I tend to feel that way if I'm out drinking like a Cragganmore 12 or Talisker 10 etc. with friends. While it's generally true, and scotch pricing will be the same across the board, if you want to TRY to more expensive stuff, it's gonna be your best option. As was mentioned, in most metro areas, you can find several bars with extensive single malt lists, and usually, half-reasonable prices (Though I did recently see a bar wanting $211 for Macallan 18 here, I laughed, then laughed, and laughed some more; especially since his vodka was amazingly underpriced, [12.50 for a Stoli Elite Martini? GG]). Most of these bars tend to have knowledgeable bartenders, and if you're not looking for something ******ed (25 yr, etc.) they're generally happy to give you a small sample to try. Especially if you go in with an open mind, and tell them what you like and whether or not you're willing to experiment, a knowledgeable bar owner/bartender will happily talk to you and guide you in hopes of creating return business. Just make sure to buy a glass when you like something, tip well, and return when you have further questions. This is the low variance option.

The high variance option is going to be asking around, reading reviews, and going for it. Obviously if you're pickier about your whiskys, this may or may not work out in your favor. Maybe your local purveyor of fine spirits has a knowledgeable staff who can guide you, possibly not. I've seen this work out, I've seen it fail miserably. Higher variance, but builds your home selection quite nicely, even when it fails.

Either go to a bar that has a good selection and try a few different whiskies there, or take the plunge and just buy a bottle. If you're buying a highly priced bottle of scotch, then I think you're going to be very unlucky to get it home and find that you don't like it.

The best thing to do though to avoid any disasters is to buy a more expensive bottling of a whisky that you have already tried and liked, because then at least you will be acquainted with the basic style of the whisky.

The two most common things that make a whisky more expensive than the standard bottling are a longer maturation period, or a maturation in a different type of cask (sherry, wine, port etc...). Longer maturation generally results in a smoother, more complex whisky, while a whisky that has been finished in a different cask has flavours added to the whisky from whatever was in the cask previous.

Knowing that you like sweeter whiskies, I think a good starting point for you would be the Distillers Editions that are produced by all the distilleries owned by Diageo. They take the standard whisky that would normally be bottled and sold as the distillery standard bottling, but they finish it off for around 6 months in a sherry/port/wine cask. It adds a bit to the price, but nothing ridiculous (probably around +50%) and it's a good starting point to discover something past the standard bottlings.

You've said that you like Dalwhinnie, so you can't really go wrong if you try to get hold of a bottle of this:



It costs around £45 here, so I would imagine that you'd be looking at around $80-100 in the US.

Glenmorangie Necter D'Or (Sauternes Cask)

It's like heaven, only in consumable form.

Speak of the devil, I purchased a bottle yesterday.

Had it at the behest of my waiter at Bouchon in Vegas last time I was out and randomly found the note in my luggage. I think it's a perfect beverage this evening to celebrate my good ole USA's birthday!

A couple of months into my scotch journey and I have found:
My Favorites:
-Lagavulin (16 yr )
-Caol Ila (12 yr)

Also liked:
-Glenlivet (12 yr)
-Ardbeg (10?)
-McCallan (18)
- Ledaig (just tried it yesterday, at first the after taste was almost like gasoline but after a bit it reminded me of the Caol Ila, need to give it another try)
- Oban (14?)

Didn't care for:
- Glenmorangie
- Laphroig
- Mclelland's Islay (bought this one to see what a cheap single malt tasted like. lol)

Also tried a few blended scotches. Ballantine's finest was not bad, smooth and almost sweet. Johnnie Walker black was meh.

Anyone ever try Ardbeg supernova? Thoughts? I've seen some really good press on it, and I can get it at a reasonable price. Has anyone tried the 12 yr Lagavulin cask strength?

cmds: I really like that Nectar D'Or. Some friends and I got that, Lasanta, and Quinta Ruban for a tasting and it was fun to compare the three. I liked them all but def enjoyed the Nectar D'Or the most.

AA: Lagavulin 12 Cask is excellent. I haven't had the Ardbeg Supernova, but based on it's description I bet it's amazing (it's $130 here tho). Ardbeg Uigeadail and Airigh Nam Beist are both excellent.

Nice thread. Have always loved scotch but never really bought the nicer bottles being a broke college kid. Usually a pint of johnny black had me satisfied. I have recently moved to St. Maarten for two years and the liquor prices down here are crazy. The scotch selection at the major grocery store is amazing and everything is soooo cheap. I can probably get my hands on a lot of stuff so mainly looking for a few starting suggestions for different flavor classes of scotch.

My first purchase: Glenlivet (12yr).

I couldn't remember from my limited experience if I had this before but it seemed as a pretty generic place to start. It is obv nice but nothing that has we wowed. I have also had a glass of Glenlivet (18yr) while out to dinner down here and felt sort of similar.

I guess I am asking for some advice on while staying in the realm of scotch but suggestions for a few different bottles that have completely different flavor profiles then the Glenlivet. My next purchase was going to be Laphroaig but am open to suggestions!

Laphroaig has a taste all it's own--pretty different than a majority of other scotches. Personally didn't like it, but obviously plenty of folks do.

I couldn't do justice to begin to explain where to begin, but if I were you I'd try a few different bottles from the various regions. And I would also try a few different "finishes" or types of casks. Those two things will give each whiskey a different profile and should get you a sense of what you enjoy most.

As an aside question for the masses, how do you tell when your bottle was bottled? Is there a trick people use (assuming it's not on the bottle)?

If one ever comes near your part of the world then I'd recommend Whisky live http://www.whiskylive.com/shows

There's some great stuff to taste and its more of a showcase than a commercial event.

I'm currently drinking
which I preferred to the 25 year old but at the show they had a not for sale 13 year old special that was stunning.

There's no pressure to buy but its a dangerous place for the weak.

As I made my selection for the evening (went w Glenlivet 15 French Oak), I felt disappointed that I only had ten bottles to pick from on my shelf.

Either a really good sign, or a really bad sign. Or both.

Sounds all good to me

I'd say it's an expensive sign when you start worrying about only having ten bottles of scotch.

Recent additions to my collection....



Bunnahabhain 1997 Heavily Peated Unchillfiltered - Fresh and young tasting, very peaty, slightly citrussy



Jack Daniel's Single Barrel - Tbh I can't really tell much of a difference between my American whiskeys yet, and can't usually pick out individual flavours, but this one definitely has a distinct taste of coconut.

Has anyone ever tried Templeton Rye? I got on the waiting list for a bottle of this at a liquor store in Des Moines about 3 months ago. I've heard great things about it. For those who haven't heard of it, it is a Prohibition Era recipe that has been made in Templeton, Iowa for almost a century. I've heard most of their production goes to the Chicago area.

Store had a good sale on today, so picked up 5 different (new to me) bottles. I must restrain for quite some time now. Will post some reports as I give them a try over the next couple weeks.

Macallan 18 (Sherry)
Glenfiddich 18
Glenlivit Nadurra Triumph
Glendullan’s 12-year Singleton
Johnny Walker Green

Ron, at some point I'm just going to fly across the pond and start touring at the source.

All,

Poster AAIsMyFriend recommended Willett Bourbon to me. Forgot to post my thoughts here:

Picked up the 6 ($50) and 16 ($115).
http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1055713



(you can also order the 8, 13, 17, and 20 from there)

Did the following:
Sip of Maker's
Drink of 6 - wow, much richer flavor, caramel, full, yum
Sip of Booker's BAM
Sip of George T Stagg - so smooth and strong
Drink of 16 - wow, so much smoother, so full of flavor, feels so much less strong even tho same ~70%. OK, couple more sips and can feel the burn in throat!
Sip of 6 - wow, the 6 tastes super harsh and flavorless now!

I highly recommend the 16 to people who love high-proof whiskies. And the 6yo at $50 is a great value. A different level than good stuff like Woodford/Knob Creek/etc.

Picture of my bar with all the non whiskeys taken off.

All are scotch except for the Woodford Reserve. I have nothing against non-scotch whiskeys but just haven't got into them yet. Really looking forward to trying the different Pappy's at some point since I've only heard good things about them.

From Left to right: Dalwhinnie 15, Buchanan's 18, Woodford Reserve, Johnnie Blue (ya it's overpriced but I had to spew on something when I didn't know much about scotch), Glenmorangie 10, Mcallan Whiskey Makers Edition, Caol Ila 12, Bowmore 12, Bowmore 17, Talisker 25 Cask Strength ( this, was a house warming present from my dad), Glenlivet 15 French Oak, Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Also have a Glendfiddich 18 that isn't in the picture.

Does anyone know any good online stores? hard to find a good variety in B&Ms in my location.

bb,

klwines.com
bevmo.com

El D, how do you serve the 70% whiskeys, both for tasting, and for drinking? (with water, neat etc..)

OK, so I'm finally starting to expand my interest in scotches. I've always liked it on the rocks with a splash of soda water. Drinking it neat was always a little too harsh for me, but I usually drank Dewars or Red Label. So I'm sitting here drinking some Glenfidditch with my usual ice and soda water, but am I really missing out on something by diluting it a little bit?

I do generally one of two things. I either add a splash of spring water (really just a little bit). This tends to soften/open up the nose a little but I actually prefer drinking it neat. A guy that I buy some of my whiskey from taught me his method which is to take a medium sized sip, hold it on your tongue for about 8 seconds, feel it burn, and slowly swallow without gulping. Do this before you smell the whiskey. By first coating your tongue/back of your throat with the whiskey it somehow goes down a lot smoother, and it becomes much more pleasurable to smell. I have no idea why or how this method works but it works for me.

On a side note, I bought a bottle of this the other day, and will be sure to post in here once I try it

feeling a bit of hatred and bitterness here.

Whisky Bible 2010: Scotch Whisky of the Year; Second Finest Whisky in the World; 97 points

When's the elite version coming out?

Quoted from an ealier answer to a similar question....

Is a 70% whiskey not way too strong for drinking neat?