ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Mar 14, 2017 10:06:01 GMT -6
OK, I like Chivas as much as the next gent, but it's for special occasions. The last time I bought a bottle it was 12 year old and it was very nice. But I'm looking for a scotch that's a bit less expensive for a late afternoon, feet up, time for a drink, or late at night before bed.
I don't require a single malt, but they're nice once in awhile. I can get along quite nicely with a blended scotch.
In decades past I discovered Ballantines and I liked it a lot. Then the state of Maine realized how underpriced it was and jacked it up. So I went to John Begg but got away from it just buying a bottle of Chivas twice a year. I recently bought a bottle of John Begg, and it just doesn't taste the same as 30 years ago. There is a blend called The Famous Grouse and it's nice. The other day I bought a bottle of Cutty Sark, Ballantines, and I had a bottle of McGregors. OK, I don't care for the McGregors. I could be happy with the Cutty Sark, though it's a bit sweet. I still like the Ballantines. The wife and I didn't discuss our tasting while it was going on, and at the end we both picked the Ballantines. There are some others I have yet to try against the CS and Ball's. But for now I've gone full circle and I'm back to Ballantines, but I'm still going to drink those others. It's a rotten job to be forced to dispose of scotch, but someone has to do it.
I'm open to suggestions for an "everyday" scotch similar in taste to Chivas and Ballantines.
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Post by Petrvs on Mar 14, 2017 14:57:11 GMT -6
I tend to prefer single malts, especially "the classic malts of Scotland" and, among them, the Dalwhinnie in particular. But when it comes to a more everyday whisky, readily available almost everywhere, besides Chivas and Ballantines, I do enjoy Johnnie Walker Black Label or Macallan 10yrs.
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Post by wchnu on Mar 14, 2017 17:33:08 GMT -6
Not a big scotch guy. But.....the last time I shared in a bottle of johnny walker black it was not bad to me.
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Post by birdlives on Mar 14, 2017 20:24:59 GMT -6
I don't pretend to be an expert, but I also almost always opt for a Single-Malt...what can I say, I'm Scotch/Italian...So keep in mind my perspective is Single-Malt bias... My problem with Johnnie Walker...Their Green Label is my favorite bottle under their banner by far. And though it is nice, very nice...It comes in at about app.$70...Now for app. $45 (maybe $10 bucks more than the Black Label) you can score a bottle of Glenlivet 12 or Glennfiddich 12 which is, no comparison BETTER...YMMV of course And now, I BRING YE A BIT O GOOD NEWS...Have you tried Monkey Shoulder? This is a little known "Vatted Malt" (a blend of 100% Single Malts) brought to you from the good folks at William Grant Distilleries. The same folks famous for their Glennfiddich and Balvenie Single-Malts. Monkey Shoulder is a blend of 3 of their finest Single Malts....., Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie...The result is a very very nice and lower priced (app.$30ish) vatted malt for a daily driver. It was designed for the local Scots to enjoy daily without breaking the bank....I'd still opt for the $15 more and get one of the 12year olds, Glenlivet or Glennfiddich but if $30 was my ceiling...Monkey Shoulder tastes far better than it's price point! Also, I discovered, when the occasion calls for champagne but b@//s are in order...Glennfiddich 15yr. Solera....This is a Single-Malt that is reasonably priced. While not as cheap as the Glennfiddich 12yr. The 15yr. Solera is a very Special Whisky indeed, tasting far better than many older Whiskys, and some 3 to 4 times more expensive. Because of the price, this my not be a daily driver for the cost conscious, but it is an EXCELLENT Single-Malt that tastes FAR better than it's price would let on (app.$60)...I would compare it favorably to The Macallen 18yr. which cost quite a bit more at app. $230). Put it this way, if Sean Connery was dropping by to share a wee dram, I wouldn't hesitate to break out this, less than $70 Solera, it tastes and sniffs far out of it's league! Now I'm thinking....Your original guestion was asking for recommendations for something better in the class of Cutty Sark and Ballentines....Thats easy for me.....Teachers Highland Cream or White Horse....Both in the same price range and both very high percentage of Single Malt....From my limited experience, both are maybe hard to find but well worth the search....And of course for $30 Monkey Shoulder is top of the class, actually maybe a different class all together...};^)) If you have already or intend to, or are trying one of these, let me/us know what you think....};^))
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Mar 14, 2017 22:32:05 GMT -6
I'll search them out gents! Sometimes I can order only one bottle if it's available "on the list".
Bird, I've never even heard of most of the scotches you mentioned. Since the state of Maine controls what is sold it might not be available, but I have found places out of state in the past that don't know about Maine liquor laws and who ship in plain cartons. ;-) I tend to buy by the case when I find those, or I might need to drive down to NH. Maine has it's good points but it's backward (lacking freedom) in many other ways.
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Post by Petrvs on Mar 14, 2017 22:48:37 GMT -6
Thanks Bird, plenty of informations there! I don't know any of the ones you mentioned, but I'll definitely try these out, especially the Monkey Shoulder
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Post by wchnu on Mar 14, 2017 23:03:48 GMT -6
Just drink bourbon like the civilized peoples do.
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Post by birdlives on Mar 14, 2017 23:21:01 GMT -6
Thanks Bird, plenty of informations there! I don't know any of the ones you mentioned, but I'll definitely try these out, especially the Monkey Shoulder Aye, the Monkey Shoulder is not well known, because it was designed for the local Scotsmen...But it is being imported now, and anyone that I've shared a dram with, went out and copped....I think the longest I've had a friend take to cop was 2 days...lol....Usually the next day....Monkey Shoulder is a sincere "Bang for the Buck" Champion! The term 'monkey shoulder' harks back to the whisky making heritage. It’s a reference to a condition that maltmen sometimes picked up while working long shifts, turning the barley by hand. It had a tendency to cause their arm to hang down a bit like a monkey’s, so they nicknamed it 'monkey shoulder'. Today working conditions have changed and Monkey Shoulder is nothing more than an affectionate vintage term from the true Malt Makers Past.... While it tis a vatted malt, it is also a true Triple-Malt...Vatted Malt is a blend using only Single-malts, but a Triple Malt is a vatted malt that only uses single malts from three distilleries and is usually made in very small prestigious batches. And Monkey Shoulder is the epitome of that. William Grant only makes it in very small batches. MS is very special to William Grant Distilleries because their legendary Malt Master David Stewart invented it as the Worlds first Triple Malt. It was a prize pet project for him and kind of a well kept secret. Now their current Master Brian Kinsman also in the tradition, takes Monkey Shoulder very seriously and makes and supervises every batch himself...Really fascinating stuff...
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Post by birdlives on Mar 14, 2017 23:48:42 GMT -6
Yo, Brian, I checked Maine Spirits and they have White Horse, Teachers Highland Cream and Monkey Shoulders... Also Glenfiddich 12 and Glenlivet 12 both 750ml was $49......Bully!! 750ml of Teachers Highland Cream was $21.99...excellent!!! 750ml of Monkey Shoulder was $29.99...Whoot 1.75L of White Horse was $33... Unbelievable!l
They didn't have the Higher End Stuff I was talking about... But they show that they have the really good "Daily Sippers" I recommended...and, Looks like Maine has very good prices on the Very Good Scotch they did have....
And yep, it looks like you have better selection and better prices than WA State... We have a killer selection of the real High End Expensive Stuff...But for the really good inexpensive stuff, Maine has a much better selection..at least on their web-site....
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Post by Petrvs on Mar 15, 2017 3:39:59 GMT -6
Just drink bourbon like the civilized peoples do. oh, but I do! I always keep a bottle of Maker's Mark....though I don't like cocktails in general, I happen to love Mint Julep
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Post by wchnu on Mar 15, 2017 4:16:45 GMT -6
Just drink bourbon like the civilized peoples do. oh, but I do! I always keep a bottle of Maker's Mark....though I don't like cocktails in general, I happen to love Mint Julep You just were put on Santa's good list my friend. Bravo!!!
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Post by birdlives on Mar 15, 2017 5:13:21 GMT -6
Hey man, if you make that mint julep with Monkey Shoulder they call it a Mint Monkey....lol!
I personally love a Mojito Monkey on a hot day....lmao!
But hey, I'm not puttin down Bourbon...my last liquor acqusition was a bottle of Jim Beam BLACK ...
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Mar 15, 2017 6:51:05 GMT -6
Yo, Brian, I checked Maine Spirits and they have White Horse, Teachers Highland Cream and Monkey Shoulders... Also Glenfiddich 12 and Glenlivet 12 both 750ml was $49......Bully!! 750ml of Teachers Highland Cream was $21.99...excellent!!! 750ml of Monkey Shoulder was $29.99...Whoot 1.75L of White Horse was $33... Unbelievable!l They didn't have the Higher End Stuff I was talking about... But they show that they have the really good "Daily Sippers" I recommended...and, Looks like Maine has very good prices on the Very Good Scotch they did have.... And yep, it looks like you have better selection and better prices than WA State... We have a killer selection of the real High End Expensive Stuff...But for the really good inexpensive stuff, Maine has a much better selection..at least on their web-site.... I'm fairly certain my local outlet has the single malts you mentioned right on the shelf. But I haven't seen the last 3 mentioned. I'll have them order them for me.
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Post by wchnu on Mar 15, 2017 6:54:16 GMT -6
Hey man, if you make that mint julep with Monkey Shoulder they call it a Mint Monkey....lol! I personally love a Mojito Monkey on a hot day....lmao! But hey, I'm not puttin down Bourbon...my last liquor acqusition was a bottle of Jim Beam BLACK ... A mojito on a hot day. Yess. One of my favorites on a cruise. I need to learn to drink scotch. Maybe on the rocks with a water back. Or neat with a splash.
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Mar 15, 2017 7:12:14 GMT -6
Never on the rocks unless you drink fast. With a splash at most. I like to take some neat, then I'll add a small amount of water. Water does change the flavor of the scotch and brings other tastes to the fore. The first time I asked for some water that I could add to my drink you'd have thought I was calling the bartender nasty names from the look I got. He wanted to drown my scotch in water.
Cheap scotch is good with whole or 2% milk (not skim) believe it or not. But so is rum and bourbon.
Bird', I just called the liquor store. Teachers, MS, and WH are on order. She didn't give me much hope re: Teachers. Said that they've ordered it before and it is always "out of stock". Maybe I'll get lucky.
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