Looking for a smooth whisky.

Welcome Stoatgobbler. Sounds like you're not keen on the more peaty, smokey, salty whiskies. Unfortunately on the Scotch front this is what you've been buying.

I reckon you could do worse than something a little softer and more sherried. Maybe a Speyside. Why not try a Balvenie Double Wood or even a Balvenie Signature if you can afford it? About £25 and £30 respectively.

If you live in the UK Tesco, and I think a few other supermarkets, are doing Aberlour 10 for about £16. Like the Balvenie this is another softer Speyside but still a very good quality malt.

All these are accessible, easy drinking whiskies.

Enjoy!

Hi Stoatgobbler, I have been trying all types of spirits and distillers myself. Currently I like smooth, deeply tasty, complex and a warm (not harsh) finish. I am not crazy about peat/smoke, but now and then I have liked a little.

So hear is what I like so far (also look at my profile). Scotch: (Glenmorangie Original & Nector D'or, Balvenie Double Wood, Springbank (where I like a bit of smoke));. Irish: (Bushmills Black Bush, Jamesons 12, Redbreast, Wild Geese Classic); Tennessee: (Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniels Single Barrel); Bourbon: (Woodford Reserve, Jeffersons); Rye: (Sazerac 6-Yr, Russels Reserve Rye); Canadian: (Canadian Club Sheery Cask).

Irish and Canadian whiskey are usually very smooth, but I don't always care for their light, fruity, grassy taste; but the ones I mentioned above are much more flavorful and still very smooth. I think you will like at least some of these, but remember that everyone's liking is a little different ... as well as your preference on difference days.

Oh, and if your are tossing some of those nasty samples, please add me to your friend list :-)

Oh, I forgot to mention that I almost always add a little water to my sample, and sip them very slowly ... makes a big difference. Also what ever you have eaten before the drink, will often change your taste and appreciation ... as will the amount of samples you have already consumed.

Hi, Stoatgobbler and welcome to Connosr. It would seem that my friends here completely forgot the best dram for you to try first when getting into whisky (at least for me): Auchentoshan 12 Year Old and Auchentoshan Three Wood. Both are very affordable Lowland whiskies: soft and very accessible! Give it a go, you will not be dissappointed, I think. And if you are, you can always pass on the bottles to me :-)

Hi AboutChoice, it seems you didn't trym any sherried whiskies yet. I would go for that type of whisky if you're looking for punchy yet unpeated and smooth drams. A few examples: Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX, Glenfarclas, Glengoyne 17, Auchentoshan ThreeWood, some Macallans and the Japanese Karuizawa.

(sorry I was addressing Stoatgobbler, not AboutChoice - although he didn't try many sherried drams either...)

Edradour would be worth checking out - seems a bit more palatable to those not used to strong smells, but is a very nice dram. I'd also second Redbreast in the Irishes, although it's been a while since I had any so can't remember exactly what it's like. You might be able to find it in a decent pub, if you're lucky ;)

Many thanks, tomorrow I'll try & find a Balvenie or one of the sherried whisky's first, failing that it'll be Tesco's and a Aberlour.

Stoat

@Stoatgobbler Good stuff. Let us know what you think.

Oh, also noticed Waitrose here had Redbreast on offer IIRC. Tempted to get some meself...

Stoatgobler, if you are after the balvenie you can get it in Sainsbury