Simple enough. One topic. Discuss at your leisure.

Doubloon and I were discussing Scotch. I was about half way through a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label somewhere along the line.

I personally don't like JW but free scotch is free scotch.

Great topic! I love drinking single malts and have a special affinity towards Islay scotches. Laphroig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg Corryvecken are my favorites (right now) Mmmmmmmm scotch.

I'm a recovering JWB drinker, myself. Irish whiskey is so much better. Once you go Jameson or Bushmills, you'll never look back.

I've tried Irish whiskey but I can't get a taste for it. Among everyone I know who drinks Irish the general opinion is there are only two worth drinking ... Jameson and Bushmills.

I can't remember all the different types of Scotch I've tasted but that said let's go for a much longer and wilder ride than baker and I had offline.

Not a big fan of many blended scotches but most of the stuff that isn't too cheap is good enough for soda.

From the Islay I'm a fan of the Bunnahabhain and the Lagavulin. I've tried the Ardbeg and Bowmore but will have to admit I don't have a taste for the heavier peated stuff. The Lagavulin is about the peatiest Scotch I find I like, it has a rich smoothness to counter the peat.

I'm probably more of a Speyside guy. the Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenrothes and Macallan are all regular visitors to my cabinet. I've tried Knockando and if it were only available in a higher proof I think it would make for a very aromatic lighter fluid. I can't say I've developed a taste for the Lismore either even though I'm led to believe it is a very popular table Scotch back in the birthplace of whiskey.

But I'm not biased, I enjoy a few of the Highland malts as well. The Glengoyne is an interesting spirit because it's entirely peatless which betrays my bourbon biased past. The Glengoyne actually reminds me of a smooth, mild, refined bourbon more than a Scotch. I like the Glenmorangie as well but never really fell in love with the Aberfeldy, Dalwhinnie or Eradour.

In the oddfellow bin, I've tasted Highland Park and while it may have a stout reputation in the Eden of distilled spirits it scores with me personally only marginally higher than some of the better blends. I've got a bottle of Jura I haven't cracked the seal on yet.

Out of all those bottles I have to say my top five so far are (in no particular order) Balvenie, Glenrothes, Lagavulin, Glengoyne and specific vintages of the Macallan.

When I was a Scotch drinker, I actually preferred JWB over the single malt Green Label. I even tried the Blue Label when I was at a party hosted by a higher socioeconomic group. I still preferred JWB.

Honestly, I prefer Rum over whiskey. 10 Cane or Appleton, but that's a bit of a threadjack. 10 Cane is what I'm drinking now. As in, right now. Happy Independence Day...whatever that means. Looks like we could have remained British subjects and not have been much worse off. Another threadjack...sorry.

acg1911 wrote:... Happy Independence Day...whatever that means. ...

It means we still remember, at least a little bit.

And that's half the battle.

+1 on Lagavulin and Glenfiddich. Lagavulin is as peaty as I care to taste.

After reading this thread I am going to pour a glass and reflect on our few freedoms we have left.

10 year old Speyburn Highland Single Malt

GoJohnnyGo wrote:Great topic! I love drinking single malts and have a special affinity towards Islay scotches. Laphroig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg Corryvecken are my favorites (right now) Mmmmmmmm scotch.

This!!!! I'm a fan of the Laphroig Quarter Cask.

I use to drink more Scotch, but then I got cheap. I have been looking for a single malt Scotch tasters guild so I can get what I want right off the bat.

Right now I am drinking bourbon. It is not bad, but not as complex as I would like.

Bookers? Bakers?

In bourbons I find these two to be much richer sipping bourbons than the rest ... but also not cheap. Blanton's is supposed to be good stuff but I haven't tried it yet.

Most of the time I taste new Scotch at restaurant bars when I have to wait on a table.

Just plain old Jack for me, use to drink crown including the XR, too sweet for me now, same for rums, was a big Bacardi 8 guy, and Solera. Cant do Capt. Morgan, tastes like pancake syrup. Sometimes Ill drink Buchannons with a splash of Perrier if I'm in the mood for something light. Scotch seems to have a cucumber like aftertaste, nice but I still like the sour and stiff taste old JD. My tastes are different since I quit smoking a few years ago, I use to hate the taste of tequila, now I love Herradura and Patron on the rocks.

I'm a big fan of single malts, primarily Speysides. I'm drinking Balvenie Doublewood 12 right now. Only blended Scotches I can stand are Chivas and Johnny Walker Blue Label. All the others have too harsh a bite on my tongue (too many competing flavors, I guess).

If you want a really good companion to a good smoke, try this:



Muy Beuno!!!

A poem...

The best laid plans of men and mice
Are oft derailed by scotch and ice.

curbside wrote:Just plain old Jack for me, use to drink crown including the XR, too sweet for me now, same for rums, was a big Bacardi 8 guy, and Solera. Cant do Capt. Morgan, tastes like pancake syrup. Sometimes Ill drink Buchannons with a splash of Perrier if I'm in the mood for something light. Scotch seems to have a cucumber like aftertaste, nice but I still like the sour and stiff taste old JD. My tastes are different since I quit smoking a few years ago, I use to hate the taste of tequila, now I love Herradura and Patron on the rocks.

Ditto on the JD... on the rocks.

I draw the line at Clan McGregor.... Other than that... If it says Scotch", it counts.

Funny this thread popped back up. I'm enjoying a montecristo #2 with a dram a Highland Park 18 right now. Very good stuff.

GoJohnnyGo wrote:... montecristo #2 ...

Very nice choice.

I like Auchentoshan 12 year, but in a pinch, I will drink pretty much anything I am offered

Glenfiddich is my favorite, but I haven't bought any in a while. I mostly sip Pendelton anymore.

Nowadays I'm mainly a beer, rum, and tequila drinker. However, the thought of Scotch always reminds me of my Jr. High and High School days. It was weird because all my friends hated whiskey in general, but yet that's what we always brought to school. I guess at that age, you can't exactly be picky. And no, I'm not here condoning underage drinking so don't wet your pants over it. Just simply sharing my experience.

Anyways, last whiskey I had was Maker's Mark about a year or so ago. Yeah, I know that's bourbon and not scotch, but still a whiskey.