Comments on: Beginner’s scotch

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 13:07:07 +0000

Also known as ‘the ladies dram’, it’s good for beginners. http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/dalwhinb.htm

You can mail them in the canister they come in as they are pretty durable. :)

By: llamech

llamech — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 06:14:08 +0000

Tasty. Not too expensive. Goes down very very smoothly. Not too expensive (40$ in 2000, at the LCBO). This was how I got my wife, who never liked *any* alcoholic beverages, to like scotch.

By: frobisher

frobisher — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 02:04:23 +0000

Ok, simon’s responses…

1) Scapa is a good bet, but I don’t know about not trying Laphroaig or Lagavulin. I think if I were introducing someone to whisky, I would suggest small tastings of Macallan/Dalmore (or a good Glenrothes), Scapa (or Highland Park), and Laphroaig or Caol Ila. These three really show the tremendous variety that whisky can have, and then the taster can decide which style he or she prefers.

and

2) Sorry, I didn’t see the top. If they don’t like phenolic whisky, but still want peat, Caol Ila would still be good. If someone likes dark rum, I think your Dalmore suggestion, or Highland Park would be good. I still think the best idea is to find a decent bar and taste a few different ones.

By: scromp

scromp — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 23:22:06 +0000

I looooove me some Laphroiag. Oban is a good one in the same kind of peaty vein, though it might actually be more expensive most places. Very good, but it’s not quite as “surprising,” as you put it.

I don’t know how the more knowledgeable people consider Glenmorangie, but it seems to me like a decent basic scotch, and I often see it for what I would consider to be very low prices for a passable single malt.

By: frobisher

frobisher — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 23:12:54 +0000

One malt that I’ve always found very nice and usually not terribly expensive is Scapa. It’s from the Orkneys and not as well known as a lot of others, so it might make for a good, but more offbeat choice.

I’d avoid blends, but I’m a snob. :-)

From what I’m seeing on metafilter, I’d say the Macallan, the Dalmore and the Bowmore are pretty good choices. I myself started with the Macallan.

I would not advise Lagavulin or Laphroaig as a starting whisky. excellent, but too surprising, I think, for the beginner.

Another odd choice would be Suntory. Apparently the japanese are now making quite decent whiskys. My friend to whom I go for this sort of info (and to whom I’ll pass this on) had us try a few on my birthday recently, and of the three, I’d say one was ok, and the other two were quite nice.

In the final analysis, if it were me… probably the Macallan or the Scapa.