... Whats a good Scotch for a beginner that wont break the bank and wont taste like shit?(under $70 for a liter) Thanks guys. |
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There are a ton of awesome single malts out there...
A couple I like for under $70 Balvenie double wood (fairly light, not too smoky, nice complex flavor) Oban (pretty smoky) Laphroig (another smoky one) Another one I think is a real bargain on price vs. taste is Dalmore... (a fairly light highland) |
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Quoted: Laphroig (another smoky one) I would not recommend this for someone that has never had Scotch. Try it someday, but don't start with it. Personally, I like the Glenlivet 15yr French Oak Reserve. For an Irish whiskey, try Redbreast. It's smooth and excellent. Or do what I did... find a place online that sells sample bottles and pick out several.  |
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Expensive scotch is pretty good. But if you want to be American, do Wild Turkey, 101 on rare occassions. That's American Scotch. Scotch has to come from Scotland, otherwise it can't be called Scotch. Same kind of thing with Champagne only coming from the Champagne region of France, but if it comes from anywhere else it is called sparkling wine. |
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Expensive scotch is pretty good. But if you want to be American, do Wild Turkey, 101 on rare occassions. That's American Scotch. Scotch has to come from Scotland, otherwise it can't be called Scotch. Same kind of thing with Champagne only coming from the Champagne region of France, but if it comes from anywhere else it is called sparkling wine. Infidel! Crossandwich this. 
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Quoted:
There are a ton of awesome single malts out there... A couple I like for under $70 Balvenie double wood (fairly light, not too smoky, nice complex flavor) Oban (pretty smoky) Laphroig (another smoky one) Another one I think is a real bargain on price vs. taste is Dalmore... (a fairly light highland) +1 on oban for the nooobeee! lol |
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If you are making your first foray into scotch you want to make it a good one. Kind of the same way a good father would take you to smokin' hot 25 year old for your first sex. Not too intense, remembers what its like to be a noob, not for folks who have specific tastes but something that appeals to nearly everyone as a basis to expand on what you like. I woulld think about....
15 year Glenfiddich. Super smooth, silky even but with just enough experience to hint at what the future might hold... Still kisses. Oban. Kind of like the same girl but with another 5 years in the biz. Hasn't tried crack yet and still drives herself. Has hope to meet a nice guy. Talisker. Same girl 10 years later but hanging out in strip clubs and Vegas in the meantime. You might like the seasoning or it might freak you out. Smokes Cubans and opens beer with a Bic Lighter. MacCallum 18-25. Same girl but at 40 and still hot. Skipped Vegas and worked surf towns and the East Coat. Does yoga. The experience might work for you or mght frighten you. |
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Laphroig (another smoky one) I would not recommend this for someone that has never had Scotch. Try it someday, but don't start with it. Personally, I like the Glenlivet 15yr French Oak Reserve. For an Irish whiskey, try Redbreast. It's smooth and excellent. Or do what I did... find a place online that sells sample bottles and pick out several. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3280824699_c151c6103d_o.jpg Would you mind sharing the website? |
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Quoted:
There are a ton of awesome single malts out there... A couple I like for under $70 Balvenie double wood (fairly light, not too smoky, nice complex flavor) Oban (pretty smoky) Laphroig (another smoky one) Another one I think is a real bargain on price vs. taste is Dalmore... (a fairly light highland) Those are all great but my go-to scotch, especially in this price range, is Dalwhinnie. I highly recommend it. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
There are a ton of awesome single malts out there... A couple I like for under $70 Balvenie double wood (fairly light, not too smoky, nice complex flavor) Oban (pretty smoky) Laphroig (another smoky one) Another one I think is a real bargain on price vs. taste is Dalmore... (a fairly light highland) Those are all great but my go-to scotch, especially in this price range, is Dalwhinnie. I highly recommend it. Dalwhinnie is excellent for a beginner, quality and it is not overpowering |
| The ABC store in Christiansburg, across from Outback, has The Glenlivet in airline bottles. Buy a few of those before jumping headfirst in the realm of Scotch. You will find, at least, in my experience, that an airline bottles worth is all you need for an evening. |
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I'm not a fan of wheat based liquors. I like Jack and Coke, and a Royal Flush is OK too. Why not try a cheaper wheat based liquor (brandy, whisky, or whatever) to see if the general flavor is OK for you. Then go with something more exotic and expensive.
My boss like Knob Creek...it's a Kentucky Whisky Bourbon...(I can't ever tell the difference between the various wheat liquors). Jim Beam is a cheap wheat liquor as well...and Crown Royal is a tier above that. Jack Daniels Black label is OK too... Cognac is another member of this family. Maybe someone more experienced in this can elaborate on how these liquors are different. |
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JW has a sampler box with 4 250 ml bottles (black, green, gold, blue) - another good start. Also remember, 3 cubes of ice max - no water or mix allowed. Also make sure that the ice is made from either well or spring water. Distilled is ok, but I can tell a major difference in the taste when chlorinated water is used. |
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Balvenie double wood (good top shelf scotch)
Laphroig (good Islay, but I prefer Lag) Talisker – think I remember positively Highland Park (this is just slightly smokie, not nearly as much as an Islay – I like older Highland Park’s) Glenlivet 12 – mass produced single malt, no real character - same camp as Glen Fiddish Macallan (another top shelf, but never could get into it personally) Lagavulin – one of my 2 favorites. DO NOT GET THIS AS YOUR FIRST SCOTCH, more latter) Craggenmore – nice light scotch – good first choice Abalore Abunad – another one of my favorites – PLEASE DO NOT GET THIS AS YOUR FIRST SCOTCH Lagavulin – best description. Water, soaked in peat, and filled with smoke. Imagine yourself on the bow of a ship in the North Sea. Every wave spays you with freezing water. You think to yourself, I NEED A SCOTCH. Not sure current price, probably between 60-120 Abunad – It is young and cast strength. It explodes with flavor (like a lot of $100-200 bottles), but at 120 proof is abusive. Usually 50-80 One final suggestion – Jon, Mark, and Robbo – they made blends that imitated single marks. The smokie, peaty one is pretty good for the low $20’s. |
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Quoted:
I'm not a fan of wheat based liquors. I like Jack and Coke, and a Royal Flush is OK too. Why not try a cheaper wheat based liquor (brandy, whisky, or whatever) to see if the general flavor is OK for you. Then go with something more exotic and expensive. My boss like Knob Creek...it's a Kentucky Whisky Bourbon...(I can't ever tell the difference between the various wheat liquors). Jim Beam is a cheap wheat liquor as well...and Crown Royal is a tier above that. Jack Daniels Black label is OK too... Cognac is another member of this family. Maybe someone more experienced in this can elaborate on how these liquors are different. OK.....Knob Creek is premium Bourbon (meaning it's made in Kentucky). JBeam is also bourbon, and Crown is Canadian Rye whisky, which many people consider to be inferior to Bourbon. Jack Daniels is Tennessee Sour mash. |
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Of the few scotches/bourbons i've tried (no they're not the same even though they're both whiskey), I don't like Chivas and I hate Dewars. I like woodford reserve, and the macallen 12.
Drinking tip, if you're weak/dont really like whiskey, have a shit ton of ice cubes with a splash of whiskey. If you enjoy whiskey, use 1 cube of ice max 
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Glenlivet 12 is a good place to start. It is mass produced, but it is a very high quality product. It's light and sweet and gives you just a hint of the peat taste that differentiates scotch from just about any other liquor.
Experiment with it. Try drinking it straight (this is called neat). Try drinking it with a splash of water (my personal way). Try drinking it with some ice (not too much). See which way you like it the best. I used to drink scotch, but I rarely buy it now. Bourbon is my preferred drink. You can get a decent bottle of scotch for $50, but you can get a superb bottle of bourbon (Booker's) for about the same. |
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A Scotch fan will tell you that you should pick a single malt. I would generally agree.
That being said, for someone wanting to get into Scotch, try this: Compass Box, "Aslya" 
Very mellow blend, and not likely to scare anyone away. And a bargain at about $40. Also, the Glenmorangie 10, if you want a single malt. 
Just like I would not give a new shooter a S&W500 for their first pistol to shoot, I would not bust out my Laphroig Quarter Cask for someone wanting to try Scotch for the first time. Once they decide they like Scotch, the exploratory drinking can commence. :) Onyx |