Scotch Tasting

[Ulysses]

A friend and I organized a Scotch tasting for Sunday. A few of us are all taking a bottle. Here's what we have so far:

Glenmorangie 10
Balvenie 10
Balvenie 12 Doublewood
Laphroaig 10
Lagavulin 16
Glenlivet 18
Glenlivet 18 French Oak

[andyfox]

You guys like Oban?

[pshreck]

7 should be plenty.

I was a part of a whiskey tasting once which involved 12 bottles, and things got out of hand and no one could tell the difference between the drinks.

I think actually around 5 or so per tasting would be ideal, as I believe you should have a full 2 oz of the scotch to really appreciate it, as opposed to just sips.

[slickpoppa]

I've never really understood this whole enjoying the taste of expensive alcohol thing. I've had some good stuff before, but to me it just tasted a little less nasty than the cheap stuff. Just give me a shot of 151 and I'm happy.

[Ulysses]

[ QUOTE ]
You guys like Oban?

[/ QUOTE ]

A couple are huge Oban fans. I like it OK, but I prefer less peaty scotches. I'm not a huge fan of any of the Islays either.

[daryn]

what's up with islay?

[Zeno]

Try this one and let me know what you think. I purchase a bottle a few years ago and enjoyed it Dalwhinnie (http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/dalwhinb.htm). Smoky flavor.

-Zeno

[theantelope]

I got incredibly sick off of that stuff.

Probably a testament to its good taste and drinkability. I had a shitload. Or a puke-load, as the case was.

[Justin A]

I'll have a scotch on the rocks, please. Any scotch will do, as long as it's not a blend, of course. Single malt, Glen Livet, Glen Galley, perhaps, any glen will do.

[MortalNuts]

I'm jealous. That Lagavulin 16-year is fantastic, but I haven't bought a bottle in a while owing to the huge increase in cost. (I used to be able to get it for $50 or less, and now it's by default $85 or so at my local liquor store.)

We're actually starting up a weekly "single-malt hour" at my workplace, and the first session is later this week. (We did this a few years ago, too, but the group disbanded when some of the key participants moved.) Any suggestions for less well-known scotches at a reasonable (sub 100, preferably sub 75) price? Because otherwise I'll probably just bring balvenie or lagavulin like all the time.

-mn

[Diplomat]

What, no branch water?

-Diplomat

[daveymck]

I nominate Isle of Jura.

Alo if doing proper tasting sessions need one of these glasses, pour in the whiskey put the top on, then wheny uo take the top off get the full proper aroma and experience. I got one with Glenmorangie once and it surprisingly does add to the enjoyment, the fumes can make you cough sometimes though.

http://www.hpsiegel.de/Whisky/Meine_Sammlung/glass.jpg

[Ulysses]

[ QUOTE ]
Try this one and let me know what you think. I purchase a bottle a few years ago and enjoyed it Dalwhinnie (http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/dalwhinb.htm). Smoky flavor.

-Zeno

[/ QUOTE ]

I like Dalwhinnie.

[Ulysses]

[ QUOTE ]
Any suggestions for less well-known scotches at a reasonable (sub 100, preferably sub 75) price? Because otherwise I'll probably just bring balvenie or lagavulin like all the time.


[/ QUOTE ]

There are tons of great scotches for under $50. I'm taking a look at my local liquor store right now (www.klwines.com). Here are a number that I like under $50:

Ardbeg 10 $40
Balvenie 12 $33
Bowmore is good, tho I can't recall which I've had
Dalwhinnie 15 $49
Highland Park 12 $35 (very good. and the 18yo for $69 is superb)
Springbank 10 $47
Talisker $52 (close enough)

The majority of Scotch I drink is in this price range. From time to time I'll have a bottle in the $75 range and it's rare that I spend > $100 on a bottle.

[Rick Diesel]

MacCallan's 18

[Rhone]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Any suggestions for less well-known scotches at a reasonable (sub 100, preferably sub 75) price? Because otherwise I'll probably just bring balvenie or lagavulin like all the time.


[/ QUOTE ]

There are tons of great scotches for under $50. I'm taking a look at my local liquor store right now (www.klwines.com). Here are a number that I like under $50:

Ardbeg 10 $40
Balvenie 12 $33
Bowmore is good, tho I can't recall which I've had
Dalwhinnie 15 $49
Highland Park 12 $35 (very good. and the 18yo for $69 is superb)
Springbank 10 $47
Talisker $52 (close enough)

The majority of Scotch I drink is in this price range. From time to time I'll have a bottle in the $75 range and it's rare that I spend > $100 on a bottle.

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't Bowmore an Islay? (You said you weren't a fan of them in an earlier post). I think some of the Islays are more Islay-ish than others. Some of them really are completely bizarre tasting at first. But I've always liked Bowmore, and I'll second the couple of people who have praised McCallan. Even their 12 is a fine Scotch IMO.

BTW, most overrated: Highland Park. I've tried my best to like this after several people recommended it as a good but fairly low-end single-malt, and I just can't. Gives me heartburn every time I take a sip.

[beerbandit]

why does ron burgundy have pepper put in his scotch?

how long do you taste scotch before everyone is drunk?


cheers

[Ulysses]

[ QUOTE ]

Glenlivet 12
Glenlivet 12 French Oak
Glenlivet 18
Macallan 12
Laphroaig 10
Lagavulin 16
Balvenie 15
Balvenie 12 Doublewood
Glenmorangie 10

More drinks of whatever you liked most.


[/ QUOTE ]

That was what we ended up doing last night in that order. Today has been a very rough day.

My favorites were, in order: Balvenie 15, Lagavulin 16, Macallan 12.

[wuwei]

[ QUOTE ]
There are tons of great scotches for under $50.

[/ QUOTE ]

As far as bargain scotches go, you'd be hard pressed to do better than Tomatin for around $22. Highland Park's 12 is great, like ED said, for the price.

[Wakko]

That and the 25 are among my favorites. Also Springbanks of mostly any age.