what was your first malt

Not 100% sure on single malt, but first "pure malt" was Strathspey. First taste of single malt might've been Glenfiddich 12, first bottle Aberlour 10.

Mine was sadly Glenfiddich 18 yr old. I say sadly because at that time I had no idea on how to actually appreciate good whisky and so I poured it all into whisky and cokes. I'm sure it would of been good. First serious single malt that changed the world for me was Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix which my wife and I bot love to bits. 4 bottles and counting now :D

Forgot to say what I thought of them - the Strathspey was intriguing, first "scotch" I put in a hip flask and drank neat on cold nights and was pleasantly surprised that it was drinkable neat. Sure, it was still pretty rough, but after a few sips it got smoother!

That paved the way for single malts, I did some research on the Internet and planned my first single malt mini-collection and ended up taking home Bowmore NAS, Talisker 10 and Aberlour 10 way back in 2005 or so. I posted that it was the Aberlour I opened first, but in fact, sadly, I think it was the Bowmore which I really, really disliked. Have not tried another Bowmore since although I have the 12 in my cabinet and have heard good things about some of the more recent bottlings like "Darkest". The Aberlour I thought was fantastic and that really opened my eyes to the sheer variation of styles available and I've been hooked ever since.

My first was one of two easy to find single malts in the US at the time. It was either the Glenlivet 12 year old, or the Glenfiddich 12 years old. I bought them within days of each other, and I quite frankly don't remember which was the first opened and tried.

I do recall I thought the Glenfiddich had an aperitif quality that wasn't my style, and that the Glenlivet was well balanced and had a honey vanilla taste I liked, but now find lacking complexity. Both were fine introductions to single malts, but neither would be on my current must stock list.

Mine was Glenfiddich 12 years ago, though technically I drank the whole thing with coke. The first Single Malt I had neat was Highland Park 18.

Like MacBaker62, many many years ago when I asked the bartender if there was a step up from Chivas, he said that he did have one single malt, Glenfiddich, so that was my first. I did try Glenlivet a few months later. To be honest though, I really didn't get into single malts until many years later when at a liquor store in Marigot, St Martin the owner had me try Oban (Along with a 30 YO Armagnac - my first >$100 purchase). Totally changed my whisky world.

@TomH, Marigot! ...such a great place and such good memories! We love it there. Took the funky little jeepny local bus back and forth from the Dutch side.

First malt? Some of the usual Glenfiddich 12 and Glenlivet 12 in the environment which made an ok but not too deep impression. For serious exploration, I think my first was Laphroaig 10. Loved it. Then backed away from the peat for awhile, then returned to it. Also early in the experience I had Old Pulteney 12 which I always liked and Macallan 12 which I loved at first but of which I have had occasionally one-dimensional batches. (nothing to taste but sherry). I much prefer a somewhat lesser-sherried Macallan 12 in which you can actually taste the barley.

My first Malt was given to me as a gift from a very close friend - he got it from Nepal and it had a blue Label with the Himalayas on it - I do not remember much but it was very sharp and harsh. The Whisky which paved the way to my Whiskyjourney was JW Black Label - first on the rocks and then straight - still one of my go-to favourites.

Back about 20 years ago when I was working in the restaurant industry I think I tried Glenfiddich 12yr. Again as others have stated nothing memorable. 1st one I liked enough to place in my Bar would have been Dalwhinnie 15 yr, funny enough I think both bottles were gifted to me.

Funny, my story is very similar to @Victor - Glenlivet 12 or Glenfiddich 12, but then it was Laphroaig 10 that really got my interest going!

The first one that won me over was Lagavulin 16...it's been a slippery downhill slide ever since.

Im afraid mine was Cuttysark, it was so bad I didn't taste Scotch again until about 20 years later. Then a nice gentleman from Edinburgh bought an image of mine and sent me a check as well as a Signatory bottle of Caol Ila. That took some getting used to and now is still one of my favorites.

I think my first was Glenfiddich 12 year old. It wasn't bad at all, but after further exploring, it kind of paled in comparison.

Glenfiddich 12 year old, very smooth but in hindsight unexceptional. The single malt that really won me overconverted me though was the Talisker 10. Exceptional dram!

Mine was a Highland Park 12. I wanted to have a better single malt available for company and this was so highly recommended by various folks that I figured I couldn't go too wrong. It was love at first sniff...

Talisker Dist. Edit., still one of the best whiskies I ever had. Followed by Laphroaig Cask Strenght.

Lagavulin 16 for me too. That was just about 1, maybe 2 years ago. Still firmly in camp Islay, but I am trying to branch out. That is where this community has been so helpful. Thanks!

@Onibubba Welcome to the forum my friend! This is a great place with lots of great people who have heaps of knowledge! Don't feel shy about shouting out any questions or thoughts you may have :D Don't mind me though! I'm a lil crazy :D

It was years ago during a tasting session. I had never had a whisky before and I gagged on something that tasted like the juice squeezed out of the sock of a triathlon athlete. I never remembered what it was though.

To this day I am convinced that it was a Laphroaig which I have grown to love.

My first introduction to whisky was about a decade ago. It was a range of Bushmills (both the blends and the 10 Year Old single malt) and the Greenore 8 (which I grow to love). But when I got a bottle of Auchentoshan 12 a couple years ago as a birthday gift, that inspired me to go on this malty adventure that has - at this point - driven me to taste close to 1.000 whiskies (and started me collecting Auchentoshan, 'my first love').

Oh, I remember like it was yesterday: Lagavulin 12 yo 2010 release. Whenever Hubby (two-bit cowboy) handed me a single malt Scotch to try, I either couldn't get past the stench or the kerosene-flavored toxic waste. That all changed in October 2010 when he handed me the Lagavulin. I don't know who was more shocked. Ever since I've learned the magic of single malt Scotch (and other whiskies for that matter).

Nikka Taketsuru 12 yr Pure Malt, purchased in Sapporo, Japan (2002). It was the old squarish bottle, and I didn't have proper glassware at the time. I brought the bottle back with me to Canada (my wife just gave me another as an early Father's Day present). First Scotch Single Malt was a 37.5cl bottle of Glenfiddich 15 (2003); it was a present from a friend who had been in Scotland.

Back then....when it was Jack D, bourbon and ...scotch. So my first was the Glenfiddich 12yo. I could tell it was much better than the rest of ...scotch I knew (that's standard blends). But what made me turn to single malts was the Balvenie Doublewood...ever since I,ve got the whiskey/whisky worm in my veins.....

First Single Malt for me was The Macallan 18. I started near the top then I clawed my way down. It was a friend's wedding reception and another friend brought the bottle for a round of toasts. Without explaining he poured us each a careful shot and made a toast. Most of us went bottoms up before he could explain what a fine whisky it was. So another round was poured and we all learned to enjoy it a bit more slowly. After that I went to a liquor store and bought a bottle of Glenlivit. one I realized I was about to embark upon a magical journey I decided to start at the bottom and work my way up. I went through each and every bottom shelf Scotch and bourbon then moved on to the next. Many years later I can look at a shelf and know most of what I see.

@Wodha, thoroughness is a wonderful virtue. I love that you experience all the whisk(e)ys for yourself, and don't listen to the opinions of others. It's the only honest way to go. Me too. And if you like it and it's cheap, all the better...

@victor: Amen...

@Victor I second that Amen!

I remember having one or two in passing and never really giving it much thought. Though when a friend sat down with me and two glasses of Bruichladdich 12, all I remember thinking was "My God... I'm drinking coastal air."

@Donski...same. My first was Laphroaig 10 yr old. It was the most incredible taste and from that night I was hooked. I then started trying other Laphroaig expressions Qtr Cask, Cask Strength, Triple Wood before starting to branch out. That's why I joined, to expand my knowledge and find new treasures.

My first single malt was Glenfiddich 12, with ice. I didn't know what I was drinking, at the time I ordered 'house scotch' based on the bartender's expert opinion. A point of pride for me was when I was able to taste Glenfiddich and recognise that was where I began.