Just watched a documentary on AMZ Prime about Scotch and the focus was Islay Single Malt distilleries. In the spirit of wishing to stretch my distilled boundaries, I like Bourbon (full disclosure I mix my bourbon with coke) would I like an Islay Scotch?

Any Scotch drinkers with gateway Scotch suggestions? Anything from Islay fit that gateway category?

Thanks

HK Ag

If you mix it with coke, you enjoy cocktails, you are not a bourbon drinker. There are many fine bourbons out there with a variety of flavor profiles to discover that can't be found when masked with a mixer. I doubt you will go from enjoying bourbon cocktails to straight single malt scotch and actually like it.

Start by replacing the coke in your favorite bourbon with a little water. Slowly wean yourself off the water and start to discover the complex flavors within the bourbon itself.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/f...e-to-islay-whiskies/

This might help.
I like the super smoky ones personally.

I go back and forth myself, although without the coke.
Try Glenlivet 12. About 45 bucks, but not "overpowering" like some of the others.
Although it's a blend, Johnny Walker black is a place to start as well.

Going from bourbon & coke to a straight Islay whisky is a hell of a jump. You're in for a heck of a shock. LOL

You may want to start with a Highland scotch (I prefer The Macallan 12 year as my standard, Glenmorangie right behind that) and work your way to the Islay whiskys which are going to be more peaty and smokey.

I do have a bottle of Laphroaig, I can't remember the age but I believe it is a 16 year that I bought about 4 years ago. I can only have a taste of that maybe once or twice a year, it's good but it's peaty.

quote:

Originally posted by kx90:
Going from bourbon & coke to a straight Islay whisky is a hell of a jump. You're in for a heck of a shock. LOL

You may want to start with a Highland scotch (I prefer The Macallan 12 year as my standard, Glenmorangie right behind that) and work your way to the Islay whiskys which are going to be more peaty and smokey.

I do have a bottle of Laphroaig, I can't remember the age but I believe it is a 16 year that I bought about 4 years ago. I can only have a taste of that maybe once or twice a year, it's good but it's peaty.

THIS 100 times. As a veritable NOOB, I hope my somewhat recent experiences help...

I am a RUM drinker (mixed is fine but good stuff gets either a splash or just served neat) because I grew up where we grow Cane and make syrup. (I like small distillery stuff and recently toured and tasted and fell for one close to me- Richland Rum.)

I have found some other Whiskeys and Bourbons that I like neat also. I started drinking Scotch Whisky last year and started in the Highlands with a Glenmorangie 12. (Really love some of the offerings aged in differently seasoned casks.) Had sampled Glenlivet earlier in my 30s and liked it fine. I do like a Macallan of various ages as well.

I branched out from there but still don't love many of the real PEATY whisky options until the first drink of the evening has already gone down. My advice, is DEF start in the highlands.

ALSO- learn the right way to taste and drink it for you. There are tons of tutorials on how and the right glasses, etc- some make no difference for my crap palate but some are huge in my enjoyment. The biggest for me with any stronger drink is to take a SMALL sip to kind of get the burn out of the way- breathe through your mouth a little to feel it good. Then start to enjoy. I can drink the nastiest dirtiest liquid PEAT this way, and enjoy it.

I did the Jameson distiller tour last summer.

One stop along the tour was a comparative tasting - 1/2 shot each of Jim Beam, Johnny Walker Black, and Jameson.

That was an excellent introduction.

As others have suggested, move off the mixer, and start tasting the whiskey/whisky - on the rocks, or on the rocks with a splash of water is a good start.

I'd also suggest starting out buying a variety of nip size bottles, and then see what you like.

The basic Irish and Scottish types are all represented in single-serving size - develop your tastes before committing to a $50+ bottle you don't like.

Islay Scotch is peat. Think a smoke-filled hut with a hole in the roof. And imagine drinking your Scotch there. I love it. Laphroaig is my go-to, and their basic ten-year-old is one of their best to my taste.

quote:

Originally posted by BigNC:
I like small distillery stuff and recently toured and tasted and fell for one close to me- Richland Rum.

Man, Richland Rum is soooo good. Great people there, too.

Not sure which documentary you watched, I saw one on a long plane flight and the main person was retiring from Bruichladdich distillery.

When I got home I grabbed a bottle of Bruichladdich "The Classic Laddie" It was described as an un-peated single malt. Not sure what that means as you could detect some peat but it was very mild. It was extremely good and would be a great transition from bourbon.

Can't go wrong with Macallan 12 either, or Balevennie Doublewood.

My favorite section of the documentary was when the interviewer asked them to talk about age. The master distillers pretty much universally agreed 10-18 years was the sweet spot with the younger ones often being the best in their opinion. This is because the longer it ages, the more "woody" it gets.

Long aged scotch is only so expensive due to supply/demand factors (the vast majority sold is young, so hardly any left to age that long) and perceived quality, rarity etc.

I've had Laphroag 10 before, very peatey, tasted almost medicinal. Not my favorite at all, I may explore a few different "peat monsters" I do enjoy just about everything else smoked!

quote:

Originally posted by kx90:
Going from bourbon & coke to a straight Islay whisky is a hell of a jump. You're in for a heck of a shock. LOL

You may want to start with a Highland scotch (I prefer The Macallan 12 year as my standard, Glenmorangie right behind that) and work your way to the Islay whiskys which are going to be more peaty and smokey.

I do have a bottle of Laphroaig, I can't remember the age but I believe it is a 16 year that I bought about 4 years ago. I can only have a taste of that maybe once or twice a year, it's good but it's peaty.

^^^^ this ^^^^
The Macallan 12 (or my fav is the 15) or maybe the Glenlevit 12 (which is really too tame for my taste).
Of course I LOVE the Peaty Islay Scotches and it is where I actually started > which is unusual for most.
These will start you out with a bang - tastewise.
Of course if you are going to mix it with anything other than a splash of water then >

Drink what you like how you like. Nothing wrong with a bourbon and coke, or a bourbon neat, or a nice scotch. It's your money, your mouth, your choice. Life is too short to care how other people think you should drink your whiskey, or to try and impose your drinking style on others.

I used to favor bourbon too, but switched to Irish. It’s like Scotch without the medicinal taste. I like Bushmills Black Bush – very good at a moderate price.

Bourbon is single-distilled, most Scotch is double-distilled, and, AFAIK, all Irish is triple-distilled. The mash bill for both Scotch and Irish is exclusively barley.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I used to favor bourbon too, but switched to Irish. It’s like Scotch without the medicinal taste. I like Bushmills Black Bush – very good at a moderate price.

If you ever come across Bushmills 16 year, try it. I paid $14/glass in Baltimore a few years ago, $10/glass in a local pub in Gettysburg last year.

I finally was able order a bottle from the PA liqour store for $80 a bottle last year. It's not stock very often.

Well worth it.

How are you going to drink your scotch? Drink it how you like it but drowning it in coke or soda water will mute the flavors and single malts are a costly mixer.

Isley generally means peat and smoke. The range is from bbq to a band aid burning in a tire soaked in petrol. Bunnahabhain is lighter on the smoke. Caol Ila is relatively tame. Ardbeg is smokier and ashier. Lagavulin is sweeter. Laphroaig is closer to getting punched in the face with an ashtray. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you that sells booze you might find Finlaggan which comes from an undisclosed Islay distillery and is an even more unrefined punch than Laphroaig. It’s hard to beat for $20 if you’re in to that sort of thing.

Stepping outside of Islay you can get some less intense smoke. Highland Park offers a bit of smoke.

Coming from bourbon you’re used to sweet. Glenmorangie is light and sweet. Dalwhinnie is light and more floral.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I used to favor bourbon too, but switched to Irish.
It’s like Scotch without the medicinal taste. I like Bushmills Black Bush – very good at a moderate price.

Bourbon is single-distilled, most Scotch is double-distilled, and, AFAIK, all Irish is triple-distilled. The mash bill for both Scotch and Irish is exclusively barley.

A big fan of the Irish too.
It is a kin of Scotch but I agree that Scotch IS medicinal but I wouldn't attribute it to the taste.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
The mash bill for both Scotch and Irish is exclusively barley.

and the difference is the barley is dried over burning coal for Irish, and burning peat for Scotch. Thus the smokey nature of the Scotch.

I think you can taste the iodine from the sea spray in the peat used to dry Islay barley.

quote:

Originally posted by feersum dreadnaught:
<snip>
I think you can taste the iodine from the sea spray in the peat used to dry Islay barley.

Movie clip, “Mister Roberts”. “Scotch” made from medicinal alcohol, coke, hair tonic, and iodine.

https://youtu.be/PTQLBv8sgDI

Go to a bar and try Ardbeg, Laphroig and Lagavullin. Add just a drop or two of water. If you like smoke, go with the Ardbeg 10 year.

Although it is not from Islay, Talisker Storm is a wonderful malt. Very cool distillery too.

quote:

Originally posted by kx90:
Glenmorangie

I am primarily a bourbon drinker and typically think any scotch is too peaty. This weekend, my son's friend introduced me to Glenmorangie 14 year. I'm not sure what type of barrel it was finished in, because he had it in a flask, not a bottle. It had a bit of a rye flavor to it, and I found it pretty tasty. In full disclosure, I was several drinks in when I tried it, so my taste buds may not have been completely pure.