What is the worst scotch you ever tasted?

[MtnDew]

Wow, so much hate for Dewars here, I actually like the stuff as a very cheap blended scotch. Dewars white is part of our basic bar load out as far as low priced scotches go, along with Glenfiddich 12, Bowmore Legend, and JW Black (I stock a range of more aged expressions as well but I count those in a separate category) It's not great by any stretch but it is consistent and smooth for the price. I certainly would not put it in the same boat as McGregors, J&R, or Cutty Sark, those are the bottom for me. There not vile, just not at all tasty and will never be on my buy list again.

I seem to have had more bourbons that I could not stand compared to scotches, but that may be simply due to my more scotch centric pallet. Sadly I'm spending more and more time searching the lower shelves for product these days. The price hikes are certainly straining my budget more, enough so that the wife now says I can't have more than 100 bottles of whiskey at a time! Something about tying up too much of our money in "liquid assets".

[squire]

The price hikes are certainly straining my budget more, enough so that the wife now says I can't have more than 100 bottles of whiskey at a time.

[portwood]

I solved that by increasing the shoe budget.

[squire]

Why would you need 100+ bottles when all you drink is Barton and OGD?

[portwood]

Who told you that?

Those are the only 2 I've seen you post on the "what are you drinking" threads ...

[squire]

Which is disclosive of nothing except during my retirement I choose to limit the baggage.

[Patrick_OKC]

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this entire thread this evening. Some of the best humor on display!

[Gillman]

I think the quality of the blends has improved in the last 20 years. I had a Cutty Sark the other day (always a good blend for the light side of the range) that was excellent. But 10 and 20 years ago, I recall drinking many name brands that either were too bland as mentioned or actually didn't taste very good. There is a characteristic flavour IMO to low quality grain whisky that some of these had. I can't recall (honestly) one that had this that I bought a year ago or so. I used it in blending. Even in a small proportion with some good single malts you could detect that taste, a kind of rough "exhausted wood" taste if that makes any sense. However, most of the blends today are better, and I think the malt phenomenon has rubbed off on them. Even thought it's a different category and (usually) price point, it is still Scotch whisky and the producers don't want to go too downmarket (I infer). No doubt there are one or two very cheap brands that still are a little rough. I'll have to try Black & White again, that one in the 60's and 70's was very good, then went through a rough patch in my opinion for a while. I'll pick one up soon, and a Cutty for sure.

Gary

[Shuboy]

Finlaggan Old Reserve which I think is usually extremely young Caol Ila or Lagavulin (probably 3 to 5 years old). The youth and the peat just didn't taste right to me. The funny thing is Lagavulin 16 is one of my favorite Islay malts.

[theglobalguy]

Chivas Regal 12, it not only put me off scotch for about 2 years, but almost caused me to walk away from all non-bourbon whiskey. Tasted of wet socks and i couldn't even use it as a marinade (as i have with a small few whiskeys).

[squire]

That's why God made soda.

[Gillman]

Yes but I agree about that Chivas. I had one about the same time and was surprised. Don't know if the current one is better, I may buy one to see.

Gary

[squire]

Really? You guys serious? I haven't had Chivis in a good number of years.

[AaronWF]

I was pleasantly surprised by the Chivas I had at an airport bar last year.

[theglobalguy]

That's why God made soda.

Mountain Dew may have masked that funk, but something about Mtn Dew and Scotch just seemed unethical.

[squire]

I understand scotch and coca cola is popular in Spain but I've not been curious enough to try it myself.

[sutton]

I don't know if there is such a thing as dusty Chivas, but I had a dram from my father-in-law's bottle that he has had at least 25 years. It is nothing like today's bottle. Heavier mouthfeel, richer (more sherry barrels in the mix?) and more peat smoke, but still very well balanced. I had a pour at a bar and it wasn't even close - less smoke, less malt, less everything. Lighter and thinner ...

[squire]

Sounds like this is not your Father's Chivas, unfortunately.

[LostBottle]

JW Blue - if you were to bottle the taste of stripper perfume, dirty cocaine-laced $100 bills, and ferrari exhaust, this is what you might get, bro.

Edited June 24, 2013 by LostBottle

[portwood]

Johnnie Walker Blue - if you were to bottle the taste of stripper perfume, dirty cocaine-laced $100 bills, and ferrari exhaust, this is what you might get, bro.

Not that I know what "dirty cocaine-laced $100 bills" smell like, but I disagree with you on JWB fitting into any worst whisky list. While JWB may not be a great Scotch (it's not even the best JW - the green gets my vote), but your description is a bit over the top .... and .... wrong. The stuff is way overpriced, but not nearly as bad as others listed up-thread.

Then again, if you're able to detect the difference between Ferrari exhaust and any other car's exhaust, you sir, have one great nose and perhaps can tell that JWB is indeed a terrible scotch ... if that's the case I bow to your olfactory abilities.

Edited June 24, 2013 by portwood

[LostBottle]

Not that I know what "dirty cocaine-laced $100 bills" smell like, but I disagree with you on JWB fitting into any worst whisky list. While JWB may not be a great Scotch (it's not even the best JW - the green gets my vote), but your description is a bit over the top .... and .... wrong. The stuff is way overpriced, but not nearly as bad as others listed up-thread.

Then again, if you're able to detect the difference between Ferrari exhaust and any other car's exhaust, you sir, have one great nose and perhaps can tell that JWB is indeed a terrible scotch ... if that's the case I bow to your olfactory abilities.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue-in-cheek

[squire]

I like Johnnie Walker Blue very much. It's not worth the price but it is a World class blend.

[MtnDew]

I like Johnnie Walker Blue very much. It's not worth the price but it is a World class blend.

[boneuphtoner]

Unlike bourbon or rye, where even the worst I've ever tried wasn't that bad, I've had very few Scotches that I've ever liked (and those would be Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Aberlour, Grants, and Talisker). Most of the rest I've tried have been flat out dreadful. JW Red is terrible for me, and the black label isn't that much better. Dewars is fairly putrid, and Cutty Sark tastes like dank soapy dishwater. I have disliked just about every Islay I've ever tried, especially Laphroaig 10...agree with the iodine notes a poster put in an earlier reply. Although I tried an Ardbeg Uigeadail that was somewhat palatable. For my bourbon/rye centered palate, I seem to prefer Speysider single malts...the Talisker is the only non-Speysider single malt that I've ever liked.

[squire]

You might add Glengoyne, Glenmorangie Glenkinchie and Auchentoshan to the list of ones to try as they are largely free of the heavy peat/iodine taste of the Islands, sort of the opposite actually.

Edited July 9, 2013 by squire