299475 Fri Dec 17 09:58:20 -0800 2004 10 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1659285 Hello- A friend of mine recently started drinking scotch and I'd like to get her a good bottle for Christmas. She's been having Johnny Walker Black, but I want to expend her horizons a bit. Can anyone suggest a good scotch that's not terribly expensive and good for a relative novice? Thanks in advance! Fri Dec 17 09:58:20 -0800 2004 0 Kevin 1 1659286 try Oban...it's good for a novice, it's delicious, and shouldn't be more than about 40 bucks, which in the world of single malts is pretty inexpensive. If you want to challenge her a little more, try a talisker or a laphroig...these are from the Islands in western Scotland, and have a pronounced peaty smoke flavor...they're fabulous, different, and also right around 40 bucks a bottle. micah Fri Dec 17 10:05:08 -0800 2004 1659285 0 micah 1 1659293 This topic was discussed in the last couple of months, try the control F function. My recommendation was for McCallan, I would also recommend Chivas. Johnny Walker Black is a heavier scotch, Chivas is a lighter scotch. Fri Dec 17 10:34:24 -0800 2004 1659285 0 Alan408 1 1659299 2 ideas: 1) bottle of highland park. pleasant, easy to drink, inexpensive - a very good beginners whisky. 2) a sample pack. A good way for her to get exposure to half a dozen kinds. The one I got years ago had small bottles that included talisker, laphroig, lagavulin, balvenie and others. Fri Dec 17 10:53:19 -0800 2004 1659285 0 Tamar G 2 1659873 Agreed, a sample pack is the way to go. They have them at BevMo for around $25. I soon discovered I was an Islay region fan but to my disappointment the only Islay smokey flavored scotch in the sample pack was Lagavulin. Thu Dec 23 16:45:36 -0800 2004 1659299 0 Mr. Souffle 1 1659308 Two things: 1) Almost any single-malt is going to be fun for her to get. The really peaty ones are going to taste a bit strong, so stay away from Talisker particularly. Nice mild choices would be Oban, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Macallan. 2) Check out the Johnny Walker web site and see whether they're having one of their "tastings" near you any time soon. Beyond getting her a bottle of scotch, it would be a fun thing to do together and a good way for her to learn what types she likes best without having to buy a bunch of scotches. Basically, JW is made out of known single-malts, which they get you to taste separately and explain the different regions, bouquets, etc. It's a fun learning experience if you can get past the kitsch of the "Scotch Ambassadors." Fri Dec 17 11:30:19 -0800 2004 1659285 0 Sallie 2 1659338 My boyfriend loves Laguvolin if that means anything. He also dragged me to a Johnny Walker tasting and it was actually pretty fun! I knew nothing about scotches so it was nice to learn a little about how it's made etc. They gave you 4 shots of different types of whiskey and taught you what to look for when tasting them. They also had free appetizers and drinks before the event. The events are free, but they do ask for a donation at the door though. Fri Dec 17 14:34:11 -0800 2004 1659308 0 Macy U. 3 1659872 hehe, I'm the boyfriend and yes I do LOVE Lagavulin. It's worth every single cent. Being a 16yr scotch it's extremely smooth with a light smokey flavor. I actually think it smells just as good as it tastes. Islay region scotches are my preference, I'm not a smoker but I do love the smokey almost campfire like finish. Laphroig is another single malt scotch which has a bit stronger smokey flavor. It's very good, but not quite as smooth, especially the 10yr. It's actualy distilled right next door to Lagavulin in scotland. Long live the Islay region single malts! Now we just need a place to taste test them all in the SoCal region. Thu Dec 23 16:43:05 -0800 2004 1659338 0 Mr. Souffle 1 1659314 I would recommend either the Glenmorangie Sherry Finish or the Balvenie -- doublewood if you can find it. Both are available at Trader Joe's for a decent price, which is a very good value. They're good highland scotches -- not too peaty, with a lot of caramel and a good sherry finish. Some of my favorite scotches. Fri Dec 17 11:49:55 -0800 2004 1659285 0 Caitlin Wheeler 2 1659408 My dad loves The Balvenie, to which I introduced him after friends took a trip to Scotland and brought me back a bottle of the single barrel that was large enough to share with him. I too think it's wonderful. Was at one of the high-volume, "cheap" liquor stores last night (that's in quotes because, in Georgia, "cheap liquor" is usually an oxymoron) and noted the following prices. Founders Reserve, aged 10 years--about $35 DoubleWood, aged 12 years--$40 Single barrel, aged 15 years--$53 I think they also carried the PortWood, which is aged 21 years, but it's so far out of my price range I didn't even check it. Dad receives a bottle of the DoubleWood from me every Christmas and birthday. He probably couldn't tell the difference between that and the single barrel unless it was a side-by-side tasting (that's not meant to be unkind, it's just that he's 88 and his senses have diminished a bit over the years) so the $13 I save goes towards another gift for him. Sat Dec 18 12:07:20 -0800 2004 1659314 0 Head Gazelle 1 1659379 I love Languvolin. It is peaty, but I like that. Fri Dec 17 21:14:45 -0800 2004 1659285 0 Fanny Pack