[Closed] Whisky for non whisky drinker

One of the double cask ones would be worth a go. Usually smoother and a little sweeter (in a good way)

aberlour double cask Is a 12 year old that’s often discounted in the big supermarkets.

Edit to say that there’s a few places who do wax sealed small measures if you fancy trying various different ones. Master of malt being one that seem popular. I’ve never used them personally but they have a BIG selection.

Red Breast 12 yr old Irish Whiskey.

You try a Glengoyne?

[url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/Glengoyne-Highland-Single-Scotch-Whisky/dp/B00IXL9MGG ]Glengoyne-Highland-Single-Scotch-Whisky[/url]

I too am a non-whisky drinker, but right now I'm drinking some of this and its delicious:

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/19195/strathisla-12-year-old

Can't go wrong with Jamesons. Not sure if that's heresy here or not. But I've never had a bad one 🙂

Can't go wrong with a bottle of highland park.

Just go for a basic/popular one. A run of the mill Dalwhinnie should suffice, nice & smooth, not very complicated, won't smash the bank.

I LOVE [s]TCP[/s] Laphroaigh!

Woodford Reserve - Bourbon so ideal for non-whisky drinkers! Or if you want a whisky Aberlour 12. Haven't seen it on a really good offer currently but the 10 year old is in Tesco at £22.

10 yo Aberlour
Springbank

2nd the Woodford Reserve, very smooth, quite sweet, nice bottle (which is more important to my choice of drink than it should be) and very drinkable.

10 year old Aberlour

Unbeatable for under 50 notes IMO

I don't drink it, and it's orrible...

Thanks all - JD? Can't recall ever having it - am out on a heavyish one tomorrow night followed by an all-dater Sat. I will try to try a few! Hic!

£50? You joking?

Cask strength Caol Ila - if you can find it - is a masterpiece of the distiller's art.
Quick check online 2006 cask strength 60.2% £75 from harvey nicks.

More, and betterer, rum is the answer to your question.

Mount Gay XO. Three ice cubes. Job done.

£50? You joking?

No, it's 22 quid a bottle at the moment, normally 30. But it beats anything else up to 50

IMO

I'll see your Aberlour and raise you

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/1814/dalwhinnie-15-year-old

Bloody wonderful.

See, I just knew people would suggest what they love the most.
It's all a matter of taste.

OP, try a basic Speyside for starters. Any will do, really. If you like the basic taste of say a Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Aberlour etc, then you can experiment/taste the more exotic & expensive stuff. No point spending ££'ss on a 25-30 yr old & not liking it.

Bunnahabhain 12 yr old is my actual favourite, but.....

I have become very fond of Monkey Shoulder and Bushmills, served with a large ice cube and an equal measure of ginger ale, a nice crystal tumbler makes all the difference too!

Highland Park should see you right. Or a blend, Chives Regal. Jamesons and the like are OK too.

Or just stick with the rum.

By your list, you prefer Speyside. A Dalwhinnie 12 year old will likely be to your taste. Balvenie (especially the Doublewood) should knock your socks off.

famous grouse smokey black blend,...not all that smokey...only £15 in ASDA,...my go to.

Consider a good rum, whiskey is gross.

Can't go wrong with a bottle of highland park

Mrs taxi doesn't like whiskey but will happily have a HP, so there's your answer.

Balvenie Doublewood and Balvenie Caribbean have both recently been on Amazon deals, I bought a couple of each as Xmas presents but we’ll see if they last long enough, might have to sacrifice a Caribbean as it’s my fav winter whisky to nod off to in front of the fire

[url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_3_9?url=search-alias%3Dalcohol&field-keywords=balvenie+whisky&sprefix=Balvenie+%2Caps%2C601&crid=XST451HY0H21 ]Edit : still on offer[/url] but I see the Doublewood is now £37 rather than the £32 it was last week

Balvenie is a good shout.

Dalwhinnie too.

I'd add Ardbeg to the list as a more approachable Islay.

Jura, Highland Park.

Yep. Jura Superstition, Highland Park, both to be found for about £25 in the right supermarkets.

Some interesting suggestions here. Not my personal favourites but the Glenmorangie Lasanta (festive?!) and Quinta Ruban are very smooth easy drinkers. One is sherried and one port cask. Tomintoul or Glen Grant nice choices for more typical easy drinking Scotch.

Jura for the more immature palate. Either origin or superstition.

10yr old Aberlour, lovely.

But this is a real treat,

[url= https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/yamazaki-distillers-reserve-whisky-70cl?langId=44&storeId=10151&krypto=fogeM7RDsvCbwVF5sf%2BOa9kiu8DSZW8Y092N5G3n1L0smKTx0ExrzfotqFABdGorZ0zsZaLsJ2AE%2Fu13sGWcfYsULKoFuOUbwjm5jIbshmgUA8z2c0m%2Bf2TFDJQDlum49JekqptGBsva0qKbjMy3etLeyJvgBGv2%2FqxX72Q1PZI%3D&ddkey=https%3Agb%2Fgroceries%2Fyamazaki-distillers-reserve-whisky-70cl ]Japanese whiskey [/url]

Sainsbury, £45. Yamazaki 12 year old single malt, distillers reserve.

I personally love the peated ones but the glenfiddich 15 solera is gorgeous and the only non peated I drink

If you don't fancy peaty ones then Ledaig (from the Tobermory distillery) is very nice.

I'm not a whisky drinker either ..but my tipple of choice would be an Irish whiskey .Jamesons +Canada Dry + Ice .
Of the Whisky I have tried in the past its been the Speyside brands mentioned above that I have favoured.
If you have the time go and drink yourself into oblivion trying this bars range of over 400 malt whiskies until you find one you like 🙂
http://www.sligachan.co.uk/seumas-bar/

Another vote for bourbon. Maker's Mark or Bulleit would be my recommendations. Used to like scotch, switched to bourbon and the occasional bottle of rum. Much nicer. Tried a single malt the other week and not impressed.

I'd add Ardbeg to the list as a more approachable Islay.

No No No.

It's about the smokiest whisky going, I'd really not reccomend it at all given the OP.
Bloody lovely mind, just be aware of quite how smokey it is prior to buying!

Another one I would recommend is Nikka Straight from the Barrel. Japanese loveliness, but a little more expensive as it come in 50cl bottles not the normal 75cl.

I suggest this:

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I did a whisky tasting experience thing at a stag and out of the 8 or so, that was the only one I liked. All the rest were too peaty for me.

It spends a while in bourbon casks before going into sherry casks which gives it a nice sweet flavour.

I'd agree about Ardbeg (my wife bought me a bottle of their annual special, this year's is called Kelpie), Caol Isla might be a contender for the smokiest though!

Generally the Speyside based malts are less peaty/smokey. Another to throw in the mix is Mortlach but it's not one you tend to see outside specialist whisky shops.

Anyone tried Scapa Orcadian? I was tempted to get a bottle of this the other day.

I'm REALLY enjoying my whisky at the moment, although mostly smokey ones so no help to the OP.

Nobody has mentioned adding water though, the only way I can really sit and savour a whisky is with some water in it, otherwise it just burns on the way down and then gives me heartburn... 😳

if you're a Whisky newbie, you can do a lot worse than a bottle of Aldi's £17 Speyside Single Malt.

It's good, fairly rich, a bit sweet, not too challenging (ie in the same kind of taste ballpark as Glenfiddich et al), and better IMO than most things you'll find costing £10 more. A good entry point I think 🙂

Don't most 'serious ' whisky drinkers suggest a drop of water ?

The thing about Ardbeg is it's waaaaay lighter than most Islays, and I think it's the heaviness rather than the smokiness which puts a lot of people off.

Some excellent suggestions in this thread.

I'd suggest a sherry finish as it's a sweeter taste but most of the standard "breakfast whiskies" will see you good.

Ones I like that fall within your remit.

Aberlour 10 - pretty much always £22 and a decent drink
Dalmore - the 15 is divine
Dalwhinnie Double Wood - yum
Glengoyne - If you are ever offered the 21 year old sherry grab it. 21 years in a sherry cask and it tastes like Christmas cake.
Glenmorangie -
Glenfiddich - esp 15 Year Old Solera
The Glenrothes - yum
Singleton

* Haig Clubman - It's a blend, I can't stand it but my wife loves it. Very light and always on offer for around £15.

* Aldi have a 29 year old Glen Marnoch in just now at £40 which isn't too shabby.

Ones that knock my socks off:

Aberlour A’bunadh - This is amazing, cask strength so needs a few drops of water, usually on offer around Christmas time in supermarkets

Glengoyne 21 sherry cask. Over £100 but utterly amazing (if you like a heavy sherry finish)

Bunnahabhain 12 - A lovely whisky and again can often be found on offer. Surprisingly tasty and I always look out for this.

Basically any of the ones you can find in a supermarket that aren't peaty will be decent.

Don't be afraid to add a few drops (literally 1 or 2 drops) of water, or as much as you like to taste. It's about enjoying a drink not being a whisky bore.

Also as previously suggested, perhaps buy a range of miniatures. While it is
way more expensive this way, you will get to try so many different whiskies and expressions and might find one that blows you away.