A question to all you Whiskey drinkers

Platinum Pete · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:01

I have been getting into single malts and bourbons over the past year or so but rarely raise enough disposible funds to invest in a decent bottle of the stuff.

The last bottle i got was a Caol Ila 12yr old, which is nice but the peatyness of it can be overwhelming and I dont want that all of the time.

I am looking for something a little mellower- possibly a lowland or Irish malt. and i dont really want to spend much over £25 (the less the better)

Tesco's is currently selling a bushmills 10yo for £17ish is this any good?

Can anyone recomend me a whiskey that matches my criteria?

cheers for any advice

Retsef · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:03

Any whisky from Speyside. Cost from £20 a bottle. I like mellow single malts as well.

Aliboy · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:04

Try highland Park. It's one of the few malts that I can stomach

Beren · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:13

Ummm for less than £25... You MIGHT be able to get a bottle of the Glenmorangie sherry oak cask 12 y/o for that...

Thats Mellow enough that the wife loves it!

Scuzi · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:13

The Islay malts are a bad idea if you want something mellow. The Bushmills 10 you mention is a very nice malt, one of my 'everyday' drinkers. It isn't the most mellow of malts but it's a very nice compromise of relaxed taste and complexity.

If it's a little too strong for everyday, the standard Bushmills blend is gorgeous. Some malt snobs dismiss it simply because it's a blend but that's just silly considering how drinkable it is.

I've found Talisker 10year to be nice and definitely more mellow than the Islay malts. Give it a try if the Irish malts aren't to your fancy.

Davey_Pitch · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:14

/awaits the input of the whiskey master himself, Big Stan.

Aliboy · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:15

Davey_Pitch said:
/awaits the input of the whiskey master himself, Big Stan.

I was just thinking that

Reppyboyo · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:20

Jack D`s as allways

Ive also heard Golden Sun is quite good.

Platinum Pete · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:22

Scuzi said:
The Islay malts are a bad idea if you want something mellow.

I wasnt saying that i didnt like the Islay Caol Ila that i have, as i do enjoy it on the right occasion- i purchased it after trying it so it wasnt a blind mistake or anything like that. but i would like a mellower malt to give me some variation.

Scuzi said:
I've found Talisker 10year to be nice and definitely more mellow than the Islay malts

may give this a try after some research.

Retsef said:
Any whisky from Speyside. Cost from £20 a bottle. I like mellow single malts as well

are there any specific brands that you would reccomend?

Dinomania · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:23

Mellower than Caol Ila? Blimey, got a bottle of the stuff myself and I consider it extremely smooth! Maybe put a few more drops of water in next time?

Platinum Pete · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:24

Reppyboyo said:
Jack D`s as allways

Ive also heard Golden Sun is quite good.

I currently have some woodford reserve so my bourbon requirements are happily fulfilled

TheTross · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:25

The Caol Ila 12yo is one of my favourites

, but if you think that's peaty you want to try something like the Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength or a Lagavulin (also well-up on my list; I love peaty malts) :eek:

I've never tried the Bushmills so can't pass comment on that, but if you want a mellow whisky then I could recommend the Glenlivet 12yo or, better still, the Balvenie 12yo Double Wood - this one's sherry-finished, is a little more complex than the Glenlivet and is a cracking drink to boot. Also quite sweet. Can't remember for sure if it's less than £25, though I think it possibly is.

Edit: The Talisker 10yo is very smoky and dry. One of my all-time favourites, mind, but it may be a bit much if you're after a more mellow malt. But by all means try it if you want, I doubt it'd disappoint

Muban · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:25

Strathisla 12 yo, you might get a bottle of that for around £25 or not far off. It's rather yummy

Platinum Pete · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:26

sara said:
Mellower than Caol Ila? Blimey, got a bottle of the stuff myself and I consider it extremely smooth! Maybe put a few more drops of water in next time?

it is smooth but the peatyness just gets too much sometimes + it gives me bad breath :eek:

- want something a little less intense

Scuzi · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:27

sara said:
Mellower than Caol Ila? Blimey, got a bottle of the stuff myself and I consider it extremely smooth! Maybe put a few more drops of water in next time?

It's a north side malt so is fairly peaty. I haven't tasted it since I was last in Islay but I remember it being peatier than the previous Bowmore malt.

Scottland · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:28

Scotch is spelt Whisky

Irish and Bourbon is Whiskey

(So I've been told anyway)

As for Whisky, I like The Macallan

, Monkey Shoulder is supposed to be good if you like mixing with dry ginger.

Bourbon, I like the more mainstream brands (JD, Jim Beam et al). The JD Silver Barrel stuff is supposed to be the mutts nuts.

I'm far from a connoisseur though

Platinum Pete · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:36

Scottland said:
Monkey Shoulder is supposed to be good

This is a blend isnt it? tried it about a week ago and it is very nice- but im looking for a single malt really.

Aliboy · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:37

Forget my recomendation of Highland Park as The Tross mentioned the one that I was actualy thinking of .... The Balvenie

Scottland · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:39

Platinum Pete said:
This is a blend isnt it? tried it about a week ago and it is very nice- but im looking for a single malt really.

I'm not sure. They were at one point giving away free samples on their website, but mine never came

I tend to keep 3 or 4 bottles in, for any occassion

So will have a Bourbon, a nice Single malt - and something more for everyday use or mixing with dry ginger.

PardonTheWait · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:40

Jim Beam Black is my favourite bourbon, I love that stuff.

But you've got enough bourbon so I shall shush.

Gah, I want a biscuit now!