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single malt whisky thread

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Nice thread for a relatively Scotch newb such as myself. I've always been a bourbon man but I've started to make the transition (Johnnie Walker Black helped with that immensely). Love me some Laphroaig cask strength and Glenlivet 12 year.
 
Impressive! Can't seem to keep more than one bottle at a time myself. :lol

Currently drinking:

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Lovely.
 
modernkicks said:
Nice thread for a relatively Scotch newb such as myself. I've always been a bourbon man but I've started to make the transition (Johnnie Walker Black helped with that immensely). Love me some Laphroaig cask strength and Glenlivet 12 year.
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It was JW Black that kicked me into it too, perfect springboard.
 
POWERSPHERE said:
It was JW Black that kicked me into it too, perfect springboard.
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I tried JW black and didn't care for it at all really. It wasn't until I had The Glenlivet that I really started to love scotch.

Anyone have a recommendation for someone that loves Glenlivet? I love the finish of it. (I'm still a noob and don't know how to describe it really). I find black label to bit a bit smokey for my tastes. Not really a fan of overly smokey whisky.
 
I just don't get it. Every brand of whiskey I've ever smelled or tasted was like rubbing alcohol. How can anyone discuss this stuff like they are talking about fine wines? It's just a toxic liquid that gets you drunk.
 
Amazing thread. I managed to read it all on my lunch break and am ready to grab my first bottle, but the conflicting accounts on where to start worry me.

Sounds like Glenlivet is mild and popular so I'll give it a shot.
 
AVclub said:
I just don't get it. Every brand of whiskey I've ever smelled or tasted was like rubbing alcohol. How can anyone discuss this stuff like they are talking about fine wines? It's just a toxic liquid that gets you drunk.
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Thanks for the fantastic insight into our thread.


Anyway, I just finished the last of my Glenlivet 15 with my cousin over the weekend. He, like AVclub did not see the appeal of Scotch. I guess different strokes for different folks.

Anyone have any suggestions on what bottle I should pick up next?
 
I'm not a super experienced whisky drinker, but I'm a fan of the Islay distilleries:

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I think all these have been mentioned already but it can't hurt to repeat them.
 
nitewulf said:
Highland Park 18

highland-park-18-year.jpg
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I like Scotch but I don't drink a lot of it for various reasons. I do, however, have a bottle of this in the cupboard that I'm slowing working my way through. I've also found Glenfiddich to be rather middle-of-the-road, lacking any real characteristics to make it memorable. Drinkable yes, but I probably wouldn't buy it again with all the other options out there.
 
NarcissisticJay said:
Holy shit.. this thread induces drinking.

What do these 12+ year olds cost?

Obviously it varies.. but whats the range?
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$30 and up

and don't ever buy your scotch from a liquor store or grocery store, other wise your looking at 30-100% mark up

go to your local liquor/wine super store(Bevmo!, etc..)
 
someone want to educate me on the difference between single malt and double malt? also the differences between glenlivit 12 yo , glenfiddich 12 yo, and glenfiddich 15yo? is the 'glen' part common to single malts, or is it just made by the same company or something? would people be able to actually taste the difference between the three?
 
mcrae said:
someone want to educate me on the difference between single malt and double malt? also the differences between glenlivit 12 yo , glenfiddich 12 yo, and glenfiddich 15yo? is the 'glen' part common to single malts, or is it just made by the same company or something? would people be able to actually taste the difference between the three?
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"Glen" refers to a specific region in scotland. Also referred to as Highland or Speyside. Single malt means it came from one distillery. Double malt (I think you mean blended?) is a mix of many different whiskeys.

And yes, you can taste a difference between the glens. In general they all share the same characteristics, but there is plenty of variation.
 
And remember, if you don't like it (as I didn't) there are plenty of other distilleries out there and one of them is bound to suit your tastes.
 
Flo_Evans said:
Macallan kind of tastes like bourbon to me. I could be remembering it wrong though, so much scotch. so little time :P
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It's a sweeter taste than most other scotches, but nothing like bourbon.
 
Flo_Evans said:
"Glen" refers to a specific region in scotland. Also referred to as Highland or Speyside.
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Glen means valley (for instance Glenfiddich refers to Valley of the deer). You also have glens in the lowlands (Glenkinchie)

Oh and Speyside and the Highlands are also not the same ;) They do both have 'glens'.

Speyside: Glenfiddich, the Glenlivet
Highland: Glen Ord, Glenmorangie

There are even more malts which have glen in there name.
 
Nemrael said:
Here's the good stuff:

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Perfect if you like it peaty...
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That's one of my favourites back here in Blighty.
Smells like antiseptic...... but tastes like smoky peat packed nectar.

Great to sip on a cold rainy night up here in the Pennine Hills.
 
Ravager61 said:
How similar is Glenfiddich to Glenlivet? I love Glenlivet and am looking for something new to try.
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Sounds like you don't care for peat (based on your other post), so I'd stick to speysides. Try Balveine or Macallen. Glenlivet is one of the milder scotches IMHO, so you will have almost no where to go but up on the strength scale if you stick with Scotch. Glenfiddich is usually a touch more robust, but not overly peaty, and their wine finished 15yr old (Madaera?) is quite good. Glenmorangie is also a good direction to go.
 
My latest discovery is Aberlour a'bunadh (Site).

Although it's strong (batch 29 has 59.9%), it's smooth and fruity. A dash of water is pretty much necessary though.

Aberlour-abunadh-lg.jpg


INFO said:
Aberlour a'bunadh is a natural single cask strength malt whisky. Taken directly from specially selected sherry casks it is bottled as simply as possible without the use of modern filtering methods or the addition of water.

The three main characteristics that distinguish Aberlour a'bunadh from the other single malts are:

Original Cask Strength means that the whisky is bottled at the strength of the cask, which in the case of the first batch of a'bunadh is 59.6%. Not diluted, the whisky possesses a greater aromatic complexity. Most malts of the old days were cask strength.

Not Chill-filtered. Today most malt whiskies are chill-filtered to prevent the whisky becoming cloudy when adding water or ice. This process, which did not exist in the 19th century, removes some richness and mouth feel as well as some fruit and sherry character. Aberlour a'bunadh is a true replica of the old days' malts.

Only the best Sherry Butts, which previously held oloroso, have been selected by Douglas Cruickshank, Aberlour's Distillery Director. These casks are the rarest and the most precious used for whisky maturation. Again, they were used in the old days when sherry was imported from Spain in casks which were then left empty sitting in UK ports or ships.
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I've also recently discovered Ralfy's whiskey reviews, which I enjoy watching.

http://www.whiskyreviews.blogspot.com/
 
i'm a newb. what's the deal with nosing?

looking for a starter. read this earlier.
someone suggested speyburn as a starter...i do not agree. speyburn is harsh, and obviously cheap. its not good. good starter scotch is Macallan 12, Bowmore Legend, Talisker 10, perhaps Glenlivet etc. Anything Sherry or Bourbon cask aged. Islay whiskys are smokey and peaty and take time to get used to, Laphoaig, Caol Ila and Lagavulin are definitely not starter scotches. But you can taste the Bowmores because they are cheaper and milder to get an idea and then move to other better quality Islay whiskys.
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Yeah, Ralfy is pretty rad. And for a newbie, i'm only on my 2nd bottle of good scotch which i'll get to, but my first was a Highland Park 12. It's quite thin & crisp I found, not very deep or rich but good to get an appreciation for, and I quite enjoyed it. After tonnes of reading, I decided to go with the Lagavulin 16 for my 2nd bottle

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Just cracked it then, put it into my favorite glass and enjoyed the first few sips. I think I now know what they mean by 'Peaty'...! Amazing whisky, much deeper than the Highland Park 12, almost caramel-ish. Very rich & smokey and exactly what I was hoping for but like nothing i've ever had. Big fan after half of my first glass. Onto the second half!
 
Got myself a bottle of Talisker 10:

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Bold, peppery, phenolic, salty, not too peaty ... heavy stuff. Took me a few, but I got really into it. I wouldn't start with this one.

It's readily available here for ~35eur a pop, amazing value.
 
The Talisker was half the price of the Lagavulin, but I was getting it as a gift so I went with the big boss. Talisker is next, or Ardbeg.
 
Talisker and Laphroaig are sometimes like licking a chimney since they come from the peat-mossy west side. I'm big fan of Balvenie (Speyside scotch). So awesome.
 
I bought a bottle of Talisker 10 two months back, drank half of it, but the peat and the phenolic flavour overwhelmed my senses and the bottle is just sitting there now. Probably will give it another taste over this weekend though.
 
i've never drank anything other than jack i don't think. and then, only in shot form.

what's the difference between single malt and double malt? i'm not going to be a whiskey drinker - not for me - but always been curious.
 
AnkitT said:
I bought a bottle of Talisker 10 two months back, drank half of it, but the peat and the phenolic flavour overwhelmed my senses and the bottle is just sitting there now. Probably will give it another taste over this weekend though.
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Pour a glass, nose it, let it sit for a moment so that it can open up. Have more than one glass :D
 
ChryZ said:
Pour a glass, nose it, let it sit for a moment so that it can open up. Have more than one glass :D
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Yeah, I even put a few drops of water in it to "unleash the flavour". :lol: I guess my taste is more aligned with the fanter spirits, the likes of glenlivet.
 
AnkitT said:
Yeah, I even put a few drops of water in it to "unleash the flavour". :lol: I guess my taste is more aligned with the fanter spirits, the likes of glenlivet.
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Yeah, ultimately it all comes down to personal taste.
 
half a moon said:
i'm a newb. what's the deal with nosing?

looking for a starter. read this earlier.
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macallan 12, make sure its sherry oak aged. to cut costs the company has recently been using oak barrels, which are cheaper, to age the single malts. sherry is the way to go.

notes, highland park 18 is couple of leagues apart from 12...don't judge one from the other. highland park 18 is easily one of the best single malts available, at any price. it downright embarrases macallan 18 at half the price.

talisker 10...i still think it could be a beginner whisky, just pour a copious amount and let it sit. swirl it in your mouth. its a young malt, so its fumey, but it has a sweet after taste. very good one.
 
I've been thinking about getting into the single malts for a while, but had no idea where to start. Thanks to you guys and all the excellent info, I've taken the first step today.

Came home with this a little earlier.

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Goatboy said:
Johnnie-Walker-BlackLabel-lg.jpg



I'm drunk right now because of this, my angel, my friend.
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Thats blended, not single malt(tastes consistent though). Actually its termed something, but i'm forgetting the exact wording.
 
Goatboy said:
Its termed "delicious". Ya I know its not single, sorry for crashing the party.
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A colleague of mine once said he wouldn't even use Johnny Walker (Red Label) as windscreen cleaner.

I've never tasted it.... but it can't be as bad as he said right :lol
According to him only Blue Label was drinkable.


(Yeah he is an elitist asshole I know :D )
 
When I was 18 doing my first job and I got my first salary I was in the situation where I had disposable currency. So naturally I bought a bottle of MacAllan 12 y.o. like any teenager would. Long story short, I drank the whole bottle with my friends (straight from the bottle naturally), got drunk and threw up. That was my first introduction to the fine world of single malts.
 
Jasup said:
When I was 18 doing my first job and I got my first salary I was in the situation where I had disposable currency. So naturally I bought a bottle of MacAllan 12 y.o. like any teenager would. Long story short, I drank the whole bottle with my friends (straight from the bottle naturally), got drunk and threw up. That was my first introduction to the fine world of single malts.
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lol. Did it ruin your love for malts altogether or did you get back in to it later? (When you were responsible enought to NOT drink it out of the bottle :P )
 
Tence said:
lol. Did it ruin your love for malts altogether or did you get back in to it later? (When you were responsible enought to NOT drink it out of the bottle :P )
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It took me few years during which I couldn't even look at the stuff. But gradually I got back to it. I did drink blended whiskys before the harsh leap to the world of single malts and they got cut almost completely from my diet.

From the ones I've tasted so far (properly) I'd say Ardbeg 10 y.o. is my favourite. I don't know why, but it always draws me back to it. Stuff like Glenlivet is easier to enjoy yes, but still. Anyways, because of the way I started with the stuff I've never been able to get myself to the "single malt" connoisseur mind set: I drink it, I like it but it'll always be the stuff from my teenage years.
 
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