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Ripped from my local forum - a local scotch fanatic's advice on starting on scotch's. -
If it isnt scotch it isnt a real whiskey
and if it isnt a single malt it isnt a real scotch
Start on some blends and develop some tastebuds for single malts
chivas regal 12 year isnt to bad to start on, even jonny black has some taste but chivas is a better buy for 5 bucks more than jonny black
if you have around 50-60 bucks a Glenfarclas 8 year single malt is a pretty good buy. It has a distinctive smell and taste of sherry within the scotch and unlike a Glenfiddich a Glenfarclas leaves a nice fruity after taste.
I started on jonny red, then jonny black, then jonny green, then chivas 12, chivas 18, glenfiddich heritage, glenfiddich 12 yr, glenfarclas 8 year and then a islay (pronouenced eye-la if your wondering) legends.
I've tasted and bought many more, but after tasting the 8 year glenfarclas and 8 year islay legends ive tended to stick with them, unless a good mate is around i might pull out something abit better if he/she can actually taste the scotch properily instead of just feeling a vodka burning sensation.
After tasting a few at bars (because i cannot afford to buy them per bottle), ive found once you get over 15-21 years (so the 23s, 25s, 28s and 30s+), its just like sucking pure oak wood. Because of the achole content in the barrels, the barrels tend to degrade quicker after 21 years.
When buying a scotch thry not to go under 8 years, unless its for mixing with coke or other things. and dont buy a scotch without its age written on it. 3 years is the min distiller age.
Also when it says 30 yr blend, it means the youngest scotch in that blend is 30 years. In blends the scotches can comes from all over the country
The age process is the same for a single malt as a blend but the scotches only come from the 1 distiller.
If you find a single barrel scotch count yourself lucky. there quite rare now.
And dont think yourself silly buying a blend, there a good scotch to start on. However try develop a taste for single malts, because they tend to have more distincitve tastes than blends
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