Recommend a whisky for a newbie

[adamc987]

Hi I have acquired a taste for whisky and would like to start a little collection (and then build it up ) but as being a fairly novice with whisky I'd like some help/advice off you seasoned professionals!

What's the best way to drink it?straight over ice or with water etc?
it's the Scottish whisky I prefer and for first bottle only looking at spending £20-£25 but then possibly increase the budget.
What whisky's would you lot recommend?

[172ff]

Do you live in a cave? Have a look for the whiskey thread.

After reading it Leftysixbarrels or whatever he calls himself these days got me into Laphroaig and Ardbeg....

Is it wrong to start drinking the heavy stuff on a monday night?

edit:

Here is that thread:

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

Word of warning. That thread will make you pissed and poor! Good fun though!!!

[Shaw Tarse]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Shaw Tarse]

And http://dramperday.com/#!/cover

[peterbredde]

Jamesons. With a dash of water. A subtle introduction into the flavours of fine whisky. Delicious.

[Shaw Tarse]

peterbredde said:

Jamesons. With a dash of water. A subtle introduction into the flavours of fine whisky. Delicious.

Whiskey

[Nat_H]

JW Green label is and one of my favourites.

A good starting point as it's a good mix of 'proper' whiskies.

[OllieC]

Mike Rowave said:

Islay single malts. The end.

Bunnahabhain is where my old man comes from so try that first, with a splash of water!

My personal favourite Islay, sweet and delicate, nothing like the peaty variants such as laphroaig (not that theres anything wrong with peat !)

[Mobile Chicane]

Personally I love Islay whisky, but I think it's something you love or hate, with an expensive mistake if you hate it.

VAT 69 I think is a gentle introduction to the 'tarry rope' characteristics of the Islay style, and since it's a blend it isn't too expensive. <£20 a bottle.

I really like it as a summer drink with a weeny bit of water, and ice.

/<heretic>

[jamiebae]

Bunnahabhain is great, as is Johnnie Walker Black, Ardbeg 10 and Arbelour 10. All under £30, I'd personally get all 4 as they're very different but all extremely enjoyable

[Cheese Mechanic]

Talisker 10 mate. Everybody likes Talisker. (Well, the known universe seems to)

A fantastic , easily obtained scotch.

One good way of finding likes an dislikes is by trying the 20cl bottles, like these.

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/C-40.aspx?filter=...

[alfa pint]

Just about everything above is a very nice whisky, but they're at the somewhat 'full flavoured' end of the spectrum, bar jamesons on ice.

Try something unpeated for a start. Like a Glengoyne 10 or 12 year old. Add a tiny dash of water, not even a sprinkle, but just enough to wake it up properly.

Other non-extreme whiskys are things like glen grant (very very smooth), highland park, macallan, glenmorangie, glenfiddich 15 year old.

The Islay / Campbeltown / Talisker whiskys are gorgeous, but a bit of an acquired taste. In the whisky tasting sessions I've done for mates / mates of mates, given the choice, they pretty much all end up going for highland park or macallan. (not always that easy to find glengoyne)

[pmanson]

My first go and drinking a proper whisky (eg. not Jack Daniels) was Monkey Shoulder which I really liked then on Friday night I picked up a bottle of Grant Ale Cask from Tesco for £13.

It's fantastic! Smooth and creamy (and cheap).

[Lefty]

Thanks for the advertising folks

Newbie whisky is a difficult one. I'd advise finding a whisky bar and asking the barman to give you 3 or 4 drams from the main regions to see how you get on.

Any idea what you like? Tried any drams that you didn't like?

The powerful Islay drams are not to everyones tastes, I didn't like them much when I started drinking whisky. Same thing with the strongly saherried stuff, absolutely not for everyone.

To be honest, there's not much uisge beatha that I don't like (Balvenie doublewood )

Any good indie whisky shops near you? Always worth going in and speaking to the people, tell them that you're interested and want to learn and they'll probably let you try a few to see what you like. Especially if they think you might become a regular customer...

Slainte!
Iain

www.dramperday.com

[TheGreatSoprendo]

alfa pint said:

Just about everything above is a very nice whisky, but they're at the somewhat 'full flavoured' end of the spectrum

Exactly right, which is why I'd recommend a Dalwhinnie or Oban, both of which hit the spot with my non-whisky drinking mates and are not too expensive. After that you can try branching out into peatier and more full flavoured stuff. Finding a decent whisky bar is a good way of trying a few different drams without having to commit to a bottle.

Edited by TheGreatSoprendo on Tuesday 10th May 14:42

[Pferdestarke]

Ardmore is suitable for broadening your repertoire

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-7234.aspx

[Wadeski]

Monkey Shoulder (biased but its good), Glenfiddich 14 (very smooth), Glenrothes Reserve, Caol Isla (peated but smooth - good intro to Islay).

when i started out with whisky the way the alcohol "bit" was what put me off, more than peat. the often slightly rough (to a newbie) grain taste in blends was actualy more challenging than malts.

I would avoid anything above 40% and start watered down (even to 50:50 water to whisky), and gradually get to a level you enjoy.

[Curry Burns]

I would say the best place to start for an absolute newbie would be Macallan 10 year old.

I have to agree with the Talisker comments, I've not met a single person that doesn't like it.

Islay's are not for the faint hearted, they have strong flavours that are never subtle. Caol Isla is a good start, but anything like Ardbeg or Laphroaig will make you gurn in ways you couldn't imagine.

I would go with Lefty's idea, got to a Whisky bar and taste the various areas of Scottish whisky.

I must admit that I tried Bushmills not long ago (I know an Irish Whiskey), but it was a very pleasant dram...a bit too easy to drink really..the bottle only lasted and hour and a half!!

Good luck and welcome to the fraternity!

[Shaolin]

I'd try them by geography to start, so have a Lowland, Highland, Speyside, Islay etc. they have different characteristics in the main, then you can investigate your preferred region/s for variety.

[gingerp]

I also agree with all of the above, but I'll throw in Scapa as a non peaty newbie whiskey. You'll probably need to buy it online. But I'm assuming that's ok as you're on here.