Whisky, how can I develop a taste for it?
Discussion
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.
I went to Canada on holiday once and in the cab from the airport we passed a sign that said "Drink Canada Dry!" I did my best.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.
/DeanMartin
Bradgate said:
If I were advising someone new to whisky, I would suggest starting with lighter, smoother, sweeter drams.
^ here's a curveball - one one my first forays into sipping proper malt was just trying to show off in a posh boozer I was too young and too poor to really be in.I had no basis of comparison, so I ordered a Laphroaig 10-year.
To this day, the only thing I really enjoy are peaty Islay malts - the speyside and lowland delicates have subtleties lost on me. The only exceptions are Auchentoshan 10 & the frankly amazeballs Glenfarclas 10.
So maybe jump right into Caol Ila 12 or even Bunnahabhain which are both the lighter end of Islay malts.
Highland Park is what got me in whisky, gave it a try as I was on holiday in the Orkneys and like to try the local stuff. As said the peatier ones like Laphroaig are more an acquired taste so not ideal to start with.
Loch Lomond is one of the smoothest I've tried so probably very good for a introduction.
On the other hand I'm not sure I want to encourage people to drink whisky. My Mrs never liked it but persevered and now has acquired a taste for drinking my whisky!
Loch Lomond is one of the smoothest I've tried so probably very good for a introduction.
On the other hand I'm not sure I want to encourage people to drink whisky. My Mrs never liked it but persevered and now has acquired a taste for drinking my whisky!
TonyTony said:
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.
We did an experiment once at a distillery and the subtle flavours in a whisky only develop properly once you have swilled it around in the glass with a small drop of water.
bodhi said:
Pretty sure it was the classic Macallan 10 Year Old that got me into Whisky, still don't drink vast quantities but am partial to a wee dram after a meal - usually stick with Macallan, but also a big fan of Aberlour 10 year old and a Tomatin 12 Year Old if you can find it.
Same for me, a pub had a Macallan 10 but no brandy, so I tried it and loved it !OP, if you don't like peat try GlenGoyne 12, very subtle and fruity - they are the only distillery apparently that doesn't use peat or peat water at all so this is at one end of the spectrum. Waitrose sell it for £37 and I rather like it. Jura Origin 10 is similar but a little richer if perhaps not so subtle - slightly blunter, still very easy to drink. Currently trying a Glenlivet 15 which is very nice too, slightly more flavour than the Glengoyne but less floral with a much stronger after taste.
It's quite exciting trying new Whiskys and seeing how the flavour changes. I stopped drinking it years ago but in those days I thought Famous Grouse was a good drink !
firstly write off the entire world of blends. Despite the protestations of blend fans that "some are actually not that bad" i've never tasted one i liked. I don't trust people that when asked their favourite whisky is, they just say a well known blend brand. To me it's the equivalent of the non-petrolhead trying to impress a petrolhead with their car knowledge made up of misheard, made-up and second-hand 'facts'!
Anyway, that out the way
There are some nice darker, sweeter ones around... i'd start there. Lots of people on here firing straight into the full smoke, peat varieties (someone even mentioned Ardbeg) and whilst that is my favourite type, it's a bit like saying oh yea you've never had a curry? Try a vindaloo - i like those. Yes you might well love it, but it might equally put you right off.
Try a bit of aberlour, one of the darker singletons, and i'm always banging on on whisky threads about bowmore 'darkest', but it's really very good. The isle of arran stuff is an unusual thing too, and some are definitely in the sweeter and definitely less formulaic sphere.
Find a good whisky shop (not sure where you live but they're not massively commonplace - the wee dram in bakewell, i think the whisky lounge in manchester, probably loads on london, or head up to edinburgh and make a weekend of it) and tell them what you've told us and they will allow you to taste quite a few things. You might feel that you ought to buy something at the end though
Personally I don't do water in the glass, but i know many others do. I don't think it's helps the flavour, or unlocks anything... it just weakens it. Maybe people like it when they aren't mad keen on the flavour itself and just need it softening a bit. Some of the stronger tastes might benefit from it though maybe... certainly if it's 'cask strength' then it's almost meant to be watered. Whisky stones, whilst cool in a way, are pointless. People that like cold whisky (or whiskey, more likely) are deviants that must be sterilised.
Anyway, that out the way
There are some nice darker, sweeter ones around... i'd start there. Lots of people on here firing straight into the full smoke, peat varieties (someone even mentioned Ardbeg) and whilst that is my favourite type, it's a bit like saying oh yea you've never had a curry? Try a vindaloo - i like those. Yes you might well love it, but it might equally put you right off.
Try a bit of aberlour, one of the darker singletons, and i'm always banging on on whisky threads about bowmore 'darkest', but it's really very good. The isle of arran stuff is an unusual thing too, and some are definitely in the sweeter and definitely less formulaic sphere.
Find a good whisky shop (not sure where you live but they're not massively commonplace - the wee dram in bakewell, i think the whisky lounge in manchester, probably loads on london, or head up to edinburgh and make a weekend of it) and tell them what you've told us and they will allow you to taste quite a few things. You might feel that you ought to buy something at the end though
Personally I don't do water in the glass, but i know many others do. I don't think it's helps the flavour, or unlocks anything... it just weakens it. Maybe people like it when they aren't mad keen on the flavour itself and just need it softening a bit. Some of the stronger tastes might benefit from it though maybe... certainly if it's 'cask strength' then it's almost meant to be watered. Whisky stones, whilst cool in a way, are pointless. People that like cold whisky (or whiskey, more likely) are deviants that must be sterilised.
Podie said:
Blown2CV said:
firstly write off the entire world of blends. Despite the protestations of blend fans that "some are actually not that bad" i've never tasted one i liked.
Have you tried anything by Compass Box?Blown2CV said:
Podie said:
Blown2CV said:
firstly write off the entire world of blends. Despite the protestations of blend fans that "some are actually not that bad" i've never tasted one i liked.
Have you tried anything by Compass Box?Amusingly enough, the man behind it is ex-JW.
Mr Gearchange said:
I can ONLY drink the heavily peated Islay malts - the ones that taste like a tyre fire.
Anything lighter tastes awful to me - verging on poisonous.
Apparently this (according to seasoned Whisky drinkers) makes me a very strange individual.
I'm with you. Anything lighter tastes awful to me - verging on poisonous.
Apparently this (according to seasoned Whisky drinkers) makes me a very strange individual.
I went from drinking the odd Chivas to Ardbeg 10 and now my collection is 100% Islay.
Blown2CV said:
firstly write off the entire world of blends.
You clearly know your whisky, but I’m going to respectfully disagree with you.Some blends are definitely worth drinking. They don’t all taste like Bell’s.
Black Grouse is one of my current favourite blends. It has a lovely, balanced combination of treacle toffee sweetness with a little peat smoke. A great everyday dram.
F-Stop Junkie said:
Not to mention the Hibiki 17. A blend that actually is better than the sum of it parts.
i've tasted that and it's not for me. I'm not saying all people need to think all blends are s
t. I don't much care what nearly everyone in the world thinks about anything tbh, but this is the internet so... the guy did say how to i develop a taste for whisky. My answer is, amongst other things, avoid blends at least initially. Once you're into it (if you get to that point) drink what you fancy trying. Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff