Posted on 07/07/2014 10:01:11 PM PDT by KJC1
I am not a Scotch or whiskey drinker; I am asking FReepers on behalf of a friend of mine.
He used to drink Johnnie Walker Black, and insists they changed something to make it inferior. The price on Black has since gone down.
Then, he switched to Gold and sometimes Blue. He thinks the Gold has gone downhill, and the "jury" is still out on the quality of the Blue.
I'd like to buy him a bottle of something nice that will make him happy. But, as I said above, I'm not a Scotch drinker so I'd be an ineffective judge of what is good or not, especially keeping in mind his most recent taste is for Gold and Blue.
My friend is a Vietnam Vet and retired Police Sergeant and does not get online much, and I thought FR would be a great place for suggestions.
Laphroaig is my personal choice and was my first introduction to single malt as a boy of 14 or 15 at my dad and uncles lumber mill after work. It is decidedly a characteristic flavor, which one either loves or hates. I have had many kinds of single malts, but it is still my pallets preference. You may need to hover with a 10 or maybe a 15 year to stay under the 100 dollar mark. Perhaps even a bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask is doable, depending upon the aging. At the end of the day a friend is a friend any 10 year plus single malt may be fine and welcomed.
Laphroaig has been the only whisky to carry the Royal Warrant of the Prince of Wales (the 15-year-old is reportedly his favourite scotch whisky), which was awarded in person during a visit to the distillery in 1994
Tell him the ability to taste declines with age and nothing is going to bring that back.
There... I was waiting for someone to say it.
Thank you for taking the time to post your thoughtful answer. I’ll have to look it up, plus how to pronounce “Laphroaig”.
Thanks again, much appreciated!
Some time ago I lived in Lafayette, LA. There is a restaurant there called Charley G’s. The proprietor of the place was a connoisseur of cigars and alcoholic beverages. Every 3 months he sponsored an invitation only dinner where a particular type of alcoholic beverage was featured along with fine cigars to compliment.
I recall the dinner where Scotch was the beverage featured. There was a Scottish gentleman on hand who had been involved with exporting Scotch for many years. He served about 7 Scotch whiskeys, a different one to compliment each course. He told the story of each Scotch before serving. One of them, I can’t recall the distillery, he noted was from one of the oldest in Scotland. He recalled that when Victoria was queen, she had gone out in the countryside to look at properties for a new retreat. She stopped at a property adjacent to the distillery estate and was looking at the property with her entourage. The proprietor of the estate saw the royal party and invited the queen to sample the whiskey. They proceeded to the cellars and sampled whiskey to the point that the queen was sloshed and unable to stand on her own. Anyway, a great story along with a great Scotch makes for a memorable evening.
I like smooth single-malts such as Glenmorangie, Glenlivet, and Glenfiddich, at least 12 y.o., 15 y.o. is better. Beyond that , it gets pretty pricey. I don’t care for the smoky, peaty Scotches. To me. they taste like burnt rubber.
Thank you all for your responses. Sincerely appreciated.
There are many good suggestions in this thread, and they are accurate in distinguishing between the Englishman’s blended Scotch whisky and the Scotsman’s single malt Scotch whisky. However, there is one inescapable problem with all of the possible recommendations. No one but your friend can know what is pleasing to his palate. Only your friend can determine what is good and what tastes like cat pee. That said, there is a solution to the problem.
There are many opportunities to attend Scotch whisky nosings and tastings. Some corporations even go so far as to pay for their employees to attend these events to educate their palates about what does and does not appeal to themselves and their clients. You may find it to be most pleasing for your friend if you were to arrange for him and both of you to attend one of these events to ultimately choose one or more than one of these whiskies to enjoy in future years.
Search the Internet for Scotch whisky tastings and see the sites such as the following example:
http://www.scotchwhiskytasting.com/
P.S. Among my favorites are the very different Dallas Dhu and Laphroaig. Different tastes for different moods.
Thanks Lads,
Will try the Oban. You still can’t get me to try to choke down a haggis again, arggh.
Thanks, Charles!
Nice to “see” you. Hope you are well. :)
[Seeing your name reminded me of DUFUS past: Somebody shook up the ants!]
Highland Park Aged 18 Years (43% ABV, $120) Highland Park sits at the top of Scotland in the windswept Orkney Islands. For many years, the distillery stood in the shadow of its better-known sibling, the Macallan, but Highland Park has built up quite a reputation of its own. Its 18-year-old is a favorite of bartenders and whisky reviewers; take a few sips and you’ll be hard-pressed to argue. The single malt is tasty with a delicate balance of sweet, fruity, spicy and smoky flavors.
I prefer Irish whiskey though, specifically Bushmill's 16 year old single malt (about $70). It is exceptionally smooth, being triple distilled, but with complex flavor notes due to ageing in sherry, bourbon, and port wine casks.
As it’s been mentioned, Mccallan of any age is hard to beat. I like all of the Glenns. If you want less smoke, try Highland Park - very affordable and approachable.
Since he likes blends: a fifth of Dewars white, a fifth of Chivas, and a hundred and fifty dollar BevMo gift card oughta do it.
I'm not a big whiskey drinker. But I know what whiskey drinkers drink.
I was going to suggest Bushmills Irish whiskey also. But the guy wanted Scotch.
People, here are some links. Interesting if you like to drink the good stuff. Or you just enjoy reading about it.
The American Man's Scotch Pronunciation Guide
The taste of single malts varies widely. I like Oban 18, Dalmore 12 and cigar malt. They are fruity and have less peat. I can’t stand Laphrog which tastes worse than iodine to me. I know people who love it. Taliskers and the various MaCallans aren’t bad and are quite popular and highly rated.
The is a store in the San Fernando Valley portion of Los Angeles where I live that has about 500 different Scorched (S
Wine and Liquor Depot on Saticoy in Van Nuys) You probably have a specialty store near you that knows their Scotch. You could talk to them or a bar t h at caries a big variety o f the better Scotch.
You really needYou can start with what he liked about Johnnie Walker and what he doesn’t like about others he’s tried to help you narrow it down.
The Whiskey Advocate on line has lots of reviews that I have found helpful http://whiskyadvocate.com/buying-guide/ and search for single malt and read the reviews. Johnnie Walker is a blend rather than single malt. Read the reviews of t h e two he liked and compare them with your own tasting of the two Johnnie Walkers as a starting point then you can use the reviews to help you hunt.
Laboring certainly does. It’s the peat and taste of t h e sea. I think it is the most foul tasting whiskey I have ever tasted. But there are people who love it and similar single malts. I prefer Oban 18 which has more fruit and no iodine taste.
I hate auto correct. Laphroaig is what I meant
Great times at Robert Burns Birthday Parties. Pipe in the Haggis and drink lots of single malt scotch. One couple each year are expected to create and recite a two poems, she “To the Lads” and he “To the Lasses”. Always have a little bubble and squeak as part of the dinner. One person always recites, Tam O’Shanter. Which mentions Cutty Sarks as the term refers to a witches’ short skirt. The name of the tea clipper Cutty Sark refers to the short shirt worn by Nannie: the ship’s figurehead depicts the witch with the horse’s tail hanging from her outstretched hand. In turn, Cutty Sark whisky derives its name from the ship.
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