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Whiskies for newbie
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Are there any whisky drinkers here who can point me in a direction of a whisky for a beginner? Preferrably a single malt.
Something thats easy on the senses and not too overpowering.
Thanks  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Glenmorangie.
Stay clear of laphroaig for a little while, it's a bit of a throat burner."
I tried one a month of so ago.....cant remember the name but that burnt just smelling it  |
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I’m not a huge fan. But I’ve got to the point where I can now drink it without retching. Maybe that comes with age! In general I believe the island ones are more peaty than the highland ones.
But.. in terms of recommendations, rather than a name I’d suggest going to visit the distilleries, and learning about what you’re drinking.
Islay is the best place for a distillery tour and it’s a fantastic place to base yourself for a long weekend whilst you visit a dozen or so. You can bus or cycle round them and all have bars where you can have free samples.
I like the ones that are slightly less smokey. Ones with a really super high peat content (laphraoig/ardbeg) might be a little too much for a beginner, and can just taste like a bonfire.
Bowmore might be a compromise. |
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By *good-being-badMan
over a year ago
mis-types and auto corrects leads cock leeds |
Are you wanting scotch or Irish whiskies.. there are so many to choose from a lot comes down to personal taste.
Don't dismiss blends so easily some are delicious and have more flavour traits than a single malt..
Glenkinchie is very light ,
Bushmills Irish single malt is very light as well.
Personally Bushmill's original (it's a blend) is a very good drink.
Talisker, laguvulin, laphraig , cael isla.. all very peaty |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Are you wanting scotch or Irish whiskies.. there are so many to choose from a lot comes down to personal taste.
Don't dismiss blends so easily some are delicious and have more flavour traits than a single malt..
Glenkinchie is very light ,
Bushmills Irish single malt is very light as well.
Personally Bushmill's original (it's a blend) is a very good drink.
Talisker, laguvulin, laphraig , cael isla.. all very peaty "
Ideally scotch. Is it the peat that gives it the burn? |
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"Are you wanting scotch or Irish whiskies.. there are so many to choose from a lot comes down to personal taste.
Don't dismiss blends so easily some are delicious and have more flavour traits than a single malt..
Glenkinchie is very light ,
Bushmills Irish single malt is very light as well.
Personally Bushmill's original (it's a blend) is a very good drink.
Talisker, laguvulin, laphraig , cael isla.. all very peaty
Ideally scotch. Is it the peat that gives it the burn? "
It’s the alcohol that gives it the burn. The peat that gives it the smoke |
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By *ara JTV/TS
over a year ago
Bristol East |
They have just resumed making whisky in Thurso, most northerly town on UK mainland.
I don’t drink the stuff but I bought a bottle and my friends seem to like it.
Wolfburn (the name of the watercourse the water is drawn from).
About 46 proof, from memory. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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The reason for asking is a few friends and I are off on a golf holiday through Scotland early next year and making the compulsary visits to distilleries. So it would be nice to sample whiskies now and see how it goes. |
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By *good-being-badMan
over a year ago
mis-types and auto corrects leads cock leeds |
"Are you wanting scotch or Irish whiskies.. there are so many to choose from a lot comes down to personal taste.
Don't dismiss blends so easily some are delicious and have more flavour traits than a single malt..
Glenkinchie is very light ,
Bushmills Irish single malt is very light as well.
Personally Bushmill's original (it's a blend) is a very good drink.
Talisker, laguvulin, laphraig , cael isla.. all very peaty
Ideally scotch. Is it the peat that gives it the burn? "
Not really the peat is burnt and used to dry the barley.. so the barley picks up the smokey peaty flavour,(bit like curing meat over a wood fire) and when it's used in the production the smokiness comes out into the liquor. |
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Great. Have fun. Make your decision based on what they tell you and what you enjoy when you’re there.
Whiskey doesn’t get any better in the bottle, but it doesn’t really get any worse either.
This ain’t some horrible holiday liquor left languishing in the back of a cupboard. It’ll taste the same when you get it home. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Glenmorangie.
Stay clear of laphroaig for a little while, it's a bit of a throat burner."
Rubbish, you sip it and let it settle in your mouth allowing it to warm and gently vapourise before swallowing, beautiful. |
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By *irthandgirthMan
over a year ago
Camberley occasionally doncaster |
"The reason for asking is a few friends and I are off on a golf holiday through Scotland early next year and making the compulsary visits to distilleries. So it would be nice to sample whiskies now and see how it goes."
Distillery tours are great. They do a lot of great limited edition stuff too. But that all depends how deep your pockets are.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Macallan is always a winner. Personally I like the 10 or 15
Glenmorangie is quality too as an entry brand
Dont discount quality Bourbons either.
Wild Turkey is not bad |
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I'm not a fan of the Smokey ones mostly in the islay (pronounced eye-ler). I prefer the highland or spayside flavours. My fave currently is the macallan 18, I'd also recommend a dalmore 15 or as stated above the aberlour (I've only tasted the 12). My personal preference is for them to have been aged in sherry casks as it adds a sweetness. I tend to keep the scotch for more special occasions these days, and tend to turn to bourbon as my tipple of the moment. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I’ve really got into whisky in the last year or so. My favourite by far is Glenmorangie but the price jumps - you can get it sometimes for £20 but it’s now between £30-35
Tip! Was in Tesco last week and thought I’d try the Tesco Special Reserve . Was £14. Bloody hell it was fantastic ... I’d say similar to Glenmorangie although this was a blend. Highly recommend it and I’ll be decanting the next into an expensive brands bottle! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I'm not a fan of the Smokey ones mostly in the islay (pronounced eye-ler). I prefer the highland or spayside flavours. My fave currently is the macallan 18, I'd also recommend a dalmore 15 or as stated above the aberlour (I've only tasted the 12). My personal preference is for them to have been aged in sherry casks as it adds a sweetness. I tend to keep the scotch for more special occasions these days, and tend to turn to bourbon as my tipple of the moment."
Heard the Dalmore is great but its pricey.....unless i'm thinking of the really aged ones. Think i'm leaning towards more lowland and speyside ones. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Personally Laphroaig is a favourite though know it's not to everyone's taste.
Best thing to do is try a few different ones, branded or otherwise. Get small bottles or visit a specialist shop. |
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"Are you wanting scotch or Irish whiskies.. there are so many to choose from a lot comes down to personal taste.
Don't dismiss blends so easily some are delicious and have more flavour traits than a single malt..
Glenkinchie is very light ,
Bushmills Irish single malt is very light as well.
Personally Bushmill's original (it's a blend) is a very good drink.
Talisker, laguvulin, laphraig , cael isla.. all very peaty
Ideally scotch. Is it the peat that gives it the burn? "
nope ... it's the rock that the water permeates through ... volcanic east coast rocks = harsh burn
islay peat = soft smooth laphroig |
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It's not a widely known malt, but Edradour is a sweet mellow malt with a slight marzipan finish which is more delicious than it sounds.Springbank is superb too but very expensive.
Dont be afraid of adding a drop of water to release the aromas either |
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"Bushmills Single Malt...
It's all the rain we get that makes it softer than most Scots whiskies
Couldn't agree more I find the Irish ones smoother in general"
Bushmills is the best you can buy without doubt. Always have a bottle in the drinks cabinet.  |
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By *NN23Woman
over a year ago
Scotland |
Can't believe Old Pulteney hasn't been recommended yet.
Also I have a subscription to Whisky.me they send out a dram once a month from all over Scotland from big to small distilleries. It's a good way to try something different without the expense of buying a bottle of something you'll hate |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Thanks for the advice everyone.
I think this is a thing with whiskey, like many other drinks there are so many styles and flavours that its hard to choose one to start with.
I normally drink wine (and i'm pretty much a connesuir) of those. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Can't believe Old Pulteney hasn't been recommended yet.
Also I have a subscription to Whisky.me they send out a dram once a month from all over Scotland from big to small distilleries. It's a good way to try something different without the expense of buying a bottle of something you'll hate"
On a fun note, I always misread it as Old Putney and thought it was distilled near Fulham  haha |
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By *NN23Woman
over a year ago
Scotland |
"They have just resumed making whisky in Thurso, most northerly town on UK mainland.
I don’t drink the stuff but I bought a bottle and my friends seem to like it.
Wolfburn (the name of the watercourse the water is drawn from).
About 46 proof, from memory."
Think they celebrated their 5 year anniversary this year if I mind right. A guy I work with collects their bottles |
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"Thanks for the advice everyone.
I think this is a thing with whiskey, like many other drinks there are so many styles and flavours that its hard to choose one to start with.
I normally drink wine (and i'm pretty much a connesuir) of those."
Try bourbons  |
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"Don’t know if it’s been suggested yet, but Aberfeldy is a great intro whisky
Heard of that. Is it lowland, highland, speyside etc? "
It’s a highland. My personal favourite atm is the Laphroig triple wood, or the Glenmorangie lasanta. I’ve got about 6 or 7 different ones |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I’m more of a bourbon rather than a whiskey drinker but I don’t mind the odd tot. A few years ago I went on a distillery tour to the penderyn distillery in the heart of the Brecon Beacons in South Wales. They do some wonderful whiskeys. Try the legend single malt they do. It’s around £30 a bottle but it’s really delicate to the palate. Well worth a try. |
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By *ara JTV/TS
over a year ago
Bristol East |
"Can't believe Old Pulteney hasn't been recommended yet.
Also I have a subscription to Whisky.me they send out a dram once a month from all over Scotland from big to small distilleries. It's a good way to try something different without the expense of buying a bottle of something you'll hate"
Have you tried the liquer they make at the same distillery?
Stroma.
A Christmas treat!
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By *NN23Woman
over a year ago
Scotland |
"Can't believe Old Pulteney hasn't been recommended yet.
Also I have a subscription to Whisky.me they send out a dram once a month from all over Scotland from big to small distilleries. It's a good way to try something different without the expense of buying a bottle of something you'll hate
Have you tried the liquer they make at the same distillery?
Stroma.
A Christmas treat!
"
It is lovely, however I preferred the original liqueur. I managed to find a French website last year that were still selling the old stuff for €15 a bottle so we stocked up lol |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Are there any whisky drinkers here who can point me in a direction of a whisky for a beginner? Preferrably a single malt.
Something thats easy on the senses and not too overpowering.
Thanks "
Newbie whiskey drinker here. I love a Spayside: nice smooth finish.
I was lucky enough to get to Nashville and to Jack Daniels. Since then I’ve been converted to Gentleman Jack for “everyday” drinking.
My absolute favourite is a Japanese single Malt: Yamazaki. My favourite. Get yourself to a decent whiskey bar. A good bar person will advise you and guide you through some of their stock. The main thing is have fun trying them and find your favourite. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Thanks for the advice everyone. Went with an Auchentoshan and was great.
Sat out camping last night with he fire pit roaring and a glass or two. Perfect! |
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it’s one thing I wish I enjoyed 