
The Mad Badger |
I feel your pain with those inexperienced bar tenders in dealing with single malt scotch. I actually got those very large ice cubes for my scotch at home as I like the water to relase slowly into my scotch and the smaller cubes melt too quickly and water it down too much. This way I have just enough water to relase those wonderful flavors.
When I order in some bars I ask for a cube or two and it is like a shaving of ice which for me melts too quickly. I guess I am particular about my scotch.
I have had 18 year old Macallan and 25 once it was a sublime experience. Charlie have you experienced any of the higher end scotches besides Macallan?

Irontruth |

I was very excited a couple of months ago, I needed to pick up a bottle of something on the way to a friends house and the liquor store happened to have Laphroiag 18 on sale for $70 a bottle. It's definitely my favorite scotch to keep around and break out for special occasions... by which I mean any time I want to sit and have a scotch with a friend.

aeglos |

I'd really like to expand from Irish whiskey into Scotch, but the whole affair is just too expensive for me.
My experience with the stuff is limited to Ballantine's (acceptable), Johnny Red (unacceptable), Johnny Black (quite nice) and Racke Rauchzart (German, undrinkable).
Glenkinchie, Thamdu and Glenfiddich 12years are good starting Single Malts that you can get in most German Getränkemärkte for a reasonable prize

Fabius Maximus |

Fabius Maximus wrote:Glenkinchie, Thamdu and Glenfiddich 12years are good starting Single Malts that you can get in most German Getränkemärkte for a reasonable prizeI'd really like to expand from Irish whiskey into Scotch, but the whole affair is just too expensive for me.
My experience with the stuff is limited to Ballantine's (acceptable), Johnny Red (unacceptable), Johnny Black (quite nice) and Racke Rauchzart (German, undrinkable).
I tried to look up Thamdu and couldn't find it. Are you sure you got the name right?

Chief Cook and Bottlewasher |

aeglos wrote:I tried to look up Thamdu and couldn't find it. Are you sure you got the name right?Fabius Maximus wrote:Glenkinchie, Thamdu and Glenfiddich 12years are good starting Single Malts that you can get in most German Getränkemärkte for a reasonable prizeI'd really like to expand from Irish whiskey into Scotch, but the whole affair is just too expensive for me.
My experience with the stuff is limited to Ballantine's (acceptable), Johnny Red (unacceptable), Johnny Black (quite nice) and Racke Rauchzart (German, undrinkable).
Could be Tamdhu, which is very nice. I'm partial to Jura as well. But I live in Britain, and don't know what's easily available in other countries.

aeglos |

Fabius Maximus wrote:Could be Tamdhu, which is very nice. I'm partial to Jura as well. But I live in Britain, and don't know what's easily available in other countries.aeglos wrote:I tried to look up Thamdu and couldn't find it. Are you sure you got the name right?Fabius Maximus wrote:Glenkinchie, Thamdu and Glenfiddich 12years are good starting Single Malts that you can get in most German Getränkemärkte for a reasonable prizeI'd really like to expand from Irish whiskey into Scotch, but the whole affair is just too expensive for me.
My experience with the stuff is limited to Ballantine's (acceptable), Johnny Red (unacceptable), Johnny Black (quite nice) and Racke Rauchzart (German, undrinkable).
yes, Tamdhu
I am not sure anymore that it is widely available but it is my favorite starter whisky

Fabius Maximus |

Chief Cook and Bottlewasher wrote:Fabius Maximus wrote:Could be Tamdhu, which is very nice. I'm partial to Jura as well. But I live in Britain, and don't know what's easily available in other countries.aeglos wrote:I tried to look up Thamdu and couldn't find it. Are you sure you got the name right?Fabius Maximus wrote:Glenkinchie, Thamdu and Glenfiddich 12years are good starting Single Malts that you can get in most German Getränkemärkte for a reasonable prizeI'd really like to expand from Irish whiskey into Scotch, but the whole affair is just too expensive for me.
My experience with the stuff is limited to Ballantine's (acceptable), Johnny Red (unacceptable), Johnny Black (quite nice) and Racke Rauchzart (German, undrinkable).
yes, Tamdhu
I am not sure anymore that it is widely available but it is my favorite starter whisky
You can get all the stuff via Amazon.
And thank you for the recommendations.

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Auchentoshen is a nice scotch I have sampled it before.
I also enjoy a good bourbon. Bulleitt is tasty I am almost through my huge bottle purchased on my trip up to New Hampshire. Heading back up in a few weeks might be time to get more of the ambrosia that is scotch and bourbon.
What was everyone's first experience with scotch or bourbon?

Kirth Gersen |

Ah Kirth, I know living in PA getting spirits is always tough with those silly laws that any spirits have to be sold in the special state run liquor stores which are not open on Sundays unless that has changed?
The state liquor stores are bad enough (+30% markup for state control, +18% for Johnstown Flood Tax, +7% state sales tax = +56% markup on all booze!), but what gets me down is the fact that, if a particular brand isn't on the (very limited) state list, it can't be bought, ordered, or shipped into PA at all.
None of my favorite brands are on the list, which means I have to look for them when I go out of state and then sneak them back in, a bottle at a time.

Haladir |

I used to love single-malts. My dram of choice was Dalmore 18 year.
Unfortunately, there was this wedding I went to a few years ago at which I failed to treat Mr. Johnny Walker with the level of respect he was due. He kicked me hard in the sporran and struck me about the head with his bagpipes. I was a fool to pick a fight with a Scotsman!
I've rather lost my taste for Scotch whisky ever since, and have switched my allegiance to bourbon.
I still have a bottle of Dalmore in my liquor cabinet, and every once in a while I open the bottle to savor its aroma. So far, I've elected to simply put it back on the shelf.
Maybe some day...

Irontruth |

Didn't know this about Bourbons, but here in the states they aren't required to be aged for the number of years stated on the bottle. They only have to have the characteristics of a whiskey aged that many years.
Breckenridge Distillery makes a very nice bourbon. It's not a terribly complex spirit, and it has a lot of bite at the finish. A splash of water knocks down that bite though and it becomes very smooth. Notes of cinnamon, raisins and butter for me. Around $45 a bottle, it's one of my major go-to's right now.

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Well, as Paizo's resident scotch drinker, I felt I should chime in...
My drinking scotch is usually Aberlour 12, but I do like Glenmorangie and Talisker.
Currently my cabinet has the following: Aberlour 12, Four different bottles of Glenmorangie, Talisker, a bottle of Edradour (direct from the tiny distillery), Achentoshan, Glen Rothes, Balvenie doublewood 12, Oban, Springbank, and an Ardbeg. I am afraid many of the specifics (year, special cask, etc) are alluding me at the moment (as are a few bottles I am sure).
And always neat... no ice, no soda. Neat. Close to body temperature.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Scotch Designer

Irontruth |

A friend recently taught me a trick that I'm enjoying. Put your palm over the bottle opening, then tip the bottle to wet your palm. Rub your hands together lightly until the liquid dries. Hold your nose at various distances to pick up different portions of the scents, though right now my favorite is to just cup them together over my nose and just breathe it in.
It removes the alcohol portion of the scent and leaves you with everything else, making it easier to pick out various elements.

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A friend recently taught me a trick that I'm enjoying. Put your palm over the bottle opening, then tip the bottle to wet your palm. Rub your hands together lightly until the liquid dries. Hold your nose at various distances to pick up different portions of the scents, though right now my favorite is to just cup them together over my nose and just breathe it in.
It removes the alcohol portion of the scent and leaves you with everything else, making it easier to pick out various elements.
Interesting I imagine you can do this with many liquors and perhaps wines? I like the idea and plan to try it thanks for the advice.

aeglos |

I do like a cube or two with my scotch to have a slow dilution of the beverage I feel it brings out the wonderful flavors and the like. But my father is like you Jason. Straight up nothing to change the wonderful nectar. Thank you for chiming in.
I drink it always straight, according to unwriten scotch whisky law you should drink him always with a drop of water but usually I don't care
ice cubes bring the temprature to far down, that should lessen the taste - but as a German ice cubes in anything but cocktails or longdrinks is very strange to me

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Gruumash . wrote:I do like a cube or two with my scotch to have a slow dilution of the beverage I feel it brings out the wonderful flavors and the like. But my father is like you Jason. Straight up nothing to change the wonderful nectar. Thank you for chiming in.
I drink it always straight, according to unwriten scotch whisky law you should drink him always with a drop of water but usually I don't care
ice cubes bring the temprature to far down, that should lessen the taste - but as a German ice cubes in anything but cocktails or longdrinks is very strange to me
I will "crack" my scotch on occasion, depending on the blend and the notes. Nothing more than a drop or two of water though.
I also agree, ice makes the scotch too cold, it deadens most of the flavors.
Jason Bulmahn
Scotchy Scotch Scotch Scotch...

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It is interesting the Japanese who love the beverage scotch create ice cubes to look like Mount Fuji and swear by that in their scotch.
Again it is a taste thing. I do like the one large cube to enjoy it colder and find the ice does not melt and dilute the flavor as much. I think it depends on my mood.
But I can certainly understand the desire to have it straight with nothing to mess with it.
Either way scotch drinkers of the world unite in their love of scotch.

Irontruth |

Happened across a miniature tasting from these guys. I wasn't blown away, but it was all good stuff. I picked up a bottle of their double-rye, since I happened to actually be looking for a bottle.
They also operate a ski-in distillery/restaurant in Utah.