While pouring a drink for my in-laws (brother & father), I asked my sister-in-law if she would like a taste. This is the same sister-in-law who "really wanted to get into drinking Scotch", after reading a series of books in which the heroine drank Scotch whisky. The first few tastes I gave her at the time (couple years ago) were not very appealing to her, and she gave up on whisky.
Well, after seeing the hoopla over the Portwood, she gave it a taste. She LOVED it! She was so surprised to have enjoyed it so much. She was quickly asking what else I had with me (as we are staying at her house through New Years) that was similar. I had to tell her that nothing was similar to Portwood, but I had others she might enjoy in a different way.
By the end of the night, I had around ten bottles of whisk[e]y lined up on the counter, and she had tasted every one (and ranked them!)
So, as best as I can remember, here is the rankings of a novice whisky drinker:
The ones she LIKED:
1) Balvenie 21yr Portwood
2) Balvenie 15yr Single Barrel
3) Balvenie 14yr Caribbean Cask
4) Glenrothes Select Reserve
The ones she would drink again:
5) Chivas 12yr
6) Tomatin 12yr
7) Famous Grouse
The ones she NEVER wants to drink again:
8) Cragganmore 12yr
9) Cutty Sark (hahaaha!)
10) Buffalo Trace (bourbon)
11) Knob Creek 9yr (bourbon)
After that night, she's tried Highland Park 12yr, Bunnahabhain 12yr, and The Dalmore Gran Reserve, and she liked each of them!
Well, for this OUTSTANDING achievement, I gifted her with the 3-bottle sample pack from The Balvenie. She deserves it!
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