Suggestions for a nice Christmas Scotch please

At the risk of wading off into deep water my opinion follows: Get something mainstream, accessible, and light. Get whatever in on sale without cheaping out. Glenlivet or Glenfiddich both compete for share around the holidays, and either one would work. No more than 12 years old. Try them all by next Christmas and then you can let us know.

My advice would be to get a cheap, decent blend like Teachers or Famous Grouse. It's only worth buying single malt if it will be appreciated. I hope this doesn't sound snobbish, but if your guests will want their whisky mixed with coke, or whatever, it will completely obliterate the complex and distinctive flavour and miss the point of single malt.

Graig

I have been drinking whisky most evenings for over 25 years and I have a cabinet with 30 bottles in it plus another 40 bottles tucked away upstairs. I keep meaning to de stock but every time I go abroad, I bring a dozen or so bottles back.

The advice to go mainstream is good. It is like roast beef and yorkshire, it may not be the best meal but it has a high overall satisfaction rate.

Get yourself down to either Tescos or Sainsburys and look for a malt such as Glenlivet or Glenfiddich. I favour Oban or Tamdhu which have a peatier taste. Once you get into whisky, you will be amazed at the massive difference in flavours. To be honest, the last drink was always my favourite.

The most important thing is NEVER to put ice in the whisky because it kills the aroma.

Top the whisky up with a 25% topping of water. Either bottled or jug filtered. This releases the flavours and enhances the enjoyment.

Best also to drink it around 8.00pm. For some reason it always seems to taste better then.

Buy it and enjoy it.

Regards

Mick

Wot Mick said (except I don't do water, although it is supposed to release it, and I'd never go more than a teaspoon. There isn't a right or wrong, just personal taste).
Also, single malt own brands from Asda, Tesco etc are actually really good for around £12-15 and well worth having around. If you have a Lidl near, they do some awesome "unknown brand" single malts starting at £12. These tend to be whiskies like Aberlour & The Balvienie with a different label at half the price.
Decide whether you want smokey peat (Islay) or more straight ahead (Speyside etc).

I recommend a home demo in your own system, if you can find a dealer who would allow this....

The single malt that hooked me was the first I ever tasted: Laphroaig (sp?). There wasn't much single malt in Providence, RI, in 1966.

Since I obviously like peat, Glenfiddich and Glenlivet seem like affectations to me. They're too light, too light! Save your money and get a blended.

25% water? A waste of both water and whisky.

Regards.

Phil

Phil

Water weakens a blended which is what your appear to drink.

If you actually buy a malt and add water, you will notice an appreciable difference.

Comparing a blended with a single malt is like comparing corned beef to fillet steak.

Regards

Mick

I surely do prefer blended to Glenlivet and Glenfiddich.

I take water with my Lagavullin and Glenmorangie, but far less than 25%.

Phil

I knew this was going to end up as a discussion about whether to do water or not.
Craig just wants to get started on a bottle to see what he likes. Thinking about it, Talisker (Skye)is a good firey whisky for most occasions but with a level of peat that isn't at first obvious. A good complex but accessible starting point. (Yes, it is peaty. It took me several ages and editions for me to fully understand where Talsiker fits in, and it is now one of my favorites.)

Rasher, Talisker was once my all time favourite malt. However, over the last few expressions I found it had lost much of it's distinctive fiery spice. I no longer drink it. Have you found any change over the last few years?
My number one now is Ardbeg 10 yr. Although, last night I uncorked a Lagavulin 16 yr, which is giving the Ardbeg a damn good run for its money. An 18 yr. Highland Park is waiting in the cupboard for Xmas.
As for water, I tend to add a few drops. I think 25% is way too much but each to their own, it's all part of the fun.

I definitely have a blended and an malt or 5 on hand. Simply ask your guest(s) how they want the whisky served. Any answer other than NEAT or WATER gets the cheap blend mixed up with lemonade or whatever...

We had a guided whisky tasting at our work a couple of weeks ago with the following entry level single malts with an increasing peatiness:

1.Auchentoshan 10yo
2.Glenfarclas 12yo
3.Glenmorangie 10yo
4.Highland Park 10yo
5.Ardbeg 10yo

At the end everybody was asked which their favourite was and surprisingly most people prefered the Ardbeg, maybe especially surprising considering most people weren't experienced whisky drinkers. My favourite was the Highland Park followed close by the Ardbeg.

Chaps,

Thankyou very much for your excellent advice and suggestions, obviously its a very subjective matter so in the end i had to be quite scientific in my choice - I went to Asda, lined the suggestions up on the shelf, and did a 'eeni meenie minie mo' the winner was a 10 year old bottle of Laphroig. Of course i have had to open it this afternoon just to make sure its OK, and not being a drinker of scotch i have to say its rather nice. I took Micks advice and added some water and its gone down a treat. I usually find scotch too fiery for me, having a sensation like i've just downed some molten liquid, but this is much smoother and nicer sensation, its warming not burning and leaves me wanting for more, instead of thinking "next time i'll have something else" as i have in the past with scotch.

Once again my thanks, and if its not to early a merry Christmas to you all

Craig

Craig

The next step is to try another brand and make a note of what area it came from. The local water has a tremendous effect on the taste.

They are all good but some are better than the others.

Drink and enoy

Regards

Mick

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:

I have been drinking whisky most evenings for over 25 years

That's a classic quote Mick - they should put it on your headstone!

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Best also to drink it around 8.00pm. For some reason it always seems to taste better then.

I'd just add - and in front of an open fire if at all possible.

Not sure about the ice though - I was all for no ice or water but when I bought a bottle of Laphroag it suggested adding ice (I think) so I tried it and was pleasantly surprised how it released the taste/aroma.

My favourite remains Lagavulin although there are many I've never tried.

I must say that I'm quite partial to the Glenmorangie that it matured in old port barrells - definitely adds something pleasant.

Matt.

Craig - To start your exploration with a Laphroaig is like buying an Aston Martin for when you pass your driving test! I'm amazed that you like such an extreme peat/gearbox oil right from the off. I love it, but I can taste it for days afterwards.
Highland Park and Lagavulin are my favorite Islay malts.
Malky - I have a bottle of Talisker Distillers Edition open at the moment which is very Lagavulin like, but with the character of Talisker (which does seem to have lost it's firey impact, it's true). When going on to Talisker after the Distillers Edition, it becomes more obvious that there is peat in there that wasn't previously obvious. It may have changed, but it's changed for the better I think. It was always a late afternoon whisky for me (extended pub lunchtime situation), but now it's moving into the evening.

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:

I have been drinking whisky most evenings for over 25 years and I have a cabinet with 30 bottles in it plus another 40 bottles tucked away upstairs.

Mick

I drink whisky every evening, have two cabinets holding 31 bottles and have 41 bottles upstairs. I just wanted to share that with you...

Ian

I drink whisky morning, noon and night. I care not whether it is a blend or a malt. I can't move for bottles, empty, half full and unopened downstairs. I can no longer get upstairs.

Ha, ha, Bob!

I like your style...!

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Top the whisky up with a 25% topping of water. Either bottled or jug filtered. This releases the flavours and enhances the enjoyment.

Mick-

I just pulled down my bottle of Lagavulin and splashed it with water...I think you might have hit on something there. Who would ever have thunk it-water in Scotch? Sipping it right now, listening to Carmina Burana after putting my two pence into the thread over at the Music Room and enjoying myself immensely.

Norman

Hey don't compliment him or he'll post again.
I will give it a try the next time I "do" some single malt. I used to put water in blended until I realised it just tasted like watered down rubbish and left it to served to visitors or in coffee.

Howard

Cardhu was always a well priced single malt, when I lived in Scotland and well received by non-aficionados. The king for me is though is Lagavulin (as well as Bunahaven), but I don't think I'd be able to bring myself to put coke in it for a guest...

While sipping whisky diluted with some water is legitimate in Scotland, I always prefered to ask for a separate glass of water and swap between the neat malt and water (it also reduces dehydration induced hangover!).

Nick

quote:

Originally posted by Nick_S:
Cardhu was always a well priced single malt, when I lived in Scotland and well received by non-aficionados. The king for me is though is Lagavulin (as well as Bunahaven), but I don't think I'd be able to bring myself to put coke in it for a guest...

I agree - Lagavulin is the king. It'sbar far the most complex and intriguing malt I've ever had, and has teriffic length - it is a bit like Marmite though, you either love it or hate it, and its peatyness is definitely n acquired taste.

Of the more "mainstream" malts, The Macallan is a superb al-rounder.

My preference is Bowmore 17 year old regarding Islay whiskies

Overall I think Macallan 18 year old is the best tasting whisky I've drunk.

Regarding blended whiskies, Whyte and Mackay special reserve and Famous grouse get my vote.

Hi,

I've been drinking Lagavulin for about 18 years. It was originally the same price as the other Distillers Six Classic Malts. However, today it is over £12 more expensive. I was in Fenwicks at the weekend and it was £39. The others ie Talisker, Oban etc...£25-£27. Strange how the price has increased as its popularity has increased.
I originally bought the Six Classic Malts for £55 for the six in 1 litre bottles from my friends mum who worked for Distillers. Bargain.

Cheers

Graham