My advice, start with something light, and not too peaty, if you're not a fan of peaty flavours, diving straight in with a Laphroaig or a Glen Morangie will turn you off, try the subtler flavours, a Tomintoul or an Auchentoshen which are both triple distilled and very smooth light flavours, The Balvenie Signature is also good, but a little pricey, also try the Aberlour 12 year old which is my personal favourite...
I remember hearing an interview with a whisky expert on the radio, and he said for a whisky to be a true whisky, it has to meet certain specifications, so by adding ice, is it still whisky...? Sounded like a load of old bollox to me, but it was interesting...
You get a lot of purists who will argue that adding anything to their tipple is a crime. Some people say that ice kills the flavours and aromas. Personally I don't like ice in mine, but I'm not the kind that'd judge others for doing it - I've seen plenty of people who will though.
There are a lot of people who like to add a dash of water to their drink too, some people frown upon this and will look down on people for it. There are a lot of whisky snobs around who feel their ways are true and perfect, but at the end of the day you just do what you enjoy most eh data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
I don't drink whisky to impress anyone, so I do it my way. I think it's important that you enjoy your drink.
If its cask strength you normally need to add a bit of water otherwise it might well be undrinkable. I had a cask strength Laphroaig that I think was about 58% and it needed water otherwise it tasted like cleaning fluid and seriously irritated the mouth.
I love a nice smooth scotch but also am fond of JD all of them up with ice apart from the more expensive malts.
Anyway I went to the Ideal Home show earlier this year and a stand had samples of a bourbon called Buffalo Trace. It's such a nice smooth tipple and heads and shoulders above JD. I got myself a bottle and needless to say it didn't last long . Could only find it on Amazon but now it's on the shelves in Tesco £20 give it a go it's a great tipple.
I'd completely forgotten about this gem, Il enjoy one for you tonight ;-) tastes like something twice the price
It is good isn't it data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 my wife has got me a bottle for crimbo so I'll have to wait data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 unless I can find the stash.
Hi
I've recently got into drinking whiskey.......
I'm just a beginner but find cragganmore, 12 years really good.
It's about £32 a bottle....the whiskey exchange website is great, fast service and good advice..... Try them.
Hope that's useful......
Oh just thought.....have they got whiskey glasses? They are specially designed for whiskey.
They are called; the glen cairn glass- not very expensive, look great and a must for having a wee dram!
Look for a limited edition release if you can. An anniversary bottle or something that's novel make good presents.
There's plenty of forums & whiskey groups.
I work in the industry & refer a lot to The Drinks Report. There's plenty of gift packs & even boxes where you get tasters of various single malts. I know Diageo do one for their single malts like Talisker, Caol Ila & Dalwhinnie. Great when you're not so clued up on which whiskey you prefer.