Best Scotch on a Low Budget

[Marvin]

Did you wonder how you could try about all the Scotch's produced? At only a fraction of the cost? Here's my recommendation---First try all the classic malts-Dalwhinnie 15 YO, Lagavulin 16 YO, Oban, Cragganmore 12 YO, Talisker 10 YO and last but not least Glenkinchie 10 YO. Then try Ardbeg 17 YO, then McCallans, Balvene, Doublewood, Portwood and a whole host of others. These are not going to cost you a fortune==buy minatures that way you can narrow it down to what you like before you invest a lot of money on scotch you probably won't like. Like I have stated before on this link as far as I am concerned you get away from McCallan, Balvene or Abelour there is not much left that I like, and if you go with a blend it is hard to beat Ballentines for a mixer, and I hate to keep repeating myself, but I will, make sure that it is Schweppes Ginger Ale

that you use to mix them with. That's the way they do it in Scotland and England, providing they don't use water. That is the way they do it when they are by themselves.

Cheers,

Marvin

[Jono]

Sorry Marvin...cannot believe 0 replies/comments...great idea! Now, no bullseye

[ratcheer]

Not to argue, but I have heard several times that what they really do in Scotland is mix Scotch with lemonade. Personally, I would never try that. I like it with ginger ale or water, myself, same as you.

Tim

[Marvin]

Jono,

They probably went into shock after spending all that money on the big bottles!!!!!!!!!!Glad you read the post. I dearly love bourbon, but sometimes there is nothing like a scotch just for a change of pace!

Cheers,

Marvin

[Marvin]

Tim,

Thanks for reading my post. The lemonade you refer to is not like the kind of lemonade we have here. It is more like a flavored,sparkling water, but much stronger than sparkling water we have here. They use it in Scotland and England with ice cream in it to make a soda, so I have been told by an English resident.

Cheers,

Marvin

[ratcheer]

Thanks for the info about the Scottish lemonade. It makes more sense, now.

I haven't drunk any scotch in a long time and I have never had any of the really fancy ones. But the good ones I liked were Johnnie Walker Black, Pinch, Glenlivet, and Glenfiddich. The cheaper ones I enjoyed were Johnnie Walker Red, Ballantine's, even 100 Pipers (do they still make that?).

I never cared for J&B. I tried to like Cutty Sark because I liked the bottle, but it really wasn't that good, either. Of course, there are hundreds of them that I've never tried at all.

Tim

[ratcheer]

Yes, Marvin, I have been seduced by a series of The Balvenie ads in The Wall Street Journal. I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to try their 12-year old "Double Wood". Then I got to the ABC store and saw that it is about $47. I thought, "Damn, I could get a bottle of Kentucky Spirit or Blanton's for that!". So, I didn't buy any scotch.

Tim

[MarkB]

I visited Scotland for the first time this past January and really had a blast. It was something of a "get my hind end out of the house" trip and I went with an old friend I've known since grade school and left the wife behind. Two middle aged guys traveling together may have raised some eyebrows but the heck with that-- what are you gonna do, annouce to each resturant and hotel you walk in that "No, we're NOT gay! Make that twin," speaking loudly and looking around, "I said TWIN" beds!" (ha!)

But I digress. My old friend (also married-- to a gal I might add-- and just why am I so defensive about this?) and I really took advantage of the maleness of the event however and smoke cigars and sipped VERY fine ales and scotch in the coolest of places, just like out of a movie. "The Bow" tavern in Edinburgh just may be the best bar on earth-- but there were literally hundreds of other great bars just in Edinburgh alone, and in our rental car we explored all over the country, or as much as possible in one week. A great place to visit-- if only they spoke recognizable English.

Neither of us were scotch fans but we made a point to slam down some different scotches at least once each day (after reaching our daily destination of course, driving on the narrow roads with left hand drive is hard enough sober). We visited some scotch distilleries along the Speyside trial, and it was simply a great time.

Unfortunately, neither of us really like scotch much and our daily trial of a scotch was sometimes more painful than fun, although since we were in Scotland, for crying out loud, we tried hard to enjoy the stuff and plugged away like troopers. Try as we might we just couldn't get into the whole scotch worship thing. Maybe, just maybe... it's because basically-- the stuff sucks!

Just kidding (sort of). I'm sure the many scotch fans love it for good reason, and if that's their thing that's fine. But I just don't care for it much-- even the high dollar single malts. To me scotch can't compare to Bourbon, plus single malt scotch is WAY over priced. Compared to scotch Bourbon is a bargain.

As an aside there was a time when I was into blended scotches, almost 20 years ago. Once I had a blind taste off among the better blended scotches-- Dewars, Cutty Sark, JB, Chivas Regal, Famous Grouse, and a few others. The best tasting blend was hands down (also among the other tasters-- a party of sailor heathens that went downhill in a hurry, let me assure you) was Famous Grouse. The rest were fairly closly matched except for Chivas, which was universally agreed to be by far the worst of the batch. To this day when I see Chivas and its billing as the "premium" blended scotch I can only shake my head in astonishment. Amazing how promotion can take place of "truth."

Mark

http://jazztrpt.freeservers.com

[ratcheer]

Off topic, but I'll never forget the leading line in an article about Scotland in National Geographic, about 20 years ago. I don't remember exactly how it was phrased, but it was something to the effect of Scotland being the country with two seasons, winter and July.

I pretty much agree with you about scotch in general and certain scotches in particular. Especially Chivas Regal. Johnnie Walker Black is at least three times as good.

Anyone want to talk about gin?

Tim

[tdelling]

> I have been seduced by a series of The Balvenie ads in The Wall Street

>Journal. I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to try their 12-year

> old "Double Wood". Then I got to the ABC store and saw that it is about $47.

Wow! Talk about overpriced! It should cost around $30.

It's absolutely marvelous, if you like that sort of thing.

Plus it's got one of the best looking bottles out there.

(Okay, the bottle isn't nearly as handsome as Stagg, but

it's up there.)

[ratcheer]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />

Wow! Talk about overpriced! It should cost around $30.

[Jono]

Wow, that was a great time..how did you get away from home!? I would love to "whisky trail" my way around...when I was their 11 years ago I was not a whisky drinker..too bad..bud I love the ales and cider. Ahhh, a misty Scottish glen, mountains all around, the smell of sheep and a glass of Macallan...perfect "being there moment." It took me about 1 full day to get the driving down...I tended to hug the outside edge of the road at first. Don't get me started on round abouts...great idea once you get the concept. My brother-in-law and I have dreamed of the same fantasy trip...so don't wear matching jackets would be your advice?

[Greenie]

dear mis-guided cousins. We are not fond of putting ginger ale or any sort of lemonade in our Scotch. sometimes a small drop of spring water is added to wake the flavours from their slumber. Of course all Scotch is overpriced in England, the Government tax us to the hilt.

Anyhow ...we are not fortunate to be able to buy one of the best blends available - Black & White - it is all exported because Johnny Walker does not want it competing with Bells.

[bluesbassdad]

I wonder whether the Black & White they ship to us "misguided cousins" is the same quality as the product that you favor.

The price here is a paltry $13.99 per liter at my favorite liqour merchant . Perhaps I'll try it when my present supply of Famous Grouse runs out. (It'll be a while; most of the spirits I drink come from Kentucky, U.S.A.)

Refresh my memory, does the label display two Scottish Terriers?

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[ratcheer]

Back in the early 70's, Black and White was one of my favorite scotches. I haven't had it in a long, long time, though.

Tim

[Greenie]

As far as I know you get the good stuff. Black & White Is the Scotch with the two dogs on the label. The back of the bottle states:

"The Milder Blend. Dalwhinnie, Clynelish and Glendullan malt whisky together form the heart of Black & White, a blend of over35 malt and grainwhiskies etc etc.

IMHO the 40% version is the best

[jimbo]

Hey Greenie, thanks for the comments on mixing foreign substances with scotch. I have a friend who lives near Scunthorp and would be horrified by the thought of adding lemonade or ginger ale to scotch. Tony will not even allow ice in his scotch. His favorite blend is Teacher's Highland Cream.