As blended scotches seem to be more in my budget. What are the best ones? And leaving out the politics and patriotism are Irish whiskeys bad? Thanks for the help.
Knock.
Knock.
Scotch Question?
- Thread starter Knockahoma
- Start date
I drink Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks, and that's all I drink.
There are better scotches out there, but like you, I'm on a budget. JWB is available just about everywhere you go, and its just a dollar or so more than the Red. Well worth it.
I like JWB because it gets me feeling good but not drunk after just one serving. I can have fun but still be functional. And it burns clean. By the time the night is over, I'm good to drive home, I get a good night's sleep, and there's no hangover to deal with in the morning.
And if all that isn't enough of a selling point, JWB tastes good, too.
I went through about three decades of drinking different wines and whiskeys and a few beers, but when I found JWB, I knew this was what I was looking for. I haven't drank anything else since 2005.
There are better scotches out there, but like you, I'm on a budget. JWB is available just about everywhere you go, and its just a dollar or so more than the Red. Well worth it.
I like JWB because it gets me feeling good but not drunk after just one serving. I can have fun but still be functional. And it burns clean. By the time the night is over, I'm good to drive home, I get a good night's sleep, and there's no hangover to deal with in the morning.
And if all that isn't enough of a selling point, JWB tastes good, too.
I went through about three decades of drinking different wines and whiskeys and a few beers, but when I found JWB, I knew this was what I was looking for. I haven't drank anything else since 2005.
I would suggest that Irish whiskeys aren't good or bad, they are simply 'different'.
And in the same vein, there's no real 'best' whisky. They're all too different. Try a few. Some you'll like, some you won't. Generally, the brands you've heard of will be 'OK'. Nothing wrong with Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark (any variants of the above, with the possible exception of JW Red, which frankly I'd prefer to use as paint stripper).
Try a few. Say which ones you like, and a lively debate will break out, where the regulars in here criticise each others' recommendations.
Try a few. Say which ones you like, and a lively debate will break out, where the regulars in here criticise each others' recommendations.
Nothing wrong with Irish. I quite like a drop of Jamesons from time to time.
For inexpensive Scotch blended, try Teachers, Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and famous Grouse. They are three of my budget drops of choice.
For inexpensive Scotch blended, try Teachers, Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and famous Grouse. They are three of my budget drops of choice.
Give Redbreast 12 a try. It's pot stilled and is not only a great Irish whiskey but a great whiskey period. It's part of my rotation that includes malts and bourbons. A real winner in my book.
te bheag whisky (pronounced Chee Vick) is a nice blend, for a value price. Really punches above its weight.
Johnnie Black for sure, too.
A fun review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKxBQ-S6khc
Johnnie Black for sure, too.
A fun review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKxBQ-S6khc
I think Legion nailed it, as budget is a concern. Locally Teacher's is less than $20 and Famous Grouse is in the $25 range. Both are nice.
Absolutely nothing wrong with Irish. Redbreast 12 may be outside your budget... I prefer both Powers and Paddy to the usual suspects. Both should be around $20.
"All scotches are different ..."
" ... but some scotches are more different than others."
(With apologies to Eric Arthur Blair.)
Tru Dat.
(pronounced "go buy a bottle".)
I like Legion's suggestions except I wasn't impressed with Teachers Highland Cream. I'm told this used to be good, now it's hit and miss. What I had was a miss. Ditto Ballantines Finest is ordinary at best (their 12yo and 17yo are fantastic, however).
I'll add Cutty Sark and Black Bottle to the budget blend suggestions.
Irish whisky tends to be softer and have less flavour. Some people interpret that as having less "personality", some are snobs, others just like stirring the pot (still). Me, I like Bushmill and Connemara but less fond of Jamiesons.
As Gordon Jackson said "there's no such thing as a bad scotch" and who would dare disagree with George Cowely?
True: contrary to popular belief, you don't get to be a big seller by producing crap. But Chivas 18yo is just bad. Not different, bad. The 12yo is pretty good, but big brother is best avoided.
I've developed a taste for paint stripper, sorry JW Red. One rock, let a little water mix. It's not complex or clever, but it is a good, reliable blend. Again, you don't get to be the biggest seller in the world without having something going.
Lively debate mode engaged!
[EDIT] Can anyone tell me how to do strike text? I'm sure it used to work on here before...
Yeah I have to agree JWB is good. It's not the best I've ever had but it's in my rotation and the price is right. Bushmills and Redbreast are great Irish whiskys and again if your on a budget those two hit the spot.
For around $30.00 Monkey Shoulder is a great blended Scotch whisky that's worth a try.
For around $30.00 Monkey Shoulder is a great blended Scotch whisky that's worth a try.
Scoresby for the win. 1.75 L still around $14 on sale and very serviceable. Trader Joe's has a new blend at $10 a liter which I mean to try out. While thankfully I don't need to seek out cheap rotgut I think it's quite fun to find classic or otherwise good blends at great prices. For American blends, I like Early Times but it's close to borderline. Those sampler bottles will save you a mint 
Anyone who's ever drunk 'Loch Lomond' (allegedly) Single Malt? (I put allegedly, as our master blender swears blind that it can't be what it claims to be)
So now **you** are disagreeing with Gordon Jackson/George Cowely (not familiar with either!)
And I like Chivas 18YO. Only drank it once (on a plane), but I really enjoyed it.
Hey. It's cheap, it gets you drunk **and** you can clean paintbrushes in it. What's not to like? If only it could wash your clothes too. Hmmm.
**wonders, and looks thoughtfully at the stain on his sleeve**
What do you know!
+1 on Monkey Shoulder. It was around $24 at Total Wine and I am enjoying it quite a bit.
Don't drink a lot of Scotch or Irish any more as they all starting giving me terrible heartburn! Seem to be ok with dark rums though.
Anyway, a favourite of mine from years past is Black Bottle. I was put onto it by a Scots frined who told me it was one of the big sellers in Scotland. It has a larger proportion if the peaty Islay malts than most and I must admit, it was a good dram! It was about the same price here as the other run of the mill blends.
Question is, can you get it over there?
I used to really enjoy the Irish whiskies too and my later father in law, who was a Highland Scot also started enjoying them after I put him onto them! He wouldn't admit to it though.
Gareth
Anyway, a favourite of mine from years past is Black Bottle. I was put onto it by a Scots frined who told me it was one of the big sellers in Scotland. It has a larger proportion if the peaty Islay malts than most and I must admit, it was a good dram! It was about the same price here as the other run of the mill blends.
Question is, can you get it over there?
I used to really enjoy the Irish whiskies too and my later father in law, who was a Highland Scot also started enjoying them after I put him onto them! He wouldn't admit to it though.
Gareth
Oh yes! Monkey Shoulder. There are still some bargains to be had in vatted / blended / pure malts (choose which ever we are supposed to be calling them this week)
We were drinking Black Bottle and Bailey Nicole Jarvey last night: I'd put BB ahead by a nose.
It's a reference to The Professionals, a British TV show from the '70s, in which Gordon Jackson plays George Cowely, the the very dour, hard nosed and calculating head of a fictional secret intelligence agency. It has a cult following 40 years on, but the reference is probably lost on an American audience and cleary fell flat
. I suspect it's where a lot of people first heard of single malt scotch. Jackson went on to do ads for Grants. Both can be found on You Tube if you care enough to check them out.
I tried it for the third time before Christmas 'cause a local chain had a tasting box (2x 200ml bottles) out cheap. The 12yo was good, but 18 was not. Similar start to the 12yo but a bit flat and "dusty", then falls away to nothing and a strange chemical aftertaste. I'd put it down to a bad bottle or storage if I hadn't experienced the same thing twice before - and one of those was duty free so it came from outside the Oz market. It's like they've sucked the life out of the 12yo in the extra 5 years. Like your Master Blender and Loch Lomond, I just can't believe it's meant to be like that.
But how are you going to get the smell out...
We were drinking Black Bottle and Bailey Nicole Jarvey last night: I'd put BB ahead by a nose.
So now **you** are disagreeing with Gordon Jackson/George Cowely (not familiar with either!)
It's a reference to The Professionals, a British TV show from the '70s, in which Gordon Jackson plays George Cowely, the the very dour, hard nosed and calculating head of a fictional secret intelligence agency. It has a cult following 40 years on, but the reference is probably lost on an American audience and cleary fell flat
. I suspect it's where a lot of people first heard of single malt scotch. Jackson went on to do ads for Grants. Both can be found on You Tube if you care enough to check them out.I tried it for the third time before Christmas 'cause a local chain had a tasting box (2x 200ml bottles) out cheap. The 12yo was good, but 18 was not. Similar start to the 12yo but a bit flat and "dusty", then falls away to nothing and a strange chemical aftertaste. I'd put it down to a bad bottle or storage if I hadn't experienced the same thing twice before - and one of those was duty free so it came from outside the Oz market. It's like they've sucked the life out of the 12yo in the extra 5 years. Like your Master Blender and Loch Lomond, I just can't believe it's meant to be like that.
But how are you going to get the smell out...
I grew up with my 10 uncles around me drinking strictly Chivas and Johnnie Black, in terms of whiskey. I love Chivas and J&B. and Johnnie Black. Black never fails
Where did you find the Black Bottle? I've never seen that one in Oz. It's not on the Dan Murfs website.
