Any scotch drinkers here?

[Jons999]

So I am sitting here drinking scotch for the first time. A nice glass of Highland Park, Dark Origins. Its a little rough at first but i think its growing on me. I have been trying to sip more "Bon Vivant" drinks as opposed to downing several cheap mixed drinks or beers. So what can you tell me about scotch? What's good, bad, and smooth and easy to drink for a rookie like myself?

[Brent Yamamoto]

Highland Park 18 is amazing. Smooth and very approachable for beginners, but complex enough for veterans. If you can stand Dark Origins, you will love the 18. Personally, I like any of the Highland Park varieties better than Dark Origins

[Brent Yamamoto]

Dalwhinnie is another easy one. Smooth and light but not watery.

Spring bank is another nice one, very approachable. I believe that is the last remaining Cambeltown single malt.

I much prefer big, powerful scotches but only those that are smooth. I have no interest in drinking turpentine! Lagavulin, Talisker, Talisker Storm are my favorites.

Rumbaugh will tell you to stick with Highland scotches but don't listen to him!

[ss58]

Can't go wrong with any Oban as well. I think underpriced for the quality

[Hired gun]

When I would return home from overseas, my brother would always pick me up at the airport and he would have a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue.
I think it is excellent. It is expensive but worth the cost if you want to enjoy a really smooth Scotch.

[BESEPUL]

Present.

[IANative]

Jons, when it comes to Scotch, listen to John Rain... I mean Brent...

[Paper Shredder]

Can't go wrong with any Oban as well. I think underpriced for the quality

+1 on this.

Although I pretty much drink all kinds of scotch... Even Dewars since Delta took Glenlivet off the flight assortment.

[Greg Nichols]

McCallan 12 is a good beginers scotch, light, not too woody or peaty, better than the18

[John Chambers]

Lagavullin 16, Laphroaig 10 and higher, and so on, and so on, and so on...

Rumbaugh, Brent and I have geeked on single malts quite a bit. :)

[BeardedPelican]

Scotch is really subjective to your tastes as to what you like. There are both complex single malts and simple ones. My personal favorites are varied but at the moment I'm awaiting the first release from Daftmill (a lowland malt). Currently I favor Talisker 18, Aberlour 12 (anything Aberlour makes is fantastic) Tobermory 10 (buy new, the vintage stuff from them isn't worth it). Old Pulteney 12 and 18 are great, Oban has already been mentioned. Those are a few good ones to try

[War Dawg]

The Macallan 25. Yamazaki interesting new Japan offering. Teeling Whiskey for a genuine Irish pour.

[IANative]

I like Jack MacDaniels, 4yr old lowland vintage. :dope:

[warriorscience4u]

Glen Morangie. The Laphroaig is a tad too peaty for me. If you have a cigar/scotch bar nearby they'll have tastings and likely an Ed. director who will bring brewers in from Scotland. Get to know them, visit them there while you still can; excellent resources all around.

[bog]

Yep, just started that hobby this year! I like the big, robust malts too, keeps me from drinking too fast and getting tattered, plus as a rookie it's easier for me to distinguish the tastes. Do a little reading and start trying the different areas of Scotland. There's so many that shopping and keeping track of pricing gets fun too. A lot of times bars won't price them too high either, in a decent but not upscale bar a pint of beer that is not domestic high production is at $5 but a Mcallan or Talisker might be $7, that's pretty reasonable to try scotches rather than buy a $50 bottle so I always make a point to look over the single malt whisky's and blended scotches when out eating and/or drinking. (and yes I still carry, lol)

[Tara_infidela]

Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve is my current favorite. Taken neat, please.

[patriot3386]

Laphroaig 18 is one of my favorites. I've started to notice that I gravitate towards the Islay malts. Glenmorangie 10 year is one of my least favorites. What's awesome about single-malt scotch is that there's not that many of them (relative to beers/wines) and they run a whole range of tastes. My parents bought me Michael Jackson's (not the pedophile) Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, and it stays with my bar...good book to peruse and make your own notes in if you want to get into single-malts.