Have a seat at the bar.

[mitlen]

Here’s a cheat sheet

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Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeriste no wonder England took us over.

[DCFan]

Here’s a cheat sheet

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Keeeeeeeeeeeerissssssssssssssssste, he wants to get a bottle of scotch not prepare for the SAT.

[HalfSmokes]

Keeeeeeeeeeeerissssssssssssssssste, he wants to get a bottle of scotch not prepare for the SAT.

Meh, I enjoyed working through the regions before I said freak it and switched to bourbon

[DCFan]

I didn't realize there were so many "opinions" about scotch.     I figured scotch was scotch.     

There's the blended scotches that we're all familiar with Johnny Walker, Ballantines, Dewars, etc. And then you cross over into the single malts like the one I provided the link to.  I figured if your friend is around our age he'd want the nicer stuff like the single malts which for $50 isn't extravagent (like MG's suggestion ) but would be appreciated by most scotch drinkers.

[HalfSmokes]

There's the blended scotches that we're all familiar with Johnny Walker, Ballantines, Dewars, etc. And then you cross over into the single malts like the one I provided the link to.  I figured if your friend is around our age he'd want the nicer stuff like the single malts which for $50 isn't extravagent (like MG's suggestion ) but would be appreciated by most scotch drinkers.

The reason I put in a link was the stuff you suggested is about as strongly peaty as scotch gets- great if you like that, not so much if you don’t

[DCFan]

The reason I put in a link was the stuff you suggested is about as strongly peaty as scotch gets- great if you like that, not so much if you don’t

I have to admit the first time I tasted Laphroaig with that peat taste, I thought about crossing over to the dark side. It was unlike anything I've ever had, it was so good.

[GburgNatsFan]

I have to admit the first time I tasted Laphroaig with that peat taste, I thought about crossing over to the dark side. It was unlike anything I've ever had, it was so good.

I thought it tasted like dirt. That's the way it goes with single malts.

I switched to good Irish whisky. It's simple. Like me.

[mitlen]

I thought it tasted like dirt. That's the way it goes with single malts.

I switched to good Irish whisky. It's simple. Like me.

It's why I go to the base      ....     rum.   

[DCFan]

I thought it tasted like dirt. That's the way it goes with single malts.

I switched to good Irish whisky. It's simple. Like me.

So there you are mit, a referral from someone who likes scotch and and a negative review from someone who doesn’t even drink it. 

[imref]

I had something unique last night - a smoked Old Fashioned.  The bartender used a torch to heat up some cherry wood, then captured the smoke in a damp glass, then made a traditional old fashioned in the glass.  There were some light hints of smoke but it wasn't overwhelming.  You could probably get the same taste notes with a drop or two of liquid smoke.

[tomterp]

So there you are mit, a referral from someone who likes scotch and and a negative review from someone who doesn’t even drink it. 

I don't much care for it frankly.  Bourbon > rye > Irish are where I center my attention.

THey say it's an acquired taste, maybe I'm just a bit slow in acquiring it. 

[tomterp]

I had something unique last night - a smoked Old Fashioned.  The bartender used a torch to heat up some cherry wood, then captured the smoke in a damp glass, then made a traditional old fashioned in the glass.  There were some light hints of smoke but it wasn't overwhelming.  You could probably get the same taste notes with a drop or two of liquid smoke.

I saw that last year for the first time at the Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville.  She used a smoldering apple chip and captured some smoke in a glass, then served us their latest single malt which had been finished in apple brandy barrels. Copper Fox smokes the barley (before fermentation) with apple and cherry wood chips, they have a wood stove in a room and crank it up.  Then, they put tea bags with apple and cherry chips into the barrels while aging to impart flavor and enable shortened aging cycles.  I really enjoyed the smokey glass and have kept a stock of chips for serving guests since.

[imref]

I saw that last year for the first time at the Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville.  She used a smoldering apple chip and captured some smoke in a glass, then served us their latest single malt which had been finished in apple brandy barrels. Copper Fox smokes the barley (before fermentation) with apple and cherry wood chips, they have a wood stove in a room and crank it up.  Then, they put tea bags with apple and cherry chips into the barrels while aging to impart flavor and enable shortened aging cycles.  I really enjoyed the smokey glass and have kept a stock of chips for serving guests since.

[bluestreak]

But a bottle of Oban 14. It’s reasonably priced, smooth and a good entry level scotch. Almost everyone I know that has tasted it has said it’s a good scotch.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I like Laphroaig (sp?)...pretty reasonable as malts go and peaty as hell. 

[tomterp]

The new Whisky Advocate this quarter does a deep dive into smoky taste, lots of focus on Scotch.  Plenty of buy recommendations in all price tiers.

[HalfSmokes]

I like Laphroaig (sp?)...pretty reasonable as malts go and peaty as hell. 

if I wanted that flavor, I'd just drink robitussin

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

enjoy 

[blue911]

Balvenie 12 doesn't suck.

[mitlen]

If he doesn't mind blended Whisky, The Dewars 12 is surprisingly good.

If he's a single malt drinker, well, good luck. I hate all that peat-y bullcrap, so I know nothing.

I picked up a bottle of Dewar's 12.    If they don't like it, you'll be visited by a Marine officer.   

[tomterp]

if I wanted that flavor, I'd just drink robitussin

Apparently some whisky makers now publish their smoke count - phenol parts per million.

I brought back a peaty Irish whiskey on my last trip - Commenara Single Malt, at 14 ppm.  Laphroaig 10 is 40-50 ppm,  and Octomore 8.3 atop the scale at 309 ppm.

[HalfSmokes]

Apparently some whisky makers now publish their smoke count - phenol parts per million.

I brought back a peaty Irish whiskey on my last trip - Commenara Single Malt, at 14 ppm.  Laphroaig 10 is 40-50 ppm,  and Octomore 8.3 atop the scale at 309 ppm.

It’s like the obsession brewers had with chinook hops- thank gosh that phase seems to be ending

[DCFan]

I picked up a bottle of Dewar's 12.    If they don't like it, you'll be visited by a Marine officer.   

Too pedestrian. But we are talking marines. 

[GburgNatsFan]

I picked up a bottle of Dewar's 12.    If they don't like it, you'll be visited by a Marine officer.   

Make sure he's had a couple first, I might be able to get a punch in before he kills me.

[mitlen]

Make sure he's had a couple first, I might be able to get a punch in before he kills me.

....   and a gentleman.