Happy and Sad

[New2Whiskey]

My goal - a bottle of each of the best value of all spirits.

Scotch -
Dewar's 12 Yearold Special Reserve - thought it was great. But not mindblowing.
Then bought Dalmore 12 Year Single Malt - also I thought it was great - but not mindblowing.
Yesterday bought Highland Park 12 Year Single Malt - MINDBLOWING! For $40, it in my opinion blows away Dalmore.

Which makes me sad. I'm not a rich guy. But I only want to serve my guests excellent whiskey.

Bourbon- I found Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare and BT to me is a better value.

Anways...those are my thoughts. Im' saddened because I'm afaid I'll taste another scotch and it will blow me away.

[New2Whiskey]

Not to mention something else I'm just noticing that I've NEVER noticed before. I don't even know how to term it.

I taste with my Riedel Cognac Hennessey glass. I just looked at my empty glass and there are stripes of the whiskey. Dang...how to describe it. As if the ocean had 10 rivers flowing to the bottom of the glass. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

[TNbourbon]

...I just looked at my empty glass and there are stripes of the whiskey. Dang...how to describe it. As if the ocean had 10 rivers flowing to the bottom of the glass. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

When you see one of us refer to 'legs' in a tasting note, this is usually what we're talking about.
Good liquor has a viscosity (just like motor oil ) that enhances its body (weight in mouth) and what we term "mouthfeel". The legs are a manifestation of that.
For whatever it's worth, Dalmore 12 and Highland Park 12 are two Scotches I almost always have on hand. I agree, HP12 is probably a somewhat higher-quality drink. Both great values, though, as is standard Buffalo Trace.
And, sure, there are better of each whisk(e)y style out there.

[Gov]

HP is an excellent scotch whisky. You need to try Lagavulin 16 and it will knock your socks off!

[JamesW]

(Everyone's tastes differ and many might disagree with the following....)

Well you said you are searching for the best "Value" spirit so the HP 12 is pretty much at the top of that list. The lagavulin 16 is phenomenal at $60 but you may not go for that much peat if you're a newbie to the Islays. I'd also suggest The Balvenie 12 Doublewood at $40 for excellent value. Talisker 10 yr is also very good @ $50.
For really Mind-Blowing try the following....
If you move a little higher up the chain @ $70 the Talisker 18.
@ $75 the Highland Park 18.
@ $60 the The Balvenie 15 yr.

As far as value bourbon goes I think BT is great @ $30 but don't ignore Weller Antique @ $20 & Weller Special Reserve @ $13 (Great "value" I think). I LOVE ORVW 10/107 @ $28 not to mention Julio's Weller Centennial 13yr @ < $30 (perhaps the best value to be seen in a long time and can't be had once it's all gone ) Higher up the chain is RVWFR Lot B @ $43-$48 (amazing!) and even higher and the best bourbon in my opinion Pappy 15 ($55). Another truly unique and delicious is Pappy 20 @ $90. Honorable mention goes to the BTAC collection but they're almost impossible to find until fall.

Cheers!

[JamesW]

Almost forgot a big favorite of mine... The Aberlour A'Bunadh! Very good whisk(e)y and at 120 proof a good deal @ $60

[New2Whiskey]

Let me basically say.... I was about to conclude that I probably don't like scotch. Until I had the HP 12YR. So....that will help you to appreciate how I feel.

I'm doing a side by side right now with DALMORE 12 YR. Just don't know if anything can top this HP 12YR.

I will try the other recommendations. When funds allow.

[mozilla]

IIRC, Famouse Grouse Gold(black bottle) is made of 50&#37; HP 12 and another whiskey.....seems like it was......I can't remember. Maybe, Macallan? I am sure someone knows?

Anyway, give it a try. It is a blend of two singel malts and is very affordable.

[melting]

To state that you maybe don't like scotch would be impossible this early in your whiskey tasting journey. The flavors are all over the map.

Grab a bottle of Ardbeg, Highland Park 12, The Glenlivet Nadurra and Glenmorangie. They are all so different from each other and there are still many other taste profiles to explore.

The Famous Grouse is a good value and you would do yourself a big favor in picking up a bottle of Teacher's Highland Cream.

If, after trying these you don't find something to your liking, then maybe scotch is not your bag.

Chris

[shoshani]

IIRC, Famouse Grouse Gold(black bottle) is made of 50% HP 12 and another whiskey.....seems like it was......I can't remember. Maybe, Macallan? I am sure someone knows?

Anyway, give it a try. It is a blend of two singel malts and is very affordable.

Not quite THAT simple, but...

Famous Grouse, like all blends, is a blend of malt whisky and grain whisky. The standard bottling contains a minimum of 40% malt whisky; the deluxe expression (Gold Reserve) is probably closer to 50%. However, there are at least four malt whiskies known to be in Famous Grouse: Macallan, Highland Park, Glen Rothes, and Tamdhu. All of these are owned by The Edrington Group, which also owns Famous Grouse. There will be other malts in the blend as well, plus at least one grain whisky.

Famous Grouse and Teachers are probably my favorite blends, regardless of price.