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The Canadians got it right
"Give me guys that are poor, smart, and hungry. And no feelings." - Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street"
JW Black Glenlivet Laphroaig
Suntory
Interesting, I'll have to try that one.
"I don't think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature." -John D. Rockefeller
My parents don't drink, so I got to drink a bottle of whiskey they got as a wedding gift many moons ago. It was called Philadelphia Whisky.
Here's an illustration of it: http://graphic-design.tjs-labs.com/pictures/booze-life-11-15-1948-998-b…
Easily, very easily, the best tasting whiskey I've ever had. Unfortunately, I don't think it's made anymore, at least not the way it used to be made. It's now a cheap whiskey made by Heaven Hill. That's all I could gather from online research.
A guy I used to work with about 8 years ago grandparents passed away and he was in charge of clearing everything out. He brought a bunch of bottles of old liquor and gave them out. I saw this Philedalphia Whiskey and took it (last name Owens, made in Owensville - corny I know). I had 2 bottles. Busted open the first one immediately . I was able to drink it warm with no chaser. It was so smooth and so good. By far the best I have ever tasted. The second bottle I have yet to open. I am waiting for a very special occasion. I wish I knew how old it was. I know for sure its 8 years old.. but i have a feeling it is much much older than that. The seal on it looks like it is from the 40's or 50's or something. Like a very old dollar bill. Wish I knew.. But great!!!
Definitely save the 2nd bottle. I can't find it anywhere online, and I'm pissed I drank mine so quickly once I found it.
With no chaser? O wow! That's how a man drinks whiskey you fool.
No mas?
"I don't think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature." -John D. Rockefeller
I'll put a vote in there for Woodford Reserve.
I can't stand brown liquor, personally
Lagavulin (Distiller's edition or 16 years) is the one I appreciate/drink most.
I sometimes enjoy a Talisker (18 years) or an occasional Ardbeg.
Most of those cost around 50-70 euros/pounds.
Macallan.
Scott's Select has some interesting vintages as well.
Glenmorangie 12 year old lasanta double wood oak & sherry
JW Green
Macallen 18
laphroaig
crown is great on the rocks, not too expensive, and the bag it comes in makes a perfect addition to any golf bag. Wild Turkey is no slouch either
You won't find it in every bar, but Michter's rye whiskey is one of the better I've ever tasted. If you happen upon a bottle, give it a try. One ice cube.
i had a short tryst w/ JWB...i dont regret it, but i was young and weve been over for a very long time. ;-)
glenlivet on the rocks is my go to for the availability and price bowmore/laphroaig/macallan (in that order) 12-18 yrs neat are next if its been a long day and its a real bar finally, if its some dive place or tavern, dewars on the rocks will do just fine
Micheal Collins
Glenfiddich
Damn, yeah that's it (the one I had wasn't in a clear bottle, but it had the same label). I'm going to order a bottle and see if it tastes the same. The bottle I had was a 1976, and was opened last summer, so that probably affected the taste.
This is the only info I could find, it's currently a cheap whisky made by Heaven Hill: http://www.whiskymag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10053
http://www.heaven-hill.com/brands-otherwhiskey.shtml
Did yours come in a clear bottle?
Mine is in a dark bottle.
I Found this also. Not much, but something.
http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300386239869
I think I found it!!!
http://marketviewliquor.com/index-id-48044-a-1.01.html
Woodford Makers Eagle Rare Blanton's Van Winkle
The finest Whiskey's are all from the same county.
Considering that all those listed are bourbons, I would say that your are in no way qualified to make such a statement. And yes there is a difference between bourbon and whiskey, look it up.
Listen, I dont know shit about wine and dont claim to act like I do. 90% of the people on here don't know shit about whiskey, at least thats what it seems from their comments. Don't act like a expert when your so clearly not. If there is anything worse than being dumb, its being fake. I just want to clear up one thing that perennially pissed me off. Johnny Walker Blue label is not "great whiskey". Its a blend crafted to be approachable to people who have more money than culture. And they want to look sophisticated but don't want develop the pallet to appreciate truly great and complex single malts. Lastly, Jonny blue is basically blends of other single malts that cost $75-150 per bottle, and then sell it for $350. Which is like me selling you a drink with 1/3 pepsi 1/3 coke and 1/3 sprite for $15. Doesn't make it better, just more expensive.
Glenfiddich 15 - very reasonably priced at around $40 a bottle (cheaper and better than Macallan 12) and exponentially better than the same distillery's 12 year.
Highland Park 12 - the best 12 year single malt out there, runs $40-45 a bottle.
Both of these should be drank neat or with just a splash of water . If you're going to drink scotch on the rocks, then you might as well stick with something a little bit cheaper.
I've really gotten into rye lately - R1 is a fantastic choice.
Talisker 10 & 18 yrs
Glenrothes 16 yrs
Arran 10 yrs & Singel Cask Bourbon
Haha! Nice find, and thanks for sharing. I'm ordering a bottle. It's cheap as hell.
Marketview Liquor is right by my house. They had a shelf buckle a couple of years ago and they estimated $100,000 worth of bottles was broken and spilled all over the store.
I'm more of a tequila fan, just thought I would chime in with that story.
I'm gonna get a bottle since you guys are raving so much about it.
Yeah, I'll let ya know if it tastes the same. Keep in mind the bottle I had was a '76 opened in '09.
Glenlivet Macallan 12 Johnny Walker Black (i'd say blue but i've only had it 3 times)
bottom of my list- Chivas. god i hate that stuff.
Solid thread.
Springbank 10 Glenfarclas 30 Talisker 25 Cragganmore 12 Highland Park 18 Longmorn 16
My favourites are in descending order: - Ardbeg Uigeadail - Glendronach 12y Original - Aberlour a'bunadh - Bunnahabhain 12Y - Macallan 12y Sherry cask - Balvenie 12y Single cask (ex Bourbon)
Scotch Favorites (Originally Posted: 03/02/2012)
My new found weapon of choice. Started with JW black on the rocks and working on the single malts now, currently my favorites or the Islays and Talisker. Any reccomendations?
On a side note the bud light platinum isn't too shabby either.
hit the Laphroaig 10yr on your way through Islay. although that's about as far as I got and I feel like after that it becomes prestige and historical interest. which is cool
Ditto on Laphroaig, it's damn delicious! If you're drinking scotch I'd suggest upgrading to micro-brewery beer, rather than chugging down the turds that are Bud Light!
HO HO HO HO HO. Thadda boy!
Talisker is my favorite scotch of all time. I prefer peaty single malts. I suggest checking out ardbeg, Lagavulin, Phroaig is great too, cut it with some water, relatively cheap as well. Oban is alright, kind of overpriced. Get used to mccallan as it is widely available at most restaurants and bars. When in doubt, just buy a bottle of something you've never heard of and split it with some friends. Japanese scotch is great too, check out yamazaki.
cheers
Macallan 12. In my mind, nothing beats it for the price.
Glenmoragnie is another good alternative at that price point with similar flavor profile.
Macallan 12 Yr single malt. 18 yr if you got the cash. Some people find it a bit sweet, I think its great without the heavy oak taste I get from Laphroaig. First drink = shot, Second = Neat, Third+ = On the Rocks.
I never have Johnnie Walker Black except for at the club when someone pays for Bottle Service. Whenever you fly international, check out Johnnie Walker Blue 750ml should be around $120 at Duty Free. Great for when you want to celebrate / feel like a badass mofo.
Suntory Yamazaki is solid as well.
Glenrothes - about $50 (Duty-Free). Great, great Speyside Single Malt. Never found it in NY / LA, but always buy one when I fly. Cool looking bottle too. Clean taste, no heavy oaky taste.
How could I forget Lagavulin, love love love the 18 yr. Only tried the 12 yr Yamazaki which was meeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhh but heard great things about the 18. If any of you are in the city, both JW and Macallan has free tastings every other month or so
I keep my drinks domestic, especially my WSO name, I keep that close at all times. Knob Creek for when I really want to feel some heat.
I stick to the Speyside. Drinking smoked dinosaur bones loses it's luster.
Johnny Blue for celebration Chivas for any night the Glens aren't bad either ..also never mention bud light with scotch
Macallan 12 is really good, but 18 is much better if you can afford it.
We've got a big lad here! But seriously that's some peaty stuff there, try Tobermoray for something a little less in your face. And as I moaned in another thread, NO ICE!
Bud Lite Platinum = Bud Ice
I always stock Talisker in the office and usually at home. Recently tried Glenfarclas 17 and thought it was excellent. Macallan 12/18 is a solid choice at restaurants, but I'm currently grimacing my way through a bottle of Macallan cask strength and would not recommend it.
Johnnie Walker black is the best blended scotch in the history of the world, and it has had an interesting following over the years. Winston Churchill took 5 or 6 cases of it with him when he deployed to the Second Boer War. It was also the favorite drink of the Iraqi Ba'ath Party leadership and the Gaddafi regime honchos, as it is still of the Palestinian Authority and by large branches of the Saudi Arabian royal family. All that to say a person feels in good company with a glass in hand.
I miss the Gold Label "The Centenary Blend"
It no Colombian wedding is complete without several pallets of The Black Label. The scotch truly does pour like champagne at these events.
Macallan 12 at restaurants and sometime lounges. Glenfiddich is growing on me. Technically not a scotch, but an Irish Whiskey, Jamison is pretty good in my opinion. But I also have a JW black stocked in my liquor cabinet. Never really cared for Chivas.
Speyside sounds interesting, I will try it next time I see it.
Bourbon all day everyday. Forever.
Dirty Dingus McGee, 18 year old
I'm a big laphroiag fan but if you are into the Islays...my favorite by far is Ardberg
a staple in my house is Highland Park (http://www.highlandpark.co.uk/lda/)
I'm with the bourbon drinkers though I'll go for scotch over being forced to choose between Maker's or Knob Creek.
I avoid blended scotch because it isn't all that different from drinking water. If you're spending the money to drink a nice spirit, it should taste that way.
Try Middleton Very Rare. It's an Irish blend, one of the smoothest whiskeys I've had.
I'm a big Oban fan, but definitely pricey. Macallan and Highland Parks are favorites. Laphroaig 10 is completely over-the-top.
I had the Macallan 18 year old and needless to say I never went back to the 12 year old.
Besides, I'd be breaking the law
Lol. epic.
Lagavulin, 16 year
There's nothing like walking into a bar and ordering a whiskey neat after everyone in your party (guys included) decide on some fruity concoction. Here is my rotation:
Single Malt- Bushmills 16: Triple distilled and aged in three different kinds of wood. So many flavors influencing this brand that it is hard to describe. Vanilla flavored entry that turns into a swirl of oak, milk chocolate, brown sugar, and apricot. The heat and spice lingers just long enough before leaving coolly.
Blended Malt- Tullamore Dew: On the nose I notice a nice blend of roasted almonds and caramel with a hint of lemon. The palate consists of a rich nutty flavor, balanced wood flavors, leather, and yet more caramel. Has a nice citrus finish.
Bourbons- Maker's Mark: Nothing terribly unique about this but for the price and consistency it has few rivals (that and I just don't enjoy the traditional rye bourbons). Has a sweet nose without any hint of bitterness. The palate is an even sweeter molasses albeit ending abruptly.
Single Grain- Greenore 15: Started drinking this ~3 months ago and certainly made an impression. Swirl of honey and vanilla in the nose augmented by a creamy taste. The finish is lightning quick.
All Scotch Whiskys- Johnnie Walker: This was Winston Churchill's choice of drink while on the front lines of the Boer war and as the Prime Minister during WWII. Need I say more?
Whiskey For College- Fireball: $20 a bottle, tastes like big red bubblegum, and girls will actually drink it = winning
All around favorite- Jameson Original: Its not every day that I can purchase a $100+ bottle so for all occasions in between I rely on the old stalwart: sweet nose, creamy palate, and smooth finish. Especially delectable when paired with baileys and guinness to create the great Irish Car Bomb.
^^wow ... btw WC drank JW Red with soda
Later in life, that's true. Actually, he used to have one every morning before getting out of bed. He definitely took JWB to the Boer War, though because Red wasn't "invented" yet.
Personally I like Dalwhinnie, but I have to tell you, if you're willing to spend serious dough, theres some fucking delicious scotch out there. My dad threw down on a few bottles of Macallan 30 year over the holidays this year, and it was like a whole different world. A $800 per bottle world, but a glorious one none-the-less.
Still can't pick up on the differences between a great Lagavulin and some bottom shelf scotch. I might for a second, the burn of the alcohol hits. I guess I could try watering it down, but I know that distorts the flavor...and I hate to put water into a good scotch.
Oddly, I don't have this problem with bourbon. Woodford Reserve all the way.
Springbank 18y
Aberlour Single Malt Scotch Whisky. My personal favorite.
Talisker is great too
Whiskey is my first love when it comes to alcoholic beverages and I have a soft spot for Islay scotches. My favorites are the lagavulin 16, laphroaig quarter cask, and the Ardbeg 10 year.
Macallan or Glenlivet.
Talisker, Glenlivet great choices.
Drinking when looking to get smashed, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Chivas Regal, Crown Royal.
If you guys fancy something different try Dimple or Chivas Royal Salute. Another 2 of my favourites.
If you are into peaty single-mats, I'd give the Balvenie 12yr Doublewood a taste. Fairly reasonably priced. You can probably pickup a bottle for $35 to $40
Lots of great suggestions, looking forward to trying them all.
PS. The Bud Platinum was a joke, I am more of a Magic Hat #9 or belgium beer fan my self.
My favourites are in descending order: - Ardbeg Uigeadail - Glendronach 12y Original - Aberlour a'bunadh - Bunnahabhain 12Y - Macallan 12y Sherry cask - Balvenie 12y Single cask (ex Bourbon)
Glenlivet Nadurra 16yr Cask Strength is a great unique scotch that's available pretty much everywhere.
Booze (Originally Posted: 05/30/2011)
Hey I was wondering if any of the more sophisticated drinkers on the forum had any suggestions for a scotch to try for a first timer. I realize it doesn't make a lot of sense to drop a bunch of cash when you get to know your scotch and was wondering what would be a good lower priced brand to try? Also if anybody has any booze that they think is high quality for the price feel free to post. Who isn't looking to get fucked up on the best booze possible for the lowest price? Happy drinking monkeys.
oban 14 macallan 10 glenlivit 12 glenfiddich 12 jw green label Laphroaig Talisker 10 Bowmore 12
Pretty standard good stuff - wont cost you an arm and a leg.
i'd roll macallan 12 (better than 10 and not much more expensive) but rest of sleepless' list is legit
thank god. i thought this was going to be another pointless thread about consulting firm rankings.
Lagavuilin 16 is also not too expensive. (Even Talisker 18 is affordable, but the 10 is a good start).
Also if you come across Bunnahabein, it's a very mild and interesting whisky to try.
also, when figuring out what you like... its good to try your whisky a few ways a la; 1 singular ice cube, a proper amount of water, and simple neat. it does actually change the drink a bit based upon how you take it, and also helps you figure out what you like. for example something super peaty should generally be diluted just to quell the fire a bit. but something super elegant like mac 25 would be nearly criminal to fuck with.
side question: when out with a girl, how much do you judge her based upon what she drinks? i try not to let it bother me if a date insists on "any dark rum" and coke, but it can be the straw that breaks the camels back for someone who im on the fence about. anyone else share my pretension on this subject? this probably means im a dick, but whatever.
sleepless has a good list, I will also add my personal favorite among 'beginners' scotches - Glenmorangie. It's a bit more smokey than the others. Tastes like a fucking fireplace in an Alps chalet, I love it.
You won't taste the difference as a first timer
If you're a beginner, there were some good suggestions above, but my absolute favorite has yet to be mentioned. Balvenie. Absolutely fantastic, and for a newbie Balvenie 12 is rather mild and very smooth. Not too expensive either, definitely check it out.
I am not a big glenfiddich fan. I find it too sweet. Glenlivet is a good single malt 12 years or older, and johnnie black is a good blend. I like the glenlivet b/c its peaty and has a hint of toffee w. a good finish. My favorite is the 18 year.
I need to watch this thread.
Also, if you are in the UK go to Boisedale's, they just opened a new one in Canary Wharf. It's fantastic, basically any Scotch you can think of and great cigars to boot.
Scotch Recommendations Anyone (Originally Posted: 11/08/2012)
I need to get a bottle for a recommender, I'm looking to spend somewhere between 100 and 200 on a bottle, they love single malt scotch, I was looking at the Glenlivet Archive 21 Year, but any other recommendations would be appreciated.
You can't go wrong with a Balvenie. Your price range will allow you to get the 17. If you're looking for a smokey one, the Yamazaki is where it's at. I was fortunate enough to have someone pour me a glass of the 25 at one of my internships.
http://www.whiskymag.com/awards/wwa/2012/
johnny gold? no?
laphroaig
[quote=intlbanker153]You can't go wrong with a Balvenie. Your price range will allow you to get the 17. If you're looking for a smokey one, the Yamazaki is where it's at. I was fortunate enough to have someone pour me a glass of the 25 at one of my internships.
http://www.whiskymag.com/awards/wwa/2012/[/quote]
The man knows his scotch. I'm biased towards the Yamakazi myself.
intlbanker is right, Balvenie
Frieds' input is an absolute must here.
I am a big single malt guy myself, and it really depends on the flavor profile you are looking for. If you want something sweeter, more floral and honey, go with a dram from Speyside. Balvenie is a solid name with a wide selection, Glenlivet 12 is crap but the 18 yr is the real deal. If you want something smoky and dense, you want an Islay (thats EYE-Luh, so you dont sound like an idiot) and Laphroig is the big dog down there. All smoke and peat and iodine, but you want the younger bottles because as an Islay ages the smoke winds down. The Lagavulin 16 is solid as is Bunnahabain if you can find it. Ardbeg is a big name now as well and their specialty malts are all solid and in your price range.
Those happen to by my favorite two locales but there is also Talisker from isle of skye if you want something peppery or and old stand by Mccallan (12 is decent, 18 is fantastic, 10 yr fine oak is lighter or the cask strength if you want to taste a full strength sip)
All in all, if you really want to impress someone with Scotch, it isnt about the money you spend on the bottle but understanding what makes a great whiskey.
second this. Talisker and Mccallan are personal favorites
Macallan 18 - $150
As someone who just came from the Scottish Highlands and has a personal Scotch agent, pm me if you're serious.
Macallan is definitely good and is more well known to the newcomers. It was my go to when I started drinking single malts. One of my idiot friends was trying to impress an Associate at some bank and ordered us 3 Macallan 25s. $150, not including tip.
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