[Closed] Whisky for non whisky drinker

One of the double cask ones would be worth a go. Usually smoother and a little sweeter (in a good way)

aberlour double cask Is a 12 year old that’s often discounted in the big supermarkets.

Edit to say that there’s a few places who do wax sealed small measures if you fancy trying various different ones. Master of malt being one that seem popular. I’ve never used them personally but they have a BIG selection.

Red Breast 12 yr old Irish Whiskey.

You try a Glengoyne?

[url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/Glengoyne-Highland-Single-Scotch-Whisky/dp/B00IXL9MGG ]Glengoyne-Highland-Single-Scotch-Whisky[/url]

I too am a non-whisky drinker, but right now I'm drinking some of this and its delicious:

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/19195/strathisla-12-year-old

Can't go wrong with Jamesons. Not sure if that's heresy here or not. But I've never had a bad one 🙂

Can't go wrong with a bottle of highland park.

Just go for a basic/popular one. A run of the mill Dalwhinnie should suffice, nice & smooth, not very complicated, won't smash the bank.

I LOVE [s]TCP[/s] Laphroaigh!

Woodford Reserve - Bourbon so ideal for non-whisky drinkers! Or if you want a whisky Aberlour 12. Haven't seen it on a really good offer currently but the 10 year old is in Tesco at £22.

10 yo Aberlour
Springbank

2nd the Woodford Reserve, very smooth, quite sweet, nice bottle (which is more important to my choice of drink than it should be) and very drinkable.

10 year old Aberlour

Unbeatable for under 50 notes IMO

I don't drink it, and it's orrible...

Thanks all - JD? Can't recall ever having it - am out on a heavyish one tomorrow night followed by an all-dater Sat. I will try to try a few! Hic!

£50? You joking?

Cask strength Caol Ila - if you can find it - is a masterpiece of the distiller's art.
Quick check online 2006 cask strength 60.2% £75 from harvey nicks.

More, and betterer, rum is the answer to your question.

Mount Gay XO. Three ice cubes. Job done.

£50? You joking?

No, it's 22 quid a bottle at the moment, normally 30. But it beats anything else up to 50

IMO

I'll see your Aberlour and raise you

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/1814/dalwhinnie-15-year-old

Bloody wonderful.

See, I just knew people would suggest what they love the most.
It's all a matter of taste.

OP, try a basic Speyside for starters. Any will do, really. If you like the basic taste of say a Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Aberlour etc, then you can experiment/taste the more exotic & expensive stuff. No point spending ££'ss on a 25-30 yr old & not liking it.

Bunnahabhain 12 yr old is my actual favourite, but.....

I have become very fond of Monkey Shoulder and Bushmills, served with a large ice cube and an equal measure of ginger ale, a nice crystal tumbler makes all the difference too!

Highland Park should see you right. Or a blend, Chives Regal. Jamesons and the like are OK too.

Or just stick with the rum.

By your list, you prefer Speyside. A Dalwhinnie 12 year old will likely be to your taste. Balvenie (especially the Doublewood) should knock your socks off.

famous grouse smokey black blend,...not all that smokey...only £15 in ASDA,...my go to.

Consider a good rum, whiskey is gross.

Can't go wrong with a bottle of highland park

Mrs taxi doesn't like whiskey but will happily have a HP, so there's your answer.

Balvenie Doublewood and Balvenie Caribbean have both recently been on Amazon deals, I bought a couple of each as Xmas presents but we’ll see if they last long enough, might have to sacrifice a Caribbean as it’s my fav winter whisky to nod off to in front of the fire

[url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_3_9?url=search-alias%3Dalcohol&field-keywords=balvenie+whisky&sprefix=Balvenie+%2Caps%2C601&crid=XST451HY0H21 ]Edit : still on offer[/url] but I see the Doublewood is now £37 rather than the £32 it was last week

Balvenie is a good shout.

Dalwhinnie too.

I'd add Ardbeg to the list as a more approachable Islay.

Jura, Highland Park.

Yep. Jura Superstition, Highland Park, both to be found for about £25 in the right supermarkets.

Some interesting suggestions here. Not my personal favourites but the Glenmorangie Lasanta (festive?!) and Quinta Ruban are very smooth easy drinkers. One is sherried and one port cask. Tomintoul or Glen Grant nice choices for more typical easy drinking Scotch.

Jura for the more immature palate. Either origin or superstition.

10yr old Aberlour, lovely.

But this is a real treat,

[url= https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/yamazaki-distillers-reserve-whisky-70cl?langId=44&storeId=10151&krypto=fogeM7RDsvCbwVF5sf%2BOa9kiu8DSZW8Y092N5G3n1L0smKTx0ExrzfotqFABdGorZ0zsZaLsJ2AE%2Fu13sGWcfYsULKoFuOUbwjm5jIbshmgUA8z2c0m%2Bf2TFDJQDlum49JekqptGBsva0qKbjMy3etLeyJvgBGv2%2FqxX72Q1PZI%3D&ddkey=https%3Agb%2Fgroceries%2Fyamazaki-distillers-reserve-whisky-70cl ]Japanese whiskey [/url]

Sainsbury, £45. Yamazaki 12 year old single malt, distillers reserve.

I personally love the peated ones but the glenfiddich 15 solera is gorgeous and the only non peated I drink

If you don't fancy peaty ones then Ledaig (from the Tobermory distillery) is very nice.

I'm not a whisky drinker either ..but my tipple of choice would be an Irish whiskey .Jamesons +Canada Dry + Ice .
Of the Whisky I have tried in the past its been the Speyside brands mentioned above that I have favoured.
If you have the time go and drink yourself into oblivion trying this bars range of over 400 malt whiskies until you find one you like 🙂
http://www.sligachan.co.uk/seumas-bar/

Another vote for bourbon. Maker's Mark or Bulleit would be my recommendations. Used to like scotch, switched to bourbon and the occasional bottle of rum. Much nicer. Tried a single malt the other week and not impressed.

I'd add Ardbeg to the list as a more approachable Islay.

No No No.

It's about the smokiest whisky going, I'd really not reccomend it at all given the OP.
Bloody lovely mind, just be aware of quite how smokey it is prior to buying!

Another one I would recommend is Nikka Straight from the Barrel. Japanese loveliness, but a little more expensive as it come in 50cl bottles not the normal 75cl.

I suggest this:

[img] [/img]

I did a whisky tasting experience thing at a stag and out of the 8 or so, that was the only one I liked. All the rest were too peaty for me.

It spends a while in bourbon casks before going into sherry casks which gives it a nice sweet flavour.

I'd agree about Ardbeg (my wife bought me a bottle of their annual special, this year's is called Kelpie), Caol Isla might be a contender for the smokiest though!

Generally the Speyside based malts are less peaty/smokey. Another to throw in the mix is Mortlach but it's not one you tend to see outside specialist whisky shops.

Anyone tried Scapa Orcadian? I was tempted to get a bottle of this the other day.

I'm REALLY enjoying my whisky at the moment, although mostly smokey ones so no help to the OP.

Nobody has mentioned adding water though, the only way I can really sit and savour a whisky is with some water in it, otherwise it just burns on the way down and then gives me heartburn... 😳

if you're a Whisky newbie, you can do a lot worse than a bottle of Aldi's £17 Speyside Single Malt.

It's good, fairly rich, a bit sweet, not too challenging (ie in the same kind of taste ballpark as Glenfiddich et al), and better IMO than most things you'll find costing £10 more. A good entry point I think 🙂

Don't most 'serious ' whisky drinkers suggest a drop of water ?

The thing about Ardbeg is it's waaaaay lighter than most Islays, and I think it's the heaviness rather than the smokiness which puts a lot of people off.

Some excellent suggestions in this thread.

I'd suggest a sherry finish as it's a sweeter taste but most of the standard "breakfast whiskies" will see you good.

Ones I like that fall within your remit.

Aberlour 10 - pretty much always £22 and a decent drink
Dalmore - the 15 is divine
Dalwhinnie Double Wood - yum
Glengoyne - If you are ever offered the 21 year old sherry grab it. 21 years in a sherry cask and it tastes like Christmas cake.
Glenmorangie -
Glenfiddich - esp 15 Year Old Solera
The Glenrothes - yum
Singleton

* Haig Clubman - It's a blend, I can't stand it but my wife loves it. Very light and always on offer for around £15.

* Aldi have a 29 year old Glen Marnoch in just now at £40 which isn't too shabby.

Ones that knock my socks off:

Aberlour A’bunadh - This is amazing, cask strength so needs a few drops of water, usually on offer around Christmas time in supermarkets

Glengoyne 21 sherry cask. Over £100 but utterly amazing (if you like a heavy sherry finish)

Bunnahabhain 12 - A lovely whisky and again can often be found on offer. Surprisingly tasty and I always look out for this.

Basically any of the ones you can find in a supermarket that aren't peaty will be decent.

Don't be afraid to add a few drops (literally 1 or 2 drops) of water, or as much as you like to taste. It's about enjoying a drink not being a whisky bore.

Also as previously suggested, perhaps buy a range of miniatures. While it is
way more expensive this way, you will get to try so many different whiskies and expressions and might find one that blows you away.

Can't go wrong with a bottle of highland park.

Also Dalwhinnie Winter Gold and Auchentoshan American Oak were both on the cheap shelf at Tesco this week, both light easy drinking gems especially the Auchentoshan

OP here - just popped into Waitrose and spotted Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold 70cl - £40 down to £25. Think I might have had this and think I liked it...gotta be worth a go? Also Auchentoshan American Oak at £23.

[quote=rascal ]OP here - just popped into Waitrose and spotted Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold 70cl - £40 down to £25. Think I might have had this and think I liked it...gotta be worth a go?
Excellent choice. I have a bottle in the freezer at the moment.

+1 for the Dalwhinnie Winters Gold

Personal favourites are Highland Park and Jura Superstition, but both lightly smoky so may not be what the OP is after.

From looking in Tesco the other day -
Old Pulteney, and Ardmore - both fine drinkable drams, < £25 IIRC.

Winter's Gold a yes then folks?

I think it's really nice yes, I've had it chilled and warm, both good! It goes brilliantly with cinder toffee. 😛

Haig, whisky for non whisky drinkers.

After that any Irish except Connemara or powers

brilliantly with cinder toffee.

Has anyone had Drombeg? I got 10 bottles sent over from Éire as that's the only place you can get it - seriously lovely for the non-whiskey drinker (me). Only 22% and, AFAIK unique.

I tend to go 50:50 water with any others (40%+), Redbreast 12 being the standout so far. For my taste much Scotch is pretty gross fire-water; light Speysides being OK.

I can seriously recommend Lidl dark chocolate ginger biscuits.

And 'anything Irish' is terrible advice - have you ever drunk paddy's whiskey?

ANy advice saying 'from an area' let alone country is clearly just wrong, there's good and bad everywhere. Some of the Japanese stuff is ace (Nikka) but I drank some hoof wash in Devon from Japan. Really couldn't be bothered with the Tomatin Cu Bocan but loved the Dalwhinnie 15 and they both come from the same place - Scotland.

I bought a bottle of Winter's Gold after it was recommended on here several times, but honestly I didn't care much for it, tasted very young and lacking in flavour to me.

Nobody ever seems to mention Monkey Shoulder on here, I know it's probably not 'exclusive' enough for some, being a blend, but if you like Speysides (it contains both Balvenie and Glenfiddich) it's a lovely simple, smooth and cheap dram.

Jameson's, Glengoyne, Macallan and Edradour I would say are all good nursery-slope whiskies.

..or if you're going really non-whisky, try Red Stag and ginger beer with a slice of lime

Non-connoisseur here who finds Highland Park very drinkable

I would highly recommend looking at the Japanese offerings.

In particular you I would suggest the Hibiki Harmony - very mellow with a good depth of flavour without being overpowering and not at all peaty.

If I like Aberlour 10yo will I like Winter's Gold?

Like Jura, Tobermory, Laphroig, Ardmore, Glenmorangie

Didn't like Balvenie Caribbean Cask, Auchentoshan American Oak, Old Pultney

Bit meh about Aberlour 12yo

Hated Glen Moray

I'm not that keen on Dalwhinnie winters gold as i find it lacks depth of flavour and the taste soon disappears - it's almost as if the marketing bods got together and had a brainstorming session as to what to do with the thousands of gallons of grain spirit lying around, and as for the idea that it should be chilled before drinking?, that confuses me as the aromatic terpenoids and flavonoids of whisky need to be warmed to fully express their complexities. Chilling a whisky before drinking is akin to those cheap super chilled lagers you can buy - all watery taste and nothing else.

Just cos you don't like the medicinalness of Laphroaig don't write off all peated whisky. There are many degrees of peatyness and Laphroaig us pretty far over. Jura Superstition is a good start into the delicious world of peat!

That’s why the winters gold is a good whisky for non whisky people, it’s pleasntly easy to drink.

Agree with the laphroiag comment above, some very good slightly peaked expressions about.

[url= https://www.drambusters.com/item/1468/WhiskiesoftheWorld/MACKMYRA--SKORDETID-SINGLE-MALT-WHISKY-461-70CL.html ]tried some Swedish whiskey atvour local tasting session[/url]

Narrowed it down to Aberlour 10 and Auchentoshan American Oak based on common consensus they will be good for my 'level'....just tried JD which I like....so going for that. Am I a heathen?

JD? Jack Daniel's? That's good in Coke or for cleaning paintbrushes.

Bourbon (which JD technically isn't) is a whole other discussion.

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/recommend-me-a-bourbon-whiskey-please

two pages of suggestions, and we end up at JD.
What a sorry state of a thread

Am I a heathen?

No, just confused.

[s]Gin[/s] Jura.

I bought a bottle of the Aberlour 10 on the strength of the effusive recommendations in this thread, and because I'm a big fan of the 12. Well, it was just about worth the £22 I paid but tbh it's a bit thin. Next time I'll be digging a bit deeper for that extra fiver and getting the 12. And if anyone really believes the Aberlour 10 can't be beaten for under £50 they're blessed with a unique and economical to satisfy palate.

I would choose Auchentoshan over abelour if those are the shortlist, the ab is a bit thin and not much finish (aftertaste)

glenlivet is my favourite of the speyside/lowland, highland park is never a bad choice, the aldi speyside is good.

Water is personal preference, tends to be used for cask strength ones (50% or more) as the strength overpowers the more delicate flavours. only a tiny splash tho

johnners - you see that's the thing, everyone's palate is different. I much prefer the 10 to the 12.

Monkey Shoulder. Not a single malt but a blend of 3(I think) malts. I love it.

My local Co-op has Balvenie Doublewood 12 Years for £23. They had a few other single malts that were heavily discounted. I think these are whiskys that they are selling off rather than the usual discounts.

Ooh that's a cracking price for a marvellous whisky.

johnners - you see that's the thing, everyone's palate is different. I much prefer the 10 to the 12

NZCol, I meant what I said about blessed, I can think of no downside to preferring a more affordable whisky.

And 'anything Irish' is terrible advice - have you ever drunk paddy's whiskey?

Aye I have, can you buy it anywhere outside of the bogs? I'd be very surprised if you can get dirt cheap Irish market whiskey without being bloody unlucky Inthe UK.

Tullamore is also rancid but again it's not sold anywhere but some knacker hole in ballygobackwards.

The regular easy to get Irish whiskey like bushmills and Jameson's is "delicate", the next level of grog (writers tears, green/yellow spot etc) are also a very easy tipple, you would see them in offys and airports.

Something of an easy in to whiskey.

The only peaty shite one is connamara piggy backing pile of TCP shite made up in the last 10 years.

Sitting with a wee Balvenie 12 year old doublewood right now. Lovely. Doesn't even need water! 🙂 Got to be the smoothest whisky out, eh?