MSU Red Cedar Message Board

glenlivet is the house bottle, was driking it last night

don't think you can find a better quality / price ratio - but if any of you have please let me know

And btw, though there is a lot of blended scotch on my shelf, I prefer single malts. The three bottles of Chivas came from my great uncle, and the Johnny Gold came from a friend for my birthday, but I still enjoy them greatly. Especially the century of Malts, that is like butter. Smoothest whisky I have ever had.

You gave me a glass of that Oban... real tasty...

I also never got my bourbon from you... its gone isn't it?

It is still in my closet. I am thinking about drinking a bottle of it because I am running low and it is great for Manhattans, but I will give it to you next time I see you.

Page 2 and no one has mentioned Macallan? Macallan 18 is outstanding Scotch, some would say the best of the Highland/Speyside style.

Lagavulin & Laophraigh are outstanding Islays. I've never had the Ardbeg but might give it a try based on the recommendations here.

Aberlour also makes some outstanding stuff.

Hear him! Hear him!

Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet are commonly available at any decent bar or restaurant. These are a good introductory to single malt scotches and can be had for the price of a single drink. If you want to take another step up in smooth single malts I would recommend Highland Park 12 yr. About $42 a bottle at Total Wine (I hope you have one in your area) Jim Murray rates this as a 92 (out of a hundred) in his whisky bible. He rates very few in the 90’s.

If it’s smoke and peat you want as several others have recommend try the Laphroaig 10 yr. One of my very favorites and also about $40 a bottle.

Find a bar with an extensive scotch selection. They can be easily found. Many cigar bars have this. Although personally I think a cigar ruins a good scotch. Also look for Whisky tastings. Lizzie McCormick’s in Orlando seems to have at least one a month. For $15 to $30 you usually get several drams for some very fine whisky. You can find what you like for a low price rather than shelling out $80 or more for something you may not like.

The water of life…

Johinne Blue is a blended scotch whiskey meaning it has a combination of different malts at various ages. Since there is not a date on the bottle it could be 25% 18 year old 15% 12 and 50% 6 year old malt, you do not know, it up to the master distiller to mix and flavor.

In my opinion is a good scotch just grossly over priced, for the same price as a bottle of blue you could get 2 or 3 bottles of some very good scotch and not only have twice as much but discover some great bottles.

As far as how you drink it, some people will give you a hard time for putting water or ice in it, drink it how you like it. For me its two small ice cubes just enough to add a little water but not dilute it.

I think JB Blue is a vatted not blend. Blends contain grain alcohol and vatted scotches contain only single malts. That said you are spot on. It is very smooth with a great taste but I think the price is more a marketing gimmick than an actual value.

Many, many scotch drinkers add a little water. This opens up the flavor. Take a sniff of it before you add the water and then after. It makes a difference.

Some scotch snobs insist on spring water from the same water source the scotch came from. That's gayer than wine snobs.

Drink it the way you like it. Don't listen the to other BS.

I bought whisky (please no 'e' when refering to scotch. Yes, that's snobbery I confess) from Total Wine for $20. They work very well.

See what Macallan 30 goes for.

For the lower end, Oban or my fav - Glenmorangie

I have really been liking the Glenmorangie Lasanta for something decent priced (mid $40's), and the Sonalta for just a bit more ($60's)