New to scotch
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LigaPrivadaFanboy
Unrepentant Hoarder
Laphroaig Quarter Cask is sublime rigt now. Stay away from the 10yr - too much iodine
Herfin' Harg
BoM March 2012
Bah... Skip Glenlivet!
To liken it unto cigars, that's like telling someone to start with a Macanudo!
Get a bottle of highland park 12 for the same price (probably cheaper) and do yourself a favor! If you want to try a "introductory scotch" to the Islays like Laphroaig, try Black Bottle. It's a blend, but very good, and it'll definitely let you know if you're gonna like that style of whisky.
To liken it unto cigars, that's like telling someone to start with a Macanudo!
Get a bottle of highland park 12 for the same price (probably cheaper) and do yourself a favor! If you want to try a "introductory scotch" to the Islays like Laphroaig, try Black Bottle. It's a blend, but very good, and it'll definitely let you know if you're gonna like that style of whisky.
Glenmorangie or balvenie all the way! Start off with a bottle of Glenmorangie original (like $30 a bottle here). Sweet, floral, and very easy drinking.
Herfin' Harg
BoM March 2012
Clearly, you haven't had Black Bottle. Eff Johnny Walker... $20 for Black Bottle does you better.
Tried the QC last night. Buying a bottle the next time I end up at total wine. INCREDIBLE... but not a good starter.
Great starter scotch would be Highland Park 12, Balvenie Double Wood or Glenfiddich 12
LigaPrivadaFanboy
Unrepentant Hoarder
Balvenie DW - agreed. Great for beginners if a lil more on the expensive side to noobs. When I started exploring scotch I didnt know I would like heavy peat. Do you like Nicaraguan cigars? Maybe give the more peaty scotches a try
Hard lesson: don't pair your heaviest cigar with your heaviest scotch. I ruined a FFP by smoking it with Bruichladich Octomore. Together the flavors were amazing, like licking a peat-infused kiln, but I could appreciate neithers merits on their own.
Hard lesson: don't pair your heaviest cigar with your heaviest scotch. I ruined a FFP by smoking it with Bruichladich Octomore. Together the flavors were amazing, like licking a peat-infused kiln, but I could appreciate neithers merits on their own.
Getting into Scotch can be like getting into wine or cigars for the first time. So many different ones and you can really like one while really disliking another.
Some quick pointers.
Islay Scotch is very peaty. Some, like Laphroaig can literally take like a dirty ashtray. Some people actually enjoy Islay Scotches. I'm not one of them.
The suggestion for Highland Park 12 year old is a good one. Easily a really nice starter Scotch to get into before you try anything a little wilder. I always have a bottle of Highland 12 on standby.
This next tip might be met with a little scorn from some as lots of people are very particular about how to drink it. Some purists will say that "neat" is the only way. I completely disagree with those people.
All Scotches benefit from just a slight addition of either simple water or, as I prefer, a single ice cube. This is even more true of cask strength Scotch which has much higher alcohol %. The water (just a teaspoon if that) or ice cube, as it melts both serves to open up the whiskey and it even takes a very slight edge off the "heat".
For a great example of the transformation that a Scotch can go through, take a Scotch like the Glenlivet "Nadurra" 16 yr cask strength (57.7% abv) and drink it neat. Then take the time to let an ice cube melt in it and try it again.
Scotch is great and a great friend of cigars. Enjoy! :ccool:
Some quick pointers.
Islay Scotch is very peaty. Some, like Laphroaig can literally take like a dirty ashtray. Some people actually enjoy Islay Scotches. I'm not one of them.
The suggestion for Highland Park 12 year old is a good one. Easily a really nice starter Scotch to get into before you try anything a little wilder. I always have a bottle of Highland 12 on standby.
This next tip might be met with a little scorn from some as lots of people are very particular about how to drink it. Some purists will say that "neat" is the only way. I completely disagree with those people.
All Scotches benefit from just a slight addition of either simple water or, as I prefer, a single ice cube. This is even more true of cask strength Scotch which has much higher alcohol %. The water (just a teaspoon if that) or ice cube, as it melts both serves to open up the whiskey and it even takes a very slight edge off the "heat".For a great example of the transformation that a Scotch can go through, take a Scotch like the Glenlivet "Nadurra" 16 yr cask strength (57.7% abv) and drink it neat. Then take the time to let an ice cube melt in it and try it again.
Scotch is great and a great friend of cigars. Enjoy! :ccool:
I got a wild hair the other day and bought a bottle of Glenfiddich 12 on the way home. I like it. Kinda funny, I was just thinking about starting a scotch newb recommendation thread myself.
Docbp87
Smoke Into Oblivion
Come on now... that's not fair at all. There are some fantastic blends out there that are just as good as any Single Malt. Compass Box, Black Bottle, and Pig's Nose all come to mind...