Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

Diablo (and possibly others) have mentioned these (most recently here). Basically a bunch of guys each bring a bottle of something different and they drink.

Basically, it sounds like a pretty awesome idea, since scotch is tasty and drinking with friends rules. Unfortunately, most of my friends in real life are poor college kids with no taste in booze, so I turn to you guys. Would anyone else in the NY/NJ area be interested in such an event?

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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Diablo (and possibly others) have mentioned these (most recently here). Basically a bunch of guys each bring a bottle of something different and they drink.

Basically, it sounds like a pretty awesome idea, since scotch is tasty and drinking with friends rules. Unfortunately, most of my friends in real life are poor college kids with no taste in booze, so I turn to you guys. Would anyone else in the NY/NJ area be interested in such an event?

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how dare you not notify me of this thread. I'm in.

TT

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

TT your name is one of the worst on 2+2. I submit a motion to change it back to Luv2DriveTT.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

These are awesome. They also work well if you just give people a price range and tell them to bring something interesting (so not necessarily scotch). It could be a bottle they've had before or just something they wanted to try.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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These are awesome. They also work well if you just give people a price range and tell them to bring something interesting (so not necessarily scotch). It could be a bottle they've had before or just something they wanted to try.

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scotch rules, but I'm certainly not averse to other drinks. whatever pleases the crowd.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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These are awesome. They also work well if you just give people a price range and tell them to bring something interesting (so not necessarily scotch). It could be a bottle they've had before or just something they wanted to try.

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scotch rules, but I'm certainly not averse to other drinks. whatever pleases the crowd.

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Clearly, the only solution is to have a scotch night and an everything night.

Man. I need to do another one of these soon, it's been at least 3 months.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

I'm down. What is the recomended way of us going about the drinking, neat or a couple of rocks

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

I love scotch. I might be down for this. Only problem is I am temporarily only in NYC a couple nights a week due to renovation in my new Apt.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

Seems like fun times for sure. One problem with scotch in particular is that some of the heavier ones, eg Lagavulin tends to numb your mouth and taste sense, so basically you can't appreciate the later drinks fully. So while you should certainly go ahead with the idea, it might be a good idea to focus on not so peaty or smoky scotches, or at least to drink them in order of peatiness.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

You start out light, definately.

But to omit peaty/smoky/island malts from a general scotch tasting is heresy.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

I predict that most of the participants will taste each scotch twice, with the second tasting having distinct notes of bile and stomach acid.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

Yeah, in fact I have a bunch of bottles that I will never finish anyway. I have some Bowmore, Talisker, Arbeg 10-year old (which is my favorite), Macallan, a few others. I also have a bottle of Johnnie Walker Gold in my freezer.

Can we include bourbon just to break up the monotony?

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

The Islay malts are the best ones IMHO.

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I agree about Islay, although Id include Highland Park and Talisker into my favorites.

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I'd be up for this. Let me know time/place

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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I have some Bowmore, Talisker, Arbeg 10-year old (which is my favorite), Macallan, a few others.

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your selection kicks ass

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

These are very good, only Macallan is a favorite, provided it's the 18-year old. The 12-year old Macallan is a fine well-balanced scotch, but nothing special IMO. I only have two bottles right now, Isle of Jura 10-year old, which I hate, and Bruichladdich 15-year old, which I absolutely love. It's a fairly unknown Islay malt, a bit less punch than the rest, but marvellously complex, well-rounded, and with a great lingering finish.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

Just as an aside... for information on Scotch, this website is teh pwn

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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These are very good, only Macallan is a favorite, provided it's the 18-year old. The 12-year old Macallan is a fine well-balanced scotch, but nothing special IMO. I only have two bottles right now, Isle of Jura 10-year old, which I hate, and Bruichladdich 15-year old, which I absolutely love. It's a fairly unknown Islay malt, a bit less punch than the rest, but marvellously complex, well-rounded, and with a great lingering finish.

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The Macallan 18 is great. Have you tried the 25? WOW. Its expensive as hell... but one bottle for special occasions... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

The higher aged Glenlivets are pretty good too. My GF runs a bar here in boston and Glenlivet has events there a lot. They have some great stuff.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

I only dream about the 25 year old. One day... Haven't drunk a lot of Glenlivet, no, only some cheap one which was too tame, IIRC.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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TT your name is one of the worst on 2+2. I submit a motion to change it back to Luv2DriveTT.

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Seconded.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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I predict that most of the participants will taste each scotch twice, with the second tasting having distinct notes of bile and stomach acid.

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POTD.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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I only dream about the 25 year old. One day... Haven't drunk a lot of Glenlivet, no, only some cheap one which was too tame, IIRC.

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The Glenlevit 12 shouldnt even be called single malt. It tastes more like JW red than anything.

Some day though - shell out the 50 or 60 for a glass of the Macallen 25. It will change your life. My girlfriend got me a bottle for my birthday. She's the best. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

Dude, I will when I see it. Still too much of a noob, only 21, so I've got a lot of regular 10-20 year old malts to discover still.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

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Dude, I will when I see it. Still too much of a noob, only 21, so I've got a lot of regular 10-20 year old malts to discover still.

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Welcome to the club and enjoy your stay. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

I'd love to get in on this, as I'm driving to NY/NJ from Florida pretty soon. Any chance this happens say, the weekend after Thanksgiving?

Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

So I read this thread last night before I went to sleep and realized I have never actually tasted scotch. I was talking to my roommate about this and he said scotch is awesome, so basically I want to buy some scotch for either tommorow night or thursday night. I need the fine people of 2+2 to recommend me a good first bottle. I am taking a wild guess that decent bottles of scotch are usually about 50-100$ right? maybe? I have no idea but I am not crazy about spending more than 100$ on a bottle. So yeah, I am going to buy a bottle based the recommendations I recieve...I am really excited about this for some reason! Help !

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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So I read this thread last night before I went to sleep and realized I have never actually tasted scotch. I was talking to my roommate about this and he said scotch is awesome, so basically I want to buy some scotch for either tommorow night or thursday night. I need the fine people of 2+2 to recommend me a good first bottle. I am taking a wild guess that decent bottles of scotch are usually about 50-100$ right? maybe? I have no idea but I am not crazy about spending more than 100$ on a bottle. So yeah, I am going to buy a bottle based the recommendations I recieve...I am really excited about this for some reason! Help !

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Its really a personal choice. Scotch varies as much as wine does. If you arent much for strong, biting heavy liquer, try something like a Glenlevit. They are very mild but give you some taste.

Personally, that was my first single malt. I liked it but it lacked a little. A friend recommended the Macallen 12 and I loved it. Good and full with a great aroma and taste. A bottle of that will run about $45 (Boston prices). For a virgin, dont go overboard. Get something between 8 and 12 year and buy something in a price that you feel comfortable with. Each one is going to be different so there really is no "right" one.

Re: Scotch Tasting (NY/NJ)
 

in

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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So I read this thread last night before I went to sleep and realized I have never actually tasted scotch. I was talking to my roommate about this and he said scotch is awesome, so basically I want to buy some scotch for either tommorow night or thursday night. I need the fine people of 2+2 to recommend me a good first bottle. I am taking a wild guess that decent bottles of scotch are usually about 50-100$ right? maybe? I have no idea but I am not crazy about spending more than 100$ on a bottle. So yeah, I am going to buy a bottle based the recommendations I recieve...I am really excited about this for some reason! Help !

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Given that you have never had Scotch, you might want to start with a blended scotch like Johnnie Walker Black (Should be about $40). If you like that then try some single malts. Maybe someting like a 12-year old Bowmore. That should run you about $50.

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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So I read this thread last night before I went to sleep and realized I have never actually tasted scotch. I was talking to my roommate about this and he said scotch is awesome, so basically I want to buy some scotch for either tommorow night or thursday night. I need the fine people of 2+2 to recommend me a good first bottle. I am taking a wild guess that decent bottles of scotch are usually about 50-100$ right? maybe? I have no idea but I am not crazy about spending more than 100$ on a bottle. So yeah, I am going to buy a bottle based the recommendations I recieve...I am really excited about this for some reason! Help !

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Given that you have never had Scotch, you might want to start with a blended scotch like Johnnie Walker Black (Should be about $40). If you like that then try some single malts. Maybe someting like a 12-year old Bowmore. That should run you about $50.

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Eh - I wouldnt even bother with the blended stuff. Thats like introducing someone to wine with a box of white zinfindal. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

I'm in the same boat in that I've never really experimented with scotch either. After doing some reading on the Malt Maniacs site, I'm going to go with either the Dalwhinnie 15 that is also mentioned in El D's chicken thread, or the Balvenie 12.

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

Macallan or a Bowmore are way better suggestions than the blended stuff. Bowmore comes in a lot of variations, but it's all quality. Macallan 12 yo is an excellent first scotch IMO.

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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Dalwhinnie 15
Balvenie 12.

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Both good choices for a 1st timer. Balvenie was the 1st I tried. If you want to spend an extra 10 or so Id also suggest Oban.

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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So I read this thread last night before I went to sleep and realized I have never actually tasted scotch. I was talking to my roommate about this and he said scotch is awesome, so basically I want to buy some scotch for either tommorow night or thursday night. I need the fine people of 2+2 to recommend me a good first bottle. I am taking a wild guess that decent bottles of scotch are usually about 50-100$ right? maybe? I have no idea but I am not crazy about spending more than 100$ on a bottle. So yeah, I am going to buy a bottle based the recommendations I recieve...I am really excited about this for some reason! Help !

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Given that you have never had Scotch, you might want to start with a blended scotch like Johnnie Walker Black (Should be about $40). If you like that then try some single malts. Maybe someting like a 12-year old Bowmore. That should run you about $50.

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Eh - I wouldnt even bother with the blended stuff. Thats like introducing someone to wine with a box of white zinfindal. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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This is just dumb, there are plenty of good blended scotches.

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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This is just dumb, there are plenty of good blended scotches.

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Thats debatable. But blends are completly different than singles and when getting together for a scotch tasting it aint to bring a bottle of Chivas.

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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This is just dumb, there are plenty of good blended scotches.

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Thats debatable. But blends are completly different than singles and when getting together for a scotch tasting it aint to bring a bottle of Chivas.

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This is true.

Having a blended whisky tasting would be like having a vodka/tonic tasting, where everyone brings a different $5 bottle of vodka.

Oh another note, I'm surprised no one has mentioned that putting ice in scotch (as one poster suggested) is the sin of all sins.

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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This is just dumb, there are plenty of good blended scotches.

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Thats debatable. But blends are completly different than singles and when getting together for a scotch tasting it aint to bring a bottle of Chivas.

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This is true.

Having a blended whisky tasting would be like having a vodka/tonic tasting, where everyone brings a different $5 bottle of vodka.

Oh another note, I'm surprised no one has mentioned that putting ice in scotch (as one poster suggested) is the sin of all sins.

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I went to one of the bars at Mohegan Sun a few months ago. After playing soem blackjack, my girlfriend and I stopped at one of the nicer bars there. I ordered a Macallen 18. The guy seemed utterly amazed that I didnt want ice in it.

"You just gonna pound that back or something"

Fool.

Re: Scotch Questions from a silly college kid
 

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This is just dumb, there are plenty of good blended scotches.

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Thats debatable. But blends are completly different than singles and when getting together for a scotch tasting it aint to bring a bottle of Chivas.

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This is true.

Having a blended whisky tasting would be like having a vodka/tonic tasting, where everyone brings a different $5 bottle of vodka.

Oh another note, I'm surprised no one has mentioned that putting ice in scotch (as one poster suggested) is the sin of all sins.

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Obviously you guys haven't had outstanding blends like Michel Couvrer.

Food!
 

Ok, so I am probably going to get either the Glenliveit 12 or the Macallan 12. Does anyone have any suggestions on what may or may not taste awesome while drinking either one of these bottles? From what I understand food and scotch go hand in hand. Even though I am in college I have a full functional kitchen so anything is possible...My initial thought is to make steak or pork. Thoughts?