What is a really good brand of scotch? Single malt or blend.?!
What is a really good brand of scotch? Single malt or blend.?
I have just tried scotch for the first time and i also want to get a bottle for a friend as a gift and i want to get something good. What is a really good brand that i could get?
Answers:
I think it depends on how much you want to spend. You can get some good blendeds for less than 20$US. I like Famous Grouse (Highland Park and the Macallan are blended in there).
For single malts....you can also get good bottles of 12 year-olds that are between 30-40$. Some of my favorites are The Glenlivet (12), Highland Park (12), Aberlour (12).
Over 40$, you get into some really exceptional single malts. It depends on your taste. Aberlour a'bunadh is an amazing drink.....very sweet tasting and good for after-dinner. You can also try some of the 15-18 year olds. The Balvenie is also very good. I just tried some Tallisker, 12 year-old that was great, but that was around 68$. If you like your scotch to taste like "scotch" (peaty, medicine-y), you can try Laphroig. But if your friend is also a first-timer, that might sit on his shelf for a few years.
Personally....I would grab a bottle of the Glenlivet. Its very smooth and nice-tasting. If you want to spend the extra 10$, try a bottle of the Macallan (10 or 12). The Macallan uses a sherry cask that does wonderful things to the taste.
Let us know what you decide on and what your friend thinks.
I have heard from connoseurs that a single grain is more top quality than a blend.
Jack Daniels isnt bad, but if you want to spend alot i suggest CHIVAS REGAL ROYALE SALUTE. A good type of scotch is definetly Johnnie walker blue label and black label. Your friend will like it.
The more expensive scotch is usually the Single.
But, for preference it is a matter of taste. Many people like a Blended Scotch like Chevis and some like the Single. I have tried both and will say the Blended is more well received unless a person has the favorite of a single.
Johnny Walker makes a Blended that is excellent, but, it like $80-100. I think it a Blue Label. I try to find it.
Here a pic;
http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v86/...
I not sure though, it maybe a single malt. You may be able to check the web-site.
They need your birthdate to enter;
http://landingpage2.johnniewalker.com/ga...
The taste range of Scotch Whisky is even wider than that of beer or wine. You can find all sorts of different flavors in them. I'm gonna assume you want to spend less than $100 for the bottle.
Beginners usually prefer the lighter, fruitier Speyside Whiskies such as Glenlivet 18 Years Old, Cragganmore 12 Years Old, Aberlour A'bunadh, or Balvenie 10 Years Old Founder's Reserve. Those are the standouts that I know of.
The Highland style is a lot like a Speyside, but less fruity and more wheaty tasting. Also, since many are near the coast, it can take on a coastal flavor. Glenmorangie 10 Years Old and Clynelish 14 Years Old are the standouts there.
If you want to get started on a road toward the smokier, more phenolic type of whiskies, Talisker 10 Years old and Highland Park 12 Years old are in a Highland style but with a touch of smoke. I'm not a big fan of either, but many people are.
Whisky Aficionados often prefer the young South Shore Islay whiskies. Laphroaig 10 Years Old, Ardbeg 10 Years Old, Lagavulin 16 Years Old. They are smokey, but the amount of peat that was used in production gives them heavy phenolic characteristics. They're all sweet and fruity, but Laphroaig takes on an Aspirin-like or antiseptic medicinal flavor, Ardbeg takes on a tarry, citrusy flavor, and Lagavulin has a smokey seaweed and tea-like flavor. Very interesting flavors that usually take a while to get used to.
There are other distilleries on Islay that are not as intense. Caol Ila 12 years Old has a coastal, olivey kind of taste. Bruichladdich 15 Years Old is virtually unpeated and has a briney, tropical fruit flavor. Bowmore has been having some quality control issues recently. The new bottling of the 12 Year Old (new packaging) is supposed to be good, but I would avoid the others.
Lastly there is Springbank. The only one worth trying is the 10 years Old 100 Proof. It's not easy to find, but it has a briney, coconutty flavor to it.
I would avoid popular favorites such as Macallan 12 years Old, Glenlivet 12 Years Old, and Glenfiddich 12 years Old. The young Macallan is just poorly made and the young Glens just don't taste like single malts. They're blended down until there are hardly any distinctive flavors left.
Have fun exploring the world of Scotch Whisky.
Always single hi land malt as to brand, well that depends on your taste ,smokey etc.
Try the Irish black label blended whiskeys. Single malts are too harsh. A good blended whiskey is vastly superior and vastly cheaper. The whole single malt thing has become a snobfest for ignorami.
Johhie Walker "Green" label.
Chivas Regal!
Johnny Walker Black
Way to go Karoline!! I couldn't have said it better myself.
You belong at The Whisky Magazine Forums with the rest of us crazy malters!!
As far as a good Scotch, there are several variables that come into play; cost, taste you are looking for, and price. As many of the previous posters stated, there is blended and single malt options. Do you plan to drink on the rocks or mix with water? If you mix with water, you might as well save some money and get a middle of the road Scotch like DeWars. As for me, I like it on the rocks, and you cannot beat Glenlivet 12 year single malt for price or taste. It is very smooth with a hint of sweetness similar to honey at the end; absolutely fantastic. The good thing is that it only costs 40 to 50 dollars depending on where you live. Make no mistake about it, this is not the top of the line Scotch(which is expensive), but it is the best value out there in my opinion.
neither one is a brand, scotch is a whole new world of liquor, hard to explain except the way they make it. anyway, chivas is a great scotch and glenfiddich is a great single malt. try as many out as u can, get the best flavor for yourself