Help from whisky experts pls. Recommend me my next whiskys
Discussion
Hi,
I'm "getting into" whisky lately, and sitting in front of the fire sipping a few glasses.
However I haven't a clue about the stuff.
I've come from brandy/congnac (hennesy of varying "grades") and then started drinking a lot of Bourbon, JD, but preferred SC
Now I've been drinking Monkey Shoulder, and very nice it is too.
Where to go from here for the more "grown up" stuff?
I like the idea of building up a little collection, happy to spend a bit more for some better stuff, over £100 is fine. Perhaps not 100's and 100's!
Please fire away with your suggestions based on what I've been drinking and liking, cheap / expensive / single malt / blended / whatever!
Cheers
Dave
I'm "getting into" whisky lately, and sitting in front of the fire sipping a few glasses.
However I haven't a clue about the stuff.
I've come from brandy/congnac (hennesy of varying "grades") and then started drinking a lot of Bourbon, JD, but preferred SC
Now I've been drinking Monkey Shoulder, and very nice it is too.
Where to go from here for the more "grown up" stuff?
I like the idea of building up a little collection, happy to spend a bit more for some better stuff, over £100 is fine. Perhaps not 100's and 100's!
Please fire away with your suggestions based on what I've been drinking and liking, cheap / expensive / single malt / blended / whatever!
Cheers
Dave
It depends on your tastebuds. I'm sure a lot of people will pile on and say you should immediately start drinking the peatiest, smokiest whiskies on the marketplace, but its not to everyone's taste. If I was introducing a friend to seafood, I probably wouldnt start with a tin of anchovies.
I would avoid heavily sherried (the wineyness can be off putting), heavily peated (smoke and TCP tastes) or overproof (high alcohol content).
Speyside and Lowland are great places to start out with Scotch, and to come back to for the higher aged variants too.
Balvenie 14 year old caribbean cask, Arbelour 12, I'm sure many people will have suggestions.
I would avoid heavily sherried (the wineyness can be off putting), heavily peated (smoke and TCP tastes) or overproof (high alcohol content).
Speyside and Lowland are great places to start out with Scotch, and to come back to for the higher aged variants too.
Balvenie 14 year old caribbean cask, Arbelour 12, I'm sure many people will have suggestions.
Monkey Shoulder has a large contribution from Balvenie, which is a superb single malt in it's own right, so maybe a good stopping off point.
For other options, Master of Malt do some tasting sets ( https://www.masterofmalt.com/tasting-sets/) and individual samples which save you committing to a bottle of something you find you don't like, or find a suitable whisky tasting event.
The main thing is finding what you like, and not always follow others, and I would add that spending £££'s on a bottle is no guarantee as you can be pleasantly surprised by something you can find for 15 euros in a Spanish supermarket..
For other options, Master of Malt do some tasting sets ( https://www.masterofmalt.com/tasting-sets/) and individual samples which save you committing to a bottle of something you find you don't like, or find a suitable whisky tasting event.
The main thing is finding what you like, and not always follow others, and I would add that spending £££'s on a bottle is no guarantee as you can be pleasantly surprised by something you can find for 15 euros in a Spanish supermarket..
If you have a Waitrose nearby , they do a number of Malts in 20cl bottle sizes. Ideal if you are finding your feet with looking for a whisky "direction" . That bottle size offers a lesser gamble than buying a full 70 cl bottle, and offers enough whisky to sample and try over a few days, something that a miniature has a problem doing.
The times mentioned on these pages as to how somebody has cracked a bottle open of a new found dram, then initially thought little of it, yet warmed to it over time and become far more positive than initial impressions.
There is also of course mail order which could yield a greater variety of the 20cl bottles.
The times mentioned on these pages as to how somebody has cracked a bottle open of a new found dram, then initially thought little of it, yet warmed to it over time and become far more positive than initial impressions.
There is also of course mail order which could yield a greater variety of the 20cl bottles.
I went on a similar journey to you a couple of years ago; JD - Monkey Shoulder then onto single malt.
Personally I prefer the sherry casks and i'm not a a fan of peat.
Couple of favourites have included Cardhu (12), Arberlour (10 IIRC), Arberlour (16 - current favourite), Mortlach flora fauna.
Personally I prefer the sherry casks and i'm not a a fan of peat.
Couple of favourites have included Cardhu (12), Arberlour (10 IIRC), Arberlour (16 - current favourite), Mortlach flora fauna.
Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt, so I would try a single malt next.
Monkey Shoulder is a blend of Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Kininvie single malts, so it is worth trying one of those.
To try something more "grown up", try a smoky Islay malt like Bowmore, Bunnahabain or Bruichladdich. If you want even more peaty flavour, try Laphroaig, Lagavulin or Ardbeg.
Monkey Shoulder is a blend of Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Kininvie single malts, so it is worth trying one of those.
To try something more "grown up", try a smoky Islay malt like Bowmore, Bunnahabain or Bruichladdich. If you want even more peaty flavour, try Laphroaig, Lagavulin or Ardbeg.
I'm all for the peaty, smoky, Islay malts. Love them myself.
However another favourite of mine is Dalwhinnie, much more subtle and I would consider it a great introduction into the world of single malts. Cragganmore is another nice one.
Problem with getting a taste for single malt whisky is once you have it you won't drink any other lesser whiskys and it's an expensive habit
However another favourite of mine is Dalwhinnie, much more subtle and I would consider it a great introduction into the world of single malts. Cragganmore is another nice one.
Problem with getting a taste for single malt whisky is once you have it you won't drink any other lesser whiskys and it's an expensive habit
I find that a cracking example of well crafted, small distillery malt comes consistently from Benromach.
It's well priced, and they have a spectrum of expressions, non of which are too extreme.
I'd recommend the 10 year as a great value intro to the brand, or the 10 year old 100 proof - which is (at 57%) a real belter for a tenner more.
It's well priced, and they have a spectrum of expressions, non of which are too extreme.
I'd recommend the 10 year as a great value intro to the brand, or the 10 year old 100 proof - which is (at 57%) a real belter for a tenner more.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ARDBEG-Uigeadail-Islay-Whi...
Don't think I've ever enjoyed a whisky as much as this, an utterly lovely treat for your nose and taste buds. Fantastic.
Don't think I've ever enjoyed a whisky as much as this, an utterly lovely treat for your nose and taste buds. Fantastic.
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