Great read! Looking forward to checking in on your posts. Added you on instagram as well (thetimekeeperconsulting).
I'll soon be stocking my bar, when I leave Saudi Arabia and move to Italy. I'm not a Scotch drinker. What's a good Scotch that all Scotch drinkers would like?
Hi, Todd. Go to the Scotch suggestion thread several lines down. There are pages and pages of suggestions. Here's a short list, though, to get you started. Scotch brands are generally either blended or single malt. Purists will tell you only single malts will do, although Dewars and Johnnie Walker are very good (especially Blue, which is great, but will set you back a couple hundred dollars). Others will also pipe in and tell you about their favorites. For single malts, any one of them will be about twice the price of bourbon, so pick what you might like and then venture out. You'll find Famous Grouse (the most popular blended whisky in the UK) and Grants in several varieties, and Glenlivit and Glenfiddich satisfy casual drinkers. The Glenlivit 18, though is very respectable. The Highland and Speyside malts are generally lighter and more drinkable by folks who don't like the heavy tar/peat/smoke taste. The Islay malt are true man's drinks. Orkney malts are very good (Scapa and Highland Park; Scapa 16 is excellent and priced pretty low for its quality because not many people know about it). There are two other major regions, and some smaller areas like Campbeltown,but this should get you started: Macallan has the greatest name recognition worldwide; their 12 year old is good, the 18 is almost great, and the 25 is too expensive for anything you actually drink. Highland Park is Orkney, but their 18 matches Macallan, but with less sherry notes. Oban is another Highland malt, but is from the seaside village of Oban, and is more astringent. Their 14 year old is the choice of many serious drinkers. Another lighter favorite is Aberlour 16, which is quite pleasant and has some plum notes. On to the heavier ones... If you want to venture out, there are 3-4 Islay choices that are very good. Bowmore is lighter than many of its Islay peers, and popular for people who don't want to get knocked off their barstools when taking a sip. Their Darkest is my favorite, although the 12 is respectable. There are a few Isle of Jura labels that are pretty good (just north of Islay). If you can find a Jura Elixer 12, buy it. The true man's drinks are Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Lagavulin 16 is widely popular, and a good intro to the heavier, peatier whiskies. Laphroaig 18 is one of the top Islay whiskies in the world, about $120 US. Ardbeg's Uigeadail is my personal favorite of the bunch. OK, for a new guy, Macallan 12 is safe and not too expensive. Oban 14 is heavier, but very good. Lagavulin 16 will tell people you know what you're doing. Laphroaig cask strength will tell you if they know what they're doing... Last notes- never put ice in scotch or bad things will happen to you...if the alcohol content is beyond 46 proof, you should cut it with spring water just a bit to open the flavors and remain conscious while you drink it. If you're going to mix it, use a blended; Famous Grouse is perfect for that (otherwise, just have it on hand for friends from England and they will like you more; kind of like having Spam around for folks from Hawaii). As said, the other string is replete with comments from lushes like me... Thanks, Bob H
Monkey Shoulder is actually a good blended daily drinker. It is a Grants label from Dufftown, and is another one you can use in Whisky cocktails without anyone throwing things at you (any more than they normally would in a Scottish bar...). Some people even pour it over ice, still a sin for the true aqua vitae drinker IMHO
I don't want to venture out at all, I don't drink Scotch because I don't like it, just want one bottle in my bar that most Scotch drinkers would like.
Macallan 12 will satisfy most, Macallan 18 is the gold standard if you want to spend the $$ (not the best, but best known, and exceptionally pleasant), with another bottle of Johnnie Walker for a quality blended you can drink neat or use in mixes IMHO.
