297506 Thu Jun 17 11:36:53 -0700 2004 18 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1642019 Hello All, Several of my friends and I are enthusiastic, but generally clueless scotch neewbies. In order to begin to address that unfortunate problem, we are starting a tasting group, the thought being that by pooling our money we can actually afford to enjoy some really good stuff. I was looking for some suggestions of some good bottles in the under $75 dollar range that we may enjoy, and that may be good "definitive" examples of some of the regions of Scotland. Also, if anyone has any good suggestions for some light food that they've enjoyed with their scotch, that would be great too...I've enjoyed smoked salmon with my whisky before, but am at a bit of a loss as to what else I can serve. Thanks so much for your help, and I look forward to reporting back with some good impressions of some excellent spirits. micah Thu Jun 17 11:36:53 -0700 2004 0 micah 1 1642029 Michael Jackson, the scotch and beer expert, not the sicko freak singer, has a very good book out called "Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch: The Connoisseur's Guide to the Single Malt Whiskies of Scotland" which reviews every scotch available when he wrote the book. It has every bit of info you asked plus... Thu Jun 17 12:26:02 -0700 2004 1642019 0 The Rogue 1 1642040 One that every Scotch drinker should try (though not everyone likes it) is Laphroaig from Isley island. Intensely flavored. Last time I looked, bottles were available at Trader Joe's in California for around $30. Thu Jun 17 13:00:09 -0700 2004 1642019 0 e.d. 1 1642042 The regions are Speyside, Highland, Island and Lowland. Someone already suggested Laphroaig -- that's an excellent island malt. Another good one to try is Lagavulin. The island malts are very peaty and smoky. Speyside malts are some of the most famous ones -- I would suggest you try Macallan, but Glenlivet is also good. (Glenfiddich is another speyside malt; it's not my favorite). Highland and lowland get trickier, because the geographic regions, and therefore the malts, are more diverse. My favorite Highland malt is Glenmorangie (also the most popular malt in Scotland). Their regular 10 year old is lovely, but they've also recently put out special bottlings that are finished in sherry wood and port wood casks that are worth trying -- they'll give you an idea of what influence the wood has on the finished whisky. Another favorite Highland is the Balvenie. Other malts worth trying are Oban, from the west coast, that gets a little of the seaweed flavor you have in island malts, and Talisker, the only malt distilled on the Isle of Skye, which is peaty, but not as peaty as the island malts. Thu Jun 17 13:16:22 -0700 2004 1642019 0 Caitlin Wheeler 1 1642043 The regions are Speyside, Highland, Island and Lowland. Someone already suggested Laphroaig -- that's an excellent island malt. Another good one to try is Lagavulin. The island malts are very peaty and smoky. Speyside malts are some of the most famous ones -- I would suggest you try Macallan, but Glenlivet is also good. (Glenfiddich is another speyside malt; it's not my favorite). Highland and lowland get trickier, because the geographic regions, and therefore the malts, are more diverse. My favorite Highland malt is Glenmorangie (also the most popular malt in Scotland). Their regular 10 year old is lovely, but they've also recently put out special bottlings that are finished in sherry wood and port wood casks that are worth trying -- they'll give you an idea of what influence the wood has on the finished whisky. Another favorite Highland is the Balvenie. Other malts worth trying are Oban, from the west coast, that gets a little of the seaweed flavor you have in island malts, and Talisker, the only malt distilled on the Isle of Skye, which is peaty, but not as peaty as the island malts. Thu Jun 17 13:16:24 -0700 2004 1642019 0 Caitlin Wheeler 2 1642187 I second (or third) Laphroaig. I personally find Lagavulin to not be as rich in flavor and to be a little sweet. Laphroaig though is definitely a must for any tasting. If you can find it and want a second Islay malt, go for Ardbeg which easily equals if not surpasses Laphroaig. Fri Jun 18 08:22:11 -0700 2004 1642043 0 jxc 2 1642213 I second the glenmorangie suggestions, the port wood finish IS really, really smooth. It sails down the throat. So smooth that you're not even sure that you drank it. I mean, eventually you start talking like Scrooge McDuck, and then you're sure you drank it, but up till then... Actually, Caitlin might have recommended it when I was posting looking for scotch to buy my groomsmen for my wedding. I also tried the Glenmorangie 10yr & a glass of the Glenmorangie madeira wood finish at a restaurant. The port wood remains my favorite. The 10yr is good for something with a bit more bite. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/295147#1620856 Fri Jun 18 11:13:51 -0700 2004 1642043 0 joypirate 2 1642234 One minor correction: The Balvenie is also a Speyside scotch. Fri Jun 18 13:54:40 -0700 2004 1642043 0 jen kalb 1 1642046 My favorite Scotches include: Auchantoshan (lowland) ($17 for cheapest, $30 for 12 yr) Oban ($45) Laphroaig ($40 ish) Macallan (often cited as 'the' best scotch but lacks the smokiness that I like so much in the Laphroaig) 12 yr is $40 ish Lagavulin: loved so much by scotch enthisiasts that it can be relatively difficult to find ($45) Those, for me, round out the "must try" top 5 in terms of quality and variety. You've got highland & lowland... nice mix. HOpe that's some help Thu Jun 17 13:22:35 -0700 2004 1642019 0 Ms. Paris 1 1642067 Balvenie and Oban are both wonderful. Thu Jun 17 14:33:34 -0700 2004 1642019 0 linza 1 1642094 I like Glenkinchie (lowland, grassy), Dalwhinnie (light and smooth). Aberlour and Talisker are both nice and peaty. Oban is a good in-between. Lagavulin and Glenkinchie are what I keep at home. The other half prefers Macallan. Unless you end up going for the 18-plus year Macallans, all of these are between $30 and $50, depending on where you go. Of the blendeds, there is the much-talked-about Johnny Walker Blue, but I prefer the Gold. These can be hard to find. Thu Jun 17 15:55:01 -0700 2004 1642019 0 Sallie 2 1642182 I concur on Oban. OVery nice stuff. Simply because it is not as 'extreme' as some other Scotches, it is often overlooked. Too bad. Westy Fri Jun 18 07:31:53 -0700 2004 1642094 0 Westy 1 1642104 There are a couple of companies that purchased the inventory of some distilleries that have gone out of business, and have been bottling them. I find these to be quite fun to try. One of the bottlers is Cadenhead (they have a green bottle with a simple label with the name of the defunct distillery on them). Thu Jun 17 16:27:17 -0700 2004 1642019 0 Sthitch 1 1642124 As an avid Scotch drinker I would suggest beginning with the following: 1) Arberlour 15 yr. old Sherry cask - this Scotch is not peaty at all (as someone else said) but a sweeter Speyside scotch that is very easy drinking. Aging the Scotch in an oak cask previously used to hold shery makes the scotch a beautiful reddish and adds sweetness, it is wonderful. 2) Highland Park 12 yr. old - from the Orkney Islands it is peaty and sweet, neither being overwhelming. One of the best scotches on the market 3) Macallan - "THE" Speyside scotch, sweeter, smooth, refined, hard to beat 4) Talisker - more peaty but not pure iodine (like Laphroaig) 5) Bowmore - from the island of Islay (pronounced I-La), very peaty but more refined than Laphroaig (which is a great Scotch but what I call "rough and ready"). Take your time and explore different Scotches. It takes some time to develop a taste for some of them. My advice, start out by adding some spring water (say 25%) which actually releases many of the flavors and then eventually move to on the rocks and then finally explore drinking them neat. Have fun! Thu Jun 17 17:45:14 -0700 2004 1642019 0 schpsychman 2 1642207 To clarify--the 10-year Aberlour has a distinct smoky taste. Was not referring to the 15. Fri Jun 18 10:59:11 -0700 2004 1642124 0 Sallie 1 1642144 You already have lots of great suggestions but one I don't think I see here is Springbank. You may be able to find a bottle right around your price limit. Definitely a stellar brand. Thu Jun 17 19:33:26 -0700 2004 1642019 0 bookistan 1 1642175 My favorites are Macallan 18 year old and Balvenie Doublewood. Fri Jun 18 02:45:13 -0700 2004 1642019 0 socal boy 1 1642225 Only for me, and maybe someone else, I find that scotch has either a sweet vanilla (Johnny Walker) or a drier, richer orange rind flavor(Pinch/Dimple or Chivas). Fri Jun 18 12:28:58 -0700 2004 1642019 0 J. R. Bushey 1 1642242 2 of my favorites are Dalmore Cigar Finish (has a VERY sweet, dark sugar smell) and Glenmorangie SHERRY Wood finish which also has a great flavor. Another interesting scotch is called Bunnahabhain which is an Islay scotch. Tried a Talisker (18 yrs? dont remember) and was repulsed... tastes and smells like burnt rubber! Fri Jun 18 14:52:45 -0700 2004 1642019 0 mr_fro2000