Suggestions for a newcomer to Scotch

[Holyknight101]

Hello All,

A little background on myself. I am in my mid 30's and live in the US. I enjoy spirits and I like to dabble in different varieties and experience the various areas of the globe via their drink. I am a newcomer to Scotch whisky and have only had very limited experience with it. For example the only notable examples that I've had are Laphroaig 10 and a Dewars 12. Both of which are strikingly different.

I like to try different variations to see what the different regions offer and how they vary from one another. I don't mind peated flavors, but am not necessarily tied to them.

What I can say is that although I am ok with peated whisky, I didn't care for the oily finish or the almost medicinal taste of the Laphroaig. I don't mean to offend anyone if they really like it, but it was definitely off putting to me. Also, I am not sure if these are qualities tied to that brand or of most of the Whiskys of Islay?

I said all of this to ask, what recommendations would you all have for someone who hasn't much experience int eh world of Scotch and doesn't care much for the taste of Laphroaig?

Kind Regards

[sorren]

First of all welcome to the forum..
If your not big on the tastes of Islay, but found the dewars ok then I would recommend trying some whisky from speyside or the lowlands, speyside malts that could be interesting to yourself include balvenie doublewood, aberlour 10-12-16, Glenfarclas 12-15-17, these are sherried whiskys, lowland malts like Auchentoshan threewood, offer good drinking malts, other whiskys worth trying include Glendronach, Ancnoc, balblair, Glenrothes, Glenfiddich 15, you could try highland park, it is smokey but not medicinal, Aran whisky is good. But it does depend what is available near you and what your budget is.. Good luck..

[Quaich1]

Welcome to the Forum mate. Bear in mind that the Dewar's is a scottish blend and the Laphroaig is a single malt scotch, 2 different categories of whisky. Many Scotch blends are amazing like Johnnie Walker Double Black (with wonderful Islay influence) just for my tastes.

It sounds like the Islay drams may not be your cup of tea at the moment. Let me suggest just a few whiskies both blends and single malts from the long list I do enjoy and are on the non-peaty side of things per se to suit your palate:

-Johnnie Walker XR 21 Year, a marvelous blend
- Tomintoul 21 Year
-Highland Park 10 and 12 Year
-Glencadam 12 Port Finish
-Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve
-Glenmorangie The Original (very fruity)
-Ballantine's Finest (a blend rated very high)
-Dalwhinnie 15 Year


***The ones highlighted are single malt scotches, the other 2 are blends.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[Brummie]

Welcome to the forum, i would suggest:

Glenfiddich 12, 15 and 18 the 15 being my choice of these 3
Dalwhinnie 15
Balvenie 12 Doublewood
Glenfarclas 17
Glenlivet 18
Glengoyne 10
anCnoc 12
Glendronach 12 and 18
Glenmorangie 10 and 18

[Drover]

If you enjoyed Dewars 12 then I am sure you would like Glenfiddich 15

[cobrajetjoe]

Some great suggestions above. My first was Dalwhinnie 15 which was appropriately recommended to me. I think the suggestions of Balvenie 12 doublewood or the 12 year single cask are also good. The Highland 12 is great too albeit has some spice to it...and the auchentoshan three wood is also great.

If you can find your way to a pub that a good whisky selection you can sample a few before purchase...this is your best bet . Enjoy!

[TheWM]

Hi and greetings etc...

To be honest - and this is my view:

Drink everything that you can get your hands on.

For sure, use a guide (whisky tasting map - available on this forum) to help you guide you though some drams that will be similar to others in a certain taste range; however:

- if you only drink whisky that's a certain profile, imagine what you're missing that you may really enjoy

- Tastes change and adapt. I remember drinking my first Laphroaig in my late 20's thinking 'who drinks this shit?'

I certainly like Islay whiskies a load more that I used to, but to me there are times and places for it (normally around a camp fire late at night outside of summer), that nothing else will do.

Whilst I enjoy certain drams and distilleries, I see them as 'bankers', I know they taste good so I can buy and drink them whenever. So, you may as well take a plunge now and again to test those taste buds, just in case....

[Kempy71]

[Holyknight101]

Thank you all for the suggestions.

I live in an area that limits my choices, so I will be making a fairly extensive list and heading down to a few of my local shops to see what might be available.


Regards