Favorite Whiskey?

Thank you sir!

 

Continuing the Japanese theme I opened this bottle of Kaiyo single cask, cask strength mizunara whisky. It's decent after a few drops of water but I think it will get better after a few days...

 

I'll admit I do not follow this thread closely but was hoping to get some suggestions. I've had quite a few bourbons and enjoy them but am looking to venture into the world of scotch for the first time. I usually drink with ice. I am looking for something under $40 and easy to find. Which bottles should I be looking for that represent a classic scotch?

 

I’m not big into scotch at all but monkey shoulder is usually a pretty good starter scotch that doesn’t break the bank and can be easily found

 

Ok thanks, yeah I've heard of it. Think I've seen it at the store also. I'll have to try it. The thing that gets me about scotch is I feel like I can stumble into bottles that are totally different from eachother since I don't really know what I'm doing there. Bourbon I pretty much know what I'm getting into more or less.

 

Along with Monkey Shoulder I recommend Compass Box Great King Street Artist blend.

https://flaviar.com/compass-box/compass-box-great-king-street-artists-blend/tasting-notes-reviews

 

Typically its under $40 and its the best whiskey Ive had in a long time.

 

If you're just getting started in the Scotch world you might not be looking for anything super peaty just yet. I'd recommend avoiding the Islay varieties for now, until you get a feel for it. Start with some of the Lowlands (Auchentoshan, Glenkinchie) or Speyside (Glenmorangie, Glenlivet, Balvenie) offerings; they tend towards more fruit and caramel/toffee/vanilla than Peat.

Edit- Obviously everybody's different, but a lot of the people I know that say that they don't like Scotch don't like the Peatiness, and have only tried some of the Highlands or Islands varieties, and I've brought a couple of them around with Glenmorangie.

 

Good mail day!

 

I just picked up some Monkey Shoulder. I guess the liquor store is drive thru only so I didn't get a chance to browse. I asked if they had Highland Park and they said no (I hear that has a little bit of smoke?). I thought I had seen it in there at least once before. I'm also looking at trying to find Glennfiddich 12. I don't mind trying something with a little smoke. I want that experience eventually.

 

recommendations for Irish whiskey? I have Red Breast 12 cask strength. I used to only drink Jameson.

 

I just had the RB12cs last week for the first time. It's really good! It was my first Irish, so no recommendations here...just wanted say you've already got a winner in your collection.

 

Good choice.

 

Somebody say Highland Park? Working on the heel of my 18 tonight.




Some great suggestions so far for good starter Scotches. If you want to try some smokier malts then Highland Park is a great one, along with my personal favorite Island distillery, Talisker. A good starter Islay whisky (even smokier, but not full blown smoky) would be Caol Ila 12 or Johnny Walker Double Black. They're relatively cheap and a great gateway into the holy waters of Islay.

 

RB is good stuff! I haven't tried many Irish whiskies but Jameson Castmates Stout and Jameson Gold are really good to me as well.

 

The black barrel was surprisingly good. I'm not a fan of regular Jameson but I liked that!

 

Try Slane. Good and cheap

 

Ah yes, forgot I tried that at a bar once. It's really good too!

 

Only thing I use Jameson in is Irish Car Bombs. Now I can drink those darn things till I’m about sick.