Any Scotch drinkers in the house?

[Pacem]

The last 2 years i've been getting into scotch. Drank a lot of Crown and water prior to moving on to scotch so an easy transition. I have quite a bit of Crown sitting in my liquor cabinet that does not get used. Funny how things change.

I am a blended guy. I've tasted some single malts, don't see why people are so snobby towards Blended scotch.

My scotch cabinet currently holds Johnnie Walker Blue, Platinum and Green. 12 yr Glenfiddich. Macallan (special reserve I think) and Chivas 12 year. While not a scotch, I do have the 40 Creek Barrel Select as well.

Johnnie Blue is just too over priced. My dad buys it all the time so after I am done my bottle, I likely wont buy another one and just enjoy a glass when I am at his place. I enjoy the Platinum and Green, I find the Green to be really tasty for the price. I do not like the Macallan. The Glenfiddich is ok. The 40 Creek bottle is tasty as well.

The Chivas is my drink to get drunk scotch. Same goes for the 40 Creek whiskey.

I'll be picking up another bottle soon from duty free. Not sure what to pick up. I've tried the Chivas 18yr and really liked it. I am debating between Chivas 18yr or 21yr, or just picking up a single malt. Last time I got a random single malt (the Macallan) I wasn't too happy. Any reccomendations from fellow CP'rs for a single malt would be appreciated and taken into consideration. Don't mind spending up to $200 for a bottle.

[Pacem]

I'll also ad, that I introduced my wife to scotch and she likes it. Biggest pain in the ass for me, lol.

Sometimes I just wanna sit down and sip a glass and relax. Now I have to pour glasses for 2! The #### isn't cheap and my bottles aren't lasting as long as I would like, lol. I liked her much better when I could just make her some drink with vodka in it, lol.

Also, anyone try those soap stones that you freeze and put into your glass? I like them. Gives the scotch a slight chill which is nice. A nice alternative to avoid putting in an ice cube. I drink it with the soap stones or neat not that picky anymore.

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by Flames89

Never met a bottle I didnt like

(above a certain "price point")

4.5 years later, and I still stand by this.

[Max Cow Disease]

Originally Posted by Pacem

Also, anyone try those soap stones that you freeze and put into your glass? I like them. Gives the scotch a slight chill which is nice. A nice alternative to avoid putting in an ice cube. I drink it with the soap stones or neat not that picky anymore.

I bought them just the other day and concur with your assessment. Keeps the drink from getting unpleasurably warm in your hand.

Sent from my Nexus 7

[troutman]

True connoisseurs sniff Scotch Guard.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by dammage79

To be fair, I had the same result with Rum and Sambuca. Cannot stand the smell of it anymore. I mean Sambuca is really easy to hate. I would really like to try a bottle of Balvenie 12.

Start drinking real Rum. Stuff like Captain Morgan's is garbage. I got sick off Captain Morgan's about 15 years ago, and still cannot stand the smell of the processed North American "rums" they serve in bars. The real thing though, from the Carribean or South America, is great.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

I'm just getting into it myself, but this is my scotch of choice thus far. By god, its so smooth!

I had a bottle of that stuff. I find it very middle of the road.

Best scotch in my collection by far is my Highland Park 25 year that my groomsmen bought me as a wedding present. Unbelievable scotch.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Flacker

Any other suggestions out there to get quality single malts without getting hosed?

Co-op is okay price wise, but Costco and Superstore are better.

I found Willow Park reasonable, and an unbelievably knowledgable staff. Take a cab if you plan on sampling there.

[Kybosh]

I've been working through some Dalwhinnie 15 year single malt. Not too shabby. I rarely drink scotch in the spring/summer but love it during the colder months.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I had a bottle of that stuff. I find it very middle of the road.

Best scotch in my collection by far is my Highland Park 25 year that my groomsmen bought me as a wedding present. Unbelievable scotch.

(shrug)

well out of the three I've had, I like it the best.

the others I've had are glenfiddich (too peaty for my liking) and kilkerran, which was smooth as well, but I didnt care for the aftertaste

[Minnie]

So just to get it out of the way, I'm completely uneducated on scotch. Multiple friends rave about it. I would like to try it but I don't want to buy a bottle of swill. Short of going over the pond to Scotland/Ireland and doing a tasting tour, are there tasting tour type things in Calgary at all? I'd like to be able to sample several different kinds (brands?) to find which I like most.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Minnie

I'd like to be able to sample several different kinds (brands?) to find which I like most.

I kind of alluded to it in my last post. Head down to Willow Park. They'll get a feel for what your tastes are and let you sample away. I think I tried about 5 different ones and they've got a now got a customer for life.

[Minnie]

Oh jeeze, so you did. Skimmed and missed it, I guess. Thanks!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Minnie

So just to get it out of the way, I'm completely uneducated on scotch. Multiple friends rave about it. I would like to try it but I don't want to buy a bottle of swill. Short of going over the pond to Scotland/Ireland and doing a tasting tour, are there tasting tour type things in Calgary at all? I'd like to be able to sample several different kinds (brands?) to find which I like most.

In all honesty, before you buy a bottle maybe just spend a little less and try some at a pub/restaurant. If you have a friend who drinks it that might be a start as well, rather than spending $85 on a bottle that you have sitting forever.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

(shrug)

well out of the three I've had, I like it the best.

Just saying it's not terrible, but you can do better.

Originally Posted by Minnie

So just to get it out of the way, I'm completely uneducated on scotch. Multiple friends rave about it. I would like to try it but I don't want to buy a bottle of swill. Short of going over the pond to Scotland/Ireland and doing a tasting tour, are there tasting tour type things in Calgary at all? I'd like to be able to sample several different kinds (brands?) to find which I like most.

Personally, I'd recommend the Highland Park 12 year. It's a great all round scotch for not a lot of money.

[jeffh]

If you guys are ever down in Cancun, the airport Duty-Free shop has a pretty good selection of Scotch's. I picked up the Balvennies Double Casked for $42US, slight sale price.

Highland park eh, I'll be on the lookout for that one. Thanks.

[Raekwon]

I know crowfoot liquor holds scotch tasting events (among others like rum) and also you can buy samples before you buy of some scotch.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Slava

In all honesty, before you buy a bottle maybe just spend a little less and try some at a pub/restaurant. If you have a friend who drinks it that might be a start as well, rather than spending $85 on a bottle that you have sitting forever.

Oh good hell, no frigging way am I spending good money on a bottle of anything without having tried it first. Wine, scotch, whatever. We rarely drink so I don't get a lot of chance to try something new, hence looking at doing a tasting tour type thing.

Originally Posted by Raekwon

I know crowfoot liquor holds scotch tasting events (among others like rum) and also you can buy samples before you buy of some scotch.

Thanks Raekwon!

[cavalera403]

I attend my first scotch tasting at willow park this past November and I loved every second of it. I have been drinking scotch for the last 3 years and have grown myself a nice little collection.

My first bottle of scotch that I purchased myself was the Ardbeg 10 year old and that is a hell of a way to start. Not for everyone but I love the super big fresh peat in it and it has had me hooked on Islay ever since.

For anyone who is just starting in scotch and does not know a lot about it my first recommendation would always be Highland Park 12. For the price it can not get any better for giving you a great idea of what the world of whisky has in store for you. There are fruit notes and honey and carmel and just a little smoke. In my mind it is a great start because you can then pick out things that you like and things that you may not care for so much. This will give you a great compass to use when you go to make your next selection. Be it that you are buying a new bottle or a glass at Buchanan's.

If you don't like the smell of earthy, peaty, tossing a few handfulls of leaves on the campfire stay away from most of the Islay stuff.

As for my collection I have
Ardbeg 10
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg 16 independent
Laphroaig 10 ( in my mind I like this better than the quarter cask)
Lagavulin 12 special release 2008
Highland Park 1994 special edition
Highland park 12
Highland park 18 ( In my humble opinion one of the best drams you can by for around 100 bucks)
Imperial 1997 Independent bottling at cask strength. Someone stated before about trying some of the independent bottlers and I have to agree.
Aberlour A'bunadh batch 37
Bruichladdich 18 rum cask ( Not up my ally and I wish I had of tried this before i bought it. smells like rum on the nose and tastes like scotch. odd )
Bruichladdich 12 second edition ( This is what i will reach for second behind the highland park 18)
Bruichladdich Black arts edition 2
Bowmore 12
Miltonduff 1998 bottled 2010 independent
Dalmore Gran Reserva ( I am not a fan of this but if you like chocolate and oranges and a little spice this is your dram)

[cavalera403]

Also youtube has some good stuff on there.
Always take it with a big grain of salt but one who has put out a ton of videos is ralfystuff. If you are thinking about getting something check to see if he has a review up and you can at least get a bit of an idea of what you might be in for.


One last thing for those who don't like scotch Bruichladdich has released their own gin. It is called the botanist and it is pretty good. Distilled right in the same place as all of their scotch whisky.