Now then you filthy alcoholics.
Does anybody have any knowledge when it comes to Scotch Whisky?
I'm looking for a sampler kit from perhaps the different regions or different distilleries, but hours of searching have been fruitless.

Any advice on Scotch in general would be helpful.
(TheColonel, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:30, 37 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

It's best with coke.

(PsychoChomp, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:32, Reply)

I presume you mean fizzy rather than druggy?
And if so, you're an awful man-child.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:41, Reply)

Nothing wrong with Whisky and coke.

(PsychoChomp, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:44, Reply)

Again, fizzy or druggy?
And it depends what kind of whisky.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:45, Reply)

Fizzy,

(PsychoChomp, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:45, Reply)

I quite like a jd and coke, or whatever else they've got.
Even asda value whisky and coke is good.

If someone is going to offer me a drink, I should be able to mix it how I want, I'm the one drinking it.

Fuck drink snobbery, it's pathetic in 99% of cases.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 16:07, Reply)

this is true of blended or American whisk(e)ys only

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:47, Reply)

My thoughts exactly
I had pictures of him mixing a 12 year old single malt with some Virgin cola or some such there for a minute.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:52, Reply)

Not only would that be a criminal waste of whisky
but would also taste of old socks.

Lose/lose
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:54, Reply)

To be honest
I think that's an insult to old socks.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:58, Reply)

They do get a lot of bad press
A lot of it unnecessary. Just because you're an old sock, doesn't mean that you smell.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 16:01, Reply)

15 year old Bowmore is my favourite
There's only one distillery on Jura which does quite a nice one too.

I would imaging the Scotch Whisky Society does a selection box - but you might have to be a member (snigger)
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:33, Reply)

my knowledge extends as far as knowing I don't like it

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:34, Reply)

Is this for your own purposes, or a gift for someone else?
Your personal tastes may have a strong influence on the best advice to give you. But as a fairly safe guide - and I'm no expert myself - if you're just dipping your toe into single malts* then I'd start with the Highland malts as they're probably the most accessible, and can still be very nice without some of the idiosyncracies that people either love or hate about Speyside or Islay malts. (e.g., Personal favourite is a 16yo Lagavulin, but I realise that's a bit of an acquired taste, being one of the most Islay of Islays.)

*_{...then stop, because that will make them taste funny *COMEDY DRUM FILL*}
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:35, Reply)

Lagavulin is very smooth and drinkable, my personal favourite.
Glenmorangie is overrated to be honest, nice and clean nonetheless, a good beginners malt.

Laphroig is very heavy, peaty and overpowering, but once you get a taste for it, very addictive.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:39, Reply)

as someone who doesn't like whisky
I like Laphroig best of them, because it tastes so much like peat
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:39, Reply)

Can someone please imply that vipros sucks of guys called pete.

(PsychoChomp, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:41, Reply)

no need
I automatically assumed that someone would say that when I posted it.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:48, Reply)

Laphroaig is a peatbog too far for my palate
There. I've said it.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:48, Reply)

Glenmorangie
Generally speaking Glenmorangie is a beginner's whisky, however the 100 proof version (40 notes or so) is absolutely golden. Easily the best whisky I've ever had.
(b3tamax Mate, you're fat and I'll throw you in the river, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:55, Reply)

Yeah it's a gift for me Pa.
Just checked the Scotch Malt Whisky Society - 100 big ones for membership. That would sting a bit too much.

Cheers for the advice so far gents, if I can't find a sampler kit I may just pick a couple of suggestions from here and look for taster/half bottles.
(TheColonel, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:43, Reply)

I can give you my own experiences, at least.
The options are pretty much: blended whisky or single malt.

Blended whiskies are things like Johnny Walker- they take whisky from various distilleries and mix them until they get the taste they're striving for. (Great video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnSIp76CvUI) They tend to be somewhat generic, really.

Single malts are whiskies that come from individual distilleries. Highland malts are my favorite- light, smotth, and a little sweet. Lowland malts I've found to be a little smokier, but still nice. Islay malts taste of peat bogs and fires- not to my taste, but others prefer them.

Ten year old scotch is the basic, and is pretty good. (The longer it stays in the barrel, the smoother it usually is. Once it's in the bottle it stops changing, though- so don't bother buying a dusty bottle.) Eight year old scotch has a bit more of a bite to it, but is cheaper. Twelve year old is more expensive, but nicely smooth. Over that it's getting smoother, but personally I don't taste enough difference to make it worth the cost.

I like Oban a lot, but rarely can afford it.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:43, Reply)

Talisker is nice too...
...and again tastes like you have sucked Pete off in the bog.
(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 15:48, Reply)

Drambuie
Could be classed as whisky for benders, but it is lovely. Plenty of ice and a quadruple measure, minimum.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 16:03, Reply)

Great marketing idea, there
"Drambuie - whisky for benders"


Sales in the Brighton area would go THROUGH THE ROOF.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 16:18, Reply)

Glenfiddich do a selection pack from their website
I was given one for being an usher at a mates wedding in Scotchland. My dad said it was very good (I dont drink it myself).
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 16:31, Reply)

well
I would start with a bog standard GlenFiddich / Glenmorangie, nothing earth shattering but they are decent tipples, then maybe a Macallan which is a bit more bodied
The Islays are an aquired taste, usually being phenoly peaty fiends, but a Bunnahabhain or Laphroig are good stepping stones for that region.

Island / highland wise the Talisker is a good tipple, but get yourself and himself down to a local oddbins they usually have a few bottles you can sample.

Not really got into lowlands, and am very tempted to try a japanese malt, so if you get one please let me know what its like

Stay away from the scotch malt whisky society until you really know what your looking for, its expensive to join but you can pick up some awesome old bottles cheapish but a lot of the 10-15 year olds are far more expensive for what you get compared to a local off license or superstore.

Oh and if you want to go wild the Balvenie 21 year old portwood finish is an astonishingly nice drink for around £80
(Halfy By light alone, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 16:45, Reply)

I have bought a yamazaki 10yr single malt for my dad this chrimbo
I didnt even know they did whisky (although Bill Murry advertises one in Lost in Translation...)
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 16:54, Reply)

Apparently
they are much much better than you think, and i'm pretty sure one of them won whisky of the year recently.
(Halfy By light alone, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 17:08, Reply)

this is correct
My friend had a bottle, looked like an old style milk bottle.

Not 'alf bad.

Biggest whisky market outside the UK.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 17:14, Reply)

cool
Next bottle will be one of them then, just need to finish 1 of the 4 I have now :)
(Halfy By light alone, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 17:51, Reply)

I'm eating an apple-flavoured Jolly Rancher
And it tastes like whisky
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 17:03, Reply)

Peaty ones
Talisker is always a good bet. However, if you want something really spicy, there's also Caol Isla (sp?), which is peaty and has an extra wallop.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 17:03, Reply)

Stick to Single Malt
blends are rather naff IMHO.

Try something like this:
www.royalmilewhiskies.com/product.asp?pf_id=0020000002392
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Mon 7 Dec 2009, 18:14, Reply)

Oddbins used to sell minatures and probably still do.
Otherwise Glenmorangie's a good accessible one for beginners. I'd steer clear of the peaty stuff, especially Laphroig - that's not for the newcomer. I'd avoid Glenfidditch too, Glenmo is a lot smoother.

Back in those misty days when I actually had a fucking job I sold whisky. Best I tasted were a Bowmore 18year old (sublime complexity, length and smoothness) and an absolutely mental £50 Ardbeg that ripped your taste buds apart, even diluted.

I want malt whisky for christmas. Only been able to afford one half-bottle all year :(.
(raymond "three griddle pans" luxury yacht lovin' the christmas action, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 18:26, Reply)

Thinking about it..
..you want this. It's a blend, but on a par with Glenmo and a lot cheaper. Perfect beginner's bottle. Looks a bit different too. Nice one.
(raymond "three griddle pans" luxury yacht lovin' the christmas action, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 18:29, Reply)