Whisky as a gift - which one and where to order from

Muban · 17 Oct 2009 at 16:08

Mr Jack said:
Without knowing your friends' tastes in whiskey (could you at least ask someone whether they like lowland, Islay, etc?), I'd plum for something like this or this or, maybe, this

I'd forgotten about Auchentoshan, very nice and a reasonable price too.

Uriel · 17 Oct 2009 at 16:28

Peaty - Ardbeg 10 or Lagavulin 16 (not the distiller's edition - something went wrong there)
Spicy - Talisker 10
Good all rounder - Dalwhinnie 15 (Edit: if you don't know what their taste in whisky is like - this is the stuff to get. Very few whisky drinkers will not like it).
Blend - Monkey Shoulder (it's all malt Speysides, no grain and is mainly Glenfiddich but is tastes better and is often cheaper than the Glenfiddich 12).

To the OP - given your where you work mentioned in your blog I'm guessing the following shop in Bakewell might not be that far out of your reach. They're probably one of the best specialist whisky shops outside Scotland. They will advise you on gifts and usually have a few obscure samples available for tasting. They do mail order too but postage is rather expensive. http://www.weedram.co.uk/

Edit: This thread may also be of use: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18016954&highlight=whisky

Duff-Man · 17 Oct 2009 at 17:28

Uriel said:
...

Excellent post, despite the fact that you completely left out laphroaig, which is clearly the best of the peaty whiskies

I also agree that the dalwhinnie 15 would be a good choice if you don't know anything about his specific tastes.

Uriel · 17 Oct 2009 at 17:33

Duff-Man said:
Excellent post, despite the fact that you completely left out laphroaig, which is clearly the best of the peaty whiskies

All a matter of taste

. Lagavulin 16 and Ardbeg 10 are two personal favourites. I don't think Laphroaig 10 quite competes. Haven't tried more expensive Laphroaigs though. I've heard the (still quiete affordable) quarter cask is pretty good though.

That's one thing that's on my to do list. All three distilleries are within walking distance of each other. A day or two spent touring each of them and sampling the wares has to be done at some point.

jbloggs · 17 Oct 2009 at 18:04

Bushmills

I get around · 17 Oct 2009 at 18:30

Chivas regal is a very cheap tasting whisky if you ask me, has a fancy bottle and box though which is as far as I can tell the only reason people buy it. A lot of people disagree with me but I honestly find it's has no depth of flavour.
Penderyn single malt is quite nice, i'd recommend that.

you do NOT drink any 12 year old with coke.

Drinking a 12 year old, how did you liquidise it that fine?

Duff-Man · 17 Oct 2009 at 18:34

I get around said:
Chivas regal is a very cheap tasting whisky if you ask me

Agreed. Chivas regal is nasty stuff. I bought a bottle when it was on offer for about £15 or £16, and I regretted it after the first sip.

Uriel - I would agree that the Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 16 are probably better than the basic Laphroaig 10, though they also tend to be a little more expensive. That said, I would take the Laphroaig quarter-cask or the cask strength 10 over either of the above. All still a matter of taste though, of course

Aod · 17 Oct 2009 at 19:50

Duff-Man said:
Agreed. Chivas regal is nasty stuff. I bought a bottle when it was on offer for about £15 or £16, and I regretted it after the first sip.

i said this waaaaay back in post 7... nobody listens to me

platinum87 · 17 Oct 2009 at 20:46

Nix said:
Incidently, know of any good Bourbons for about £20 a bottle? I've tried a few of the supermarket selected lines but didn't think much of them. I prefer JD to Beam if that helps.

If you add add extra £5 - £10 i would just say go for woodford reserve.

havent tasted JD for a while, so i was going to say its rubbish but i really cant until i have a taste to remind myself

LeJosh · 17 Oct 2009 at 20:58

God, I think I'm going to have to get a couple bottles next pay day...

Yamahahahahaha · 17 Oct 2009 at 21:40

Uriel said:
Blend - Monkey Shoulder (it's all malt Speysides, no grain and is mainly Glenfiddich but is tastes better and is often cheaper than the Glenfiddich 12).

I would say Black Label 12 y/o is nicer than Monkey Shoulder. Even Teachers is nicer than Monkey Shoulder (imo).

Parsley · 17 Oct 2009 at 21:42

Yamahahahahaha said:
I would say Black Label 12 y/o is nicer than Monkey Shoulder. Even Teacher is nicer than Monkey Shoulder (imo).

I find Teachers to be quite foul

.

Yamahahahahaha · 17 Oct 2009 at 21:43

My point exactly...

Sinny · 17 Oct 2009 at 22:52

semi-pro waster said:
Whisky is quite a subjective thing, if you know what brand they like or even just the sort of style (peaty/smooth etc) then it would be easier. However since you don't know that I'd be tempted to play it safe and go for something like this Jura which is tasty but not overpowering and isn't likely to offend anyone.

+1, I had some Jura last night and it's very nice!

dont drink it that often.

marley82 · 17 Oct 2009 at 22:57

Glenfiddich 12, 15 or 18 yrs old

Trifid · 17 Oct 2009 at 23:04

Duff-Man said:
Excellent post, despite the fact that you completely left out laphroaig, which is clearly the best of the peaty whiskies

I also agree that the dalwhinnie 15 would be a good choice if you don't know anything about his specific tastes.

Again +1 on the Dalwhinnie. It is a very enjoyable whisky that leaves you wanting more!

Nix · 18 Oct 2009 at 00:10

Ah, I'm now having a glass without coke because that's what I fancy at present. Yum yum yum.

Thanks for your concern, but it's my whiskey and I will drink it how I please.

I hate to hijack this thread, but can anyone recommend some good single-malts? I'm a big fan of Jamesons and Glenfiddich.

mattheman · 18 Oct 2009 at 00:18

Duff-Man said:
Agreed. Chivas regal is nasty stuff. I bought a bottle when it was on offer for about £15 or £16, and I regretted it after the first sip.

how can you say that its yummy.

Click to expand...

Aod · 18 Oct 2009 at 05:42

Nix said:
Ah, I'm now having a glass without coke because that's what I fancy at present. Yum yum yum.

Thanks for your concern, but it's my whiskey and I will drink it how I please.

I hate to hijack this thread, but can anyone recommend some good single-malts? I'm a big fan of Jamesons and Glenfiddich.

Royal Lochnagar 12y is a good start. try it neat first! it's quite sweet (for a whisky) so having it with coke would be way too sickly.

colinuk · 18 Oct 2009 at 05:51

jp_bl_68 said:
I think you can get a reasonably sized bottle of Chivas Regal (maybe 500-750ml, can't remember) from Sainsburys for about £30. I don't drink whiskey but I hear this is a good one.

/QUOTE]

Please, DO NOT buy Chivas Regal, as a whisky drinker i can tell you, it is rubish in a bottle. Try to stretch your budget for a 15yo single malt if you can. As other have said, taste is upto the perosn we all like different ones.

I like Dalmore 15 year old, but not sure on the price any more as the last few bottles have been bought for me. Longmorn is also good but dam hard to find.

If you have to go for a blended one, go for the Monkey Shoulder, it is quiet nice.

Colinfr.