Whisky Forum - Is This a Good Forum For a Newbie?

scotchirish

Hey guys (gals).

I'm fairly new to Scotch, but am enjoying it immensely. I've been trying and buying everything I can get my hands on. My question is this.
Is this a good site for me? I've been on a couple of other sites and felt a little
inferior since I do not yet know the language of scotch. I'm hoping folks on here
will be patient and understanding with a newbie.
I'm anxious to hear opinions, sample brands, and share my experience.
Paul

William · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:04 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum Paul, this is a good site no matter what your level of whisky knowledge. Myself and I am sure many of the other members will be happy to share our knowledge and perhaps direct you to some whiskies that you will enjoy.
_________________
There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

sorren · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:07 pm Post subject:

No I'm afraid it's not a good site for you.. It's a fantastic site for you !!! It does not matter if your a newbie or very knowledgable about Whisky.. Don't be afraid to ask any question you need answering, you will get a varied amount of answers, but please remember... Just enjoy yourself and your journey through the long and winding road of Whisky..

minesascotch · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:20 pm Post subject:

Welcome Paul this IS the place for you, I was a newbie just like you and after nearly 3 years I am posting my 307th entry, the group on here are very knowledgeable and friendly your whisky journey starts/continues here without a doubt.

Slainte Very Happy

whisky_rob · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Paul,

My Whisky knowledge has improved massively thanks to the insight of many others on here. No body has ever belittled anything I have ever asked and everyone is really friendly.

I would say you can't go wrong, William who runs the site is a great ambassador for scotch whisky. Welcome and I hope to hear more about your experiences with whisky here soon.

Regards,

Rob

drPete · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:12 pm Post subject:

The internet is full of dark places and twisted souls.

This is not one of them - relax and enjoy yourself.
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Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

Quaich1 · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 7:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Paul. Let me add my welcoming voice to you to the Forum as well. As indicated by the other posts in this thread, this Forum is a community of scotch and whisky aficionados with varied tastes, interests and experience with a willingness, eagerness and grace to share what they know and provide a supportive environment for all.
Very Happy

PS I passed through Roanoke, Virginia many years back on the way to Nashville. I also remember staying at a lovely hotel in Rockbridge County, Virginia and viewed the Natural Bridge.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

scotchirish · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 8:32 pm Post subject:

Well I must say that was quite a welcome from all.
Thanks to each of you for the warm and cordial greeting.
Sounds like I am at the right place.

As said, I just started drinking Scotch a couple of months ago and have since tried several brands. I'm very interested to know what I'm tasting in some of them. I'm not sure if I know the difference between peat and smoke at this point.
Someone tell me: should I continue to post in this section with my tastings and questions or is there a section devoted to that.
A couple I've tried have completely captivated me. I can't wait for my first dram in the evening.
Paul

Quaich1 · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:18 pm Post subject:

Calder · Master Of Malts Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 691

Hi Paul, i will add my welcome. I have been around here a few years now and it has lead me to some excellent whiskies i would never had known about without this site. I am a big fan of of the smoky/peaty whisky since discovering it.

I would describe peaty smoke as earthy, barbecued, kipper smoke and can be medicinal such as iodine or TCP. Smoky i would describe as the aromafrom a campfire. You will find different levels in whiskies but if you want a big smoky/peaty whisky then Lagavulin, Ardbeg or Laphroaig are the whiskies to try.

Mark · Master Of Malts Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 1666

There are different types of peat and different levels of peat used in Scotch whisky production resulting in different peaty/smoky flavours in different whiskies. For example Highland Park use a peat source which is more flowery due to the heather influence and lack of trees in the Orkney islands. Islay peat i would say has had a more vegetable influence in its formation resulting in a peatier, earthy and sometimes medicinal whisky.

scotchirish · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks Quaich1. I will try those sections out.
And thanks Calder for your definitions of peat and smoke. Perhaps you can identify which of the following you would say are peat or smoke or both.

Here goes my short resume' of scotch drinking, with a couple of questions. I've tried:

Johnnie Walker Black.

Johnnie Walker Red.

Chivas Regal 10

Dewars White Label.

Dewars With Honey.

Macallan 12 year old.

Glenmorangie
The Original 12 Year.

Balvenie
Doublewood 12 Year.

Highland Park 12 Year.

The Johnnie Walker Black and Red had a flavor I have never encountered before in all my Bourbon forays. And I taste it in the Highland Park 12. It was a bit overpowering in the JW Red, but I love it in the JW Black and the HP 12.
I love the colour produced by sherry in the Macallan 12 (and loved that whisky); but I must say I am absolutely smitten with the Highland Park 12. I can't wait to have my first dram each evening. Is it smoke or peat (or both) that highlights the HP (and overpowers the JW Red). I understand that Talisker is a base whisky in JW Black (or is it red?). And Talisker is very peaty, right?
As said, I just can't differentiate between smoke and peat right now. Is smoke in the nose while peat the flavor?

James T · Master Of Malts Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 2979

Paul the Highland Park 12 is an excellent single malt whisky with a low level of what i would describe as a heather honey peat smoke but nowhere near the peat smoke level you will find in Islay whiskies.

Alexppp · Master Of Malts Joined: 16 Jul 2010 Posts: 1791

The Highland Park 12 is a great all-rounder and one of the first whiskies I would recommend to someone new to single malts. As Mark said above, the smokiness in Highland Park is unique because the peat they use in Orkney differs from Islay peat, which tends to be drier/more medicinal and earthy ('farmy' too in the case of Port Charlotte in my opinion!).

Talisker is somewhat peatier than Highland Park and I think it's one of the base malts in JW Black, but to be honest it's been ages since I've had that or the Red so I can't really comment.

As far as differences between 'peaty' and 'smoky' I don't think we should get too bogged down (pun intended, sorry!) - the smoky flavour you get in whisky comes from the peat used in drying the barley during the malting process. The particular characteristics depend on the type of peat used as well as the different levels of peating, not to mention time spent in the cask of course!

scotchirish · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:17 am Post subject:

Greatly appreciate all I'm hearing. I guess everyone was a newbie at one time.
Mark, didn't see your post till after I answered the previous ones. Thought it interesting
that you brought up Highland Park.

Alexppp, - I would love to try the Talisker. You're right about peat and smoke. But as I said, (and it must surely be the peat) it is a taste that I have never encountered in any drink of any kind . . . most unique . . . and what makes me want to venture further.

James T., Sounds like you enjoy the Highlander too. I've been intrigued by reviews of Aberlour a'bunadh. It is heavily sherried isn't it?

Just had a dram of HP12, now another of Macallan 12.

I wasted too many years on Bourbon and wine. This is heady stuff. Its calling me home to my kin.