So, I'm getting into whisky….

I bought a bottle of Glen Moray, liked it.

Then tried a bottle of Dalwhinnie, and liked it even more.

I would like to try a few more – any recommendations for nice single malts? I have birthday and Xmas coming up, so will be getting about 6 bottles…

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!

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

I never knew that existed. Cor.

my standard recommendations…

100 whiskies to try before you die

a Glencairn glass[/url]

And Ralfy is always entertaining, if a little eccentric (a good thing).

Oh yeah,

Have a look at 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 Aldi Highland Black 8y[/url] @ just £13!

An IWSC gold medal winner…so I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised!

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.

Well, that’s that settled then…Nick has spoken!

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!).