Its my brothers stag do in a few weeks time and we are doing a whiskey tasting session on one of the evenings (he loves Scottish whiskey). I need to bring a nice bottle, don’t want to spend a bomb but want something he will enjoy. Any advice? I don’t have a clue….

I don’t know your brother, and I don’t really know whisky other than ‘what I like’, but I’m loving my bottle of Smokehead at the moment, as the name suggests it’s very smokey (also known as ‘anti-septicy’) but it’s great, the woman who sold it to me recommended it on the basis that ‘you’ll smack your lips in three hours time and still taste it’.

The bottle/tin/branding is all a bit different too, think hard rock and skulls rather than the usual sort of whisky branding.

Oooooo 🙂

Buy the cheapest shit you can find and secretly keep giving that to your brother while the rest of you enjoy the good stuff.

Stag do’s are not for being nice to the stag!

Smokey sounds good. He like the really Petey ones like Laphroaig.

When is the stag? I’m off to Japan in a couple of weeks, and can bring you back a bottle of my favourite “Nikka Whisky from the barrell” a cask strength Japanese whisky. £50 over here, I can get it for £20 ish plus postage, and I can pretty much guarantee he won’t have tried it before. It’s well rated on here.

Hi Dan. Amazing offer, thank you, stag is 1st April so a bit soon but I will check out the Nikka Whiskey. £50 is just within budget so could be a good option.

in other news I just found a 70cl bottle for £35,000!! I’m in shock, who actually buys that?

As a slightly different option, why not go on to Whiskypurveyor or Whiskyexchange and get a number of sample bottles? you could get a load of samples from each of the regions or distilleries so that he/you could get an idea of what you all liked.

Even cheaper!

Price has dropped since last time I looked here – only £33 now! Highly recommend. I bring a lot back for big whisky drinking mates.

That’s a nice idea in regards to the sample bottles, I will take a look.

If he likes Peaty/Smokey ones, then Ardbeg could be worth a go, although its too much for me.
Talisker is a good option.
Highland Park and Jura Superstition have a hint of Smokeyness to them without it being overpowering.

Plumz, you may think it’s pedantry, but it will make a big difference to your searches if you spell it right! Whisky (no E) is Scottish – Whiskey is Irish…

I know you can get Japanese Whisky – some of it is very good, don’t know about Japanese Whiskey

Well that’s a new one to me in regards to the spelling, noted.

Also tending to smoky but coming in a range of prices you’ll find Bowmore might fit the bill

I’m off to Japan in a couple of weeks, and can bring you back a bottle of my favourite “Nikka Whisky from the barrell”

My son got me some of that for a birthday couple of years ago.

Effin lovely!

If you like Islay smoky whisky, then try a blended one called “Big Pete”. Had a bottle of this from a recent whisky festival. If you like Islay then you will love it.

If he likes Peaty/Smokey ones, then Ardbeg could be worth a go, although its too much for me.
Talisker is a good option.

Pretty much what I was going to say. Talisker (used to?) do a Distiller’s Edition, which is wonderful.

Whisky (no E) is Scottish – Whiskey is Irish…

As a rule of thumb, whiskey is Irish and American, whisky is pretty much “everything else.” There are exceptions with odd distilleries though.

The story goes that the Irish used a different spelling to distance themselves from what was then viewed to be inferior Scotch whisky (and America kept the Irish spelling via Irish settlers).

I know you can get Japanese Whisky – some of it is very good, don’t know about Japanese Whiskey

I’ve yet to have a bad one, TBF.

Highland Park gets another vote.

I’d go 12yr Caol Ila or two bottles of Jamesons 8)

whiskey is Irish and American

On a tangent, do the Yanks make any “proper” whisky/whiskey? Or is it all sweet bourbon?

The Lagavulin 16 is so good that I thought after the bottle was finished that I’d ruined whisky for myself forever!

Reason being that it was so nice that I didn’t think I’d be able to enjoy any others after tasting it, and it was £40 – £50 a bottle so wouldn’t be able to afford it very often.

But then I found the Aberlour 12, which is probably the best bang for your buck out there. Relatively inexpensive (£25-ish), and tastes like it could cost £50.

he loves Scottish whiskey

Impossible, the Scots make whisky. The Irish make whiskey. 😉

Order a bottle of Tobermory 12yr old or the glenlivet 15yr French oak. They are both still available and both discontinued.

That Nikka is bloody lovely. I got a bottle passing an off licence in Kensington.
Smokey, I love an Ardbeg. Otherwise, why not go for an English Whisky, just to be different. My Dad bought me a bottle of The English Smokey whisky from the highlands of Norfolk. Very good but don’t drink after Nikka as it tastes like hoof wash!

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/st-georges-distillery/the-english-smokey-whisky/

This Australian whisky is a bit different https://www.houseofmalt.co.uk/product/starward/
It’s very good, quite highly sherried.
Some very good Bourbons and rarer whisky’s on the above house of malt site too.

Thank you for every ones help. I have just brought a bottle of the Nikka from the barrel and also now feel slightly more educated on all things Whiskey and Whisky so perhaps I can even join the discussions whilst tasting rather than just nodding and agreeing.

For the record I don’t really like whisky and I don’t really drink…

🙂

If anyone else needs an idea for the do, then Bowmore is at £25 in Sainsburys at the moment. A little bit more sophisticated than Laphraoig…

THis remains the nicest drop I’ve ever tasted.

£50

I prefer Hibiki 17.

Bowmore is at £25 in Sainsburys at the moment. A little bit more sophisticated than Laphraoig…

Now there’s a provocative statement!

I love both, but some might say Bowmore was a little less complex than the big L.

THis remains the nicest drop I’ve ever tasted.

Interesting, I’d like to try more Jap whisky, but really we need a list of all the varieties you’ve tasted.

😉

Impossible, the Scots make whisky. The Irish make whiskey.

No, that’s not true. Both spellings are correct, and it’s merely convention that denotes usage. Scotch is sold as “whiskey” in some markets.

But then I found the Aberlour 12, which is probably the best bang for your buck out there. Relatively inexpensive (£25-ish), and tastes like it could cost £50.

My best “bang for your buck” dram is the Benromach Organic. It’s around £35, can be had for less if you shop around, and it is superb. Beats many others at twice the price.

If you can find it Old Perth is a fine whisky (blended malt) at around £25-£30 bottle and the Sherry Finish is superb at a couple of quids more.
Mortlach (Speyside) is another cracker, the 15 yo is nice https://www.masterofmalt.com/distilleries/mortlach-whisky-distillery/

I need to bring a nice bottle, don’t want to spend a bomb but want something he will enjoy. Any advice?

15yr old from Glenfarclas or the 105. As it’s a stag do, serve the 105 neat to your brother 😀 (it’s 60% ABV and usually a bit of water is needed).

I would have recommended the Nikka Taketsuru 21yo that I have in my cupboard, but I think that retails in the U.K. for£100+ Mine came from Narita Airport DUty Free for £27!!! Not seen it anywhere in Japan since.

Now there’s a provocative statement!

I love both, but some might say Bowmore was a little less complex than the big L.

You’re right, but complexity != sophistication…

Highland Park 12 is good value
Laphroaig Quarter Cask amongst the Islay ones
Springbank

Laphroaig QC is currently going for £24 if you have a Costco membership…