Question About Single Malts
 

Hello.
At this very moment, I am going through some sort of love/hate relationship with whisky. I like drinking in general, like drinking beer, wine, and some spirits such as rum and vodka (these two usually combined).

For some months now I've been drinking blended whisky with coke and I really like it, I actually stopped drinking rum and vodka in favour of it. This has made me try it alone, but when I do so, there's something I don't really like. I've researched on how to drink it, I add a bit of water and smell the whisky, then take some sips. Thing is there is something ruining the moment for me when I swallow, and I can't really appreciate what it is. I totally love the taste that remains after swallowing and I also like the smell, it is something to do in the middle.

I've been drinking Johnny Walker's Black Label, Chivas Regal 12 yo and J&B lately. J&B I just can't stand alone, simply smelling it I can tell I won't like it. The other two are way better but I still get this problem.

So what I wanted to ask is, are single malts easier to drink? These blended whiskys might have some whiskys I just don't like, ruining the experience. Maybe trying out some of the not peaty, not smoky single malts could be the best way to start.

Checked the other day and I can get my hands for sure on a 12 yo Glenfiddich, 10 yo Glenmorangie and 12 yo Cardhu (living in Canary Islands so there's not such a variety of malts, will continue searching for other malts). If trying a single malt is the answer, would one of those be suitable for me?

Thanks in advance

I do a survey of local whisky dealers to keep an eye on who's selling what. The Glenfiddich 12 is the only single malt sold at every store I track. I think you can't go wrong with such a popular dram. Personally, I find it light hearted and quite drinkable. Even if you hate it, you'll be able to serve it to any scotch loving guest!

Will try that one out then. Heard about some liquor shop, will go there somewhere this week to see what they have available. Asume it's a matter of trying out different whiskys and finding out the one that suits me.

Thanks.

That's the right idea!

My advice is for you to quit doing what you think you should do, and instead do what you want to do. The snobs out there will try to tell you that whisky should be sipped straight or at best with a splash of water.... but the actual persons who do the blending and distilling will tell you a completely different story. I know I have spoken to a few of them.

I sip my single malts with a splash of sprite or 7 up. I don't care what some whisky snob has to say about that. I recently finished a 25 year old bottle of Mortlach and thoroughly enjoyed every sip mixed with sprite except for the few 'Rusty Nails" I drank. Drinking it straight was too much of a challenge for my palate.

The trick is to slowly add your mix until you find the ratio that works for you. Over time this will change and you will appreciate many spirits neat. But its too much to expect of your taste buds to change overnight. Do what tastes good and damn the consequences!

Totally agree, though the main reason I have been trying to drink it with water alone is because actually I really like the taste of whisky when mixing, and sometimes it felt as if mixing it would only take some of that taste away.

Will try adding the mix slowly to find a good ratio, where I can get a good and pleasant whisky flavour.

Thanks for the advice

Arctic Wolf - very well said! I always say it's all about YOU and what YOU like. The way you "should" drink scotch is how you like it best. Forget what everyone else says. Period.

Singleton 12
 

Those blended scotches you mentioned arent real good...the JW is ok...but I recommend Singleton 12....its around $25-30 and is PERFECT for a 1st time single malt drinker. Let me know how that turns out for you!

-Daniel

"Blended" means "blended with grain alcohol (vodka)". To me, it's this taste that I don't like in blended whiskies.

For novice whisky drinkers, I suggest a sherried whisky: Glenfarclas 10yr, Aberlour 12yr, and to a lesser degree, Macallan 12yr. Basically, look for the darker whiskies, as the sherry casks give it a darker "amber" hue.

To ME, the sherry casks give the whisky a WELL-ROUNDED flavor profile.

On Wednesday I got myself a bottle of Glenfiddich. Must say it was stupendous, not a single bit of the taste I didn't like; instead of that there was some strong fruity smell and taste, reminding me of white wines.

Thanks for the advice. Will try those you recommend jwise. Although it might not be so sherried (it uses 3 different types of wood I think), would Glenfiddich 15 yo be a good choice? It looks like a good one to try without getting into stronger ones (plus it is easy to get here, quite sure I didn't see any Aberlour in the store for example).

I was at an event today for my company and they served Macallan 12....I really stared at it for a while and thought I should ask this....do they add caramel color in that exact scotch?

-Daniel

Glenfiddich & The Macallan
 

@Rodrigo - Regarding Glenfiddich, it's the world’s most awarded and best selling single malt. :D And the 15 year (also known as Solera) it's one of my favorites - I highly recommend it! It's matured in three different types of oak cask - first is Oloroso (sherry), then in used American oak (bourbon) and then in new American oak casks. It's much more complex and sweeter than the 12 yo in my opinion. It is impressive and I enjoy it very much.

@Daniel - The Macallan does NOT add any caramel flavoring! :eek: The Macallan 12 year (aka The Macallan Sherry Oak) gets its coloring from the casks used in maturation. These oak casks come from northern Spain and some are seasoned by filling with lighly fermented wine. After a few months, they're emptied and then filled with dry oloroso cherries (yum) for up to 18 months. After that, they're shipped off to The Macallan ; )

I'm glad the GF 12 worked out for you- I'd stick with it for a while and try other brands in bars to get a feel for what suits you. That way you're not out the cost of a bottle for something you hate. If you ever develop a liking for Laphroaig (defiantly try before buy!), be sure to become a 'friend of Laphroig'- there are only 10 in the Canary Islands as of this writing. Pretty rare company...

Glennfiddich Solera (15yr) is my favorite Glennfiddich. In fact, its really the only expression from that distillery that I drink.

Glad you liked the 12yr. I would DEFINITELY recommend picking up a bottle of the 15yr.

How good is the GF 15? I have heard from MANY people now that, thats the one to get by GF...whats it compare to? If I can buy virtually any other sms....should I buy others over that...or is that just sooo good, that I need to get one?

-Daniel

@JOJO - Thats what I thought....glad to hear!

PS: Is this a Twitter sub site with all the @ symbols :D

-Daniel

Will try 15 yo Glenfiddich next then. For now I am still enjoying the 12 yo version.

About Laphroaig, remember someone saying it was the perfect one to take in order to warm up in cold days, something we rarely have here. As I am writting, it is 23ºC; the coldest day this winter temperature went down to about 9ºC if I remember correctly, so it is quite hard to find those specially cold days that need warming up with a heavy peat whisky.

One more vote for the 15yr Solera Reserve - EXCELLENT!:)

Rodrigo - where do you live?! :confused:

I live in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Question About Single Malts
 

Daniel, For ORIGINAL BOTTLINGS, many distilleries add caramel coloring for shelf consistency for the consumer as the average consumer does not understand variations in color; thus, the consumer creates a perception in their mind that something is wrong with the whisky if they do see color variations. It is normally the independent bottlers that don't add coloring as most independents bottle single casks. But they do vat multiple casks on occasion.

Macallan is no exception. As they do not add coloring to many of their bottlings, they DO ADD CARAMEL COLORING in their 12-Year-Old ( Reference JIM MURRAY'S WHISKY BIBLE 2010 ).