Help for a whisky noob
Discussion
Just looking for some help from a whisky noob.
I was given £40 John Lewis / waitrose vouchers for Xmas from work and I wanted to spend them on something consumable but long lasting.
I have probably had about 3 whiskys in my life before and found them all a bit too 'harsh', they would have all however been cheap rubbish.
So what would you recommend for a whisky newbie, with £40 or so to spend in Waitrose? Happy to put a few quid of my own in to get something nice. I guess nothing too harsh / strong maybe something to start me off on a trail of collecting and sampling?
Sorry for another whisky thread, didnt want to clog up the other one with daft questions!
I was given £40 John Lewis / waitrose vouchers for Xmas from work and I wanted to spend them on something consumable but long lasting.
I have probably had about 3 whiskys in my life before and found them all a bit too 'harsh', they would have all however been cheap rubbish.
So what would you recommend for a whisky newbie, with £40 or so to spend in Waitrose? Happy to put a few quid of my own in to get something nice. I guess nothing too harsh / strong maybe something to start me off on a trail of collecting and sampling?
Sorry for another whisky thread, didnt want to clog up the other one with daft questions!
It comes down to personal tastes, but I'm just starting to get into whiskies and I currently have:
12 year Balvenie Signature Cask ~£30
10 year Macallan ~£30
My favourite is the Macallan, it's smooth and a little bit sweet...very easy to taste.
You don't have to spend a lot of money to find a good one.
Have you tried a whisky tasting session? I found it really useful to learn about the different regions whisky is made, and why it tastes different etc... Lots of fun!
Good luck!
12 year Balvenie Signature Cask ~£30
10 year Macallan ~£30
My favourite is the Macallan, it's smooth and a little bit sweet...very easy to taste.
You don't have to spend a lot of money to find a good one.
Have you tried a whisky tasting session? I found it really useful to learn about the different regions whisky is made, and why it tastes different etc... Lots of fun!
Good luck!
Waitrose, were,and almost without doubt still are, on the run up to Xmas selling some 20 cl sizes of great whisky.
From memory, Taliser 10, Lagavulin 16 , Caol Ila 12....perhaps some others.
All 3 are *stonking* whiskies, you should get them all well inside your voucher ceiling.
You will also get to find out if you like stonking Islay malts.
If you want to fall onto just one botlle...it's Springbank 10 (perhaps with a touch of water) . No water in the first ones mind....
From memory, Taliser 10, Lagavulin 16 , Caol Ila 12....perhaps some others.
All 3 are *stonking* whiskies, you should get them all well inside your voucher ceiling.
You will also get to find out if you like stonking Islay malts.
If you want to fall onto just one botlle...it's Springbank 10 (perhaps with a touch of water) . No water in the first ones mind....
Cheese Mechanic said:
You will also get to find out if you like stonking Islay malts.
I wouldn't recommend anybody just getting into Whiskies to try any of the Islay or Skye malts. (in the sense that they end up thinking they are representative of whiskies in general). It took me years to get to like them (and not for want of trying, my father and some of his friends were into Islay in a big way). A big glass of Laphroaig when I was in my teens put me off whisky for years.For a tyro, I think something like The Glenlivet would be good, as would a Glenfiddich or a Glenmorangie. I'm not a big fan of The Macallan myself, especially the sherried ones. I like Highland Park too - that's a nice smooth dram.
Edited by Riff Raff on Wednesday 4th January 18:49
Riff Raff said:
Cheese Mechanic said:
You will also get to find out if you like stonking Islay malts.
I wouldn't recommend anybody just getting into Whiskies to try any of the Islay or Skye malts. It took me years to get to like them (and not for want of trying, my father and some of his friends were into Islay in a big way). A big glass of Laphroaig when I was in my teens put me off whisky for years.For a tyro, I think something like The Glenlivet would be good, as would a Glenfiddich or a Glenmorangie. I'm not a big fan of The Macallan myself, especially the sherried ones. I like Highland Park too - that's a nice smooth dram.
Excellent thanks chaps really useful. Could someone explain (or point me towards it!) an explaination of the different types / regions? Bit of bed time reading I think.
Just discovered half a bottle of 10 year old Glenmorangie at the back of the spirts cabinet (must have been there for years!)
Might give that a go with a spot of water / ice tonight too see how I get on with it.
I'll give you an update
Just discovered half a bottle of 10 year old Glenmorangie at the back of the spirts cabinet (must have been there for years!)
Might give that a go with a spot of water / ice tonight too see how I get on with it.
I'll give you an update
ReaperCushions said:
Excellent thanks chaps really useful. Could someone explain (or point me towards it!) an explaination of the different types / regions? Bit of bed time reading I think.
Just discovered half a bottle of 10 year old Glenmorangie at the back of the spirts cabinet (must have been there for years!)
Might give that a go with a spot of water / ice tonight too see how I get on with it.
I'll give you an update
I've not got too much to add, some excellent advice been given already.Just discovered half a bottle of 10 year old Glenmorangie at the back of the spirts cabinet (must have been there for years!)
Might give that a go with a spot of water / ice tonight too see how I get on with it.
I'll give you an update
Don't be afraid to add as much water as it takes for you to enjoy a dram but I wouldn't put ice in it if I were you. Great for a nice summer drink but it will chill your palate and you're going to miss a lot of the subtle flavours from ANY dram by adding ice.
Anyway, that Glenmo would be a good place to start but, after "years", it might be a bit dull!
Slainte!
Iain
P.s. google "whisky flavour map", it should be helpful!
ReaperCushions said:
Just discovered half a bottle of 10 year old Glenmorangie at the back of the spirts cabinet (must have been there for years!)
I'll give you an update
Beware - years of air - sat around. Probably won't be representative of a good 'fresh' dram. That said, personally I wouldn't think the Morangie would move as much as some other drams.I'll give you an update
My suggestions based on your comments - Dalwhinnie 15, classic easy drinking malt (and they may have a smaller bottle in store (20cl) - Royal Lochnagar (on offer at present) - and for a blend it would be Black Grouse for me.
For the other whiskyheads - I would point out they have Ardbeg 10 on offer at present - join the queue !
If you really want smooth try Irish whiskey. The grains are cooked in an open kiln so the smoke escapes and doesnt permeate through the flavours.
I'd go for a nice bottle of Bushmills, as old as you can afford. Alternatively try Black Bush, made by the same crowd but aged in Sherry casks like Jameson, but nicer than Jameson.
I'd go for a nice bottle of Bushmills, as old as you can afford. Alternatively try Black Bush, made by the same crowd but aged in Sherry casks like Jameson, but nicer than Jameson.
CatScan said:
If you really want smooth try Irish whiskey. The grains are cooked in an open kiln so the smoke escapes and doesnt permeate through the flavours.
I'd go for a nice bottle of Bushmills, as old as you can afford. Alternatively try Black Bush, made by the same crowd but aged in Sherry casks like Jameson, but nicer than Jameson.
Ah haaa. I like Jameson's so shall investigate. As an 'old' new whiskey drinker, my palette is inclined to drams which taste less like normal whiskey, as I used to know it, if you see what I mean. I'd go for a nice bottle of Bushmills, as old as you can afford. Alternatively try Black Bush, made by the same crowd but aged in Sherry casks like Jameson, but nicer than Jameson.
I like peat, Laphroaig is my current best find, Aardbeg slightly less so, but my side of the tracks.
pacman1 said:
Not tried it, but where might Bruichladdich be on that chart then? A mate of mine keeps banging on about it.The first bottle I bought was for a Xmas present for my Dad quite a few years ago now. It was a limited bottling called WMD II - The Yellow Submarine. We opened it on Xmas day and polished it off in a couple of days. It was a belter. I was hooked. Ever since, if I see a bottle somewhere (and not many places stock it), I'll buy one, and wait with anticipation to see what it tastes like.
Riff Raff said:
pacman1 said:
Not tried it, but where might Bruichladdich be on that chart then? A mate of mine keeps banging on about it.The first bottle I bought was for a Xmas present for my Dad quite a few years ago now. It was a limited bottling called WMD II - The Yellow Submarine. We opened it on Xmas day and polished it off in a couple of days. It was a belter. I was hooked. Ever since, if I see a bottle somewhere (and not many places stock it), I'll buy one, and wait with anticipation to see what it tastes like.
Or
Brook-laddie
Definitely not Brew-ey-clad-ich or Brooch-lad-ich
;-)
CatScan said:
If you really want smooth try Irish whiskey. The grains are cooked in an open kiln so the smoke escapes and doesnt permeate through the flavours.
I'd go for a nice bottle of Bushmills, as old as you can afford. Alternatively try Black Bush, made by the same crowd but aged in Sherry casks like Jameson, but nicer than Jameson.
Absolutely - this.I'd go for a nice bottle of Bushmills, as old as you can afford. Alternatively try Black Bush, made by the same crowd but aged in Sherry casks like Jameson, but nicer than Jameson.
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