What is your favorite brand of Scotch and why?

Question

I just started drinking Johnnie Walker Black and really enjoy it on the rocks.

I am new to Scotch and I'm looking for other brands to try.
What kinds would you recommend and why?

Do you recommend drinking them with a little water over ice, on the rocks, or straight up?

Thanks

Answer 1

I also like JW black.... red's not bad either. For the money, though, Scoresby is hard to beat. Fortunately for my wallet, I've never been that big of a fan of the single malts like Glenlivet or Glenfiddich. I enjoy several of the blended scotches. (Why wouldn't I, I am half Scot)

I like them over or with a little club soda.

Answer 2

For the money and class of scotch JW Black is the best. Personally, I think it's best with a few cubes of ice...not too much and certainly not with water.

If you want to splurge and taste a great scotch that shouldn't be way out of your budget, try Macallan 18 yr. It's a single Malt which generally are far superior to blended scotches like JW. It's not for every day, but trust me it's awesome.

Also, go out and get yourself a decanter.

Answer 3

I like to experiment with the large variety of single-malts out there. I like them smoky, so I like JW Black, too....but - I prefer tasting the complexities within EACH of the componenets. A blend (like JW) loses that for me.

I like Dalwhinnie the best. Followed by Balvinie (the Double Wood version is interesting - two kinds of oak barrels used - the final stage being old Spanish sherry casks!) You can't go wrong with a MacCallan (sp?) - the 15-year-old is pretty much the standard by which I judge all whiskies. For a really different and heavy smoky peaty whisky, I like Lagavulan. Bunnahabin was one I had in Scotland - very very smooth and nice - just enough peat/smokiness to make it a fine whisky.

For me, it's straight up - no water, no ice. Some folks I know say that adding a little bit of cooled spring-water (not soda, God-forbid!) brings out the flavor...I did that with Dalwhinnie once and it really did make it smoother and the flavors came out.

Experiment. You'll find one or two that you will really like.

Answer 4

My pick is Chivas Regal 12. You're going to have a lot of people tell you to go with single malts. They're just trying to sound cool. While single malts are superior, I'm just a working man and not in the right tax bracket to pick up a bottle of Glenfiddich or Oban every couple weeks. Chivas is nice and smooth, and not out of reach as far as price goes.

My recommendation is to go and get some shot-sized bottles or half pints of various brands and find out what tastes best for you.

And on the rocks is how I take it.

Answer 5

try jw gold its smooth and creamy with a hint of Carmel i store the black and gold in the freezer jw black and coke it makes a great Manhattan also allso try the classic malts of scotland dalwhinnie its 15yrs it mellow soft glenkinchie its a 10yrs dry fresh fruits cragganmore a 12yrs light fruit honey light smoke oban 14yrs fruit sea peat smoke dried figs sweet spice lagavulin 16 yrs intence peat smoke sea weed talisker 10 yrs citrus sweet peat smoke warming intense great scotches some liq store sell the nips an ice cube and a splash of spring water make sure you get a good glass to knose and drink from your hands warm it up it brings out the flavors the smells flowers peat fruit

Answer 6

Auchentoshan 10yrs / 40% / 70cl / OB
A classic Lowlander, Auchentoshan, like most Irish whiskies, is triple-distilled for extra smoothness. A perfect intro to the delights of single malt whisky.
yes i prefer over ice

Answer 7

No more than two pieces of ice if any. Cheap scotch is the only one I will mix with soda water (like cutty) My favorite is Johnny Blue Label.

Answer 8

Johnnie Walker Gold is good Centinneary edition..so smooth you can drink it in a pilsner glass.

Answer 9

mine is antiquary 12 year old,its a blended whisky but its smooth,i get mine from http://whiskyshop.com

Answer 10

Chivas Regal......goes great with green tea haha :P