General

[brycelarson]

dunno - a splash. I guess maybe 1/8 water to scotch. just a tiny trickle into a nice glass.

you'll see the swirly mix as the alcohol and water fight.

I know I've posted it here before - but here's how I was taught to taste scotch:

pour (duh).
check color first - just liek wine, tip the glass and look through it at light
check the legs - this is swirling the scotch up the sides of the glass. when it beads up and runs down the thicker the drink the wider the legs
then add the water to release the scents. smell first - taste last.

here's a really quick write up:
How To Drink Scotch Whisky

there are specialty scotch glasses - I picked a bunch up last time I was in Edinburgh - the closest shape you'll find is white whine glasses. you want something that closes in at the top to help concentrate the smells.

[John Satclaire]

Originally Posted by Robertsr

All of you peaty loving folks should do yourself a favor and check out Ardbeg. It comes in a tall black bottle, and if I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one scotch forevermore it would be that one. Less salty than Laphroaig, with a lighter more refined smokiness. I'd bathe in the stuff if I could afford it.

QFT: Ardbeg 10 yr is a great choice for when I want something less chest hair-inducing than Laphroaig 10 yr, but don't feel the need to punish my wallet by cutting into my supply of Lagavulin. The reverse is true, too, though - if you haven't tried it, Robertsr, you'd probably love Lagavulin.

[Lrrpie-CT]

Right after graduating from college I bought a bottle of Lagavulin for the liquor cabinet with some of my graduation gift money. You know, being a fresh college graduate it was time to leave the cheap rotgut behind. Suffice to say it wasn't a good choice for a neophyte scotch drinker. At the time, I thought to myself, "people actually enjoy this crap?"

[rdogx78]

I've got a 10-year old bottle of laphroaig that was given to me 8 months ago, what is this stuff supposed to taste like? I drank some and it was really really rough, I didn't enjoy it at all. I'm not a big scotch drinker, but I've a really good single malt which was laphagle or lagavulin and I enjoyed it very much. Laphroaig was very bitter and undrinkable. What gives?

[redic]

i like Highland Park

[brycelarson]

Originally Posted by rdogx78

I've got a 10-year old bottle of laphroaig that was given to me 8 months ago, what is this stuff supposed to taste like? I drank some and it was really really rough, I didn't enjoy it at all. I'm not a big scotch drinker, but I've a really good single malt which was laphagle or lagavulin and I enjoyed it very much. Laphroaig was very bitter and undrinkable. What gives?

Laphroig is often considered the one of if not the smokiest and strongest scotches. It's often used in sampling scotches to show the extremes that scotch can reach. not really a good starter whiskey.

[John Satclaire]

Originally Posted by rdogx78

Laphroaig was very bitter and undrinkable. What gives?

Sea water, smoke, peat, and phenols on top of phenols. My ex called it "swamp water."

Though if you really want rough, try Laphroaig Quarter-Cask. Laphroaig 15 yr or 30 yr are much easier drinking, though I prefer the 10 yr for most occasions.

[rdogx78]

Originally Posted by brycelarson

Laphroig is often considered the one of if not the smokiest and strongest scotches. It's often used in sampling scotches to show the extremes that scotch can reach. not really a good starter whiskey.

That is exactly what it is, smokey and strong. I thought it had gone bad, LOL! Not sure if anyone's seen "Can't Hardly Wait", but I'm the guy saying "Nobody drink the beer(scotch), the beer has gone bad". What's the best way to tone it down so that I can aquire a taste for it, water, soda or ginger ale/7up?

How does Dewar's rate among scotches? Is it more of a milwaukee's best or bud light in the beer world? My dad drinks that and I'd like to get him a nice bottle of scotch that's not going to break the bank.

[John Satclaire]

Originally Posted by rdogx78

What's the best way to tone it down so that I can aquire a taste for it, water, soda or ginger ale/7up?

Horresco referens.

Seriously, pour two or three fingers into a tumbler, neat. Drink. Consider what's there before downing it. Add a half dozen drops of cold spring water. Repeat the drinking and considering part. But no more water.

[Robertsr]

Originally Posted by John Satclaire

QFT: Ardbeg 10 yr is a great choice for when I want something less chest hair-inducing than Laphroaig 10 yr, but don't feel the need to punish my wallet by cutting into my supply of Lagavulin. The reverse is true, too, though - if you haven't tried it, Robertsr, you'd probably love Lagavulin.

I do indeed love Lagavulin.

Bowmore also puts out a nice Islay if you don't want to drop a C-note on your bottle.