Scotch

[Pour1Malt]

I have never been a Scotch drinker. Jack Daniel's has been my drink of choice including one of several beers (Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome is Fantastic). What would be a good Scotch to start with?
steve

Steve...

noo ya hit upon a topic ai ken an awfy lot aboot...

ai cuid gie ya a hale thesis oan this yin...

but tae make it short an sweet...

1- if ya drink yur JD wi' a mixer noo... then start wi' a blended scotch like Groose arr J Walker... an mix it wi' soda, 7up, coke, ginger ale, wit e'er ya want...

drink this fur twa months arr sae... makin the scotch taste a bit stronger as time gaes oan... this will develop yur taste fur scotch...

then ya will bae ready tae move tae single malt...

2- if ya drink JD neat (straicht) noo- then skip the blends an gae straight fur single malt...

start wi' Glenfiddich arr Glenlivet... baith arr frae the speyside area an are light an easy drinkin malts... baith arr aged in ex-bourbon casks...

ya can add water arr soda water but NEVER add ice... it changes the molecular structure o' the malt an changes the flavour... it shuid bae cool room temp...

use a cool (no cold) tulip shaped glass (no a rocks glass).... nose it (smell it) a lot while you sip it... an SIP it- dinnae gulp it.... yur nose is maire important than yur tastebuds when it comes tae malt whisky... hae a glass o ice water oan the side... this will help ya cool off and refresh yur mooth between sips...

drink this fur a month arr sae... then luek fur maire complicated flavoured malts... like the yins that hae been aged in sherry casks...Macallan, Glenfarclas, Glenmorangie (rhymes with 'orangey')..

try a few o these fur a couple months arr sae...

save the peaty smoky malts tae the last.... they arr the maist difficult fur maist folk tae get used tae... Laphroiag, Lagavulin, Ardbeg.....

then luek fur a' the hundreds o' other malt expressions oot there... a single distillery can make 100 bottles that a' taste different... it is a wonderful world fur your senses.....

slainte mhath!

[turpin]

Steve...

noo ya hit upon a topic ai ken an awfy lot aboot...

ai cuid gie ya a hale thesis oan this yin...

but tae make it short an sweet...

1- if ya drink yur JD wi' a mixer noo... then start wi' a blended scotch like Groose arr J Walker... an mix it wi' soda, 7up, coke, ginger ale, wit e'er ya want...

drink this fur twa months arr sae... makin the scotch taste a bit stronger as time gaes oan... this will develop yur taste fur scotch...

then ya will bae ready tae move tae single malt...

2- if ya drink JD neat (straicht) noo- then skip the blends an gae straight fur single malt...

start wi' Glenfiddich arr Glenlivet... baith arr frae the speyside area an are light an easy drinkin malts... baith arr aged in ex-bourbon casks...

ya can add water arr soda water but NEVER add ice... it changes the molecular structure o' the malt an changes the flavour... it shuid bae cool room temp...

use a cool (no cold) tulip shaped glass (no a rocks glass).... nose it (smell it) a lot while you sip it... an SIP it- dinnae gulp it.... yur nose is maire important than yur tastebuds when it comes tae malt whisky... hae a glass o ice water oan the side... this will help ya cool off and refresh yur mooth between sips...

drink this fur a month arr sae... then luek fur maire complicated flavoured malts... like the yins that hae been aged in sherry casks...Macallan, Glenfarclas, Glenmorangie (rhymes with 'orangey')..

try a few o these fur a couple months arr sae...

save the peaty smoky malts tae the last.... they arr the maist difficult fur maist folk tae get used tae... Laphroiag, Lagavulin, Ardbeg.....

then luek fur a' the hundreds o' other malt expressions oot there... a single distillery can make 100 bottles that a' taste different... it is a wonderful world fur your senses.....

slainte mhath!

What he said!

Me, I liked it straight pretty much from the start. But you can't get a better tutotial than from P1M.

[David Thornton]

Good job P1M, that's exactly where I was going but I tried to be brief.

By the way, can you swing me an invite to a day os shooting? Stalking or rough shooting?

David

[Colin]

What he said!

Me, I liked it straight pretty much from the start. But you can't get a better tutotial than from P1M.

The thing with drinking it straight all the time, is that with some of the stronger scotch the alcohol content can burn your taste buds off. The point of the water is to dilute the alcohol not the flavour. I could be off on this, but this is what they have promoted at the tastings I have been too.

As for a starter Scotch, I would say Glenlivet 12 year (I can't stand Glenfiddich 12 yr personally). It's kind of the run of the mill scotch that almost everyone carries. Stay away from the Ballatines, it's horrid. For a bit more bang for your buck, check out the 3 main varities offered by McClellands. McClelland's is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which is in turn owned by Suntory of Japan. The three McClelland's bottlings are, in fact, 5-year-old releases of the three Morrison Bowmore distilleries: Lowland (Auchentoshan), Highland (Glen Garioch), and Islay (Bowmore). This will give you a good intro into the different regions and the different tastes for relatively cheap. When you have tried all those, try the Bowmore cask strength

Here's a good site: http://www.maltwhiskey.com/default3.htm

[Pour1Malt]

The thing with drinking it straight all the time, is that with some of the stronger scotch the alcohol content can burn your taste buds off. The point of the water is to dilute the alcohol not the flavour. I could be off on this, but this is what they have promoted at the tastings I have been too.

...]

aye- exactly richt...

maist malts (an a' blended whiskies) are roon 40-43% alcohol... an dinnae need water...

if ya get a bottle o' "cask strength" malt -the alcohol will bae 50-71%... (a'bunadh is cask strength) an oiny thing o'er 50% will burn yur taste buds aff...

ya need tae put a couple wee drops o water in it - just enough tae lower the alcohol tae 40-43%....

[Ghâshûl]

I'll also recommend Laphroaig, particularly the quarter cask.
In addition I also think the Bunnahabhain is a very good whisky. It's a bit more 'mild' than the laphroaig.

EDIT: remember to read the entire thread first. You can take this post as my agreement

[bikercelt1]

As an interesting side note, my daughter loves Laphroig because the scent and taste reminds her of the time she spent going to school in Dublin. She says the peat smell is just like the air in Ireland. Even though I was only with her there for a couple of weeks I'd have to agree. Every time we drink it she gets a faraway look and I know she's reliving good times.

Jamie

[Mattg]

Great thread! I've been wanting to try my hand, or I should say tastebuds, at Scotch....this is very helpful!

[GlassMan]

I have to admit that I've been pleasantly surprised that the Virginia ABC store near my home is beginning to stock a lot of very high end alcohol. Their Scotch selection is now outstanding, as is their vodka selection.

For those who don't know, in other stores may sell wine & beer for consumption off premises, but only the ABC (Alcohol Beverage Commission) store may sell grain alcohol of any kind.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Hm... I have an unopened bottle of Laphroaig 10-Year-Old sitting about three feet away, mocking me. Tempting me. I've not yet tried it, you see. Better rectify that soon...

Anyway, has anyone tried Glen Breton Rare? Not a scotch (it's made in Cape Breton) but it's made the same way as scotch. Only single malt produced in Canada. Worth a try, or what?