Just recently saw the light and switch completely from craft beers to exclusively scotch. A friend of mine came to NYE with a few types for a mini sampling. I couldn't believe the flavors I was tasting. I still get goose bumps thinking about it.

I'm a smokey peaty guy. Right now my favs are Taliskers, Lagavulin 16 (my current goto), and Laphroaig 10yr. I had Laphroaig quarter cask and it wasn't too bad, but I felt 10 seemed a bit smoother.

I honestly haven't tried anything I didn't like. Even if it's not my cup of tea, I can appreciate it for what it is.

Workin' on a bottle of founders...

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Have not read this entire thread but thought I would ask.....does anyone think the glass really matters? I got a set of NORLAN glasses and sampled stuff in several different t glasses to compare....a slight difference I suppose personally and it does make it smell and taste much more robust I guess is how I would describe it. Regardless I think good whiskey or scotch is going to taste good. What glass is best in your opinion?

I've preferred the Glencairn glass for years, and still do. A coworker gifted me a set of Norlan glasses over the holidays and I do like the color effect and I agree it does seem to magnify the aroma.

Great scotch! The balvenie portwood 21 is my favorite scotch of alltime, but it's definitely not a daily drinker. The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is my best bang for your buck scotch. Love this thread.

I've got a couple of these glencairn glasses, and agree they are perfect for getting all the aromas and sampling.. but I still prefer to drink out of a tumbler.. scotch for me is generally a two different glass event.

Update... Skip Wolfburn. Stuff is awful.

Scotch and pinball go very well together.

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Too many unopened bottles for my taste.

Too bad you weren't closer and offer a remedy for that.

I do recommend having a drink or two of each (not all on the same day ) and then coming back to them after they have had some time with more air in the bottle. My opinion is some improve quite a bit in taste a week or two after the first time pouring some.

I have used an aerator on occasion and each bottle I assign a drop count of water to my taste usually 2-6 drops depending on strength to open the flavors especially for the cask strength ones.

Hm... I'll be in Toronto with my family in a couple of weeks...

Enjoyed some of this at a buddies last week.. too damn $$ here tho!

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In Virginia that is about $100 on sale, very good spicy and citrusy scotch.

I need to pick up a good entry level Scotch or bourbon. I was always a big Beam and Coke guy.. until one day I ran out of Coke and came to the realization that Beam on the rocks suits me just fine. Now I need to try something more sophisticated.

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Scotch: Highland Park
Bourbon: Buffalo Trace

Thanks!

How bout Jim beam black and learning how to grill something?

No ice if you are going for a nice scotch. If you like ice then save your money and get the cheap stuff like Johnny Walker Red.

Scotch: Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 year
Bourbon: Widow Jane

For a good affordable single malt scotch that would be easy to drink for a beginner I would go with something like Balvenie Doublewood 12, Macallan 12, or Glenlivet 15.

+1 on the Balvenie Doublewood 12 or Caribbean Cask 14. For a more affordable option I think Glenmorangie 10 is very nice.

Bourbon does not vary as much as scotch, imo. I like them all. You might try the Jim Beam small batch releases...Basil Hayden, Knob Creek, Bookers. I started with Basil on ice, no problem with that. I only drink whisky neat at this point but ice is fine just enjoy your whisky your way. Bookers is 120+ proof so be warned, but the barrel strength bourbons bring a huge jump in flavor.

Thanks for all the tips. I’ll try a couple different ones.

I’m really a fan of ice clinking around my glass and I love the way it mellows the drink. Maybe I’ll eventually skip that step as well.

Bubba burgers don’t count?

Get some whiskey stones. They get you the chill without watering it down and makes you look much cooler.

Dont be afraid to add a bit of water when learning. Over time you'll add less and less, eventually counting the drops if you get /really/ serious.

You remind me i felt exactly the same way. As the ice melted it mellows the bourbon and can bring out some different flavors. I was sipping it that way every day until that first bottle was gone, the hook was set. As my collection started to grow I started sipping the whiskey straight. I think it's about time I threw an ice cube into my bourbon again. I used whisky stones once, meh didn't work for me.
Aobrien5 is right, adding small amounts of water can bring out different flavors in your whisky. Start neat, than add a few drops or a spoon of water and see how it changes.

Btw, this is my favorite way to drink. Frozen gel glass with a bit of water.

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I'd have way more pinball machines if it wasn't for my scotch addiction. This is my home bar and currently have my list updated on my website www.theapothecarypub.com

At this moment in time I'm enjoying a new purchase The Code from The Glenlivet.

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They were out of it! Guess I’ll try for them again next time. He recommended this Talisker Storm... not sure if he knows his stuff, but I’ll give it a shot.

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Recommended? yeah sure it's a nice scotch but by far from the taste of the Speysides. The Storm is more of an Islay, with it's very smokey overtones. Sounds like the guy did not know his stuff. Something closer to The Balvenie would be Tamdhu or Cardhu or even one of the special The Glenlivet's.

I'd definitely recommend a cube or two and a nice fire to sit by (omg did you just say that....yes I did...small cubes - sure there's a lot of people who look down on cubes and say you should drink it neat as the distillery intended - hogwash you drink it any way you damn well please and yes there are scotches I would never add anything to but I also mix scotch in cocktails and you should hear the horrors of that my friend).

Taste them all, study them, sip them, and eventually you'll like them all...ok most of them, there are a few duds out there...but enjoy the adventure.

Hah, yeah. Don’t think this will be my favorite. Getting a medicinal vibe from it which isn’t the greatest. No worries. I’ll build up my bar and learn as I go.

I recommend getting one that is not smokey/peaty since you are just beginning. Most scotch drinkers I know prefer the highland fruity, honey, oak nose/taste.
Try one that specifically is from a sherry cask. Some of the brands I recommend are Glenmorangie, Macallan, Balvenie, and Glenlivet.

Getting ready for all of the other releases next month!

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Sorry gents, late to the club. I'm a scotch drinker, as my father before me.

He's got money now, but I'll still catch him with some Old Smuggler.

For the "special" events, or any other excuse it's Laphroaig. Oh the peat!!!

Second year my wife has got me one of these Scotch Advent calenders from Drinks by The Dram. Can't wait for the first day of December...

When I was a kid my mom would get me the chocolate calenders, never thought I would be able to enjoy an advent calender as much as I did then.

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Whoops, already introduced myself. Damn scotch...

Last Friday my liquor store had a sale. 25% off everything in the store. I did some serious damage to the Scotch section.

QSS

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I love reading this thread. Scotch and pinball are my obsessions.

Glengoyne 12, Bunnahabhain 12, Lagavulin 16, Spring bank (any), Deanston, Old Pultney 12 and Laphroaig 10 are all favorites and in my regular rotation that always get replaced.

Neat, with a few drops of water or a few more if the abv warrants it.

I'd recommend Monkey Shoulder or Aberlour 10 for anyone interested in dipping their toes in the water. Don't fall into the trap of chasing big age statements. There is really good Scotch out there at 10 years that won't eat up the pinball funds imho.

Roy at aqvavitae and Ralphy are incredible guys and great ways to learn more about Scotch on YouTube.

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That lonely bottle of Redbreast on the bottom shelf, that's no fair!! One of my favorites as Irish Whiskey goes.

Awesome. It appears you got many good ones to enjoy for a while. We had a 20% Black Friday ABC sale in Virginia. I think I got 15 bottles myself. Virginia is also having 20% cyber Monday for online ordering with pickup in store.

That's the time to load up, when you get a decent discount. Scotch never goes on sale around here so when it does, I'll grab a 2 year supply.

QSS

Anyone tried these yet? I bought Targeryn (Cardhu) but gonna wait til Christmas.

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I've got them all except the Oban. Can't find that one. Haven't tried any yet.

From what I've been told here in Texas, the Oban Night's Watch releases December 1. I went back and picked up the Lannister (Lagavulin 9 year) today. Glad I did. Last one they had.

Thanks for that tip. Keeping an eye out.

We did it!

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