I'm a Whisky virgin. What do I look for?

Question

I want to buy a bottle as a gift. Is there much difference between the brands that spring to mind (Glenfiddich, Grouse, Bells, etc), and can I get something with more flavour/character/whatever it is you look for (age?) at the local off license without going over £30?

Answer 1

Ask for a good "Single Malt" if You can afford one, rather than a "Blended" Whiskey. Glenfiddich is a "Single Malt". These brands of whiskey have a far smoother flavor than the blended varieties. "Blended" as the name would imply means that Your bottle contains quantities of a number of different 'vintages' or casks. "Single" Malt are pure scotch Whiskey from the same year. Remember "Single Malt" Whiskeys vary in flavor, texture and aroma from one year to the next, whereas "Blended" are bottled so that each year will taste as close to the previous as is possible. Your cellar-man will explain it to You when you ask about 'Glenfiddich' and 'Glenmorangie'. Ask about age: 8 to 15 years is about average for a 'good' Scotch Whiskey.
Just to give You an idea of what You are up against try contacting the following Web site:

www.parkerswhisky.co.uk

and ask for information about Their 'Whisky tasting' events (cost is about 10 Pounds per person). Cheers!

Answer 2

If you live in the UK, there are branches of Oddbins who have bottles that you can sample from. If you yourself do like the taste of whisky, do what the experts do and "nose" the spirit.
What you could look for in this are aromas and smells that you like, so in an alternative way you can personalise the gift.
The Islay malts tend, as a whole, to be heavier in scent BUT remember this also means a fuller sometimes overpowering taste.
You mentioned age statement, that can be misleading in certain cases, but without blowing too much money you could get the odd 15 or 18 year old for £30
Of the Islays Ardbeg is my favourite, but it is also the one that has the greates influence of "iodine" through it naking it a big drink.
Someone mentioned Highland Park, and that is gorgeous also.
Of the heavier stuff Springbank of Campbeltown is a hidden gem on the extreme west coast and lovely to taste.
My other favourite is from Speyside is Glendronach and is a 15 Y.O, give it a whirl, differs from the Glenfiddich and Macallans of the world and well worth it.

Answer 3

I think Cyclone Ranger who has already answered is right because the whisky that comes from one part of Scotland can taste very different to the whisky from somewhere else not more than fifty miles away. Islay whisky & Speyside whisky, for instance, are worlds apart in flavour.
I was at a whisky tasting just last Saturday and the one I really didn't like tasted of TCP and had a gaelic name which I can't remember but in my previous experience Laphraoig is similar to this.
Talisker too is a "peaty" whisky - very strongly flavoured. Reminds me of burning rubber! I know some people like this but others would find it too much!
My personal favourite Scotch whisky is Tobermory which is lovely and soft but with a nice kick. Other than that Bushmills is a fine drink but this, of course, is not whisky - its whiskEy as it is Irish.
Your best bet is probably to buy from somewhere like Oddbins where they will talk you through the different brands or to stick with known makes such as Glenfiddich or Glenmorangie.

Answer 4

If your near one I would suggest going to the whisky shop I think they may only be in Scotland but they let you try them.
I drink 4 whiskys
Jack Danial's with real full fat coke
famous grouse or bells with lemonade in a hot toddy
and Heather cream liquor a Scottish drink that i have not been able to get this side of the boarder but its a bit like the Bristol cream one in the blue bottle.
Any whisky drinker will tell you its down to personal taste but none of these whiskys go above £15 a bottle except maybe jack Danial's but still no more then £20

Answer 5

the best is single malt whiskey but the different regions have different characteristics. it may be worth trying to find out what the person you're buying for likes. good ones are aged at least 10 - 12 years and you can get really good ones of this age under £30. my fave is highland park.

blended whiskies are ok to use with mixers but not very special for a gift.

Answer 6

I really like a whisky called "Bushmills" - it is about £25 and it's an Irish single malt 10 year old whisky. It's triple-distilled, which makes it smooth. There is a big difference between Bells and a better quality whisky like Bushmills.
Bells is a blend of whiskies and is rough!

You can get Bushmills in most supermarkets.
A very nice whisky.

Answer 7

If you're looking for a bottle as a gift then avoid Bells etc.

Go for a malt, maybe a nice 10yr Bowmore(really smooth) or a Glenmorangie-again 10yrs.

Both these are attractively packaged and are normally between £23 and £28 for 70cl in smaller outlets.

Answer 8

Without a doubt the best malt whisky produced anywhere in Scotland is Highland Park produced in the Orkney Islands. A discerning stockist will have it if not take your custom elsewhere.
The abiding care and attention, the hallmark of Highland Park production, manifests itself in the distinctive aromatic, full-bodied floral sweetness of the whisky. Highland Park’s incomparable balance comes from a tension between the aromatic Orkney peat and the sweetness of oak casks seasoned with Oloroso sherry.
The accolade of Best Spirit in the World wasn’t a one-off. Highland Park has been picking up medals and awards for over a decade.

Answer 9

Join the Whisky Sampling Event, which held in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and more cities of Australia, where you can taste the diversity of whisky and also buy whiskey for home. For more visit below link.

Answer 10

i am not a huge fan of whisky but my other half is, he only drinks malt whisky thpough and swears by bunnahabhain 12 year old, this has a light fruit and nut appeal that leads to a malty sweetness, so it says on the tin anyway, or bruichladdich, it has won several medals for best whisky and distilliry, hope this helpsxx