Single Malt Scotch.Sugestions ?

[WoodfordReserve-Neat]

OK, you heathen drinkers, you!

I subscribe to the belief that if any pouring liquor is better than that that is distilled in KENTUCKY, USA, I have not had the pleasure of tasting it.
BUT, with that said, I have...through osmosis, started to drink more Scotch than I thought that I ever would ?
Mainly because of Single Malts. (Don't care for any blends that I have tried, mind you)
I have been content with the cost and pleasure that I get from 15 yr Glenlivet (French Oak Reserve) Scotch.
Make me a suggestion that is in the cost/taste range of Glenlivet, please.
While the Glenlivet goes down very smooth to me, I still do not find the nose nor finish that I get from a grand Kentucky Bourbon.....but I do like Glenlivet 15 quite well....
TIA

 

[Tim_McD]

My personal (affordable) favorite is The Balvenie Double Wood 12 year old, which is about the same price the Glenlivet. You go up from that price point in The Balvenie line to some truly inspired scotch whiskeys

Higher smoke content favorites at the price point you specified: Lagavulin 16 year old or Laphroaig 10 year old

I am a confirmed scotch lover who has started to browse American whiskeys. I have developed an appreciation for those Tennessee whiskeys, but I have yet to venture into the Kentucky ones.

A misadventure with Wild Turkey 101 in my youth had put me off reacquainting myself with bourbon. Now in my late 40s, I feel I can try again

 

[arghblech]

Don't knock the blends too hard. I'm working on a bottle from Compass Box called Asyla and it is the real deal. I hear many of their blends are top notch.

 

[shaveBandito]

Back again after a hiatus on this site... and i find here one of my very favorite subjects! I love both American Whiskey and Scotch Whisky and drink them both regularly and with great pleasure. My winter drink of choice is a Manhattan made with any truly good bourbon (right now the whiskey of choice being Wild Turkey 108). As winter comes on, my scotch of choice would be the lagavulin 16 year old (but i have a Clynelish 14 waiting in the wings). Each region of Scotland has its own malt, and you might enjoy one of the Speysides. In general though, i find that I can get a reasonably good American whiskey in the $20 to $45 range (with some prestige labels in the 80's but not willing to experiment with them - especially since i am not drinking them neat). But to get a good Scotch, you are going to have to part with $60 or so per bottle - so when i am feeling frugal, my "cheap scotch" of choice is Johnnie Walker black. Hope this gets you going on the path of trying more .... and in the spirit of B&B ...... spending more...

 

[arghblech]

Not to nitpick but I do disagree with the $60 and up thing. One of my favorite bottles is Old Pulteney 12yr that runs me $32 each. I like it way more than many much more expensive bottles.

 

[incucrash]

Not what I had in Seattle,

I hope this thread grows, I have a desire to try more myself.

 

[pcumby]

My personal (affordable) favorite is The Balvenie Double Wood 12 year old, which is about the same price the Glenlivet. You go up from that price point in The Balvenie line to some truly inspired scotch whiskeys

Higher smoke content favorites at the price point you specified: Lagavulin 16 year old

two great choices that won't break the bank

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Vastly Under-rated is the Bhunnahabhain 12; if you like smoke then Laphroaig 10 or Quarter-Cask, Ardbeg 10, Lagavulin16. If you enjoy smoke and a wee bit o'heat than Talisker 10 is for you.

For a very smooth, great drinking whisky, you may want to try the Bruichladdich 10.

 

[OldAF]

Not to nitpick but I do disagree with the $60 and up thing. One of my favorite bottles is Old Pulteney 12yr that runs me $32 each. I like it way more than many much more expensive bottles.

I agree but should note that Scotch prices are just goofy. There is always some regional price variation but I'm able to order a particular brand out of California for $36 that costs $60 around here. Insane. I liked the Old Pulteney by the way... cost me closer to $39 but it is quite nice.

I've been on a bit of a Scotch journey myself James. It isn't always about age. I really like Glenmorangie Original (10 yo). Somehow they do in 10 years what it takes others 12 years or more. No idea how they do it but the result speaks for itself. I also really liked Macallan 12 and the Balvinie... Caribbean Cask more than the Doublewood, although both are nice.

Oh, and I'd try a glass of a smokey one before you jump in that pool. You may like it or you might just save yourself some green if you don't.

 

[drathgeb]

Talisker 18
Oban 14

 

[deruitem]

Balvenie Double Wood is one of my favs

 

[joshua1970]

i'm a fan of the Islay whiskys - the smokier the better

in addition to my favorite that's already mentioned Lagavulin 16, and the classic Laphroaig 10....I'll also throw in Laphroaig 1/4 cask, 15 (if you can find it) & 18...., Talisker makes several great whiskys.....and for a reasonable price try Ardbeg 10 or Bowmore 12 ( or 15 or 18 but more $$).

for a little less peat/smoke flavor from Islay I'd try the Bunnahahbain 12 and the Bruichladdich 10 or 16 (Bruichladdich also makes some very peaty whiskys which would rival Lagavulin/Laphroaig, but sadly living in PA I've not been able to try them)

Since you like the Glenlivet 15... Idd stick to other speysides as they may have more similar qualities: Cragganmore, The Balvenie (too many variations that are just superb), Aberlour (love the d'abuhnah cask strenth best) i'd also try some of the highlands -Oban, Highland Park, Dalwhinnie, and some of the many offerings from Glenmorangie

my favorite Lowland is Auchentoshan 12 or 18 (never had the 21) - a very intriguing scotch.

single malt scotch is a subject that can be discussed til the cows come home. your best bet is to discover what you like and then branch out from there

that said, for my money, there isn't a whisky that rivals Lagavulin 16 unless you start looking at the super high end and vintage bottlings.

 

[Chaucer]

Try Isle of Jura 16 yr and Springbank 10 yr. Both are malty and smooth but complex. No sweet sherry cask thing here. Not too much peat or smoke but enough so you know it's from the north country.

 

[deruitem]

If you like smoke Lagavulin 16 will have your covered for sure. I dont own it but I did try it at the local cigar bar.

Good stuff

 

[WoodfordReserve-Neat]

Much thanks for all of the recommendations, guys!

I am starting a Scotch journal for comparison notes..and will be checking out some of these suggestions. Again, mucho thanx.
I bought a bottle of Tomatin 12 the other day...not one that I would buy again, but that's me.
Our local retail has tastings during the year. Bourbon and wine so far this year and I am hoping they have a Scotch tasting in the future.

Just rambling now, but...
If you can ever get your hands on a bottle of Pappy 20 yr Bourbon, I highly recommend the experience. It was going for an exorbitant $400.00 a bottle on eBay awhile back. But, if you check off the beaten path liquor stores while traveling you might just be surprised what you can find. Kind of like looking for razors in antique stores off of the beaten path...but different, YKWIM.
I picked up a retail bottle of Pappy 20 yr for $107.00 in such a place this year...bottle was just a little dusty but it tasted just fine
( big grin). Being a Southerner, I enjoy sitting out on the Verandah in my favorite rocker with a couple fingers of Pappy and a Cohiba while listening to the whippoorwills in the late evening . Yep, for a short while, the world seems to be in equilibrium...

 

[The Chandos]

Isn't anyone going to recommend Highland Park? It's the best all-around single-malt ever made in my opinion.

 

[LarryDarrell]

Somehow I keep coming back to Talisker 12yo.

 

[Higgie]

Australian pricing is probably a bit different (read more expensive) to the U.S but for similar money to the Glenlivet 15 here you could pick up an Ardbeg/Laphroaig 10 or the more user friendly Glenfarclas 10

 

[CptBlueBear]

As a reformed single malt snob, I'll say that there are some very good blends out there. I've recently developed a taste for Johnnie Walker red on ice - either they've upped the quality from the rotgut we used to get 20 years ago or my tastes have matured in a rather shocking direction - but Johnnie black is firm, long term favourite. Recently I discovered Bailey Nicole Jarvie, Ballantines (get the 17 year if you can justify the money) and Cuty Sark. Grants are making some interesting things just now even if I think their Ale Cask smells like walking past a city hotel after a big Saturday night.

I'll add my voice to the Old Pulteney and Aberlour recommendations if you like Glenlivet, which, frankly is a bit plain and simple for my taste but it's a good starting point Ditto Glenfiddich. Speyside is a good place to start if you like bourbon 'cause you'll find more sherry and toffee notes. That reminds me: Glen Moray is another great "training wheels" malt too.

As you go west, especially out to the islands, you'll get more smoke, peat and iodine (sweeping generalisation I know), culminating in the Islay south coast trilogy of Laphroig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Laphoig is Prince Charles' favourite for what it's worth, personally I prefer Lagavulin but I'm not such a die hard republican (in the Aussie sense of being opposed to the monarchy) that I don't have a bottle of Quarter Cask on the shelf. I strongly suggest you dip your toe in the metaphorical Islay water before investing in a bottle 'cause you'll either love it or wonder why anyone would want to drink something that tastes like last night's campfire ash with a fistfull of seaweed mixed in.

Going south has not been favourable to me: I find both Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie more than a bit dull.

I'm also rediscovering bourbon (and its relatives) after a long hiatus caused by what the locally sold Jack Daniels and Wild Turkey have become. On the recommendation of someone on this forum, I picked up a bottle of Johnnie Drum. Lovely stuff; what I liked about JD and Turkey without the nasty bits. I now have a list: Rittenhouse, Eagle Rare and JW Dant. Pappy Van Winkle is well out of my price range!

 

[CptBlueBear]

Australian pricing is probably a bit different (read more expensive) to the U.S but for similar money to the Glenlivet 15 here you could pick up an Ardbeg/Laphroaig 10 or the more user friendly Glenfarclas 10

Hey Higgie, since you are in Adelaide you could do a lot worse than picking up a bottle of Smiths of Angaston 12 year or Southern Coast R6. Both local products (yay!) and going fast.

Agreed on the Glenlivet 15 and the French Oak thing does nothing for me I'm afraid. You could add Glenmorangie and Glengoyne (got the 17 year for this sort of money and its just magic) to that "user friendly" list too.