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More than a splash of water is perfectly acceptable. Water to taste, up to in some cases enough to dilute to as far as 20-25% abv. All you have to do is smell then add water to see that water opens up many of the single malts dramatically. Don't add too much at one time, but imo neat usually misses out on quite a bit of depth that water liberates.'Dentist said:
If it is the first time drinking a particular Scotch, I prefer to start neat. I can always add water - you can't really remove it once in. While don't keep any tasting logs, I generally have a good idea which Scotches I prefer with some ice/water vs those that I prefer neat.
If you haven't tried, this experiment with the decent single malts, it's worth trying. I found it in one of the links earlier in the thread.Nose the scotch neat first. Once just to get used to the smell of the alcohol. A second time to get a real first impression. A third time more deeply to get at the complexity.Add a splash (more than a drop) of water. Repeat the nosing process. You will often notice a dramatic difference.Take a sip. Continue to add water to taste, as needed.Most of the sites I reviewed strongly cautioned against adding too much water at first (there's a 'point of no return' where the taste deteriorates quickly), and against using ice at all, which numbs the taste buds and is therefore completely counterproductive.After experimenting with quite a few different varieties, I am a firm believer in the above.'Furious Styles said:
I know I need to try the 10. I will keep an eye out for 18 as well, thanks.
I'm not a fan of the Speysides I've tried, but like I said there's a single malt I've had before that I will know when I taste it. It's not the Macallan 12, but I've been told that the 18 is very different from the 12.I do have the standby Glenlivet & Glenfiddich 12's on hand as well, but generally the Lagavulin & the HP both demolish any Speyside I've yet tried (including Macallan 12 and Glenrothes, but I understand why people might like those).I also had a taste of Dalmore recently (a Highland single malt), which was a more balanced single malt with a bit of peat in the finish. Very pleasant over all & I'm sure I'll revisit that again at some point.
I prefer Highland scotches because they generally have a fruity mix and the flavors are so diverse, but I like Speyside over Islays or Island. My Tallisker 25 rarely gets any play, but there is a time and a place for anything. Just like with wines there are certain flavors for certain occasions and meals, Speysides have a place on the shelf. Real scotch snobs will tell you Speysides offer the best variety and distinct flavors of the various regional Scotches. The most well known and top selling Scotches are Speysides, they certainly offer the palate and the shelf something particular IMO.
I pretty much agree with this entire post
I find traditional Speysides to be a bit boring. You either have lighter sweet ( think honey and fruity) or you have Sherry cask matured. I still think that it is three Glens and the Macallan that make up four of the top selling single malts and they are located in Speyside. Glenfiddich and Glenlivet being #1 and 2 and while they are great starters, they are just that. It is more about marketing than being the best. Now, Macallan makes fine single malt but just like Grey Goose, McDonald's, Miller Lite, Dominoes, etc...these are marketed to the maximum and that leads to them having a huge chunk of the market. (Except Macallan is actually a good product while the other examples are crap with huge marketing dollars) Of all the sherry casks (not including high high end special release) Mortlach Flora Fauna 16 is a sherry cask matured whisky that takes on Macallan and beats it. If you can find it, buy it and drink it.
I do not like Bourbon at all but I'd guess I'm in the minority among Scotch drinkers.
I love bourbon and I love single maltDrink them both neat
I'm not a big fan of straight bourbon. I like mall samples every once in awhile, but have never ordered a full glass.
I started with rum mixed in college. Once I found bourbon I never went back to rum.I still enjoy bourbon but generally prefer it mixed w/ coke zero. Single malt scotch is way more complex so it's not really comparable. I can still remember my first taste of Knob Creek and thinking "crap. Now I'll be dropping $35 every time I want to buy a bottle of bourbon from now on."I have no problem with $80-$90 for a bottle of Lagavulin & it's worth every penny.
My buddy got me a couple ice balls for Christmas. I dig really dig them.Enjoying some Hudson Manhattan Rye with an ice ball right now. Really good stuff.
My wife bought them for me for Christmas. I'll report back in a few days.
Sipping that right now
Ardberg is quite something. I swear there's a peat fire in here now.
Ardberg or Grouse?I have a bottle of snow grouse in the freezer right meow.Sipping that right now
Ardbeg. Never seen Grouse.Ardberg or Grouse?I have a bottle of snow grouse in the freezer right meow.Sipping that right now
My wife got me a set a while back. I personally didn't care for them, I prefer my Scotch closer to room temp and I only really put ice in for the melt on harsher (mostly cheaper, in my case) scotches.They work well, so if you like your Scotch a little cooled off but don't want it to get watered down, they are great for that.
You aren't in my minority. Bourbons to me go down way too harsh, and for the most part taste the same. Jack, OGD, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, eh you can keep em all. The only other whiskey I like besides scotches is Crown Royal. And that isnt as smooth as mostly any scotches I drank.
funny thing about Famous Grouse, it is apparently the #1 selling scotch in Scotland. When I read that I just had to try what the locals drink. Went to the liquor store and picked up a bottle...cost $21.00 LMAO. Apparently the locals like the cheap stuff.Ardbeg. Never seen Grouse.Ardberg or Grouse?I have a bottle of snow grouse in the freezer right meow.Sipping that right now
Don't listen to the Shermanator because Jack is definitely going to taste DIFFERENT from bourbon because it isn't a bourbon.
Jack actually is a bourbon up until it is filtered (over sugar maple charcoal.) Some would argue it still qualifies, but JD themselves will continue to argue that it isn't a bourbon (so as not to draw comparison's to other bourbons) and would have to apply to be allow to use the name, if I understand correctly. It is the filtration process that imparts the unique taste (either by taking things our or imparting taste from the charcoal.) Personally, I like JDs but don't care for many bourbons because they tend to (in my experience) have a sweeter taste that I don't care for (Jim Beam most noticeably.) I did get a bottle of Maker's Mark and enjoyed that, although it was a bit different than JD or other bourbon's I have tried. Still, I much prefer even a relatively inexpensive bottle of Scotch to most Kentucky whiskey's, bourbon or not.
Please compare a $20 bottle of single malt versus Wild Turkey. You are comparing apples to oranges. Grab a glass of Blantons and compare it to a single malt.
Who argues that it should? It isn't a bourbon plain and simple.
Famous Grouse isnt a single malt. You ownt find a $20 bottle of single malt. Of course comparing scotch whisky's to Bourbon whiskey's is comparing apples to oranges
LOL. Semantics. ok
It has Highland Park and The Macallan in it's blend. I'll give it a try. I like to switch to a blend for my second drink of the night.'Shermanator said:funny thing about Famous Grouse, it is apparently the #1 selling scotch in Scotland. When I read that I just had to try what the locals drink. Went to the liquor store and picked up a bottle...cost $21.00 LMAO. Apparently the locals like the cheap stuff.'Sebowski said:Ardbeg. Never seen Grouse.'Thorn said:Ardberg or Grouse?I have a bottle of snow grouse in the freezer right meow.'Sebowski said:Sipping that right now'Thorn said:
They ship internationally?
No it isn't semantics. That extra step of charcoal filtering makes Jack Daniels taste so completely different from any bourbon'Shermanator said:
Toyota vs Lamborghini imo
God bless you. This has become my latest cocktail obsession. I do like the 2:1:1 ratio (and an orange twist).
Awesome. I'm on a Bookers/rocks right now, but will probably end the night with a Boulevardier.
Don't just try it once and give up. Your pallet will adjust after a few tastings.Adding ice and/or water will really make it easier at first. I would suggest a good amount of ice for your first try, and let it sit for a few minutes before drinking it. After awhile you will find yourself wanting less ice, and eventually you will find the beauty of drinking it neat or with only one ice cube.But don't give up if you don't like it at first. That's the key.
I do - I like them a lot. I like my whiskey slightly chilled, but always hated it when the ice melted. So these are perfect for what I want (note - they do not cool the drink as much as ice. Instead, it gives it just a slight chill, which is actually a plus to me.)
how do you keep them from blasting your teeth when drinking?
Never had this be a problem. Just sip (I usually use 4-5 stones at a time)
You liked the Laphroig better than Lagavulin 16? I know it's a better pricepoint but I find I greatly prefer the Lagavulin.
