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If you want an "introductory" Scotch I recommend good old Dewar's white label. It's not fancy and Scotch snobs won't like it, but it has a milder taste.
Dewar's is a fine blend. It would surprise me if its white label weren't one of the more popular blends sold, here.
If you want an "introductory" Scotch I recommend good old Dewar's white label. It's not fancy and Scotch snobs won't like it, but it has a milder taste.
For the somewhat fancier single malts, Glenlivet 12 and Glenfiddich 12 are smooth tasting.
Agreed with all this. Ballantine's strikes me as another such scotch, nice flavor, somewhat mild but has personality. The various Johnnie Walker types might also fit this category.
Start with a blended Scotch like Dewars, on the rocks with a bit of water to cut it. After you acquire a taste for that you can move on to the single malts which get expensive, quickly.
If you want an "introductory" Scotch I recommend good old Dewar's white label. It's not fancy and Scotch snobs won't like it, but it has a milder taste.
For the somewhat fancier single malts, Glenlivet 12 and Glenfiddich 12 are smooth tasting.
The "peaty" taste can be quite offputting when you first encounter it.
It's almost like there are two kinds of liquor, "little-peat Scotch" and "lotsa-peat Scotch".
Yes, I keep Dewar's around for a basic drink. Dewar's, some water, and little bit of ice. Nice refreshing drink without any sweetness and doesn't overfill you like beer.
Balvenie Doublewood.
In my opinion one the best bang for your buck I have tried.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lepoisson
I wanted to update this. I've since tried some different types of Scotch (Macallen Fine Oak, Balvenie Doublewood, Glenfarclas 105, Glenfiddich 15) and realize that I do like Scotch, but I don't like peated/smoky Islay Scotch. I need to stick to highland or speyside and stick to sherried or fruity pours.
JW Black has always been my "go-to" but recently within the last few years, I prefer Dewars 12. Not a big fan of Bourbon. It's the same with wine, some like it sweet, some like it dry. I'm on the dry side.
As a really good value blended scotch I can't recommend Monkey Shoulder highly enough. It's light years beyond JW Red or Black, which I find have very flat flavor profiles. Monkey Shoulder is a lot more like a Speyside with some of the fruity complexity of the style like a Macallan or Glenlevet
My other piece of advice is to open it up with some cold water instead of ice, unless you're somewere like here in Texas where the ice isn't going to last long enough to matter. Ice kills a lot of flavor, and tends to highlight the peaty, smoky, earthy stronger parts of a Scotch.
Here's the thing. Like Tequila, cheap Scotch is just generally ****, and drinking the cheap stuff as your first foray is what puts people off of it. Decent Scotch isn't cheap, but it doesn't have to be $50 a bottle either. Don't drink poorly made booze. Life is too short.
I wanted to update this. I've since tried some different types of Scotch (Macallen Fine Oak, Balvenie Doublewood, Glenfarclas 105, Glenfiddich 15) and realize that I do like Scotch, but I don't like peated/smoky Islay Scotch. I need to stick to highland or speyside and stick to sherried or fruity pours.
I still prefer bourbon because of the heavy, wood, sweet, and caramel flavors which I have not yet found with Scotch, but a nice light/fruity Scotch is refreshing to drink and just different.
That being said, it's not something I'll buy in bulk because Scotch is SUPER expensive. For one bottle of good Scotch, I can buy two bottles of decent bourbon.
One thing I'm still trying to acquire a taste for is tequila. Even the expensive bottles taste too raw and funky for me. I love it mixed though.
I missed the update. I can recommend two tequilas for you. Any really high end tequila bar in your area should have at least one. If you don't like either of them, you won't ever like tequila, and that's perfectly ok.
Fortaleza, either blanco or reposado. They're pricey. Blanco will run you about $45 a bottle. But they are, without a doubt my number one favorite tequila. Small batch, limited production, completely old school, and you get the clearest agave fruit flavor out of anything I've ever had.
The other is Maestro Dobel Diamante. Smoooooooooooth. It's like drinking velvet. Neither are really meant for cocktails, but the Fortaleza would make a kick-ass margarita, but it's really top shelf.
I see the topic somehow changed to Tequila at least temporarily. I'm not a Blanco guy. I got gifted bottles of Don Julio and Patron Silver and they are still sitting in the cabinet. They are good for mixed drinks but not for shots IMO. I sip tequila much like someone would sip Cognac. Blanco is for slamming it back or making margaritas. I prefer a reposado and even more an Anejo. This is my favorite, Reserva de la Familia. You can probably find it for around $80 without the fancy box or for around $120 with the box. It is absolutely the smoothest tequila I've ever tasted.
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