Thread: New Bottle of Scotch for tonight

Had some MacCallans 12 today. Meh. Doubt I'll have it again...

Originally Posted by nessmuck

I saw the oban also and waited on it. Well how did you like it?

I only had a small taste and enjoyed it. I'll have some this evening and post tomorrow.

Originally Posted by PSB

Had some MacCallans 12 today. Meh. Doubt I'll have it again...

I'm am surprised you did not not like it but everyone has different tastes. Try some Glenfiddich next time, a bit different than the Mac.

I am surprised. I have read through all these posts and have seen no mention of Ardbeg. Granted, i have not tried a large number of scotches (yet) but i recently picked up a bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail and i immediately fell in love. Great complexity and balance. The smoke and peat notes were not over powered as they tend to be in these younger Islay scotches. A great drink for anyone looking to try something on the peaty side but are a bit turned off by some of the others.

A frequent at my house is anything Balvenie. I frequently find the 12 year double wood on sale for 32 - 34 and it is hard to beat at that price.

Mac 12 again this has really become my everyday Scotch. Love Sherry Cssk

I normally have a preference for Bourbon, but my boss gave me a taste of this wonderful Scotch and had to buy a bottle. It spends the first six years of its life in Oak casks and the last six years in Sherry Casks if gives the Scotch a very delightful flavor. yum

for preety tasty scotch on the cheap it's pretty tough to buck McClellands Lowland for 23 denarius for a fifth

I am in regular contact with this person who writes a regular book on whisky and works for suntory, so I'll copy and paste in the notes she sent me on how to taste whisky for tasting (for pleasure it's really up to you innit):
"

1. Prepare a nosing glass
2. Pour 30ml of whisky into the glass
3. Sway the glass, looking at the colour of the whisky against natural light (ideally against the window), to guess what kind of cask the whisky has come from.
4. Watch the leg or the tear of angel inside of glass to see the age, oiliness and abv of the whisky
5. Add a splash of water to the glass and sway again
6. Put your nose to the glass and move it away, repeat this a couple of times to smell the whisky
7. Put your nose into the mouth of the glass and breath in the aroma of the whisky
8. Add more water to the whisky and sway the glass
9. Sip the whisky and use your tongue to taste the it
10. After you've drunk all the whisky in the glass, pour the last drop of of it onto your palm and rub both hands together. Cover your nose with both palm hands and just smell.

When you first add water, add enough to make the abv around 30 - 35%, then the second time enough again to reduce it to 25%."

But see I heard Jim Murray - and he drinks it neat, saying that many of the flavours are dulled by the water (similar to the argument that the high abv masks many key flavours).

I am inclined, however, to agree with JM. You must note that whisky was previously bottled at nearer to 60%. It was only with WW1 that Prime Minister Lloyd George made it law that it must be at 40% so the workers didn't get too drunk and also they made a wee bit more money. After the war this percentage was maintained.

Also note that in the late 1800s workers at distilleries were paid with 2 drams in addition to their wage. These were served at 10am and 2pm at one particular distillery. Back then, drams were half a pint each. On top of that, they were cask strength, and so folk downed (twice a day) a half pint of new make at 80% abv.

This is why I generally drink my whisky straight.


Somebody mentioned Paddy in this thread - I should point out that it's an Irish whiskey (not a scotch whisky), and widely regarded by the Irish friends as the worst whiskey you can drink from there :P

Not to demean anything or anyone, I mean it's just taste innit.


I'm not so keen on yamazaki (but I love the Nikka Taketsuru releases at 17yo and 21yo) or Laphroig, but nearly all single malts I've tried save Laphroig, I love.

Great post. Thanks for the education.

You should all sign up for this:

Whisky Explorers Club

Every other month, you get a flight of samples of 4 different whiskys. It is a great way to get out there and try things you normally wouldn't. The $120/Yr is well worth the experience.

They arrive in a black bag covering their identity with a code on the bag. You go on the website, enter the code, and you can fill out tasting notes, identifying the color, nose, body, taste, finish, brand, etc.. And in the end, you get a grade on how you did. It has been a lot of fun!

Originally Posted by PSB

Had some MacCallans 12 today. Meh. Doubt I'll have it again...

That is a first for me!! Mac 12 is like a wonderful, buttery treat.