Attention whisky aficionados. My Father’s sixtieth birthday is coming up and I am looking for recommendations on a nice bottle in the $100 range for a present. While neither of us are experts by any stretch of the imagination, we both have really enjoyed Glenfiddich over the years while discussing lifes philosophical questions.
However, I think now is the time to move from the Highlands into something a bit more peaty. Any thoughts??
The Macallan 18 or Balvenie Portwood 21
Johnnie Walker has a sampler pack that goes for a bill or so. You get four 200 mL bottles–red, blue, black, and gold labels.
If you’re looking for a single malt…the best I’ve had is probably Laphroaig 10 year. I know they also have a 15 year bottle that’s probably closer to what you’re looking to spend.
Good luck.
Quick edit: I missed your last sentence before, but Laphroaig is in fact very peaty.
I’ll throw a vote out there for Lagavulin (15 or 16, don’t recall off hand). I can also second the Laphroaig recommendation.
If you haven’t tried it, I seriously recommend trying an island – an Isley or an Isle of Skye – malt (which both L’s I mentioned are). They are … well, they are my favorite scotch.
Also check out: Oban, Talisker, Glenlivet, Cragganmore, Highland Park, Glenmorangie (a variety of 15 years aged in different woods).
This link has some food for (err, scotch for) thought:
http://radio.weblogs.com/0117154/stories/2003/11/15/theGeographyOfScotchWhisky.html
Regards,
Mark
Woodford Reserve by Labrat and Graham
Probably the best Bourbon you can buy. Even the cheap stuff beats everything I have ever tasted.
i like bruichladdich, lagavulin, talisker. malts from skye and islay use the most peat. does your dad like the peaty style ? why not get him glenfiddich if that’s what he likes ? the real present is sitting down and knocking it back with him anyway.
Boy am I a dumbass.
I thought you were talking about American stuff.
There is a fantastic peated Irish Whiskey called “Connemara” That goes down nicely.
[quote]rainjack wrote:
Boy am I a dumbass.
I thought you were talking about American stuff. [/quote]
Yup, Jack Daniels is about as sophisticated as I get…and that’s only when I have a lot of money to spend!
Thanks for the tips. I’ll hit the store tommorow and check out the two Islay L’s.
I also cast my vote for Lagavulin it typically costs 60 bucks.
As mentioned above, Oban, Talisker, and Lagavulin are great. As are Aberlour, Glenkinchie, Knockando.
Enjoy.
Go all the way and get a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. It’s about 200$ if memory serves. Too much for me, but I’ve heard it’s the crem de la crem.
First you need to decide whether you want Whisky or Scotch< Whisky is generally Bourbon (although it can be made of Rye). Whiskey is usally along the lines of Jack Daniels. Wild Turkey 101, Rebel Yell (Rebel Yell has an excellant 140 proof version if you can find it) amongst others. Then you have Scotch Whisky (generally referred to as Scotch). Scotch comes in two types, Blended and Single malt. Blended Scotch is along the lines of Chevas Regal, Johnny Walker and others. Single Malt (premium and far more expensive) is along the lines of Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie (excellant but expensive), Macallan and others. After that with Single malt you can get into age, like fine wine. 12, 15 and 25 year old Scotch are pretty common. 25 year old is getting on the high (expensive) end. A single glass of 45 year old single malt will run around $45 to $50 or more.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
RW
Laphroaig 15 yr is nice.
If your dad’s a real conoisseur and you’ve got some scratch, try the laphroaig 30yr.
it’s 278.00 a bottle, but it’s really good.http://www.laphroaig.com/whiskies/15yo/index.asp?expanded=15_year_old
Not to hijack too much - but Bourbon is a whiskey that is made exclusively in Bourbon County, KY. No other whiskey can be called a bourbon if it is made outside of Bourbon County, KY.
SOme are made from rye - but most is made from corn, if I am not mistaken.
[quote]RoadWarrior wrote:
First you need to decide whether you want Whisky or Scotch< Whisky is generally Bourbon (although it can be made of Rye). Whiskey is usally along the lines of Jack Daniels. Wild Turkey 101, Rebel Yell (Rebel Yell has an excellant 140 proof version if you can find it) amongst others. Then you have Scotch Whisky (generally referred to as Scotch). Scotch comes in two types, Blended and Single malt. Blended Scotch is along the lines of Chevas Regal, Johnny Walker and others. Single Malt (premium and far more expensive) is along the lines of Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie (excellant but expensive), Macallan and others. After that with Single malt you can get into age, like fine wine. 12, 15 and 25 year old Scotch are pretty common. 25 year old is getting on the high (expensive) end. A single glass of 45 year old single malt will run around $45 to $50 or more.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
RW[/quote]
I think I have a new hero…
Awesome RW.
I know this is a cheaper whiskey but anyone try Knob Creek? I’m a pretty big fan of it but I usually go with gentlemen Jack or Special Reserve Crown Royal.
I would suggest the Walker sampler. They have recently switched colors as far as what is their “best” or most pricey. I like the Black Label, but that’s just me.
Oban or Cragganmore
[quote]CrewPierce wrote:
I know this is a cheaper whiskey but anyone try Knob Creek? I’m a pretty big fan of it but I usually go with gentlemen Jack or Special Reserve Crown Royal.
I would suggest the Walker sampler. They have recently switched colors as far as what is their “best” or most pricey. I like the Black Label, but that’s just me.[/quote]
Is that so? What is the order now? I thought it was something like blue>green>black>red>gold. The only one I haven’t tried is green, because it doesn’t come in the sampler.
I like Knob Creek–it’s very good for its price.