Comments on: Who Drinks Scotch?

By: Jody

Jody — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 21:02:35 +0000

Excellent advice. I agree with all of it.

By: Scotchblog

Scotchblog — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 19:04:16 +0000

I get asked this all the time, I’ll repost what I told people on the Whisky Magazine forums:
I’d base what I gave a “new” drinker, on what they already like.
If they don’t like “hard liquor” there will be very little you can do to get them over to the dark side.

When I encounter a Bourbon Drinker, I give them Balvenie DoubleWood - Very similar to a good bourbon.

If someone likes wine/sherry, I’ll likely give them a Macallan 12, Aberlour 10, or MAYBE a Glenfarclas 12

If they have tried and like blends, I might wean them in with a light unassuming standard - likely Glenlivet, or something like Dalwhinnie or Auchentoshan.

I would NEVER start with a smokey Islay. That being said the Laphroaig Cask Strength (by far the best whisky on this planet), was immediately loved by my Bourbon drinking girlfriend, who doesn’t like Laphroaig 10 yo…go figure.

At least that’s my $0.02.
_________________
Kevin Erskine
The Scotch Blog
http://www.thescotchblog.com

By: Jody

Jody — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 16:47:16 +0000

Oban doesn’t excite me, though I can imagine you liking it based on your peaty preferences. I was disappointed it didn’t taste like a Western scotch (Islay-ish); however, there’s no scotch I’d refuse. I’ve only had one bottle of Obann and that was long ago. I have to try it again.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 08:18:16 +0000

Curious ’cause it didn’t come up in our last email exchange on the topic: what do you think of Oban?

I like a good Scotch but bad ones taste like manure to me specifically because of the peat.