Better yet, get 'em a bottle of Lagavulin, and if they go "urgh," you can ensure that it doesn't go to waste.
Another vote for Dalwhinnie here, Aberlour also very nice and both speysides, if you want an Islay its gotta be bunahabhain.
Me and the wife are at opposite ends of the spectrum, she's on the Jura 10.
It's for 2 of my 3 principle lecturers at uni, the 3rd is getting Vodka (well...he is Russian afterall) Possibly a Kaufman.
Highland Park, I visited the distillery last week, great whisky. Voted Spirit of the Year.
Another vote for Aberlour A'Bunadh.
Fantastically deep flavour. [url= http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-160.aspx ]Some available here.[/url]
I agree Cougar, but Maker's Mark is a little spendy for my shallow pockets.
Is there a bad one?
I've yet to find one, and I have looked hard!
I was inspired...
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4753412748_74a71879b2_z.jp g" target="_blank">
teachers.
check out royal mile whiskies . com for ideas
if in doubt.... Talisker 🙂
You can get some interesting non-distillery bottlings such as this [url= http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-9183.aspx ]Macallan[/url] from the Whisky Exchange who also do some quite good deals
I'm a fan of Scapa myself, smooth, floral well rounded and very easy to drink. I frequent a shop in Tomintoul called the whisky castle, take a look at this place online. Amazing range of whisky, last time I left there hammered.
a nice wee dram is longmorn.40quid but its 15yr old i think but nice and smooth.glenrothes is another
Bruichladdich peat is nice went through a bottle recently lovely over ice
my current line up
[url= http://twitpic.com/2741uk ]
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I like the Welsh one.
Instead of buying 2 bottles of 10/12yo, buy one bottle of 18/25 yo and savour it.
The Welsh stuff is just very nice, the English Whisky is crap though.
I have a couple of bottles of Provenance Distillery whisky - both very nice, limited edition smooth drinks. No idea on cost though as they were both presents.
I like the Welsh one.
My considered opinion of Penderyn is it'll be alright once it's finished.
As far as I know, only scottish people can call their whisky 'whisky' rather than 'whiskey' or in fact anything else they choose to use.
Scotland should sue Wales for that one.
My English sister in law bought me a bottle of English Whisky to wind me up. To be fair, it's actually quite drinkable, pleasant, smooth etc. Alas, I'm wedded to Talisker.
Onywho, purchasing malts for them wot doesn't normally partake. Light and smooth is best. Try a Dalwhinnie, Aberlour, Glenlivet, or Oban.
Island malts can be an acquired taste. If smoky, peaty goodness tempts you, work the optic before shelling out. Jura, & Ben More for starters before trying Islay & Skye. 'Tis a short life, live it. Time for one more toot before bed.
night night.
Oban
Not the one from the distillery at the base of the Ben. That can be used for stripping paint
Quirrel
Do you mean Nevis? Great for stripping satinwood from a bannister.
I've always found Oban to be quite inoffensive, hence the suggestion.
I'm off to bed now.
cheers
Aye,
The Nevis.
Meths, pee and some soil in a bottle
Isle of Jura
Scapa 16 year is currently my favourite, not too heavy, floral, lightly spiced but all good whisky should be drunk as intended, straight.
I had a bottle of Ardbeg 17 about 10 years ago (before it changed hands)and that was great, I was going to recommend it and see that it now sell for £200. I think I paid about £40 it lasted a few years anyway.
Glen Ord 12 year old is a good one.
+1 on the Oban for something nice and drinkable in the middle ground
Penderyn - agreed, not a great attempt. my most recent tasting sesh in wales said that the welsh ones weren't too good, but Jura and Dalwinnie were enjoyable and i still like Talisker above most others. Can't remember the names of the others we tried now, just the ones i liked. after a dozen different tasters, it's hard to be a good judge, but easy to be a good drunk )
I just got a bottle of Cragganmore 1993 Distillers edition, not tried it yet, but thge 12 year old is delicious and really smooth, this has got to be better:
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I always found Oban to be a little bland, for a nice inoffensive speyside go for Balvennie Double Wood
Got back a few days ago from a family holiday up to Skye and the Highlands, stopped off at this place on the way up...
[url= http://www.thegreenwellystop.co.uk/whiskyshop/index.php ]Whisky Heaven[/url]
go for a decent rye - I picked up a bottle of Rittenhouse 100% proof bottled in bond for £22 a week ago. Fantastic stuff.
These people [url= http://masterofmalt.com ]are fantastic. They do tasters too[/url]
glenrothes malt if you can get it , about 28 a bottle very smooth.
or the macallan . my preferences but each to their own as i prefer a smoother malt
All of the Distillers Editions are pretty good.
Ooh - Benromach Organic. Best "bang for your buck" whisk(e)y there is.
Should call this site 'whiskytrackworld'
So many experts on what other people's tastes should be!
Just finished a bottle of Laphroaig, lovely. Opened a Dalwhinnie, lovely. tried Glenfarclas 105, lovely with water. Old Pulteney, lovely. Caol Isla, lovely. Etc etc etc...
I like using the Loch Fyne Whisky website for tasting notes www.lfw.co.uk
Easy to use the search to find what you like or use the word "ace" which are the reccomendations, and generally hit the spot. Then drill in by price and region/taste.
On what's been said above -
Balvenie Double Wood is good for those starting out - quite sweet and christmas cakey... and a joy to revisit for the same reasons.
Aberlour, Glenfarclas, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich get better with age, anything above 15 is worth paying extra - younger versions of these not so great
Highland Park is a staple - lovely spicey pepperyness - a great dram that always goes down well
Talisker - for some reason I get a bile vibe off this but I still like it.
Jura I simply don't get until the older expressions
Laphroig/Ardbeg and the Islays (except Bruichladdich) - if you like peat they are great. Bruichladdich stands almost alone but doesn't really come of age until 15+ at which point it's great. The younger ones are okay but sell on the marketting and the name of the older expressions rather than their own merits (IMHO)
Mortlach and Longmorn are both awesome big speysiders
Dalwhinnie is smooth and lovely
Old Pulteney - a friend has one of these open and I love going to his house... I really should get my own. Lovely briney almost tastes of the sea.
Benromach Organic - this almost tastes like a Bourbon... in fact it does taste exactly like a bourbon. I like it but it's not really like any other single malt - a very tasty curiosity.
18YO Jura is my current favorite.
Laphroig is good with a nice ceegar. Was given a Monte Cristo at a wedding the other week - lovely!
As already pointed out, the OP is asking specificly for Irish WhiskEy.
Macavity - MemberAs already pointed out, the OP is asking specificly for Irish WhiskEy.
Are you scotch by any chance? 🙂
FIRST LINE of thread
Scottish, 12+ years old if you please and sub £40.....go!
So the following is a TFF
As already pointed out, the OP is asking specificly for Irish WhiskEy.
The spelling is a punter error... live and learn... it's why questions get asked and answered... no wonder this place gets a bad reputation for smug twa*s (even ones that struggle to spell... do you pronounce it "pacifically" by any chance) 
