Whisky, how can I develop a taste for it?

[Codswallop]

You should try Auchentoshan 12 Year Old or 18 year old. I came to this after drinking mainly Jack D or Maker's Mark, and was the first malt I got into. Smooth as you like, lovely flavours. The fact that a friend worked at the distillery must have helped with my exposure to it too. Still my favourite dram.

[sjabrown]

Start low, go slow.

I'd try something lowland, or speyside initially. It is a drink to take slowly anyway. If you go to a good whisky bar you could spend an evening trying 3 or 4 different malts only.

On that note I must plan a trip to the Ben Nevis in Glasgow again soon.

[PedroB]

Getting in to whisky drinking can be offputting from a cost point of view too. If you are still searching for types/regions/distilleries you like, £50+ for a bottle of something you end up not liking can sting.

Master of Malt do single measure tasting boxes where you can choose any number of different things. Quite expensive per measure, but better than getting stuck with a bottle you don't like.

[vixen1700]

Codswallop said:

You should try Auchentoshan 12 Year Old or 18 year old. I came to this after drinking mainly Jack D or Maker's Mark, and was the first malt I got into. Smooth as you like, lovely flavours. The fact that a friend worked at the distillery must have helped with my exposure to it too. Still my favourite dram.

Bought a bottle of Auchentoshan Select duty free last year, had a lovely subtle taste of green apples.

[ManFromDelmonte]

Why not get a variety of minatures from all over Scotland and see what you like. That has to be better than going for something poisonous like Talisker or Ardberg and struggling through it.

Something like this looks OK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whisky-Tasting-Set-Scotlan...

Personally I prefer the Speyside and Highland single malts about 50/50 with water. You can taste so much more with the water added.

TMFD

[speedysoprano]

I also thought I didn't like whisky, until I went to Edinburgh and did the Scotch Whisky Experience! Husband wanted to do it so I tagged along. We had a sort of a tasting class and figured out what flavours/smells appealed to us and then were able to taste the corresponding whiskies.

I'd say look into single malt, as many others have said. Someone posted a good chart showing the types of whisky - I'd say go with one of each region, just to try the different types, and go from there.

Initially, I liked Highland and Speyside whiskies best. Now, I like all types and really enjoy the very peaty, fiery Islays. Glenmorangie, Macallan and Glenkinchie are my favourite milder whiskies, and as for the peaty stuff I really like Ardbeg and Bowmore.

[vixen1700]

speedysoprano said:

and as for the peaty stuff I really like Ardbeg and Bowmore.

Bought a bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail at Stansted last month (my first bottle of Ardbeg) and had it on holiday in Corfu. Oh my word, what a drink with so much going on with such great flavours. Almost as lovely to smell as it was to taste. Fantastic stuff.

Pretty sure it's something I wouldn't have appreciated a couple of years back.

[RicksAlfas]

theaxe said:

I love the idea of whisky, something to sip while sitting in a wing-backed chair in front of a roaring fire. Lovely.

However I can't stand the stuff. I assume it's just a taste to be acquired and with a holiday coming up I'm thinking of giving it a go.

So my questions are:
1. What would be a good 'starter' whiskey? Something with more subtle flavours I guess. I'm happy to spend a fair bit (since I figure it'll take me ages to finish the bottle)
2. Should I be putting ice/water in it? It seems strange to water it down but I believe it's fairly common.
3. Any other advice?

1 - Glenmorangie 10 is as bland as they come and available in small bottles!
2 - whatever you like. Water is the most common, but Irn Bru is not unheard of!
3 - I might get chased out of here by a bagpipe wielding horde, but have you tried bourbon?

I got into whisky a few years back and really enjoyed working through all the different flavours. I can't get on at all with the medicinal/peat bog/ashtray numbers but a lowland or Speyside was just fine. But then I got into bourbon and love it far more. Perhaps it's because I have a sweet tooth, but I'm just suggesting it as it might appeal more to your tastes. Woodford Reserve or Makers Mark is normally available in most supermarkets and it's a good starting point. Bung a load of ice in an Old Fashioned glass and sip away. You can always use it for cocktails if you don't like it!

[Bradgate]

Whisky is undoubtedly one of the finer things in life, but it isn’t compulsory to like the stuff. I absolutely love whisky, but I can’t get on with cigars at all, so it’s all down to personal taste.

If I were advising someone new to whisky, I would suggest starting with lighter, smoother, sweeter drams. Aberlour, Glenlivet and Glenmorangie certainly fit into this category, as do Irish whiskeys such as Jameson. Enjoy with a little chilled mineral water (I like Evian, because I find it taste and aroma free).

If you find you like them, great. You can then explore further, gradually work your way up through the likes of Macallan, Johnnie Walker black label or American bourbon to the heavyweights, if you’re feeling brave, such as Talisker, Laphroiag or my personal favourite Ardbeg. Starting out drinking these big boys probably isn’t a good idea.

Enjoy!

[mph999]

Personally I don't like it neat, or with water so take it with some Canadian dry.

I used to be the same, hated the stuff, then I bought something a bit better than the cheaper end and have developed quite a liking.

[ManFromDelmonte]

lepetitoeuf said:

My personal advice to the OP would be to stop clinging on to a romanticised image of what the good things in life are and do more of the things you actually enjoy.

HTH

This is pretty good advice too, the first paragraph of your OP is very "Chemical Chaos"

[whoami]

mph999 said:

Personally I don't like it neat, or with water so take it with some Canadian dry.

I used to be the same, hated the stuff, then I bought something a bit better than the cheaper end and have developed quite a liking.

You're not going to taste the difference with Canadian Dry in it though.

Just buy some cheap stuff.

[Bradgate]

whoami said:

You're not going to taste the difference with Canadian Dry in it though.

Just buy some cheap stuff.

I certainly wouldn't add Canada Dry to my malts, but with standard blends, why not? It might even make Bell's drinkable!

[Riff Raff]

whoami said:

mph999 said:

Personally I don't like it neat, or with water so take it with some Canadian dry.

I used to be the same, hated the stuff, then I bought something a bit better than the cheaper end and have developed quite a liking.

You're not going to taste the difference with Canadian Dry in it though.

Just buy some cheap stuff.

That's a bit like saying that you won't be able to appreciate a good steak if you put a peppercorn sauce on it. Of course you can taste the difference between whiskies with mixers in.

[whoami]

Riff Raff said:

whoami said:

mph999 said:

Personally I don't like it neat, or with water so take it with some Canadian dry.

I used to be the same, hated the stuff, then I bought something a bit better than the cheaper end and have developed quite a liking.

You're not going to taste the difference with Canadian Dry in it though.

Just buy some cheap stuff.

That's a bit like saying that you won't be able to appreciate a good steak if you put a peppercorn sauce on it. Of course you can taste the difference between whiskies with mixers in.

I don't drown a good steak in peppercorn sauce any more than I'd dilute an expensive malt with Canadian Dry.

That said, perhaps a good idea for someone trying to get a taste for whisky.

Each to his own.

[Bradgate]

Riff Raff said:

That's a bit like saying that you won't be able to appreciate a good steak if you put a peppercorn sauce on it. Of course you can taste the difference between whiskies with mixers in.

Similarly, I probably wouldn't allow peppercorn sauce near my expensive dry-aged rib eye, but on supermarket rump, why not? It will probably improve it!

[theaxe]

lepetitoeuf said:

My personal advice to the OP would be to stop clinging on to a romanticised image of what the good things in life are and do more of the things you actually enjoy.

HTH

I see what you mean but at the moment I don't know if I will or won't enjoy it. Like a good Stilton, some things you need to get a taste for. :-)

[TwigtheWonderkid]

OP, why would you want to develop a taste for something that you don't currently like, is expensive and probably isn't very good for you? Is it because it's something you think other people think you should be able to appreciate.

Balls to them. If everybody is on the whisky and you prefer Fanta, then go for it.

I speak from experience. Never liked beer. I kept trying it, especially "real ale" as various friends would bleat on about hidden raspberry undertones and all that guff.

So one day they were giving it the full "I get ceder wood and wet leather" routine and I gave up and said "it's utter st, just like every other beer. Fizzy cough mixture, and I wouldn't wish it on a rabid dog."

I do like whisky though!

[TonyTony]

Jameson Irish Whiskey is super smooth and has a nice taste without any odd after tastes.

I do prefer it with ice, not really to water it down but to cool the liquid down. Google Whiskey Stones and maybe give them a go, cools your drink without watering it down.

[thetapeworm]

OP - I'm in pretty much the same boat as you on this one and am currently trying to find my feet in this area. My father is a huge whisky fan and I've bought him lots of bottles over the years which on occasion I've tried and liked but they have always tended to be the ones that actually taste more like sherry to me (please don't hurt me!) and cost quite a bit.

I'm currently working my way through bourbons (Woodford Reserve at present but via Jack Daniels, Makers Mark etc) as I seem to have developed a taste for that and have a few taster sets and a proper little glass set aside for a quiet night when I can appreciate them.

Why am I bothering when there are other drinks I know I enjoy? I think it's because I used to drink "anything", then I got into beers and started to understand more about them, develop tastes for specific hop varieties, blends, additional flavours etc and now extract a degree of pleasure from something that ticks my personal boxes. I'm expecting whisky to do something similar, it's just a more expensive journey if you don't have friends who are willing to let you loose on their collections and watch you grimace when you try what they believe to be the best thing you can ever drink.

Isn't all drink the same? Some people like Pepsi, some Coke, some can't drink anything but Diet Coke and hate all other varieties.... some like certain gins, particular lager, heck people even have a preference for bottled waters don't they?

My approach is to not force the issue, it's just something I'm interested in and if I discover something along the way it's all good.