Looking to Learn About and Buy a Single Malt Scotch

Gidday from Australia,

My best mate and myself had decided to buy a bottle of JWblue for NYE this year.
I have been turned off by the idea because I think I will be paying for the hype $200AUD.

So I have been researching Single Malts over the past few days, now I am really confused!!

Whilst doing my research I have decided that any Scotch from Islay may be to strong for us beginners.
I also think that anything from the Lowland region may be a little to subtle for us.

My idea of what I want to try in a single malt would include descriptions like ,
Smooth, Smokey, complex aromas, somewhat sweet, not hot or peppery, and definitely individual.

I am willing to pay up to $200AUD for this pleasure.

I know I am asking a lot, and also it may have already been covered in this forum. But I am running out of time fast.

Any Help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Regards and Thank You
Andrew

[505Gibbs]

Originally Posted by blackjet

Gidday from Australia,

My best mate and myself had decided to buy a bottle of JWblue for NYE this year.
I have been turned off by the idea because I think I will be paying for the hype $200AUD.

So I have been researching Single Malts over the past few days, now I am really confused!!

Whilst doing my research I have decided that any Scotch from Islay may be to strong for us beginners.
I also think that anything from the Lowland region may be a little to subtle for us.

My idea of what I want to try in a single malt would include descriptions like ,
Smooth, Smokey, complex aromas, somewhat sweet, not hot or pep reservepery, and definitely individual.

I am willing to pay up to $200AUD for this pleasure.

I know I am asking a lot, and also it may have already been covered in this forum. But I am running out of time fast.

Any Help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Regards and Thank You
Andrew

Welcome Andrew!
For starters JW Blue is a blend! It is not a single malt by any means - it can be a blending of single malts from various distilleries but not from a single distillery in and of itself.
If its avaialable 'down under' consider the Glenfiddich 15 yr. solera reserve.
Its not too expensive, about $45 US and is smooth and the sherry finish makes a nice intro to the world of single malts.
Have a happy New Year by all means.

[scotchdrinker]

Well it is a good thing you didnt get the JWB it is not a single Malt and it is very expensive. You have a lot of options with the criteria you gave. below is a list of malts you may enjoy.

Aberlour A'bunadh
Aberlour Double Cask
Aberlour Double Cask Sherry Fiinish
Auchentoshan Three Wood
Balvenie Doublewood
Balvenie Port Wood
Balvenie Founders Reserve
Balvenie 15, 17, 21
Balvenie Rum Cask
Balvenie Single Barrel
Balvenie Sherry Oak
Balvenie Signature
Dalwhinnie
Glenfarclas 105, 10, 12, 17, 21
Glenfiddich

And many others

Thank You all for your quick and informative replies.
I have now purchased a Glenfarclas 25, I paid $170AUD / $150USD, I hope I didn't pay to much!.
Now the next thing I need to know is what glass to use i.e Old fashioned bucket glass/Low ball glass or a brandy glass or a red wine glass?
I also need to know if I am going to add water, how much should I add.
The last thing I need to know what food will complement this scotch. i.e chocolate or oysters etc ?

Once again thank you
Andrew

Greetings Andrew,

You want to get yourself a "Glencairn" glass. Here's a picture one : http://whiskyglass.ca/images/Glencairn_Glass.jpg


I'm a single malt newbie myself, just started this expensive new hobby a few months ago, and have learned a great deal by watching the "Ralfy" video reviews of Scotches at http://www.ralfy.com

Ralfy uses the Glencairn glass for "dramming" and I haven't got one yet myself, but have found an oddball wine glass that has a similar curved-in top that works pretty well for now, but I definitely want to get myself a set of Glencairn whisky glasses soon.

Also, here's a pretty useful "flavor map" http://www.taliskerwhisky.com/resour...lavour_Map.pdf

I used the flavor map to pick my first single malt and chose one near the center of the map, Oban 14, and it was quite good and not too expensive at about US$70. I've also had the Craggenmore and a Balvenie, and made a jump to the upper left corner of the map with a Laphroig (wow, like drinking a campfire!) . For the Christmas holiday, I got two Aberlours -- the 16 yr old and a bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh Batch #27 Cask Strength. My next expedition will be to the upper right corner of the flavor map, I'd love to find a Talisker 18, or one of the older Caol Ilas but they're impossible to find here in northwest Texas. My local liquor store has a bottle of Lagavulin 16 and a Lagavulin Distillers Edition that have been sitting on his shelf for about a year gathering dust, and if they're still there in a a couple months after I get my holiday bills paid off, they will be mine!

--neal

[jwise]

Originally Posted by blackjet

Gidday from Australia,

My best mate and myself had decided to buy a bottle of JWblue for NYE this year.
I have been turned off by the idea because I think I will be paying for the hype $200AUD.

So I have been researching Single Malts over the past few days, now I am really confused!!

Whilst doing my research I have decided that any Scotch from Islay may be to strong for us beginners.
I also think that anything from the Lowland region may be a little to subtle for us.

My idea of what I want to try in a single malt would include descriptions like ,
Smooth, Smokey, complex aromas, somewhat sweet, not hot or peppery, and definitely individual.

I am willing to pay up to $200AUD for this pleasure.

I know I am asking a lot, and also it may have already been covered in this forum. But I am running out of time fast.

Any Help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Regards and Thank You
Andrew

You've learned a lot very quickly. Good for you! I'm not sure how much $200AUD is, but I'll figure it's about the same as US $200 (since that's about how much JWB costs).

I don't buy scotch that expensive, so I'm not sure what will cost that much. However, for around $100, you can get some GREAT scotches.

Here's what my list would be:

Aberlour A'bunadh or Macallan Cask Strength (you will want to dilute it a bit!)
Balvenie 21yr Portwood (subtle sweet aftertaste)
Glenrothes '89, '91, '87, '85 (or any Glenrothes you can find!) (just a superb, smooth whisky!)
Highland Park 18yr (very good complex flavors, extremely well balanced)

If you just really WANT to spend more money, look for these, and just get an older bottle. However, the ones listed above are excellent, and will hover right around $100 US.

Happy New Years!

For a wide selection of etched distillery Glencairn Glasses and Copitas, we invite you to visit our new website at www.scotchwhiskyglass.com