He should switch to good bourbon.
If he used to like Johnnie Walker Gold and Blue, what would most likely fit the bill?
Usquabach is my personal favorite, worth every penny if you can find it that is.
Back when I were enjoying the odd glass or two, I favored Bullet, Knob Creek, and Islay.
They are not the pricey end of the range, but they all share a smokey flavor. Almost earthy in the case of Islay.
He should switch to good bourbon.
You can get Old English Furniture Polish for about $3 a bottle. Tastes pretty much the same.
17 year, or better 25(?) year Macallan. Then again, who is to say what would taste “the best” to another person, with different tastes?
http://www.worldwhiskiesawards.com/2014/
http://www.thestreet.com/story/12315341/2/10-best-bottles-of-scotch-on-the-planet.html
http://www.menshealth.com/guy-gourmet/2013-whiskey-lovers-gift-guide
have fun!
The big division in Scotches is single malt versus blended. I am not the biggest Scotch drinker but I have gone through phases where I liked it a fair amount. I absolutely agree that JW Black, in particular, ain’t what it used to be.
If your purpose is to spend an exhorbitant amount of money for a bottle of booze, I think if it were me I would buy an assortment of single malt scotches, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Laphroiag (sp?) and a dozen or so others. All of those are quite tasty. Personally, I believe that if you spend 5x as much as those excellent SM scotches, you are paying a load of money for 1.5% “better” scotch.
However, just realize that most scotch drinkers will not like blended after they try single.
Here’s a scotch-hunting secret: Trader Joes’ single malt scotch is probably bought “as available” from various single-malt makers and everyone I know who is a SM fan likes it.
Yes, Johnnie Walker is highly rated for a common scotch.
If you want to be exotic, 21 yr old Glenlevit would also be quite nice.
He may also enjoy a single malt scotch such as Laphroaig.
To me, the single malts tasted like iodine, haha.
Is that the 55 gallon size?
Get a good bottle of Maker's Mark.
The Whisky he’s been drinking is all “Blended Scotch”. a whole different world from The Single Malts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
most of them are 12 years old and run in the $50. dollar range.
it’s a good place to start. Pick one Laddie,
Oh aye, my personal favorite is Talisker (which is made on the Isle of Skye), although I also love Lagavulin and Laphroig, both of which come from the Isle of Islay.
Slainte.
Glenmorangie
I have tasted this Whiskey and it is easily one of the best I have ever tasted. It is pricey and the cost will go up with the age of the whiskey.
Balvannie Doublewood. The Macallans.
Glenlivet.
With Bremner Wafers, cream cheese, and a smear of caviar.
For a good selection, go to Cavabenitowhisky.com
I happened on this store in Andorra. They have 928 single malts to choose from. And a few others.
Oban ...
Johnnie Walker has no business calling itself scotch.
There is a rarer 18 year edition that sells for somewhere from $100 to $150.
Oban is truly special. It is a single malt so it has a more complex flavor than a blended scotch like Johnnie Walker. It's milder than some of the smokier single malts and tastes more refined like a Glenlivet or Glenfiddich, but to my taste buds is miles above in overall flavor.
Look at reviews around the web and you will see that Oban is highly regarded by all scotch lovers.
I love you want to spend that money on your friend...however at the end of the day he should be grateful for the grift not how much you spent