Whiskey for my wife?

@cpstecroix, with all of the inexperienced and little-experienced whisky drinkers whom I have introduced to, typically 25 whiskies in an afternoon, the single most universally, immediately, and enthusiastically received whisky has been Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX.

Sadly, that's not available in my province. Sigh.

Thanks for the tip though. I should mention that she's not a whisky newbie, but just less enthusiastic about the peaty Islay malts than I am. She quite enjoyed the balvenie pleated cask and laga 16, but wants an easier drinking all rounder.

@cpstecroix, well then I'd probably just get her a bottle of that Highland Park 18 that you already know that she likes. If she does like cask strength whisky, then the Aberlour A'bunadh is "a hoot and a holler", whichever batch is available. It's a very big whisk(e)y universe. It sounds to me that the best possible thing for her would be to sample a number of whiskies in order to gain experience and to discover for herself her preferences.

Victor, that's my goal :-) get her to try as many as possible!

@cpstecroix, there's nothing better than having your wife be your stalwart whisky-drinkin' buddy! My wife and my sister are my two main whisky buddies. The world needs many more whisky gals!

@cpstecroix, My wife is not a Whisky drinker but will on ocassion have a small Glenmorangie and enjoy it. She once told me the reason she likes it is because it is 'so civilized'...out of the mouths of babes!

@A'bunadhman,@cpstecroix. My wife, who has never been a whisky drinker, took a real liking to Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or when we visited the distillery. She also enjoyed Glenfarclas 15 and HP12/18. She said she liked the Ardbegs and Lagavulins we sampled, but hasn't had any of the peat monsters since we got home.

@cpstecroix : Has a lady, I can present to you my own favorites for sweet and complex whiskies. First of all, I will agree with Victor, Aberlour A'bunadh is wonderful, smooth and complex. If you want to go for a Glenfarclas, I would suggest the 105, which a good sherry bomb full of taste, great finish. The 12yo is also a good whisky, but less complexity there. To introduce her gradually to peat, but not as peated as the Islay ones, the BenRiach Peated Curiositas is a wonderful mix of sweetness and peat, highly enjoyable. I also have other suggestions, like the Ardmore or the Mortlach 15yo, but I am not sure that those can be found in Canada, well I know for sure they are not available in Québec! Cheers!

Dalwhinnie 15 is usually enjoyable for those seeking an easy drinking single malt. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…) Glenmorangie Original is also popular and I must admit, like candy to me.

Fortunately for me My wife introduced me to Whisky and her favorite is Lagavulin 16. However when she wants something sweeter and smoother she likes the GlenDronach 12 yr double cask

I recently got into a (somewhat heated!) argument with a salesperson in duty free about this subject. Though I find myself to be in the minority as a woman who likes turbulent, peaty, hot whiskies, I'm not sure if this uncommonness is simply because women get exposed to different whisky from the very start, compared to men. There appears to be an assumption that women want "delicate" whisky; I suppose this is also true for novice drinkers of either sex.

The very first whisky I ever sampled as an adult was Glenkinchie, at the distillery. They spun a nice story of how Lowland whisky is the best choice for women, etc. Boy, did they not get my number. Of all the wonders in the world of whisky, I have yet to find a single Lowland dram I like (I am still looking...). I find this "delicate" style to be harsh, tight, "spirit-y" (if that makes ANY sense), and lacking in that comfortable embrace I get from a full, rich dram.

I've been trying this theory on a few friends: I think the best thing for a novice palate, female or otherwise, is a rich, dimensional dram. Sure, much of the complexity might be lost, but it's easier to sink in the hook that whisky offers an ever-evolving well of flavors.

To the above responses I'd like to add the Jura Diurach's Own 16 Year Old. It's rich, but unpeated. The overall experience is smooth, without too many rough edges, satisfying — like a big, old leather armchair. I find a nice amount of chocolate on the palate, along with raisins, spice, and tobacco. There's nothing too challenging here, but most new whisky drinkers I've shared this with say they are surprised at how "easy" and "pleasurable" it is. A word of warning though: I find the 16 to not perform well in comparison tasting. It's too light, and is easily overpowered.

And from a woman's perspective: Scotch whisky offers a great deal of romance. Each distillery has their own story of provenance, etc. And though we all know that behind this romance lies a Diageo or two, it's still a nice story. You might perhaps lure your wife to the wonders of peaty whisky by describing the fascinating landscape peat comes from, or how the sea air could be said to impart that delicious saltiness on the palate. Though nothing can account for taste, it's nice to be woo'ed by words.

@cpstecroix In terms of ready availability and great value and one that ticks the boxes, I'd go for the Glenfiddich 15 (Solera Reserve).

Well, my wife (and I) have come a long way. After having her try everything that I have open, her favourite Scotch is the Abelour Abundah, but her favourite spirit is the Van Winkle 12 lot B (neither my eagle rare, nor my Basil Hayden are open)...I credit Victor for awakening our love for bourbon, as my only reference point for bourbon until reading his posts and then meeting was stuff I mixed with coke and drank until I made terrible decisions. ;-)

She certainly likes the peated whiskies, but is less often in the mood for them than I am. The Balvenie peated cask was one that she enjoyed though.

I may try a glenfarclas on her, as I originally posted, and maybe a springbank. So many whiskies, so little time.

@EvaRees...For your search for a Lowland that is full and rich, have you tried the Auchentoshan Three Wood? I have sampled it a couple of times and find that this might fit the bill for you.

I am in total agreement with your theory on hooking newbies on with a rich, multi-dimensional dram...a tasting that included Talisker 10 and Lagavulin 16, got me hooked for good about 13 months ago. Laga 16 is still one of my all-time favourites!

@cpstecroix...I would wholeheartedly recommend the Glenfarclas 15, though it is currently missing entirely from LCBO shelves!! :0 My dad tried some at Christmas from a bottle that my wife gave to me, and he, despite not normally drinking whisky neat, absolutely loved it!! It really is good stuff, with a noticeable cinnamon/cloves finish that is really nice!

@Pudge72...you forgot to mention that your dad AND his wife both tried and quite enjoyed the Glenfarclas 15 at Christmas.

Buy exactly everything you've always wanted to try and if she doesn't like the first offering say "I'll take care of the rest of this." then try the next one. Repeat until success.

None of the women in my life can stomach the stuff… as hard as I may try… oh well. I'll keep trying.

@OCeallaigh After a few years my wife asked to try one she liked the smell of. Now everytime I pour a dram she steals a sip. She only likes this one and none of the others. It's Laphroaig Quarter Cask! She likes it even more now after our trip to Islay in September.

@wodha, my wife discovered her taste in fine whisky by coincidence; she had a girls night three years ago and two of the ladies liked Whisky and she asked me what she could offer. I recommended a few and left the appartment for my buddys night. When I came back - late - she told me that they had some drams of two or three already opened bottles; then she wanted something different and scanned my collection. Suddenly she saw a bottle with a black label and remembered me drinking JW Black Label when we are out and opened the bottle. They finished the whole bottle and she said that she never thought how good this JW is... to my horror I discovered that they just drank a Springbank 15 black label from the late 80's. We shared the last remaining drops of this truly great Whisky and after a cigarette to cool down we laughed a lot...since this evening my wife has a soft spot for Springbank and all the bolder Spirits - be it peated, sherried or cask strength.

@maltster, your pet bottle had been inadvertently pilfered, but at least the ladies got to DRINK some nice whisky.

I like the tale that the immortal Whiskyshiba told on this site of walking in on his wife while finding her marinating a turkey in George T. Stagg bourbon. He loved that turkey, but his wife used the juice only for cooking.

@victor, you are so right-whisky is for drinking...or even for an epic turkey sauce.

@maltster: I agree with the SpringBank idea; if your wife digs HP 18, SpringBank is the logical next step. The 10 is less complex than the 15, but a little sweeter.

Interesting discussion. I have to agree with @Maude on Mortlach 15 as a recommendation for someone who already enjoys HP18. I just picked up a bottle Tuesday evening and am finding this to be a very nice all rounder, though both more sherried and more peaty (especially on the finish) than I remember the HP. It is much harder to find than the Springbank, though I found it listed on the LCBO site and so I suspect it can be ordered there.

@Maude,@misslauren, are you talking about the Gordon&MacPhail Mortlach 15?

@maltster The G&M Mortlach 15 is the one that I have and the one that appears to be most readily available (though IMO not available enough).