Not to hijack the thread but can you boys recommend me a good starter whisky as I don’t really drink lager. Mostly brandy, port and red wine. My dad drunk whisky and I fancy a bottle for Xmas to myself to toast him with.
Morning mate. Lovely idea. Whiskey is a bit like bikes- actually all very different. But, you can clump them into three categories, if you’re talking Scottish. 1. Blends 2. Speysides 3. Islay malts 1 is good for hot toddies and for drinking with mixers. Cheapest. 2 & 3 are single malts. More expensive and fitting to toast your dad with. 2 tend to be much smoother than 3. 3 are generally more ‘peaty’ - you might describe this as firey. If you are unsure I would go with 2, a nice speyside. Something like a Dalwhinney would be an excellent choice. Smooth and sweet. if you like it stronger (3) then Laphroaig or Tallisker are my personal favourites. Again, each of these brands have differing flavours (think how many Panigales there are). Just my thoughts, others will no doubt think different. Cheers. PS. Bourbon distilled once. Scottish twice. Irish whiskey 3 times. If you are going blend therefore, Irish is smoothest.
That’s very kind of you, I seem to remember Jura I think it’s called at his place but I will take your advice and go with choice 2. Not really worried about cost. Cheers
the Jura Origin is not peaty so would be a good choice for a ‘beginner’. It would also be very appropriate ref your dad.
Nice one Hyper....toasting your Dad....I'll be doing the same I'm partial to the Islay singles as they have a real BBQ smell to them and taste It's the peat that is described, but I like to think of it as BBQ flavor,. If it's your first try on the whiskey round about, then ExPat is correct, go with the Speyside and then progress. Laphroaig is my absolute fav with 2 cubes.....bloody delicious and I have a good measure each night. I hope it goes well mate and I hope the memories of Dad are fond ones. Cheers to the passed Mums and Dads out there.
Depends on your palate, I’m fond of the Japanese blends so favour togouchi, Kura or yamazake. Scottish would be macallan.
Aberlour is a very nice Speyside or Laphroig as noted above - two of my favourites. For info I had a bit of a cold starting last week and this is the solution - cheap M&S Blend as I had no Grouse available ;
I’ll chip in 50. The problem is however we could never drink it, only look at it . What a shame. Whiskey is for drinking & savouring.
@hyperdildo I agree wholeheartedly with @Expat Jack start with his 2, don’t start with 3 as you may be put off due to the very strong flavours. If your dad drank Jura go for that try Isle if Jura 12 yr old or Glenmorangie 10 yr old, the Glenmorangie being readily available in most off-licences or supermarkets. Try this site if you need delivery, usually next day and great choice https://www.drinksdirect.co.uk/acatalog/single_malt_whisky.html
Well up until Saturday evening I was drinking my favourite tipple Mcallum Gold, a lovely mellow room temperature malt, new bottle for my birthday. Bugger farther in law and uncle stay the night bottle gone, wish I had, had some cheep poop in now.
You sound like me when I started drinking whisky and I like the same drinks. I’ve got a really nice Bushmills that’s a port cask you may like. If you look on the master of malts website, you can buy tasting sets or even make your own set up from samples. https://www.masterofmalt.com/tasting-set/ I’d go down that route if I were you until you find what you like. Try some sherry cask or red wine casks out. Dalmore did my favourites and make some great sherry casks. As do Balvenie.
Badly disappointed with my choice of this bottle yesterday in India. I'd just run out of the few bottles of good whisky I'd brought with me from the U.K, Aberlour and Tamnavulin, and I was pursueded to buy this, it was not good, far too sweet, blended for the Indian palette, tasting notes: shite to be avoided. I'll gift it to someone. Disappointed with my own judgement, as the off license owner is a Muslim, doesn't drink, and I was suckered into his speil.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask " Double cask matured , bottled at 48% , non-chill filtered " .... so says the label Forgotten gift from years ago . Found it in the back of a cupboard recently ,while looking for something else ..... good when that happens !
Just got a bottle of this. Off to a family party next Friday before I head off back to work. Looking forward to a shot or two
I'm not a big whisky drinker, but I like Balvenie - that's a Speyside. I'm into my red wines, port and good brandy too so likely have similar taste buds.
Could be but really nice stuff. One of my favourites together with the Balvenie Double Wood. Either should work well for you.
