Not sure how this hasn't been made yet, but list your favorites.

12/28/2013 1:49:58 AM

Lagavulin, 16 year.

12/28/2013 1:55:40 AM

Glenfiddich 18 year of course can't be every day

12/28/2013 9:55:41 AM

Good timing on this thread, as I was trying to think of a birthday gift for myself. Any recommendations for a single malt $50 or less?

12/28/2013 10:09:12 AM

The Balvenie, my favorite

12/28/2013 10:58:18 AM

there are a ton on scotch threads in CC, but most of them are just people posting random pictures of bottles. not too much in depth discussion.

Quote :

"Any recommendations for a single malt $50 or less?"

you are really limiting your selections here. $50 is basically the entry price for single malt with the better ones, ones you might want to treat yourself to, being even more. what do you like? I always keep a bottle of one of the Glens on hand. Glenlivet, Glenfiddich for company, or myself for a quick drink at night. They are decent single malts, not too expensive. I do the same with bourbons, I have my "everyday" bourbon and my nicer, more expensive occasion bourbons.

i wish there was a more economical way to try scotch. a tasting party is the best bet, where you can try various single malts without having to shell out the bar price. i think if we had enough interest here i'd even make the drive from Charlotte for the chance to try some others.

12/28/2013 11:59:08 AM

Quote :

"Any recommendations for a single malt $50 or less?"

If you're into the peaty taste, can't go wrong with Laphroaig. I think the 10 year is ~$50, with the quarter cask being pretty close (50-60). The QC is slightly sweeter/smoother going down.

12/28/2013 12:06:40 PM

also, here is a good site for scotch and other whiskey reviews.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ralfystuff

12/28/2013 1:00:17 PM

Quote :

"Any recommendations for a single malt $50 or less?"

Agree that you a limited here. It's right on the cusp of getting a good bottle. If you go up another $20 you could do quite better. For $50, you could probably get a 12yr Macallan. It's pretty decent for a 12yr. I would avoid 10yr scotch, better to get a good bourbon.

12/28/2013 2:41:23 PM

damn, i knew scotch was pricier than bourbon but didn't know it was that much more. full disclosure i've never actually tried a single malt, just blended, but i'd like my first foray to not suck. i would guess my limit (for other people to buy) would be $75 tops if that changes anything

12/28/2013 4:32:33 PM

you'll do good in that range. Get something from Speyside or highland as your first dive into scotch. I would steer a beginner away from Islay whiskeys.

Try a nice glenmorangie in that price range.

12/28/2013 5:51:43 PM

What do you like in a scotch? That will drive your choice in a $50 range. As long as you don't want something too aggressively peaty or smoky, Glenmorangie's original 10-year is the best you'll get. I'd give the runner-up to Balvenie Doublewood 12-year.

Take a look on http://www.whiskyadvocate.com for their Buyer's Guide, and check the tasting notes for something that sounds appealing to you. You can filter the search results to only display single malt scotch under $50.

But for $50, you can also get some really great blended scotches. My favorite blender by far is Compass Box, and their Asyla and Oak Cross blends both should be around that price or less.

Quote :

"i wish there was a more economical way to try scotch. a tasting party is the best bet, where you can try various single malts without having to shell out the bar price. i think if we had enough interest here i'd even make the drive from Charlotte for the chance to try some others."

I've had a scotch tasting at my place before, but I'm out in California.

12/29/2013 11:19:47 PM

Anyone have some recommendations as far as online retailers for buying single malts? Haven't had much luck finding a good one that's U.S. based (or at least doesn't ship directly from the UK) and reliable with a good selection.

12/30/2013 12:37:03 AM

Not in the us. but this is a good one to find some nice rare bottles I have used before.
http://www.masterofmalt.com/

There are also a bunch for sale on ebay. you buy the bottle and the contents are incidental

12/30/2013 11:39:40 AM

Dalwhinnie is an excellent scotch for novice scotch drinkers

12/30/2013 11:44:37 AM

I've bought from Master of Malt a few times; their shipping is amazingly fast (like, 4 and a half days from ordering fast). Worth it if you're buying multiple bottles, but the shipping is likely too expensive to justify it otherwise.

The only U.S.-based store I've bought from online is http://www.parkaveliquor.com/ in NYC. I also had a good experience with them, and they are a major shop (by U.S. standards) that gets some pretty good releases.

[Edited on December 30, 2013 at 12:17 PM. Reason : ]

12/30/2013 12:17:16 PM

I also regularly shop at http://beverlyhillsvendome.com/ in person and can vouch that they have a good selection. It looks like they ship to NC.

12/30/2013 2:13:20 PM

I've been wanting to try Balvenie Doublewood but it's like $65 here in VA. That seems a bit steep...

I've got to get used to these prices. Don't think I've ever paid more than $55 for any bottle before. The Macallan Fine Oak 15 was a gift.

12/30/2013 2:19:00 PM

i didn't realize Lagavulin 16 was nearly $100. it's a lady friend's favorite...she has good tastes.

12/30/2013 3:49:01 PM

double post.

is there a blend available that's made of the islay peaty/smokey scotches? this might be a good recommendation for someone wanting to get their feet wet in that style.

12/30/2013 4:35:49 PM

^^Lagavulin Distiller's Edition is my favorite scotch... period. Pretty much. I'm looking for a reliable place to order it that isn't earth-shattering shipping costs.

Balvenie Doublewood is great. When I was in Scotland, a friend of mine brought back a bottle and he loves it.

12/30/2013 6:17:10 PM

I've only ever had the Glenlivet 12 yr. I guess I'm missing out.

12/31/2013 10:01:29 AM

Compass Box has a blend called The Peat Monster which is good but heavy on the flavors, as the name suggests. Not sure if it's a "feet-wetting" kind of blend. Johnnie Walker Black and Black Grouse would both be more palatable to new scotch drinkers while still having some distinctively smokey, peaty notes.

[Edited on December 31, 2013 at 12:23 PM. Reason : Johnnie Walker Double Black is even more so, but still <$50.]

12/31/2013 12:20:27 PM

i haven't tried all of the islay scotches (and their variants) by any stretch, but of the 4 or 5 single malts i've tried so far, ardbeg 10 is my favorite...it's less sweet, more peppery, and the smoke comes through the whole time...the flavor seems to hang around in my mouth longer, and that's something i like

again, i'm not claiming to be a connoisseur...i just keep coming back to the ardbeg...i think it's $50-55/bottle



i've hinted that i'd like the corryvreckan for valentine's day

black bottle is available a lot of places, but not NC...i picked up a couple of bottles when i was in florida recently

i really like it...it's an islay blend (owned by bunnahabhain) that doesn't beat your over the head with peat and smoke, but has a unique flavor that makes it a fantastic value at the $19/bottle i paid...google it for reviews, it seems to be loved by just about everyone

if you like black grouse at all and would be interested in more islay smoke and peat, you'll love black bottle



[Edited on January 2, 2014 at 8:56 AM. Reason : .]

1/2/2014 8:49:51 AM

Wanted Ardbeg, but the abc was out so I picked up Laphroaig. Holy wow, i don't get as much 'smoke' as I do moss and seaweed. but the finish is so much smoother than any Spey or highland I've tried.

1/3/2014 10:11:42 PM

Heading to Ireland for work today, might try to pick up something I can't get in the states, problem is I don't want to check my bag so I might just do the whole London airport duty free shop. Any recommendations of something hard to get here/not available here (if they have it)?

1/4/2014 11:35:55 AM

Quote :

"Lagavulin, 16 year"

+1

I never understood the appeal of "smoother" scotch's. To me this is a drink that should be smokey and peaty, exactly like Lagavulin.

My dad's a big fan of Laphroaig, but it's always seemed off to me, almost like they burnt the malt rather than smoked it.

1/4/2014 12:10:43 PM

I'm gonna give Johnnie Walker Swing some love here, just to be different.

Also, I only pay $79 for Lagavulin here in NoLA

1/5/2014 1:04:21 AM

I quite like Laphroaig but it's my first foray into Islays. Also want to try Ardbeg and Talisker, at least.

Never had Lagavulin either. I'll have to work my way up to that ("nicest" scotch I've had up to this point would be Macallan 15.)

1/5/2014 4:33:55 PM

Quote :

"I never understood the appeal of "smoother" scotch's. To me this is a drink that should be smokey and peaty, exactly like Lagavulin."

it's very smokey and peaty. but the finish is where it was smooth. almost zero burn and just a slight earthy lingering. much different than the astringent finish of something like a glenmorangie.

1/6/2014 8:40:05 AM

do you guys keep the tins/boxes that your single malts come in or just toss them?

1/9/2014 8:32:56 PM

I've tossed every tin or box I've gotten. The only thing I've ever kept like that is the satchel my Pappy 23yr came in.

I really like the Macallan Cask Strength; it's got a lot of sherry flavor and not as much peaty flavor. I also prefer the boldness of a cask strength whisky or bourbon to an 80 proof concoction.

1/9/2014 8:48:10 PM

Quote :

"Heading to Ireland for work today, might try to pick up something I can't get in the states, problem is I don't want to check my bag so I might just do the whole London airport duty free shop. Any recommendations of something hard to get here/not available here (if they have it)?"

Duty-free has a limited range, and it's largely the well-known stuff but in a larger size or a "collector's" bottle of some sort. However, there are some distilleries that actually do unique whiskeys for duty-free release only, and this is the sort of thing worth looking for. The best I've seen at a reasonable price is a Balvenie Triple Cask release; go for the 16-year.

But you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't at least look outside of duty-free, in the regular shops, and consider checking the bag.

[Edited on January 9, 2014 at 10:08 PM. Reason : ]

1/9/2014 10:07:35 PM

There is a decent chance I will be back another time for work. Went to the Jameson distillery last night and they had anything 12 year for free (work had an open bar), it was pretty awesome. Didn't come home with a bottle but I sure drank my fair share.

1/10/2014 1:45:55 AM

I went to Ireland back in march and got some Green Spot Irish Whiskey (single pot still)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Spot_(whiskey)

Good stuff

was able to just put it in my check-in bag and didn't have to declare it.

[Edited on January 10, 2014 at 3:06 PM. Reason : ]

1/10/2014 3:05:18 PM

I tried the yellow spot, didn't like it as much as the red breast. That stuff was tasty.

1/10/2014 6:42:58 PM

Finally got a chance to try the Balvenie Doublewood on Saturday night. A++ would drink again.

(Though at $14 for a damn pour, I'm really going to come out ahead just buying the bottle. Geez.)

1/13/2014 9:37:11 AM

Stealing my thread: message_topic.aspx?topic=592105&page=3

1/13/2014 2:48:55 PM

Quote :

"there are a ton on scotch threads in CC, but most of them are just people posting random pictures of bottles. not too much in depth discussion."

1/13/2014 2:59:09 PM

Skywalkr.. I found some glenrothes at a liquor store near me it's a sample pack stuff from 2001 and 1999 and regular ten year wanna get together soon and taste it? I don't want to open it alone haha

1/14/2014 12:47:59 AM

Yes. Yes I do. Sounds like a good house warming activity to me

1/14/2014 6:29:12 AM

Ok need another islay. The Laphroaig is all gone

Let's try and stay in that $50-60 range. If I go higher I may as well pick up some Lagavulin

2/3/2014 8:50:38 PM

^ if you haven't yet, try ardbeg...it's different enough from laphroaig, kinda peat/smoke/tar vs seaweed/iodine

2/3/2014 9:51:46 PM

thanks! i think it is going to be the Ardbeg

2/4/2014 11:27:27 AM

Ardbeg it is. so many single malts to choose from.

2/4/2014 9:30:57 PM

anyone ever tasted Connemara? It's a peated single malt Irish whiskey.

2/8/2014 7:29:14 PM

^ sounds interesting...do they sell it in NC?

2/9/2014 10:28:19 PM

yeah, it's about $45-50

2/10/2014 9:02:46 AM

Not scotch obviously, but my neighbor gave me a glass of crown XO last night and HOLEE SHIT is it smooth. I was kinda tipsy already and thought it was XR, but damn good nonetheless

[Edited on February 14, 2014 at 9:15 PM. Reason : M]

2/14/2014 9:07:55 PM

FYI...if anyone is near the NC/SC border. Southern Spirits has Green Spot irish whiskey in stock. First time in NC/SC and one of the first in the US i believe. Only had half a case left, at $50. I didn't pick one up this time around but may have to next time.

2/15/2014 4:33:56 PM