New Scotch drinker

[Inspector Jihad]

how should I start drinking scotch...some people tell me to use ice and some say not too. also how much water do I add to it?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Ice or a splash of water. Soda if you must. Never add anything with sugar and, for God's sake, stick with single malt.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

i have a bottle of johnny walker black label lying around.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

That's not scotch in my book.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

ok well i dont have anything else right now.

 

[Platypus]

single cube of ice or neat with a touch of water.

it depends on the scotch, sometimes I like to just have it neat in a glass.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Go to a large liquor store and purchase a sampler pack of single malts. They usually contain between 6 and 12 different scotches in the little airline bottles. Try them out and take notes. Good bad habits require development.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

will do...i'll bump this thread when i get around to some 'better' scotches

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
That's not scotch in my book.

well, according to Wiki

To be called Scotch whisky, the spirit must conform to the standards of the Scotch Whisky Order of 1990 (UK),[1] which clarified the Scotch Whisky Act of 1988,[2] and mandates that the spirit:

Must be distilled at a Scottish distillery from water and malted barley, to which only other whole grains may be added, have been processed at that distillery into a mash, converted to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems, and fermented only by the addition of yeast,
Must be distilled to an alcoholic strength of less than 94.8% by volume so that it retains the flavour of the raw materials used in its production,
Must be matured in Scotland in oak casks for not less than three years, and
Must not contain any added substance other than water and caramel colouring, and
May not be bottled at less than 40% alcohol by volume.
No whisky other than Scotch whisky may be made in Scotland

I don't know does Johnny Walker Black blend only from Scottish distillers, but for a similiarly priced 'real' Scotch, try Glenlivet 12 or Glenfiddich 12 (they are around 25 if you shop around, otherwise they could be up to 30). Then, try Bowmore 10, Balvenie 10, or even McCallan 10 which should be hovering around the 30 dollar mark.

 

[Midlander]

"True" whiskey drinkers use a splash of water. Never any ice.

For everyone else, it's whatever you like.

 

[ThePresence]

You can use ice or water in blended scotch, do not put any in Single Malt.

If you want a truly good scotch, my favorite is Glenrothes.

 

[imported_cheapdude]

If money is not an issue, I love JW blue, usually just the black label for me.
straight or with little water, no ice.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Midlander
"True" whiskey drinkers use a splash of water. Never any ice.

For everyone else, it's whatever you like.

thats not totally true

 

[Inspector Jihad]

what do you mean by splash of water?

 

[middlehead]

These threads are always good for a laugh.

 

[andylawcc]

nvm

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: middlehead
These threads are always good for a laugh.

 

[CorCentral]

Most have'nt heard of Pinch scotch, but it's decent.

Established is 1627, the oldest distillers of scotch whisky in the world. Few whiskies attain the rate distiction of the Dimple Pinch. Over 300 years of distilling and blending xperience have ensured the perfection of this most distinguished deluxe scotch whisky. Savor the elegant taste of a subtle blend of 15 year old whiskies that is as special as the unique dimpled bottle that holds it.

PINCH SCOTCH

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: CorCentral
Most have'nt heard of Pinch scotch, but it's decent.

Established is 1627, the oldest distillers of scotch whisky in the world. Few whiskies attain the rate distiction of the Dimple Pinch. Over 300 years of distilling and blending xperience have ensured the perfection of this most distinguished deluxe scotch whisky. Saviyr te elegant tast of a subtle blend of 15 year old whiskies that is as special as the unique dimpled bottle that holds it.

PINCH SCOTCH

Who hasn't heard of Pinch?
It's good, not fantastic.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: CorCentral
Most have'nt heard of Pinch scotch, but it's decent.

Established is 1627, the oldest distillers of scotch whisky in the world. Few whiskies attain the rate distiction of the Dimple Pinch. Over 300 years of distilling and blending xperience have ensured the perfection of this most distinguished deluxe scotch whisky. Saviyr te elegant tast of a subtle blend of 15 year old whiskies that is as special as the unique dimpled bottle that holds it.

PINCH SCOTCH

Who hasn't heard of Pinch?
It's good, not fantastic.

Anyone I talk to goes huh?, what? Pinch?...... what's that? I have to have places order it for me when I go out. I'm usually the only one that drinks it they say.

 

[Jadow]

ice

 

[ElFenix]

No whisky other than Scotch whisky may be made in Scotland

wtf?


edit:

i suggest you start with laphroaig

 

[silverpig]

I always drink scotch neat. I prefer single malt Islay scotches personally.

Lagavulin is probably my favourite so far.