Hosting a scotch tasting - recommendations? (1 Viewer)

[Galileo]

I would go with Balvenie 12, 15 & 21 to allow people to climb the ladder on a single brand plus the Port Wood is the nectar of the Gods.

Perhaps repeat this for two other brands of different varieties of scotch.

Never been to one of these things but that's an angle I'd find pretty interesting.

Agree that this would be an interesting approach. The Balvenie Doublewood is my regular go to, but the Mrs. bought me a bottle of 21 yr Port Wood recently...that is damn nice...loving it!

 

[-jb-]

Ok. I'm going to hijack this thread. I'm not a hard drink kinda guy but beer is beginning to get old and tiresome. I've never really had good scotch, tequila etc...

How does one start exploring? I need a starter suggestion, a bottle I can acquire at any reasonably priced local liquor store. How should I start?

Ice? Warm? With water? Please help.

This is a good primer

http://www.gentlemansgazette.com/the-scotch-whisky-guide/

 

[Galileo]

I am helping coordinate a scotch tasting for about 35-45 people. I'm thinking 8 bottles is the right number?

I kind of doubt most people will end up having 8 drinks of scotch, so some repeats are probably okay. But looking to go with a variety of islands (Highlands, Island, Speyside, Islay) and price points.

Any thoughts on what you would recommend?

Not sure of the make up of your guest list, but personally, I would at least try any that I previously had never tried. Then I would go for seconds on something I really enjoyed. You may find people pushing to try them all especially if your options are unique/less common.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Mr. Toad's Snickerdoodle Flavored Scotch.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

My first suggestion is invite me. It sounds like fun.

Second, I would maybe think of going for different tastes rather than regions. There are a lot of ways to categorize taste, but maps like these would be useful.

Is the group people who drink scotch or are they new to it?

If you do get some high end stuff consider doing a blind test to see if your crowd will like the more expensive whiskey.

Some suggestions:

Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Balvanie Double Wood
Oban 14
Lagavulin 16
Jura Origin
Macallan 12

Talasker Storm

This would give you a nice range of tastes and stay relatively cheap.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Here were my thoughts.

Get 8 bottles, 2 from each of the major reasons, with generally one a little more modest and one more expensive.

Speyside -- Aberlour 16 (a personal fav) and Macallan 12 (your classic scotch)

Islay -- Laphroaig (a classic unique scotch) and Lavaculin 16 (agree with the recommendations here)

Highland - Oban 14 (I think this one is pretty friendly for non-scotch drinkers) and Aberfeldy 12 (never had but seems like it has good reviews for the price point)

Islands -- Isle of Jura (Brooklyn) (I think all the Jura stuff is good) and Highland Park Dark Origins (love HP, never had this one, figured this is as good a time as any).

Thoughts? Anyone ever hosted a large scotch tasting like this -- if so, any tips?

Thanks guys!

This would be a pretty good list too. I don't think of Oban as a highlands though.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

I would go with Balvenie 12, 15 & 21 to allow people to climb the ladder on a single brand plus the Port Wood is the nectar of the Gods.

Perhaps repeat this for two other brands of different varieties of scotch.

True.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Ok. I'm going to hijack this thread. I'm not a hard drink kinda guy but beer is beginning to get old and tiresome. I've never really had good scotch, tequila etc...

How does one start exploring? I need a starter suggestion, a bottle I can acquire at any reasonably priced local liquor store. How should I start?

Ice? Warm? With water? Please help.

I think Balvanie Double Wood is the best starter scotch there is. Explore ice and water to match your tastes. However, I would try the first dram neat.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Lag 16 is currently my favorite regular (~$90). I'd recommend adding to the list.

Oh.Hell.Yes!

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Here were my thoughts.

Get 8 bottles, 2 from each of the major reasons, with generally one a little more modest and one more expensive.

Speyside -- Aberlour 16 (a personal fav) and Macallan 12 (your classic scotch)

Islay -- Laphroaig (a classic unique scotch) and Lavaculin 16 (agree with the recommendations here)

Highland - Oban 14 (I think this one is pretty friendly for non-scotch drinkers) and Aberfeldy 12 (never had but seems like it has good reviews for the price point)

Islands -- Isle of Jura (Brooklyn) (I think all the Jura stuff is good) and Highland Park Dark Origins (love HP, never had this one, figured this is as good a time as any).

Thoughts? Anyone ever hosted a large scotch tasting like this -- if so, any tips?

Thanks guys!

This would be a pretty good list too. I don't think of Oban as a highlands though.

It is a Western Highland scotch

 

[jhib]

Brush up on pronunciations with Brian Cox.

 

[MikeIke]

Here were my thoughts.

Get 8 bottles, 2 from each of the major reasons, with generally one a little more modest and one more expensive.

Speyside -- Aberlour 16 (a personal fav) and Macallan 12 (your classic scotch)

Islay -- Laphroaig (a classic unique scotch) and Lavaculin 16 (agree with the recommendations here)

Highland - Oban 14 (I think this one is pretty friendly for non-scotch drinkers) and Aberfeldy 12 (never had but seems like it has good reviews for the price point)

Islands -- Isle of Jura (Brooklyn) (I think all the Jura stuff is good) and Highland Park Dark Origins (love HP, never had this one, figured this is as good a time as any).

Thoughts? Anyone ever hosted a large scotch tasting like this -- if so, any tips?

Thanks guys!

Can I come? Please?

 

[El Floppo]

.

 

[AAABatteries]

So apparently I have Glenfiddich 12 in my alcohol cabinet? Huh.

Anyway, I like the aroma. A bit too 'bright' for me guess I was expecting something a bit more, I don't know, carmely or smoky or deeper?

I really have no clue what I'm talking about or if this is #### swill or really good (or honestly how it got here).

I think calling it an alcohol cabinet gave you away.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Here were my thoughts.

Get 8 bottles, 2 from each of the major reasons, with generally one a little more modest and one more expensive.

Speyside -- Aberlour 16 (a personal fav) and Macallan 12 (your classic scotch)

Islay -- Laphroaig (a classic unique scotch) and Lavaculin 16 (agree with the recommendations here)

Highland - Oban 14 (I think this one is pretty friendly for non-scotch drinkers) and Aberfeldy 12 (never had but seems like it has good reviews for the price point)

Islands -- Isle of Jura (Brooklyn) (I think all the Jura stuff is good) and Highland Park Dark Origins (love HP, never had this one, figured this is as good a time as any).

Thoughts? Anyone ever hosted a large scotch tasting like this -- if so, any tips?

Thanks guys!

This would be a pretty good list too. I don't think of Oban as a highlands though.

How much money are we talking here? Somewhere around $500?

 

[mr roboto]

So apparently I have Glenfiddich 12 in my alcohol cabinet? Huh.

Anyway, I like the aroma. A bit too 'bright' for me guess I was expecting something a bit more, I don't know, carmely or smoky or deeper?

I really have no clue what I'm talking about or if this is #### swill or really good (or honestly how it got here).

I think calling it an alcohol cabinet gave you away.

lol. It's an upper cabinet in the kitchen where I keep all hard liquor? Liquor cabinet?

 

[Binky The Doormat]

So apparently I have Glenfiddich 12 in my alcohol cabinet? Huh.

Anyway, I like the aroma. A bit too 'bright' for me guess I was expecting something a bit more, I don't know, carmely or smoky or deeper?

I really have no clue what I'm talking about or if this is #### swill or really good (or honestly how it got here).

I think calling it an alcohol cabinet gave you away.

lol. It's an upper cabinet in the kitchen where I keep all hard liquor? Liquor cabinet?

Liquor cabinet. Believe me, I know.

 

[AAABatteries]

Just busting your balls - alcohol cabinet is accurate, I just never hear that said. Liquor cabinet works.

 

[Psychopav]

Here were my thoughts.

Get 8 bottles, 2 from each of the major reasons, with generally one a little more modest and one more expensive.

Speyside -- Aberlour 16 (a personal fav) and Macallan 12 (your classic scotch)

Islay -- Laphroaig (a classic unique scotch) and Lavaculin 16 (agree with the recommendations here)

Highland - Oban 14 (I think this one is pretty friendly for non-scotch drinkers) and Aberfeldy 12 (never had but seems like it has good reviews for the price point)

Islands -- Isle of Jura (Brooklyn) (I think all the Jura stuff is good) and Highland Park Dark Origins (love HP, never had this one, figured this is as good a time as any).

Thoughts? Anyone ever hosted a large scotch tasting like this -- if so, any tips?

Thanks guys!

Yes, I did thks exact thing a couple years ago and started on my magical journey. The only single makes I had treated prior to this were the Glen's.Initial reaction: three list above is missing Oban and I think Talisker. I'll come back later with tips about format, provisions, and handouts for participants.

Eta: I didn't see the Oban. Highland Park is also a good choice.

 

[MikeIke]

Chase,  did you ever do this? How'd it turn out? 

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Everyone (well, virtually every seasoned Scotch drinker) prefers single-malt, but for something like this, I would throw in one single-grain and one blended-grain. Will give the uninitiated a more diverse experience and may prove intreguing for the snobs who swear by single-malt without knowing exactly why.

Cambus '91 twenty-three year old butt in my collection and looking for the 26 year old

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

Slip in some turpentine and kerosene and see if anyone notices. Sorry, I've tried to get into scotch and just can't do it. It always tastes like #### to me. 

 

[kutta]

Slip in some turpentine and kerosene and see if anyone notices. Sorry, I've tried to get into scotch and just can't do it. It always tastes like #### to me. 

Are you drinking ####ty scotch?

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

Are you drinking ####ty scotch?

Glenlivet 12 and Balvenie Doublewood. I've been able to tolerate it at times. I've never been able to understand those who love the stuff. To each his own I guess. I kept thinking I would grow to like it, but it still hasn't happened yet. 

 

[Hov34]

Glenlivet 12 and Balvenie Doublewood. I've been able to tolerate it at times. I've never been able to understand those who love the stuff. To each his own I guess. I kept thinking I would grow to like it, but it still hasn't happened yet. 

Can I have your leftovers?

 

[kutta]

Glenlivet 12 and Balvenie Doublewood. I've been able to tolerate it at times. I've never been able to understand those who love the stuff. To each his own I guess. I kept thinking I would grow to like it, but it still hasn't happened yet. 

Well those are perfectly acceptable. Are you drinking it neat. Adding a bunch of ice is a great way to mellow it out and make it more drinkable.

Or maybe you just don't like the stuff...

 

[TwinTurbo]

Macallan 18 is probably my favorite thing in the world to drink.

Glenlivet 18 is much better than the 12, but the 12 is a good, inexpensive option.

Another vote for Mac18. Prices have went up but it's worth it

 

[Chase Stuart]

Chase,  did you ever do this? How'd it turn out? 

It did turn out great.   I ended up doing it with an Oban, a Lagavulin 16, an Isle of Jura (Brooklyn), and a Mac 12.  It was definitely a hit.  The Lag 16 was my favorite, but I knew that beforehand.  Was a little disappointed in the Jura -- I've liked it before, but perhaps in combination with what else was there it just didn't sit right.

 

[Otis]

I'd recommend you invite your Good Buddy.

 

[Otis]

It did turn out great.