I am new to scotch drinking and drinking in general. As such I bought a custom tasting set from Master of Malt, the company is a pleasure to do business but does have some limitations. I wanted to try several different styles of scotch to help figure out what I like. So my tasting set contained dram samples, in order I drank them, of Balvenie Doublewood 12, Glendronach 12, Highland Park 12, Longrow Peated, and Laphroaig 10.
I really liked the Balveine, it had the spicy quality that I liked about Dewar's White Label but wasn't harsh like I found Dewar's to be and was much more drinkable. My favorite dram of the bunch.
The Glendronach 12 I hated and really found no redeeming qualities to it, which probably isn't that strange since I don't like Sherry. Though I have only had Sherry in food and have not drank any.
The Highland Park, I can definitely see why people call it a middle scotch and I found it to be not bad but not good either, certainly not great. What I don't like about Highland Park is that on the front end when you first sip some it reminded me of the Glendronach. But on the back end after swallowing the peat hits which I found interesting and appealing. I kind of see it as something I would retry in the future but would not buy a bottle of right know.
The Longrow Peated I like and I enjoyed the smokiness and complexity of the peat in the finish. The taste on the palate wasn't that great but the finish is what made this dram. It was good not great, it would be something I would buy and drink every now and then but not everyday.
The Laphroaig 10, initially I was intimidated simply by Laphroaig's reputation but after trying the Longrow I figured I would like it. I was right and while the two are different they are similar. As they should be being the closest of the five scotches I tried. As such everything I said about Longrow Peated is true of Laphroaig 10, good not great.
Here is how I would rate these five from best to worst.
1. Balvenie Doublewood 12
2. Laphroaig 10
3. Longrow Peated (very similar to Laphroaig I didn't really like it any more or less)
4. Highland Park 12
5. Glendronach 12
I will qualify everything I said is based off of one dram of each over several days which does have its limits.
With all that said what would you guys recommend I try next, maybe try some regions I haven't yet like the lowlands or a non peated Campbeltown, or maybe try some similar scotch to what I like?
I really liked the Balveine, it had the spicy quality that I liked about Dewar's White Label but wasn't harsh like I found Dewar's to be and was much more drinkable. My favorite dram of the bunch.
The Glendronach 12 I hated and really found no redeeming qualities to it, which probably isn't that strange since I don't like Sherry. Though I have only had Sherry in food and have not drank any.
The Highland Park, I can definitely see why people call it a middle scotch and I found it to be not bad but not good either, certainly not great. What I don't like about Highland Park is that on the front end when you first sip some it reminded me of the Glendronach. But on the back end after swallowing the peat hits which I found interesting and appealing. I kind of see it as something I would retry in the future but would not buy a bottle of right know.
The Longrow Peated I like and I enjoyed the smokiness and complexity of the peat in the finish. The taste on the palate wasn't that great but the finish is what made this dram. It was good not great, it would be something I would buy and drink every now and then but not everyday.
The Laphroaig 10, initially I was intimidated simply by Laphroaig's reputation but after trying the Longrow I figured I would like it. I was right and while the two are different they are similar. As they should be being the closest of the five scotches I tried. As such everything I said about Longrow Peated is true of Laphroaig 10, good not great.
Here is how I would rate these five from best to worst.
1. Balvenie Doublewood 12
2. Laphroaig 10
3. Longrow Peated (very similar to Laphroaig I didn't really like it any more or less)
4. Highland Park 12
5. Glendronach 12
I will qualify everything I said is based off of one dram of each over several days which does have its limits.
With all that said what would you guys recommend I try next, maybe try some regions I haven't yet like the lowlands or a non peated Campbeltown, or maybe try some similar scotch to what I like?