Newbie looking for a scotch with a nice long finish

[mr.thomasschmidt]

Hi.
I have been drinking whisky as a hobby for about half a year. My experience is pretty much limited to Johnnie Walker red, black, double black, green, gold reserve 18y and blue. The black/double black and gold being favourites.
Last month I bought a Monkey shoulder and an Aberlour 12y on a whim (I liked the bottle and the box😅) The monkey shoulder didn’t really do much for me and neither did the Aberlour…at first. I gifted the Monkey to a buddy but kept the Aberlour. After a while I really began to enjoy it, the nose and the taste. But I find that the nose is maybe a little limited and the taste is going away so soon (this maybe because I’m not used to pick up nuances yet).
But I was thinking if someone might be able to point me to some good whisky that is offering a good experience regarding siting and just smelling and sipping and where the taste lingers for a while? Price range below to about a £100?
I was thinking of trying the Aberlour a’by ash but the cask strength seems a little frightening😅The strongest I have ever tasted is 43%

[Quaich1]

Hi Thomas. You stated: "...the nose is maybe a little limited and the taste is going away so soon." This sometimes can bre attributed to lower ABV whiskies. I would suggest you try a whisky in the 46-48% ABV. range and I think you will find an improvement. Of course, ABV is not the solitary factor, the spirit and wood and time in the cask all other factors that determine nose and taste. However, I would suggest an "integrity single malt", that is, one that is at least 46% ABV, unchillfiltered and no color added. I'm suggesting this so you can try something different. Other whiskies can be great as well which are not integrity single malts so alot of it is individual taste.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[Blackadder]

Hi Thomas here are a few whiskies you may find of interest:

Highland Park 12
Talisker 10
Dalwhinnie 15
Glendronach 12, 15 and 18
Glenmorangie 10
Glengoyne 10 and 12
Glen Grant 10 and 12
Glen Moray 12 and 18

If you want to explore more heavily peated whiskies then look at these:

Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie, 10, Corryvreckan and Uigeadail
Laphroaig 10, Lore
Kilchoman Machir Bay
Bowmore 12
Lagavulin 8 and 16

The list could be almost endless, enjoy. Cheers

[BigShing]

Really bold heavily peated whiskies will give you the longest finish, something like Ardbeg 10 you can taste in your mouth the next morning 10hrs later (no exaggeration!). So think Ardbegg, Lagavulin, or a Ledaig 10.

In terms of intensity of flavour something like Glengoyne 12 is a good choice for a really strong classic highland flavour profile, whereas something like Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is a Port Cask and so has a very rich dessert dram sweetness (that many whisky snobs turn their noses up at). I would also reommend Oban 14 and Clynelish 14 for something more complex but intense (the Clynelish is particularly complex).

Otherwise go Campbeltown, you can never go wrong with Campbeltown if you're looking for a complex malt that you can sit down and really ruminate on what the fudge is going on in your mouth. Kilkerran 12 is perfect for this.

Islay: Bunnahabhain 12 (which is unpeated) and if you're lucky enough to financially not even blink at dropping £150 on a whisky then try an Octomore, the most heavily peated whisky out there that really evolves on the palate for quite some time.

[jean55]

A list of whisky with a long finish that I recommend:

The Charlotte Port 10 Year Old, an Islay peated whisky with a smoky but smooth finish and aromas of toffee and grain.

The Ardbeg 10 year old, also from Islay with a long finish with ash and peat.

If you want a cheap whisky, the Connemara has a good smoky finish that gets more intense as you drink it.

[mr.thomasschmidt]

Thank you for all your input. Is there any Speyside with a long finish? I will try out the Kilkerran 12 and also one with a higher proof and see where that leads me. Thanks for the help so far.

[BigShing]

Balvenie 12, and definitely the Balvenie 14 caribbean cask. Glenfarclas 15 for sure. Try not to focus too much on one whisky region though after liking a bottle from that region, plenty of Highlands out there that can give you a similar and far superior experience to the Aberlour 12.

Dalwhinnie 15 is a speyside that has been mentioned in this thread already and that's a very pleasant whisky (although personally I have never found the finish long).

You're still starting out and your budget is £100 so really you can put together a selection of whiskies for that price that will give you a broader sense of what you like, like say Old pulteney 12, Glenmorangie original 10yr (can by both for around £25 each) and then a bottle of Glenmorangie quinta ruban or Glenfarclas 15 for a really strong tasting sherry/port cask dram that would make Aberlour 12 seem a bit bland! :D

Alternatively, it's not really a "long" finish, but consider Redbreast 12 for something extremely yummy and "christmas cakey".