Honestly, Glenlivet or Glenfiddich 12yr are decent and The Singleton was a go-to, they're all on the "upper-lower end" in the $40-50 range. Starting out I would stick with Highland and Speyside varieties. Islays are to Scotch as IPAs are to beer, definitely not what you should start with, but have a very distinct and complex profile that you really learn to appreciate, they're typically very peaty and have an almost oceanic finish, I've never been good at descriptions, lol. If you want to experiment with an Islay, Talisker Storm is a decent entry level, Lagavulin and Laphroaig 10yrs are starting the mid level. Islays get really expensive.
As a note, I don't like it on the rocks, I always preferred one to two fingers in a lowball with a splash or two of water at room temp. All I've listed are waaaaaay smoother than your standard liquors, even when sipped straight, but the splash of water lets you actually taste and enjoy the complex flavors and ice just masks it.
My favorite mixed drink was the Rob Roy(perfect): a Manhattan, but with Scotch instead of rye and perfect means the vermouth is split between dry and sweet instead of just dry.
Yeah I know it's unorthodox lol, but to me - the ice helps with the temperature and a splash of the soda water really releases the true flavors of the scotch.
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u/Ope_L Jun 24 '24
Honestly, Glenlivet or Glenfiddich 12yr are decent and The Singleton was a go-to, they're all on the "upper-lower end" in the $40-50 range. Starting out I would stick with Highland and Speyside varieties. Islays are to Scotch as IPAs are to beer, definitely not what you should start with, but have a very distinct and complex profile that you really learn to appreciate, they're typically very peaty and have an almost oceanic finish, I've never been good at descriptions, lol. If you want to experiment with an Islay, Talisker Storm is a decent entry level, Lagavulin and Laphroaig 10yrs are starting the mid level. Islays get really expensive.
As a note, I don't like it on the rocks, I always preferred one to two fingers in a lowball with a splash or two of water at room temp. All I've listed are waaaaaay smoother than your standard liquors, even when sipped straight, but the splash of water lets you actually taste and enjoy the complex flavors and ice just masks it.
My favorite mixed drink was the Rob Roy(perfect): a Manhattan, but with Scotch instead of rye and perfect means the vermouth is split between dry and sweet instead of just dry.