Scotch-oppnik

[trivet]

My daughter and son-in-law were over this weekend for dinner and game night, and I decided it was time to try out a couple bottles of Scotch I had bought but never opened. Had both on the rocks with water. My son-in-law and I went through about 1/4 of each bottle.

First up was Glenmorangie 10 year old

This is my brother's favorite, so I make sure to have a bottle on hand if he visits. Was nice and smooth, left a (pleasant) warm sensation long after finishing. Very nice.

Next was Macallan 10 year old

Wow - this was good. I mean really good. Could be the Scotch, the fact that I finally got the water/whiskey ration finally right, or the fact that I was a few glasses in by this point - but damn I enjoyed this one.

For reasonably priced Scotch, I was impressed.

Any other Scotch drinking Oppos' have recommendations?

[kiltedpadre]

@trivet I have a bottle of the Glenmorangie 10yr. I haven’t opened it yet, but it was in a gift box with 2 different 12 year aged where one was finished in a port cask and the other in a sherry cask.
They were both very tasty.

[trivet]

@kiltedpadre
My son-in-law preferred the Glenmorangie. I liked the Macallan better myself.

Neither of us is wrong.

[TexturedSoyProtein]

I have a bottle of that same Glenmorangie right now. The liquor store had all their scotch on sale before xmas but I didn't want to go crazy. It's good but it's lacking that tannin-heavy, leathery kinda vibe that the really expensive longer-aged stuff has.

My sister got me a bottle of Blade & Bow bourbon for hanukkah and I've been sipping on that too, it's pretty dang decent although expert booze reviewers seem to feel it's solid but not as good as other bourbons in the $50ish price range. I'm not an expert booze reviewer and I didn't pay for it so hey it tastes good and I like it.

[Chariotoflove]

@trivet My family generally gravitates toward the Glenlivet 12 year.

[ClassicDatsunDebate]

@trivet Those are solid bottles

[BJ]

The only scotch that I found easily drinkable is Edradour. Most others I find too difficult, but it's been a long time since I really tried. I'm not much of a whisky drinker, I prefer cognac.

I did have some scotch at a wake about 2 years ago, and it was most excellent, but I cannot remember what it was. The emotion of the event has clouded my memories. There were two bottles, and I'm pretty sure one was Lagavulin, but that's all I've got...

I received a bottle of Bowmore 15 year single malt at Christmas that I've not had the courage to open yet. I'm afraid I may not be able to appreciate it. How do I attack this one?

[trivet]

@chariotoflove said in Scotch-oppnik:

@trivet My family generally gravitates toward the Glenlivet 12 year.

I haven't tried it yet, but it's on my list of "must buys".

[trivet]

@bj said in Scotch-oppnik:

I received a bottle of Bowmore 15 year single malt at Christmas that I've not had the courage to open yet. I'm afraid I may not be able to appreciate it. How do I attack this one?

With friends and/or family. I've been sitting on these 2 bottles plus a Speyside 10yo for too long. Decided to finally enjoy them.

I'm very glad I did.

[beefchips]

@trivet said in Scotch-oppnik:

Any other Scotch drinking Oppos' have recommendations?

I don't really like the peat very much so Glenmorangie is by far my favorite scotch. BUT! If you want Irish whiskeys that are similar in style to the Glenmorangie I can recommend Knappogue Castle, Slane, Writer's Tears, or Clonakilty.

[khalbali]

@kiltedpadre said in Scotch-oppnik:

@trivet I have a bottle of the Glenmorangie 10yr. I haven’t opened it yet, but it was in a gift box with 2 different 12 year aged where one was finished in a port cask and the other in a sherry cask.
They were both very tasty.
Glenmorangie is my go-to when I'm feeling scotchy, I like nectar d'or a lot, I worked a tasting dinner once with that one paired with braised wild boar and it was amazing. I think the sherry one is quinta ruban if I recall but it's been a while.

[flatisflat]

@trivet Of the two you had, Macallan I find generally does a better job across their range, so I'm not surprised you enjoyed their 10 Yr. more than the Glenmorangie.

For other single malt scotches, as elsewise pointed out, the Glenlivet 10 yr. is super reliable, especially for the price. I rank it higher than the Glenfiddich 12 Yr., which I feel is one of its closest overall competitors.

I just bought an Aultmore (Speyside) 12 Yr. which I would probably place above the Glenmorangie, but below the Macallan. (But it was also only like $30, which was great)

I tend to lean towards 'smokier' single malts, so I'd also recommend something like an Ardbeg (Islay) 10 Yr. or a Bruichladdich (Islay) 'Classic Laddie'. The Classic Laddie is unpeated, but it still registers to me on the smokier side of the spectrum. But also, it's nowhere near as smoky as the Ardbeg.
If you're feeling really generous with yourself in this smoky realm, a bottle of Lagavulin 16 Yr. is quite the treat.

Talisker is also quite the make; they often do special runs, so the year denotation is less critical. Very peppery. This was my 'gateway scotch'.

[Old Busted Hotness]

I got hooked on Jura 10YO on my first trip to Scotland. On the second trip, I went to Jura (which George Orwell called "supremely un-get-attable" and he wasn't wrong) and toured the distillery. Fantastic island malt, but not available here. If it's available where you are, try it.

Dalwhinnie is another good 'un.

Working on a Glenlivet 12YO First Fill now. It ain't bad.

[Jb boin]

As always with those topic, it really depends on what you can find but also depends on your tastes and budget.

If you like peated and medicinal, you should also try a Laphroaig and also don't hesitate to try a Japanese whisky if you never tried.

[JeRC1500]

@jb-boin Completely agree WRT the Japanese whiskey. I have a Suntori Hibiki bottle I got for my birthday this year and it is very good. I am normally a bourbon guy bu a good scotch definitely has it's place.

[MybirdIStheword]

@trivet mezcal >/= scotch