Recommend Me A Whisky

[Pat Mustard]

I've been going a bit mental over the last few months

Picked up

Linkwood (good spirits edition) Cask strength

Ardberg 10

Old Putney Special french oak

Old Putney Navigator

2x Lagvaulin 16

Arran 12 cask strength

Singleton Tailfire

Glenlivet 15 French oak

Springback 10

The Springbank was probably the biggest surprise along with the Linkwood which was only aged 6 years but was amazing

Got a proper wee Whisky cabinet, I just need a bottle that's only for special occasions

[Alexlotl]

I've just finished a Old Putney, wasn't that impressed to be honest.

Old Putney Special french oak

Old Putney Navigator

Old Pulteney!

I wouldn't normally nitpick (I consistently fail to spell Bunnahabhain*), but Old Putney sounds just too perfectly like a Delboy knock-off from Only Fools & Horses.

* thanks, Google.

[Pat Mustard]

I love the stuff.

[RadgyAdgy]

I've been on a bit of spending spree lately as well picked up:

Benromach 12

Bruichladdich Islay Barley (I was finding this really harsh but its growing on me)

Hibiki 12 (Had no idea what this was going to be like but its amazing stuff assuming you like sweeter whisky)

Ardbeg Uigeadail

And finally the best bottle I've bought Glengoyne 21 Year! I've a friend who was able to get me a bottle of this for £40 rather than the £120 it retails for.

That lot should keep me going for a while!

[Monkeyspill]

The Uigeadail is very nice but I wasn't convinced it was any better than Ardbeg 10 - just stronger.

[strawdonkey]

I don't really like whiskey, but I've only had JD and other big brand stuff. Can you recommend something good I'm likely to be able to pick up from my local Tesco?

[Alexlotl]

Highland Park 12 is my staple recommendation - a little bit of everything in there, nice bottle, decent price for a 12yr, particularly if there's an offer on. Most supermarkets have it.

Although if you want a mild gateway to the world of whisky, then the even more ubiquitous Glenmorangie 10 is a safe bet. Once your palette has developed you'll find it a bit sweet, but as a beginner its considerably less intimidating. I started out there a few years ago.

JD is bourbon/Tennessee Whiskey - Scottish style single malts are very different. Don't mix them with anything, and avoid ice. You might want to add a few drops of water to open up the taste, particularly when you're starting out.

[Lovelyman]

Or a Laphroaig (10yo or Quarter Cask). It's so different that it could help. It was the first whisky I had and liked.

But if you want something a little less full on, I second the Highland Park recommendation.

[Jammy]

Auchentoshan is a well-priced supermarket pickup too strawdonkey. They definitely have it in Sainsburys and I think Tesco as well.

[Professor Rob]

Or a Laphroaig (10yo or Quarter Cask). It's so different that it could help. It was the first whisky I had and liked.

That's a bit like recommending Dark Souls to someone who's only ever played Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja.

[Lovelyman]

Not really. The thing that puts people off whisky is how actually horrible something like Bells smells and tastes. When I had a glass of Laphroaig, I immediately tasted nicer things.

[Alexlotl]

I was given a glass of Laphroaig at a Burns Night when I was a student, and as a result didn't try whisky again for about 12 years.

[Lovelyman]

Same happened to me, but with bells. We're assuming people aren't 12 here.

[Nathan Wind]

Jura's cheap again in the Co-Op. It seems to be on offer with alarming (for my liver) regularity in there.

[Monkeyspill]

Laphroaig was my first proper whisky too. I got really sick on Bells or High Commisioner or something when I was a student and for years I associated that treacly sweet whisky smell/taste with being sick. Laphroaig was different.

[strawdonkey]

I picked up a small bottle of Glenmorangie 10, as the others only came in full-size and were pushing £40!

Thanks for all the recommendations, plenty to go on here. Will report back once I've had chance to try it

[Rev]

I don't really like whiskey, but I've only had JD and other big brand stuff. Can you recommend something good I'm likely to be able to pick up from my local Tesco?

Maker's Mark is my current favourite Bourbon. It tastes like sexy velvet JD. It's usually about £30 and comes in a cool bottle.

Really, just make a mental list of ones that you want to try and grab them when they're cheap. They all get reduced sooner or later if they've made it to a supermarket.

[Onze]

Any of you guys had Aberlour A'bunadh? It's a cask strength whiskey at about 60% ABV. Waitrose have it on offer at the moment at £33.50 for a 70cl bottle. They're currently running a £30 off a £100 pound shop. Which would work out at £23.50 a bottle for 3. Is it a no brainer? I love the 12 year Aberlour.

[strawdonkey]

Will report back once I've had chance to try it

Good start - it's not awful! Very sweet as was suggested but has a lovely aftertaste without any of the bitterness I'd come to associate with whisky. Smells good too.

Maybe I'll pick a bottle of something else up around Christmas. This could get expensive. Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Lovelyman]

Any of you guys had Aberlour A'bunadh? It's a cask strength whiskey at about 60% ABV. Waitrose have it on offer at the moment at £33.50 for a 70cl bottle. They're currently running a £30 off a £100 pound shop. Which would work out at £23.50 a bottle for 3. Is it a no brainer? I love the 12 year Aberlour.

it's gorgeous.

[Professor Rob]

it's gorgeous.

Seconded. Needs a drop of water, though.

[Onze]

Christmas is now sorted.

[Oracle]

Is that a promo code?

[Onze]

Is that a promo code?

Waitrose £30 off a £100 pound shop. It's a promotion they're running until the end of November.

£30 off £100 shop then,

£20 off next £100 shop.

Then it drops to £10 off the next 3 £100 shops.

I guess you can get any Whisky or spirit with it.

[meatbin]

Right, I buy a bottle of bourbon once a year, and that's at Christmas.

2008-2010 I bought supermarket own brand.

2011-2013 I bought Jim Bean.

2014 - I bought Buffalo Trace and didn't really think much of it for the small step up in price.

So, 2015, I'm stepping up the quality again, what should I buy? I want vanilla, toffee, lots of malt/woody flavours... Not so keen on fruitiness but open minded - I know that's quite vague. I like it straight on the rocks.

£30-35 tops - I'll look for offers in the supermarkets which may influence what I go for. Thanks in advance.

[Lovelyman]

Eagle rare is well regarded.

[Onze]

Makers Mark or Woodford Reserve.

[Pat Mustard]

Missus just handed me a bottle of old particular laphroaig 15

thats tonight sorted!

[Oracle]

Waitrose £30 off a £100 pound shop. It's a promotion they're running until the end of November.

£30 off £100 shop then,

£20 off next £100 shop.

Then it drops to £10 off the next 3 £100 shops.

I guess you can get any Whisky or spirit with it.

Thanks ordered some presents and an extra bottle for me.

After few years of pure islay/skye I am grabbing some Speyside.

[Jammy]

Meatbin - Knob Creek is pretty good too.