Recommendations for a Newbie

If you want to try something peaty/somkey I would recommend anything by Ardbeg (10 Yr or the Uigeadail), a Port Charlotte heavily peated by Bruichladdich, or something from Laphroaig (10 yr or Quarter Cask) Those are some of my favourites of the easily accessible peaty/smokey versions from Islay.

@mscottydunc Yeah I've been looking at the Ardberg 10 Yr. I am looking to get 3 or 4 bottles so was thinking of getting that a bourbon and something else. I've enjoyed scotch aged in rum or sherry barrels so was considering something aged in wine barrels? Or anything else that's been particularly interesting or enjoyable?

@James28291 The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Yr is fantastic, and would fit with your like of the rum finish. A few of my other favourites that I would recommend are Aberlour A'Bunadh, anything from the BenRiach Heavy Peat series, and if you can find it the Bunnahabhain Ceobanach is great. It's a heavily peated limited edition Bunna that is very affordable. I think its $100 here in Ontario so likely even cheaper elsewhere. Hope that helps some more.

@mscottydunc Thanks for the advice! I've had the Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Yr and loved it, the spiced rum comes through beautifully. I've tried the Arbelour A'Bundah as well actually and really enjoyed that so clearly you have got my tastes spot on! I've seen the BenRiah Heavy Peat mentioned on here but was just a bit concerned it would be a bit too peaty? I'll take a look at the Bunnahabhain Ceobanach and the Port Charlotte heavily peated now see what I can get a bottle for here in the UK.

What are your thoughts on bourbon? I've had a lot more scotch than bourbon and have found the bourbons I've had a bit sweet but think I've probably just not had the right one?

@James28291 No problem, I myself have not had as much bourbon as scotch, but bourbon in general is much sweeter than scotch due to the large percentage of corn in the mash.

A few that I really like are Booker's, Buffalo Trace, and Blanton's.

@mscottydunc I'm dying to try the Booker's Bourbon Batch 2015 - 1 as I have heard amazing things about it but can't seem to find it anywhere! Thanks for the recommendation, I'll take a look. I can feel my order getting bigger and bigger.

I'd go for a Springbank 10, Talisker 10, and Arbeg 10. All decently affordable whiskies with increasing levels of smoke.

The Springbank is quite light on the smoke, but I put that out there to forestall any suggestions of Highland Park 12. People always recommend HP 12 as a way to "ease in" to smoky malts, but I think there's hardly any there. Or maybe everyone else has more sensitive palates than I. If you have a sensitive palate too, maybe you'll find it smoky—but in any case, Springbank 10 is at similar low levels but is much more interesting whisky, and it's made at a distillery and by a company that you can enjoy giving your money to.

@OlJas My first encounter with Springbank was the 12 CS. I found it solid but not stellar. A year or so later and I was a real fan...same bottle. I've since had another batch that was solid. I don't the 10 is CS. I'd go the extra metre.

@mscottydunc I definitely agree with the Aberlour a'Bunadh for the scotch. With the bourbon I would go with Blanton's or 1792 Ridgemont Reserve

If you're into rum AND peat, @mscottydunc mentioned BenRiach's Heavily Peated series. One of them is a rum finished 12 year old, and it's in my opinion the best of the series. Very worth trying.

@OlJas Great, thanks for the recommendation. I've tried the HP12 and know what you mean, I'll definitely try the Springbank as it sounds like it is peaty but accessible as well as offering something a bit more interesting. Thanks!

@hunggar That sounds interesting! How peaty is the heavily peated? I haven't had a huge amount of experience with peat so am just a bit concerned to get something overpowering?

Well, as the name suggests, it's heavily peated. If you're looking to ease into peat, I might suggest Caol Ila 12, which is a personal favourite as a daily dram. Quite peaty, but not as assertive as some of the other Islay big boys.

@James28291 another excellent ,complex and lightly peated whisky that hasn't been mentioned is Benromach 10 at 43% abv or ,even better , at 57%abv. This ,as well as Springbank , would be a good place to start your peat journey on. Good Bourbon's to start with are Elijah Craig 12 and Eagle Rare 10

And now for something completely different... has anyone else tried the Aultmore (of the Foggie Moss) 12 Year Old? I had a taste of this at a Companions of the Quaich dinner in June and purchased a bottle at the LCBO for C$80 (there a lots and lots available across the province).

Most of the single malts discussed so far have been heavy on the peat and sherry... for me I prefer these flavours in the winter. The Aultmore 12 is very different. This is an interesting summer whisky!

Aultmore single malts are used as top dressing in various blends - last year Bacardi / John Dewar & Sons released The Last Great Malts series of whiskies (Craigellachie, Deveron, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Royal Brackla).

I'm not the so great at describing the nose and palate, but I certainly found the Aultmore pleasing on both - perfumed, floral, grassy, fresh green fruit, a little malty and oaky but very sweet on the nose followed by sweet hot lingering spice that prickles the tongue ending with a touch of vanilla.

This is one very different Speyside that is worth trying.

@tfahey1298 Sounds like an interesting whisky, I'll definitely keep an eye out for a bottle of the Aultmore, thanks

@James28291 Hi James you may want to consider a Four Roses small batch or single barrel as alternative to Blanton's €38. I use a Dutch site Van Zuylen 22 and26 euro respectively and 17 P&P up to 3 bottles €20 4-9 bottles. Site takes PayPal and only took 5 days from order to delivery in North West. Decent selection of scotch as well the bottles are either bubble wrapped in box or carton or if not individual inflated plastic cover so little chance of breakage.

@Pete1969

That is a FANTASTIC site! I briefly glanced at it and the selection of Springbanks and Amruts seems quite extensive...I don't have time for a full perusal. The prices look really good too. It seems that even with reasonable shipping costs it would be cheaper than LCBO prices...IF we could get the stuff shipped here.

@Nozinan , and the English translations are funny. Springbank "Rundlets & Kilderkins," = "Lets Beef & Kilderkins." Ha!

@OlJas I did notice that....very entertaining

@Nozinan the translations can be amusing but the prices are not even with shipping to UK it is very cheap, only seen four roses small batch at one shop and it was £29 with the Euro being weak I can buy 3 bottles for £60 delivered as for the single barrel UK internet sites want £35+ plus shipping taking it over £40 a bottle. Most of the scotch is cheaper too ship back from Europe than buy in UK which is a farce I only live 100 miles from the border with Scotland and rarely see the better quality single malts in shops. It is a shame that a lot of sites will not ship outside EU but the costs and risk must not make it worthwhile, I have myself been hit with a breakage from another site which was resolved eventually but involved a long e-mail string before they would send me a refund.

@Pete1969, a little more information than 'North West' would be good on your profile page for a location. For many of us non-UK residents 'North West' suggests little but Kim and Kanye. From what I have seen the majority of Connosr members reside outside of the UK.

@Victor sorry Victor I had looked at James profile and it showed as London, forgive my error, to be exact I reside in Preston, Lancashire and work in Blackpool

@Pete1969, thank you very much. I am happy to know you.

@Victor just out of curiosity who are Kim and Kanye?

@Pete1969, I can't say that I know them personally, but I hear that their child's last name is West.

@Victor only pulling your leg Victor I believe he is famous for some kind of music which I do not understand or like probably due to age. She is famous for being famous and having a rather large part of her body sticking out behind her. I have been reading many of your reviews and find them most informative and useful in aiding the expansion of my fledgling cabinet. Unfortunately my wife hates whisky and there will never be the number or variety you have to hand. I am green with envy just thinking of many of the fantastic bourbons you have experienced.

@Pete1969, I am delighted that you have found my reviews helpful. Nothing is more satisfying to me as a reason for writing them.

Do not give up hope for your wife with respect to liking whisky. @Robert99 and his lady came to town a week ago and spent a lot of time with my wife, sister, and me. His lady entered by saying that she did not like whisky at all. Well, she liked every single one of the first 6 or 8 I served her, and probably almost every one of the 15 or 20 she tried over the week. Attention to the tastes of the individual, and to that of women in general, is critical. My wife and sister are my closest whisky buddies.

As for our liquor cabinet, you are invited to sample from it if you are ever in the DC area.

@Victor thank you for the kind offer and if we ever make it to the DC area I will drop you a line before setting off and would certainly attend with a couple of hard to source items for your collection. I know that Blanton's play the cruelest trick by refusing you access too Gold and SFTB in the USA, which I know you appreciate due to the high alcohol content and I am sure they could find a place in my case.

@Pete1969, yes, Blanton's Straight From the Barrel...I lusted after that one for a couple of years after having read Jim Murray's review of it. He gave it 96.5 points, and the total text reads, "Uncut. Unfiltered. Unbelievable."

Eventually I was able to get a bottle of it sent over from Belgium, with the help of my friend @numen. I am always interested in trying some additional barrels of it, for sure. And the Gold too, which we don't get here either.

High alcohol content per se is not precisely what I crave...it is flavour density. @Robert99 and the other 6 of us had some of my Abraham Bowman 17 yo bourbon yesterday at 73.75% abv. I don't think that anyone even thought about adding water to it. It was not necessary. (For me 45% Maker's Mark has a more objectionable alcohol greeting than 73.75% Bowman or 71.5% 2010 George T. Stagg)