I'm not a scotch drinker but I have to buy a gift for a single malt scotch drinker; looking @ around $75; any recommendations? Thanks in advance!
if only you had time to visit London, I know the perfect place for you to buy a bottle. But other than that, for about 75 bucks you could just play it safe with one of the standards, balvenie, glenfiddich, dalmore, glenlivet, macallan. I personally like the smoky flavors of oban or sprinkbank. For the 75 dollar range you are looking at somewhere in the 10 year old range. the macallan 12 is a good choice.
glenlivet and glenfiddich are good choices for everyday single malt. I've heard lagavulin is tasty as well, but never tried it. Definitely cheaper than $75 though. In the $50-75 range you could do johnnie walker gold - but it's is a blend. Don't knock the blends however. I think johnnie walker blue tastes phenomenal and is comprised of something like 16 different scotches.
in my opinion blue is very overrated. Green is my fav walker, but its almost impossible to find in the states. I always pick up a bottle or two in duty free
More like overpriced! I do the same with the blue through the duty-free. I actually haven't read any scotch reviews - I trust my own taste. If you haven't been to Lexington Bar and Books, it's a cool place for scotch and cigars if anyone's into that. Fun place.
For $75, and assuming you are ordering online and hence saving 20-60% over retail: Glenlivet 18 Highland Park 12 (one for your friend, one for you-- my "house" scotch, very smooth) Balvenie Doublewood 12 Bowmore "Darkest" Islay (Mmm. So very smokey and complex) .. and for a few bucks more: Macallan 18 .. and if you really, really like your friend: Highland Park 25
As I said I'm not a scotch drinker but I did a small tasting of all 5 of the Johnnie Walker labels in one sitting this past Xmas eve and found the Blue to be the smoothest, and I didn't even know it was the most $$$$... I found out a little while ago that Lagavulin is a big fav of the recipient so I'll probably get that. Thanks!
That pretty much does it, doesn't it? It isn't about what YOU like, or what other people like, it's about what the recipient likes. Although I'm a fan of the Macallans, if anyone is in a giving mood! John
