I got a question. I just started drinking scotch and I really enjoy it. Right now I'm on Balvenie DoubleWood 12 and it's my favorite so far. I've also had Johnny Walker, Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet. I'm going to London in a couple weeks and would like to pick up a bottle that isn't available here in the states... any suggestions? One more thing. I'm flying stand-by with my inlaws flight benefits, so I don't plan on checking a bag. I could check a bag, if need be, or ship it home. But, I noticed that in LHR they have a duty free store called World Of Whiskey. So, if they carry something there (that's good) that isn't found in the States, I'd prefer to pick it up there.
I've never been to London, so I have no idea what's available. But if I was going I would research a single malt that's not available in the states and go with that.
I absolutely hated the taste of Johnny Walker, even the blue label. I think the single malts are so much better than the blends.
I agree. I didn't hate it, but I like single malts better... Should have said that I was looking for a single malt to begin with.
Balvenie is my go-to scotch as well, though I have slowly shifted from drinking more Doublewood to drinking more Caribbean Cask. Slightly less sweet, just the right balance. I do also have a Dalmore 28 that's wonderful and I save it for special occasions... just not willing to drop $200 for a bottle of scotch all the time... Unfortunately I know nothing about scotch overseas. Let me know if you find anything good over there though! For me it's a nice change of pace on occasion, but it's so sweet I can't drink it all the time. Ayup. Single malts FTW. I've never liked any Johnnie Walker I've tasted, or any other blend for that matter.
TY Drex. I would assume London, being in the UK, would have all (or almost all) the scotch available. So, hopefully I can find something worht while. If I can't find anything online, I'll just ask the people at the liquor store there... Although I want that as a last resort since they might not know and just try to push a $200 bottle on me that I could easily get at Specs. Maybe I'll go to specs and see if anyone there is a big scotch drinker that could help me out.
like sucking dirt through a garden hose...NTTAWWT. i do like JW Black Label, and Dewars is a fine everyday blend. the balvenie double wood (trimix+cialis) has been my go to single malt of late, but truthfully, i've gravitated more to rye lately when i drink brown.
Lived there for 3 years. For more unique stuff, go to Royal Mile Whiskies and Berry Bros. and Rudd (see: http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/ and www.bbr.com) Royal Mile has a couple other shops in in Scotland, and Berry Bros. do some of their own bottling of particular casks that they select (similar to Gordon Macphail). Both had terrific staffs that can help you out. The two bottles that I find really difficult to get in the US at a reasonable price are the Glendronach 18 (Specs carries the 12 and the 15, but when I asked about the 18, it was more than double what I paid in the UK) and Mortlach (in general, but particularly the 16). Hope that helps.
Can't stand any of the Johnny Walkers either. Yuck! Macallan 12 is my go to scotch. I'm no scotch expert, but I prefer something aged strictly in sherry then oak. I don't know why. I just started drinking scotch a couple years ago. How do you guys drink it? Neat? I prefer just one cube of ice. Had my uncle over, opened a bottle of a 28 year old Duncan Taylor. He proceeded to get a full glass of ice, poured the scotch and then club soda on top before I could say anything. Freakin Indians are obsessed with drinking Chivas and Johnnie Walker with ice and club soda and think all whiskeys are meant to be sipped the same way.
depends on the scotch. For the better ones (Macallan), neat. For the ones that I don't like as much, a couple drops of water or maybe even a cube of ice depending.
I'm not really sure what's unavailable in the states that you will find in England. I'm sure there are some, but I'm just not aware of them. If you go to a local liquor store there and ask around, you might find something, but you will probably pay way too much for it. If you're in Houston, just go to the Spec's Mecca of Alcohol on Smith and ask one of their scotch guys for recommendations. There are lots and lots of different scotches to try for reasonable prices. You have a whole lot to try before you worry about rare ones.
To those that don't like Johnny Walker, have you had Gold? It's the best IMO and Green is the most distinct. They seem to be the two that are forgotten.
