Good drams of SMS - Single Malt Scotch

[barny-stinson]

I'm beginning to gain a palate for scotch. Any scotch whisky connaiseurs amongst us? Any reccomendations?

How do you drink yours? In what glass? In what food pairings?

I am open to any and all suggestions up to the 30 year old mark. I don't feel like breaking the bank for 64 year Mcallans reserve just yet

Any good scotch tastings around?

My staple is Glenfiddich 18 year in a snifter on the rocks.

I have yet to try Glenlivit, Glenmorangie, or Oban. I like scotch that's smooth, not peaty, and a refined after-taste, and not spending $300+ either.

 

[vancity_cowboy]

...in a snifter on the rocks.

you actually dilute scotch? :faint:

 

[barny-stinson]

you actually dilute scotch? :faint:

I don't enjoy anything served at room temperature. Many people add dashes of water to their scotch.

 

[barny-stinson]

It all depends on personal preferrences. I'm not looking to become a scotch snob. I just want to enjoy great tasting scotch at my liesure. I prefer all alcoholic beverages cold. There are as many opinions on how to drink scotch as there are butt-holes, to each their own. I find large ice-cubes cool the scotch, while the slow melting adds flavor and opens the scotch up. Of course this is widely contested.

I wouldn't drink beer luke warm.

Of the recommendations - which ones? Oban is generic, which age?

 

[barny-stinson]

What you need to try is the classic 6 malts
Lowland: Glenkinchie
Highland: Dalwhinnie
Speyside: Cragganmore
Isle of Skye: Talisker
West highlands: Oban
Islay: Lagavulin

From there your journey will begin. Only when you try these

Using that guide, it seems you prefer scotch on the smokey side. Glenkinchie seems to be the only one on the light/delicate side which I might enjoy. I don't like Johnnie Walker, for the same reasons.

I enjoy the sherry/bourbon taste of GlenFiddich 18, and also like the 12 yr. Not sure my thoughts on 21 year in a rum cask seems an odd mix.

 

[barny-stinson]

That guide of 6 scotches is THE LIST of Scotches. It is the Classic 6 Single malts 1 from each region of Scotland. Each Distillery has been around for over 100 years. I enjoy all of the 10 year, 12 year, 15 year 18 year 21 year old.. all have thier own character.

Not a scotch snob. I just really like Scotch. Best event to go to is the HopScotch event in Vancouver every year. We rent a hotel room down town and get tickets for both days. then pour ourselves back into the hotel at the end of each night.

Even here it's shown on ice haha. From the same HopScotch festival. Too bad it's many months away.

 

[barny-stinson]

Johnny Walker, Chivas etc et al are all blended scotches not single malts.

I know I was merely making referrence to taste. Smokey/peaty etc.

 

[barny-stinson]

Johnny walker Green, Gold and Blue are fantastic even as a blended if you just want a glass of scotch. For blended they are all great. I Can't drink Black or Red

It's Johnnie Walker by the way haha.

I can't see myself spending $300 for Blue Label but that's just me. I'm looking for decent stuff in the 70-120 range.

 

[sevenofnine]

Cold dulls the senses.

To get the full flavor no ice.
Water is ok how much or if any is a matter or taste, but no ice it dulls the senses
I have this arguement all the time with some drinkers. They keep putting a bottle of yager in the freezer.

JW blue
is my favorite at the moment.

 

[Fakenham]

the irish heather in gastown offers scotch tasting flights. great way to sample and compare several choices.

 

[de los Santos]

Cold dulls the senses.

To get the full flavor no ice.
Water is ok how much or if any is a matter or taste, but no ice it dulls the senses
I have this arguement all the time with some drinkers. They keep putting a bottle of yager in the freezer.

Cold may dull your senses but don't assume it does for everyone.

And Jagermeister is actually normally consumed cold. As are most bitter/herb liqueurs are in Europe, and in particular 'yager' in Germany where it's from. Though as barny-stinson said, drink to your preference!

 

[vanperb]

My staple is Glenfiddich 18 year in a snifter on the rocks.

First thing. Neat. Always neat. If you *must* chill, get yourself some drink granite that you can chill and place in the drink without diluting the scotch.

 

[badbadboy]

I'm beginning to gain a palate for scotch. Any scotch whisky connaiseurs amongst us? Any reccomendations?

How do you drink yours? In what glass? In what food pairings?

I am open to any and all suggestions up to the 30 year old mark. I don't feel like breaking the bank for 64 year Mcallans reserve just yet

Any good scotch tastings around?

My staple is Glenfiddich 18 year in a snifter on the rocks.

I have yet to try Glenlivit, Glenmorangie, or Oban. I like scotch that's smooth, not peaty, and a refined after-taste, and not spending $300+ either.

If you like drinking your single malts with ice or water try buying Cask Strength Whisky. There is no way anyone could drink this stuff neat because its 57.7% alcohol.

One I like is Glenlivet Nadurra 16 year old. Very nice drink with either water or ice added. $94 in the BC stores but if you look at it this way and cut it with 50% water then its a $47 bottle of single malt. I add a couple of ice cubes and a dash of water and let it sit for 5 minutes.

http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-glenlivet-nadurra-16-year-old-whisky/

Cheers

BBB

 

[badbadboy]

Cask strength cut with 50% water.. you don't have a $47 single malt you have a watered down $6 bottle of nothing scotch.

Sure put an ice cube in it at cask strength if it's too much for you. Or don't drink cask strength. To cut it with 50% water..OMG you're killing a bottle of scotch.

Do you pour water in a Jug of milk to get more milk (call it skim milk). or pour water in beer to get more beer (then call it lite beer)???

Re read my post. I put two cube and a bit of water. IF somenone wants to save money then THEY can cut it by 50%.

 

[de los Santos]

Not a scotch snob. I just really like Scotch.

Though I don't doubt you LOVE Scotch, you sir...sound exactly like a scotch snob. Here's my "you know a snob when" list:

1> Insists frequently of "only way" to drink.

Only way to drink a single malt scotch: 2 fingers in an old fashioned glass neat (no ice). No water no mix no ice. Just a single malt scotch in a glass.

Like somehow they are the only authourity on drinking scotch. When many who make their living AND lifestyle (not just the latter) in the making and consuming of scotch/whiskey prefer otherwise.

2> Declares frequently of selections they "can't" drink, fervently even...

I Can't drink Black or Red though.

Stay away from the Bowmore...

Lagavulin is phenomenal. But I can't drink it all the time. That is a one or two glass scotch for me at most over an evening.

Looks like a duck, sounds like a duck...must be a..

But then again, snobs by very definition turn their noses up at many things. Quite often it's the lower priced brands or blends they associate with some sort of lower class. Yet in Scotch's storied history, single malts originated from the poorer classes who couldn't afford the more expensive distillery product that included the art and craft of a Master Blender in their blended whiskeys. These original scotchsters would be shocked at how highbrow single malt culture has become. I would guess they might even have a laugh.

The other polarizing subject for snobs is the addition of water/ice to their drink. Why? This one is most puzzling to me as the damn whisky was already diluted with water before it was bottled! Hope you don't think that brown gold came out of the cask at exactly 40% or 46% alcohol by vol. did you? Surely, you don't think adding more water will ruin the flavour composition such that you can't drink it anymore? And if your taste sensitivity is so sophisticated (most snobs are self-delusional this way) then why aren't you chewing straight fermented single malted barley with some oak chips then? Forget about the water altogether except for the saliva in your mouth.

Yeah, I thought so.

With scotch or whiskey in general...to each their own, gentlemen. Like this hobby of ours, there are many gems to be found in every price category and flavours. Whether it's incall or outcall, blended or single malt, blonds or brunettes, peaty or sweet, PSE or GFE, neat or on the rocks...just enjoy responsibly!

 

[de los Santos]

How do you drink yours? In what glass? In what food pairings?
I am open to any and all suggestions up to the 30 year old mark.
My staple is Glenfiddich 18 year in a snifter on the rocks.

Good on ya. I should confess my whiskey of choice is bourbon. Though I keep 5-10 favourite single malts stocked always. Of those bottles, I can recommend to you 1) Suntory's Yamazaki 12 year, and 2) Bruichladdich's Wave. Both float around or below the $100 per bottle depending where you buy across the country.

I drink whiskey with most evening meals and I usually drink with ice as well in a old-fashioned or double old-fashioned glass, though I was gifted these antique saloon whiskey glasses from San Francisco that have a smaller mouth than the old-fashioned and shorter, which I enjoy drinking neat after dinner or as an aperitif.

 

[badbadboy]

Though I don't doubt you LOVE Scotch, you sir...sound exactly like a scotch snob. Here's my "you know a snob when" list:

1> Insists frequently of "only way" to drink.
Like somehow they are the only authourity on drinking scotch. When many who make their living AND lifestyle (not just the latter) in the making and consuming of scotch/whiskey prefer otherwise.

2> Declares frequently of selections they "can't" drink, fervently even...


Looks like a duck, sounds like a duck...must be a..

But then again, snobs by very definition turn their noses up at many things. Quite often it's the lower priced brands or blends they associate with some sort of lower class. Yet in Scotch's storied history, single malts originated from the poorer classes who couldn't afford the more expensive distillery product that included the art and craft of a Master Blender in their blended whiskeys. These original scotchsters would be shocked at how highbrow single malt culture has become. I would guess they might even have a laugh.

The other polarizing subject for snobs is the addition of water/ice to their drink. Why? This one is most puzzling to me as the damn whisky was already diluted with water before it was bottled! Hope you don't think that brown gold came out of the cask at exactly 40% or 46% alcohol by vol. did you? Surely, you don't think adding more water will ruin the flavour composition such that you can't drink it anymore? And if your taste sensitivity is so sophisticated (most snobs are self-delusional this way) then why aren't you chewing straight fermented single malted barley with some oak chips then? Forget about the water altogether except for the saliva in your mouth.

Yeah, I thought so.

With scotch or whiskey in general...to each their own, gentlemen. Like this hobby of ours, there are many gems to be found in every price category and flavours. Whether it's incall or outcall, blended or single malt, blonds or brunettes, peaty or sweet, PSE or GFE, neat or on the rocks...just enjoy responsibly!

You may have only two posts but have put your finger on the pulse of the Lounge quite succinctly. BJ is the resident expert on "EVERYTHING".

 

[vancity_cowboy]

Though I don't doubt you LOVE Scotch, you sir...sound exactly like a scotch snob. Here's my "you know a snob when" list:...

hmmm... now THIS sure sounds familiar :nod:

 

[Avery]

My personal favourite - Oban, neat, room temperature, mini snifter.

But, let's face it, there's no such thing as bad whisky, just some better than others. I've drunk 40 or 50 different Scotches, and there isn't one that I would flat out refuse if offered to me.

I understand that some people prefer Scotch with a little water, ice or soda, but I don't understand mixing Scotch with soft drinks or juice. Mixing Scotch with anything sweet is a travesty.

 

[barny-stinson]

On a related but somewhat different tangent (in regards to scotch drinkers who become angry on scotch) these wide words were said :

Cheap bourbon is for mixing

Cheap scotch is for doing homework

Single Malt is for celebrating having a penis, no anger necessary.


I'm just used to my alcohol being served cool/cold. I like drinking a shot or two in a snifter over 3 large ice cubes frozen from distilled water. I smell it, swirl it, let it is sit for a few minutes. When I drink it I take small sips and slirp it as one would the same with wine to let it breath. I let it sit on my tongue and move it around, let all the taste and aroma linger in my mouth, then swallow. This opens the flavors in my opinion without just tasting pure alcohol which in my opinion doesn't allow the full range of flavor when served neat at room temperature. This is simply my preferrence.