[Closed] So, I'm getting into whisky....

Aberlour is lovely, my favourite scotch. I also like Jamesons which isn't a single malt but is very nice and maybe a bit cheaper. Go to a specialist whisky shop and have a few tasters. I couldn't get on with Talisker but have enjoyed Highland park and the Glenrothes, for a few more. Glenmorangie is very nice, Connor McCleod drinks it in Highlander!! 😀 defo get a bottle of Aberlour, you wont' regret it.

if you like Dalwhinnie, try Edradour. it is very nice.

Highland Park 18yr old. expensive but worth every penny

Also get yourself a nice tasting glass for your whisky.

Ask for a bottle of Uigeadail. That should nip a potentially expensive hobby in the bud nicely, saving you a fortune in the long run.

Jura Superstition
Bruchladdich
Cardhu
Talisker Storm
Aberlour

all suit my palate....

If you like Dalwhinnie then Balvennie Double Wood is a nice one to try. Also try Dalmore and Macallan

If you want to try some peatier whisky then Highland Park or Talisker is a good place to start.

you will probably enjoy 'The Yamazaki' 10 yr old as well if you like the softer malts.

defo get a bottle of Aberlour, you wont' regret it

MIL just brought a bottle of that round 8)

Some expensive tastes up there! Jura was on my list, but I fancy getting a range in....

It's great starting a new hobby!

If you are going to get 6 bottles experiment a little and try some from different areas with differing flavour profiles to see what else you like or dislike.

Given that you like Glen Moray and Dalwhinnie you could try the likes of Balvennie, Glenfiddich, Glengoyne (18 yo is very nice), Macallan.

If you wanted to try something slightly more peated then Highland Park, Talisker or Bunnahabhain would be worth a taste.

Heavily peated options like Laproig and Lagavulin are very peaty and not to my taste but worth a try in the pub to see if you like it.

If you like a coastal tipple then Oban, Old Pulteney or Scapa are my personal favourites. Old Pulteney 21 yo is my all time favourite. Bit pricey though.

Don't discount Irish whiskey, it tends to be triple distilled and very smooth. Jameson, Black Bush (both blends) and Bushmills 10 yo malt are all excellent.

Aberlour was £20 a bottle in Sainsbury's last night.
Morrison's had a few well priced single malts too.

+1 for requesting a decent crystal tumbler to drink out of, they normally come in a pair. Just don't let the wife put it in the dishwasher like mine did and had to get the same present again for my birthday.

I'll second the Yamazaki, I was very pleased with it. The organic Bruichladdich is one of my favs.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is rather nice.

I drink it from a port glass for the improved sniffing

Not even lunch time and two bottles in, good lad

Bowmore any of th single casks, Glenrothes sherry casks and bushmills 10 yrs for me, all very different

+1 for requesting a decent crystal tumbler to drink out of, they normally come in a pair.

No.

The Glencairn glass is what you want. A tumbler won't focus the aromas in the same way, you'll miss half of the drink.

In addition to the above. Scapa from Orkney and Glenlivit, a Speyside. The Campbeltown malts get well reviewed but I haven't tried one for a wee while.

Waitrose are doing 20% off quite a few malts at the moment.

nice nosing glass is great; crystal feels great but is wrong shape as Cougar says.

Also try - Springbank. Glen Elgin, Mortlach for lesser known Speysides. Ardbeg for peaty monster.

nice nosing glass is great; crystal feels great but is wrnong shape as Cougar says.

Stop the presses; problem solved!

[img] [/img]

http://www.wineware.co.uk/the-glencairn-official-cut-crystal-whisky-glass-set-of-2

I never knew that existed. Cor.

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my standard recommendations...

[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Whiskies-Before-Revised-Updated/dp/0755360834/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385730515&sr=8-1&keywords=100+whiskeys+to+try+before+you+die ]100 whiskies to try before you die[/url]

[img] [/img]

[url= http://www.glencairnwhiskyglass.com/ ]a Glencairn glass[/url]

[img] [/img]

And [url= http://www.youtube.com/user/ralfystuff/videos ]Ralfy[/url] is always entertaining, if a little eccentric (a good thing).

Oh yeah,

Have a look at [url= http://www.masterofmalt.com/samples/ ]Drinks by the Dram[/url]. It's not the most cost-effective means of buying whisky, but it'll let you taste things which would otherwise be prohibitively expensive, and also help you avoid making an expensive mistake on something you don't like.

Tesco also have a few deals on some nice single malts, namely Dalwhinne 15 YO for £25, as is Talisker 10 YO.

a few I've had recently and liked are

Arran 14yr
Clynelish 14yr
Balvennie
Jura Elixir
Glenkinchie

and for a bit of peatiness try Caol Ilsa

I tried the new range Macallan Gold last year and would not recommend it to anyone, stay clear of that one.

http://www.waitrose.com/shop/Browse/Groceries/Wine_and_Drinks/Spirits_and_Liqueurs/Whiskey_and_Bourbon/Malt_Whisky#_

So, I'm getting into whisky....

Uh oh...

Ask for a bottle of Uigeadail. That should nip a potentially expensive hobby in the bud nicely, saving you a fortune in the long run.

if you drink it neat.
add a drop of water and it is a totally different drink. blows my mind.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the [url= https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/product-range/drinks/spirits/spirits-product-detail/ps/p/highland-black-8-year-old-scotch-whisky/ ]Aldi Highland Black 8y[/url] @ just £13!

An IWSC gold medal winner...so I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised!

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well, you've educated me about the glass. I've just added to my crismas list.

This is great, cheers all.

I've got a Glencairn glass from my visit to the Glenfiddich distillery a few years ago.

I hate drinking whisky from it, because of the narrowness of the opening you have to tip your head back to take a sip, it's just not conducive to sitting by the fire and relaxing with a malt.

Plus it's bollox that whisky tastes different or that you're missing half the drink, I've tried it, can't tell any difference at all.

What ever you end up doing, take it easy wontcha... A thick head in the morning is nothing to be proud of.
😉

Plus it's bollox that whisky tastes different or that you're missing half the drink, I've tried it, can't tell any difference at all.

Surprised nobody's mentioned Glenfarclas, especially the 15yo, as a lesser known but very worthy Speyside, nevermind all the big commercial names...

If you're going to make it a hobby then at least hunt out some of the alternatives. And don't listen to those who say you shouldn't add water - drink how you want; personally I find a splash of water takes the edge off the alcohol and allows the flavours to come to the fore, especially on the heavier/peatier/stronger whiskys.

Islands - depends how peaty you like 'em. I'm not keen on overly peated stuff myself but like the Buichladdich unpeated range, just finished a bottle of the 16yo.

Also just breaking in to a bottle of Glenfarclas 105 cask strength - a very hearty winter warmer that I shall enjoy sipping whilst sat on the sofa, wearing a big chunky cardigan and watching the snow fall outside (unfortunately no wood fire to complete the full experience)...

Oh and just to add, I use a Glencairn...

http://www.drambusters.com

Tried some Tomintoul last month when I was staying in......Tomintoul just a short distance away from the new Glenlivet trail. Glenlivet is also nice 😀

Plus it's bollox that whisky tastes different or that you're missing half the drink, I've tried it, can't tell any difference at all.

Fortunately, a failure of your palette does not impair the rest of us.

don't listen to those who say you shouldn't add water - drink how you want

"Drink how you want" is probably the best advice on this thread. We can offer suggestions as to how you might get more out of it but ultimately if it doesn't work for you, it's not mandatory.

With regards to water, I'd suggest that you add water literally a drop at a time; a single drop will often dramatically change the flavour of the drink (and not always for the better). Some drams will explode with flavour, others whimper and die.

Macallan

Then try the Islay malts for a bit of smoke?

Laphroaig
Lagavulin

Try Glenkinchie if you like Dalwhinnie. Quite similar although not quite as delicate. They did a limited run in maderia casks a couple of years ago and that was a cracking dram.

If you want to try a contrast Laphroaig is a good strong one. But don't waste money on the older more expensive bottle. The standard 10 year old is the best of the lot (so me and two whiskey loving mates decided after a blind taste last month!).

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is rather nice.

* "Rome was built on seven hills, Dufftown stands on seven stills"

Plus it's bollox that whisky tastes different or that you're missing half the drink, I've tried it, can't tell any difference at all.

SWMS - £6.50.
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or

Riedel - £40 for 2 🙂
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Maybe it's because my palate and sense of smell is so good that I don't need a glass to concentrate the aromas for me?

That said, I am a firmly of the opinion that if you believe something is better, you probably do experience more pleasure and satisfaction from it, and vice versa. Like low oxygen directional speaker cables.

So maybe it's my frustration with the drinking experience that these glasses offer that impacts on my perceived enjoyment overall, which negates the claimed aroma benefits?

Anyway, this is the glass I like to use, lovely and heavy.

[img] [/img]

What ever you end up doing, take it easy wontcha... A thick head in the morning is nothing to be proud of.

I'm glad someone said this.

I have always gone carefully, but I know a couple of people who have damaged themselves of an evening with a nice bottle and it's ruined whisky for them. Which is a pity.

Blog of a schoolmate of mine that might be of use/interest:

[url=thewhiskyphiles.wordpress.com]The Whiskyphiles[/url]

need a corrected URL dave -- http://thewhiskyphiles.wordpress.com/

looks interesting on first read. My boss has an aptitude for tasting (!) and seems to be able to identify characteristics in regions and stills pretty well. I can't imagine the practice he's had though 🙂

Blog of a schoolmate

is he old enough to be drinking?

+1 for Lagavulin, always have a bottle on my shelf.

Jura Superstition
Aberlour
and my favourite - Macallan Gold 😆

Cheers Callum - the work computer/network was playing up when I was trying to do that so gave up and went out on the new 'cross bike for an hour instead...

is he old enough to be drinking?

Probably should have said, old schoolmate of mine...!

What ever you end up doing, take it easy wontcha... A thick head in the morning is nothing to be proud of.

I'm glad someone said this.

I have always gone carefully, but I know a couple of people who have damaged themselves of an evening with a nice bottle and it's ruined whisky for them. Which is a pity.

Nevermind the hangover, it's the bank balance that can be seriously damaged after a good session - once incurred a bar bill of over £90 just for myself on a rather indulgent and careless tasting session (Mezzo in Elgin so probably serves me right...).

Buy this and give me the flask

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Aberlour 10 is nicer than the Aberlour 12 IMO.

Jura is nice too.

As mentioned 18yo Highland Park stands out IMO
Balvenie Doublewood
18yo Caol Illa

Although whiskey rather than whisky I reckon Bushmills is a good introduction. Sherried and very smooth.

I managed to drop on a glass of this in a pub in Newcastle the other night

it is SO GOOD !!!!

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-12821.aspx

Jura is the On One of Whisky, great value but you just know there is much better out there if only you are prepared to pay for it.

(Disclosure: I have a 456 and a Pompino)

[url= http://www.singlemaltsdirect.com/collector-s-corner/special-editions-commemorative-and-one-off-bottles/macallan-42-year-old-rarest-1969-decanter.html ]This[/url] comes with glasses. 😕

Mezzo! should have headed round 20 yards and I'd have provided drams for half that ::)

'cross bike, what'd you get?

Felt F5X like the one in Fresh Goods...

Ha! Yeah well, maybe next time!

Just picked up a bottle of Jura Origin for £22 from Tesco.

Caol Ila and balvenie for me.

I did like 15 yo Laphroig (but it's been about 15 years since I last tried it....).

But Caol Ila is my favourite...

I think my wife read this thread...

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Normal tipple is a Laphroaig (Quarter cask) - I like the edgy seaweed flavour. For en easy drink for guests, I have a Jura Origin - nice and honeyed.

Im after some new glasses for xmas - hopefully not more than £20 a pair.

Royal Locnagar (sp) (I’ve tried a couple, all nice – my dad’s favourite)
Scarpa 16 yo, was being sold cheapish on the ferry, v smooth – not seen it since to get more.
Glenmorangie (I’ve tried a few, all nice – my port version got necked with coke… Still not happy).
Woodford Reserve (I know, a bourbon but very nice, intense and then really complex - I like a dash of water with it)
Jameson reserve – brilliant.

Not impressed with Glenfiddich 18 yo or any of the peaty (read TCP/medicinal) ones from islay.

I know nothing about whiskey really, just what I like the taste of. Not a fan of the smoky (Island) whiskeys, but definitely prefer the highland whiskeys.

MacAllan Gold - Personal favourite after trying a few in Edinburgh

Just started attending the village whiskey club and one that surprised us all was Hibiki 12. Everyone liked. May treat myself.

I was a bourbon drinker for years and only over the last few years got in to Scotch. Still not too keen on anything overly peaty, I like Oban but I have a Caol Ill than I find a bit much.

Recently discovered Jananese whisky and I'm a big fan of the Hibiki 17year old. Going to try and try some of the other (cheaper) Suntory whiskys next.

My research thus far has determined:

Dalwhinnie - favourite so far
Jura Origins - nice, smooth
Glenfiddich 12/15/18 - Nice, not so nice, not so nice
Glen Moray - OK, a bit harsh
Arbelour - nice, smooth, easy to drink
Macduff - lovely, really smooth but too expensive to have more than a couple!

I have a Glenmorangie to try tonight.

I have been recommended Monkey Shoulder - it's a blend but apparently very good. Will give it a try over Christmas.

Not bad for a month!

Ok I will try to spell it correctl,y Bruichladdich think that's how it is spelt. Go for the 18yr it is awesome.

I used to buy my grandad a different single malt each year for Christmas and I remember finding one that was black in colour, oddly it was called a black whisky in the description but I can't remember the brand. Anyway, it was soooooo peaty and so thick, very different but nice to try something different once in a while.

I used to buy my grandad a different single malt each year for Christmas and I remember finding one that was black in colour, oddly it was called a black whisky in the description but I can't remember the brand.

Loch Dhu?

http://www.loch-dhu.com/index.htm

I have been recommended Monkey Shoulder - it's a blend but apparently very good. Will give it a try over Christmas.

I picked up a bottle of this going through customs last week. Not worth it for £30, tastes like a middle-of-the-range blend IMO. I'll stick with whatever's on special in Waitrose from now on!

Going to try and try some of the other (cheaper) Suntory whiskys next.

Yamazaki's a good 'bang for your buck' drop, really quite nice.

Incidentally, has anyone tried Penderyn recently? I sampled it when it first came out and my overriding impression was "it might be alright once they've finished it." Since then the frankly outrageously cheeky pricing has put me off trying again.

Monkey Shoulder's reasonable, but as SamB says, there's far better ways of spending £30.

So I am getting into whisky. . ....Welcome to a world of taste sensations, mellow feelings , good company, relaxing by the fireside and Poverty 😆 N+1 doesn't just apply to bikes you know! 🙂

The Singleton (Dufftown) is excellent easy drinking.

The Islay malts are certainly an acquired taste - which I have!!

Closet pissheads thread! 😀

[i]The Singleton (Dufftown) is excellent easy drinking.[/i]

But only, (like I've said a zillion times before on whisky threads) If YOU like it. I didn't like Singleton, but I like MOST of the Islay's.

One man's meat is another man's poison. Simple.

Your next holiday should be to Islay...

[img][url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3834/11298010893_bdf518d0b2.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3834/11298010893_bdf518d0b2.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/76248110@N06/11298010893/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/76248110@N06/ ]danthomassw13[/url], on Flickr[/img]

This thread has got me in the mood!!

Tonight is a Jura Origin, as I drank all my Laphroaig with the lads around my new firepit a few weeks ago post ride!!

Buy loads, any you don't like send to a good home 😉

(Aberlour or Ardmore particularly welcome)

Just had a glass of arbelour Daz...

I'll bring a flask out on our Xmas ride..