Taste is so subjective, I'm not a fan of Bulleit Bourbon. I recently bought a bottle, and when I got home my wife said "you don't like Bulleit Bourbon" I had totally forgotten I had bought a bottle before, and complained the whole time drinking it lol. But she remembered... she always remembers...
Man... I've had some rough ones. I used to be a J&B guy when I first ventured into the Scotch (Or any Whiskey, really) pantheon. Although one night at a bar, I asked for a Scotch and soda for the hell of it as I've never had one. I noticed the bottle they were pouring was Dewars. Whatever, right? I didn't specify or anything, so it's fine. I was talking to someone and took that first sip... only to get hit with the thought "Yep, that just ruined my night." I can only imagine what expression was on my face to the person I was conversing with. I honestly thought it was the soda, as I'm not super keen on it period and chastised myself for thinking it was going to be good, swearing to leave it alone after that. Until I ended up at a company party (My girlfriend's) with an open bar years later, after having lived in Japan and REALLY got into whiskey there and the push into higher-end Scotches over the years since that first Scotch and soda. So I'm conversing with someone while at the bar and ask for a Scotch, it's an open bar so I'm expecting something like Cutty Sark or possibly even J&B and began to get nostalgic over it. Only for them to pour a glass of Dewars over ice. It was free Scotch and I didn't specify "Neat" so I didn't think there was reason to complain. As I'm talking, I take a sip and boom "Yep, that just ruined my night." AGAIN. Even with the ice dulling everything. It took me a serious half hour to actually down the rest of it. Which is weird because it isn't "Bad" per se, it's just that every time I drink it, I'm left with that reaction like when you go to drink Coke in a cup and it turns out to be tea... the tea isn't bad, it's just not what you were expecting.
So, 5 years on from this (I'm literally just ripping these prices off the Dan Murphy's website as a rough estimate) we have: Monkey Shoulder: 60 AUD (38 USD) Highland Park 12: 115 AUD (73 USD) Jameson: 55 AUD (35 USD) Bulleit Rye: 79 AUD (50 USD) Glenfiddich 12: 75 AUD (48 USD) Elijah Craig: 100 AUD (64 USD) Buffalo Trace: 73 AUD (47 USD) Macallan 12: 140 AUD (90 USD) Four Roses SiB: 110 AUD (70 USD) also not available in-store retail Caol Ila: 135 AUD (85 USD) Hibiki Harmony: 200 AUD (127 USD), and they also charge 250 AUD for it in a "gift box" which just looks like the regular retail box, which is absurd. So, what did I learn from this? We've been stiffed by excise and by the foreign exchange rate. The rate Japanese whisky is going up is crazy, one of my mates told me he has a friend that's currently holding onto 20+ bottles of Yamazaki 18 which will set you back 1500-1700 AUD right now if you can get them retail and he's been sat on them for about 5 years.
Amazing tasting vid with hilarious hosts. For those who's in absolute rush, here's the list. 1. Monkey Shoulder (Blended scotch) 2. Highland Park 12 (Island) 3. Glenfiddich 12 (Speyside) 4. Jameson (Irish) 5. Bulleit Rye (American Rye) 6. Elijah Craig (Bourbon) 7. Buffalo Trace (Bourbon) 8. The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak (Speyside) 9. Four Roses Single Barrel 100 Proof (Bourbon) 10. Coal Ila 12 (Islay) As it's 2021, I'd also add Amrut Fusion (India), Kavalan Distillery Select (Taiwan), and Nikka Whisky From The Barrel (Japanese Blended) to the Beginners list, if you want a taste of some non-traditional drams.
The presentation of it is shockingly well done. It's always there in the background of the wide shot with both guys, and it's very prominent when the camera shows only the guy on the right. It grabs your attention by being crooked and not matching the overall look of the room. As cheap as it looks, a good amount of thought went into it.
Buffalo Trace was the first bottle I bought at 21. Still a daily to this day. 5: Henry McKenna BIB 4: Four Roses Single Barrel 3: Eagle Rare 2: George T Stagg or EH Lee 1: Buffalo Trace
@@rondail5675 ew is definitely a cheaper bourbon, but it punches soundly above its price point. It's priced to compete with JD and JB, but blows them out of the water. I'd say their 1783 small batch competes with regular BT, and their single barrel is really a treat for the price you pay. It doesn't come close to comparing with other single barrels, but for $25, it's EXCELLENT.
I'm drinking Buffalo Trace right now. I've not had too many bourbons, but my favorite up until now has always been Bulleit. I think I need to rethink things, now.
The weirdest thing about starting to get into whisky is that all of the sudden people in the whisky culture will come out of the woodwork to you. A day after I had my first scotch (Glenfiddich 12) I was telling a friend of mine how much I enjoyed it and out of nowhere he goes "oh man if you like that you'll love this stuff!" And proceeded to pour me a glass of Johnny Walker Blue Label. I've never looked back.
The deeper I get into y'alls channels (emphasis on the plural) the more I enjoy the content. The knowledge is respected but the humor and honesty is so enjoyable. Thank you so much for recognizing the Beam!
This is coming from a beer drinker but bare with me. What i`ve noticed is that a lot of people are turned off by the burning sensation you get frm whiskeys or hard alcohol in general. And people try to get it down as quick as possible or mix in lots of sugar to mask that which takes away from the natural flavors, i`m guilty for it myself i`ll admit. You guys have changed my perspective on that though. From what i read you can develop a tolerance to the burning you get and that`s probably when you can pick out all the flavors. When i diluted it it smelt really nice and I could pick out some flavors i couldn`t before. I might try diluting it more until i can pick out the flavors easier and than I won`t have to worry about that anymore.
As "sort of" beer drinker, I would say it's likely similar to hoppy beer. If you're not used to it, all you taste is hops. Once you've tried enough, that becomes more of a background flavor and it allows you find the nuance in each beer.
yeah it goes away after time. but honestly just a couple drops of water or whiskey stones or ice. just try a bunch of different types of whiskey from different brands and try them all different ways to find what you like, then roll with that and explore some more. shit stick the bottle in the freezer if you want. its yours for you to enjoy. i mean dont mix the best of the best(pappy or some fancy scotch) obviously but yeah. to be frank i can drink whiskey neat and do, but i also sometimes like it on the rocks(or cold) or mixed. and some whiskey can be better with a couple drops of water, this one scotch i drink with my friend i prefer that way, i find the flavor comes out a bit more. also try knob creek cold. people might bitch but thats a super smooth whiskey and thats how my one buddy who hated whiskey got into drinking it. he literally said its smoother then grey goose vodka which was also ice cold literally shot followed by shot. then sat there drinking an ice cold one in a freezer glass while me ad my buddy were playing a drinking game with shots of that and southern comfort jalapeno or some shit(it was spicy as fuck thats all i remember)
If you can't tolerate the burn, you need to drink it neat. You NEED to. Otherwise you'll never go past that block. I went from almost puking at the taste of ordinary beer to drinking specialty beers and neat alcohols all the way up to 60% cask strength stuff without breaking a sweat. The side effect is that a watered down spirit becomes obvious and it strains my budget to drink better stuff :P
Monkey Shoulder and Buffalo Trace were my first two whisk(e)ys and I have no regrets. It's been a couple years since I dove in, so I've since tried everything on this list and can honestly say that these are truly priceless recommendations for the whiskey noob. This video didn't just entice me into exploring whiskey, but helped me to explore the whiskey aisle with confidence. I'm not much of a drinker, but being that I'm a bit of a zymology nerd I have an extreme appreciation for the flavors brought out in the fermentation and aging of beer/wine/spirits/etc. and get great joy from sipping on a glass (or two) slowly, and with good company (or a good pipe/cigar), from time to time. Thanks for getting me into this world, gentlemen... it's been weirdly life-changing.
As someone that’s been dabbling in whiskey recently this video was super helpful, I bought a bottle of wild turkey today and I’m loving it, I can’t wait to explore more whiskies! Great channel and content boys
Well, this is now 2 years old, but I'd love to add that from my experience, classic mainstream whiskeys like Jack and Crown can be good introductions if you get the subject to remove the coke and ice, and just focus on "tasting" the whiskey. I got a friend to do that once and very soon he was getting into Jack's single barrel and Scotch.
I admire how you can analyze, distinguish, and verbalize variety of flavors. There is a deficiency of flavor descriptions, and you are doing a fantastic job conveying the flavors.
I've been searching for Hibiki for months and finally found one today! My son was stationed in Japan and brought home my first bottle. It's good! -Marine Mom
My 10 Beginner Whiskeys: Glenfarclas 12 Bowmore 10 for an intro to smoke Glenfiddich 12 Monkey Shoulder Jameson Crested Four Roses Single Barrel (this was my first bourbon) Bulleit Bourbon Highland Park 12 Lot 40 Rye Dalwhinnie 15
Rex it is a Canadian 90% rye, 10% malted rye pot stilled product from Hiram Walker (JP Wiser) which I believe has distribution in the US. I'm a fan of the rye, the strong spicy notes. Guess that's why I like the stronger bourbons like four roses single barrel and knob creek single barrel. They will be launching a cask strength version this fall but that probably won't come to the US right away.
I've always thought Dalwhinnie since i became a Whisky drinking is the best entry level. Which is strange because the Whisky that hooked me is Laphroaig! I love the smoke.
It wasn't until I stumbled upon Islay picking up random bottles at the liquor store that I fell in love with Scotch and knew I'd be a Scotch drinker for the rest of my life. Islay whiskys are really polarizing, but if you're the kind of person who loves them, you'll love them probably from the first sip. I love that monster peat. My entry into single malt Scotch was Talisker 10, which I still think is fairly approachable, while giving a hint at more interesting possibilities, though I'm sure for many people it's too intense. On the flip side, for somebody like me, I think if I'd started out with something like Glenfiddich 12, I don't think I would be drinking Scotch now. Probably the best thing a beginner can do is familiarize themselves with the different regions and styles, and not give up on Scotch (or whiskey in general) until they've sampled at least one of each. It's certainly fair to start with a region or style that sounds particularly appealing, knowing one's own preferences for things like coffee, wine, tea, or anything else with a range of flavor possibilities. Even then, you never know. I'm the kind of person who likes really delicate white teas, low-tannin red wines, but only drinks strong brews of black coffee and Ardbeg or Laphroaig is my idea of a good time. You may be somebody who likes your coffee really bitter but wants a more delicate whiskey. Maybe you can't stand dark chocolate but love a Scotch with a lot of peat. Flavor preferences are totally subjective and can be very unpredictable. Try a lot of different things, and make friends with other whisky drinkers so you can trade bottles if you end up buying something you don't like. Maybe get a little whisky tasting group together, everybody brings a bottle, and nobody has to leave with the bottle they brought.
I drank my very first MACALLAN 12 while watching your show. You guys are informative, articulate with great knowledge of whiskey. Watching your show was like hanging out with my comrades. ✌🏼
Call me late to the show, but I recently found you guys. I'd add Glenfarclas 15 any day, for one specific reason: A first time Scotch drinker really liked it. We had a D&D session (NEEERDS, yeah yeah) and I was sipping Farclas and a porter during the session. This girl leaned over and asked if she could smell it, and really liked the scent. I suggested she tasted it (usually she drinks REALLY sweet ciders like Somersby) and said it was really, really good, but it burned a bit (I doubt you can kill that when you go from 4% to 40+%). If a complete newbie to hard liquor can fall in love with something like that, it's definitely a good starter.
I'm a tad ashamed I first found you through the Pewdiepie videos. But you guys are the most charismatic, uplifting people on this site. You've been bad for the wallet but great for the soul. Thank you so much for broadening my whisky horizons. If you're ever in Australia let me know and I'm happy to host you and show you what we have to offer.
My first whiskey was Wild Turkey 101 bourbon many years ago. It was my grandfather's whiskey. I drank it through college then stopped drinking whiskey for 20 years or so. I recently decided to get back into drinking whiskeys and found this channel. I had Jameson's for irish coffee, but now use Kirkland irish, which is about the same flavor but much cheaper. I loved Michters American Whiskey, all gone now :( . I finally took the plunge and got some Johnny Walker Double Black and Laphroaig 10. Boy, am I glad that I did. Love them both. Ardbeg 10 still to come. Very entertaining channel.
i think the beginners list for whiskey should consist of the most diverse spectrum of flavors so that a beginner can pin point the flavor profile they like in a certain type of whiskey then go from there.
@@eveny119 , I agree, I don't want anything that has a taste or smell of "eucalyptus". I normally drink Evan Williams Bourbon. I am now trying Seagram's VO Whiskey which seems a little smoother, less bite. What would you recommend for smooth, less bite, and something that has a flavor other than alcohol?
in PA, Macallan 12 --$55 4 Roses -- $42 Buffalo Trace - 25 Glenfiddich 12 --$49 Bulleit Rye - $29 Elija Craig - $27 I think the price in PA is a bit higher than in other states. i.e. Glenfarclas 25 yr $158, JW blue label $235 !
yes I agree. They do a good job covering the spectrum from end to end but skipped out some of the finer details, which is fine for a beginner like me who should try out as many distilleries as possible, though the price could be horrifying some time.
My first peated whiskey happened to be Laphroaig 10 and wow, the smell kicks your arse and taste buds before you've even tried it. Absolutely astonishing flavours completely blew my Dalwhinnie winters gold out the water for me
Laphroig is very good with a tad bit agressive smoke flavour. I prefer a Talisker 10. But when Talisker 10 or Laphroig aren't available I go with a light choice J.Walker double back. Still have to try Smokehead. But the whiskey that sucked me in to this world was Glenmorangie. Still one of my favourites to appreciate while alone.
Price is a thing for a beginner because they don't know what's available at each price point. If you're going to start someone on the paved highway to whisky-loving Hell, you have to suggest things that are affordable. So, smoothness and drinkability and affordability are the 3 keys to a good start.
Speaking of a challenge, try moving to a Middle Eastern country that doesn't allow alcohol! I don't particularly like whisky, I ADORE and LOVE it. This is gonna be the hardest few months of my adult life. Please keep making video's so I can get my daily whisky fix, sort of! Cheers or as we say in the Netherlands: Proost!
Years ago whilst touring Scotland I was having a beer at a bar when an 'old local boy' suggested drinking a Scotch Whiskey with him! He really was proud to be Scottish and he began recommending Whiskey's for me to try during my life. Bottom line: he said 'If you're ever in a place where the Whiskeys are of the 'lower order' and you are not sure what to order---go for a Famous Grouse'! I took him at his word and I have never been disappointed!
Famous Grouse makes me vomit, unfortunately. I've never found any other whisky that has caused that reaction. It tasted fine for the price point though. Here in Australia we never see it, but everywhere has Johnnie Walker Red and often Black. I always pray they have a Chivas Regal, Monkey Shoulder or Glenfiddich 12 though.
WAY WAY WAY late to the whisk(e)y party.....but these videos (you can thank Modern Rogue) have really gotten me excited to get into trying more! I visited a British type pub in Ames, IA this summer, and experienced some Scotch, Bourbon, and American whiskey. I couldn't remember the name of my favorite, but YOUR videos made me remember: MICHTERS It was the best of the half-dozen I tried. Anywho....This is my list of whisk(e)y which I am going to hunt down over the next few months: Hibiki Harmony Michters Monkey Shoulder Buffalo Trace Eagle Rare Hope you all approve of my endeavor and my beginning list!
The first "real" whiskey that I had and actually wanted more of was Dimple Pinch. My mom had it unopened for....god knows how long. I swear she had it *at least* 10 years. When she passed in 2009, I opened it a few months after laying her to rest, and I tell ya....it was really tasty.
Interesting, I put Glenmorangie Original (10yo) above Glenfiddich 12. Not because it is better but because it is the base for the rest of the line so a good lead-in for a beginner to start exploring the other finishes with a sound foundation of where they started. For a small 6 pack scotch (mid-range, beyond beginner bar) to cover most of the bases... Glenmorangie Original - Floral Vanilla, toffee, and orange. The low-cost drinker Oban 14 - Balanced and leather notes Tamdhu 15 - Ultimate sherry notes Talisker 10 - The brine and seaweed notes Lagavulin 16 - The smokey bottle Longmorn 16 - The smooth long treat You could do a lower-cost version of the above for example Laphroig over Lagavulin etc. I would love your take on a mid-range "Scotch selection" the emphasis here is selection as in trying to cover the main categories.
I only use Jameson, Famous Grouse, Chivas 12y.o and rest single malt for my tastings for novices. 4 of your suggestions are on my list as well. Scotland have all regions included. Campbeltown Springbank 10yo Highlands Macallan 12yo Double Cask Islands Talisker 10yo 750ml Highland/Islands Orkney Highland Park 12yo Islay Laphroaig 10yo Bowmore 12yo Ardbeg 10yo Lowland Auchentoshan 12yo Glenkinchie 12yo Speyside Glenfiddich 12yo Japan Yamazaki 12yo Taiwan Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish Sweden MACK BY MACKMYRA
4 roses single barrel is my favorite. Another really good one is Maker's Mark Cask Strength. Much different from regular Maker's. There is a Russell's on the video shelf. That is surprisingly delicious too. One thing that needs to be mentioned is that as you get near 100 proof, it helps to add a couple drops of water. I like a small piece,dime sized, of crushed ice. It cuts the alcohol to the nose and opens the flavors up a lot. That 4 roses changes to a piece of Heaven with a little water.
Québec SAQ prices for comparison (all prices in CAD not including sales tax for a 750ml bottle) Monkey Shoulder: 53.00$ Highland Park 12: 70.50$ Glenfiddich 12: 61.75$ Jameson: 36.00$ Bulleit Rye: 35.75$ Elijah Craig: 56.50$ Buffalo Trace: 41.75$ Macallan Double Cask 12: 100.00$ Macallan Sherry Oak 12: 150.00$ Four Roses: Not Available Caol Ila 12: 85.50$ Hibiki Harmony: 130.00$
I immediately regretted that I didn't take y'all opinion serious enough after trying Highland Park 12 T_T. It tasted in the following order - little sweetness in the beginning (nice), (but then punch me in my face) peat, total burnt charcoal, chemical soap water because of the iodine taste. The smoky/peat taste even lingered for a long time too. I all of a sudden understood what you meant by mermaid bath water after the 1st sip of Highland Park 12. I like Four Roses single Barrel and Angel's Envy very much though. Btw, thanks for introducing me to the whiskey journey. =)
Jesus. I lucked out and found one lone bottle on the shelf at my local store for ~$50 and I have never seen it since. No clue what that was all about but it was okay imo, not worth 120 euro at all though.
Didn’t even know y’all had this channel!! I love it!! Thank Daniel for introducing me to scotch back when I worked at the wizard academy and you allowed me to partake in your “tours of Scotland” at the top of the tower. I tell that story all the time.
"Where wood meets cherry". A perfectly valid, sincere description of the Four Roses flavor profile. But after sampling multiple whiskeys, this is exact moment this compilation video went sideways. 26:20. Also the exact moment I decided to hit "subscribe". Bravo, gentlemen. *Bravo.*
My list for getting into smokey stuff (kind of based on what's available in Sweden) 3 cheap ones are Illeach (lighter than Laphroaig), Laphroaig and Jura Superstition. Then moving on to Bowmore 12, Lagavulin 16 and maybe Ardbeg or Caol Ila for an extreme and Oban 14 for something more nuanced.
the experiences i made with friends who haven't been whiskey drinkers before. they like in the bourbon category: 1.basel hyden followed by 2. Baffalow trace in the scotch category 1.glenlivet 12 2.glendronach 12 and in Irish 1. redbreast 12 2. Talamor 12 (even over green spot) and the hibiki harmony is a good Beginner whiskey but To expensive where i live (germany 70€+).and at tthat price i would recommend dalmore 15.(smoother then the 12)
That's no lie. It was one of my firsts AFTER I focused on more than just drinking and started paying attention to the notes and flavors and yea... Solid whiskey for sure.
An ode to Macallan 12: This is seriously a great scotch. I have to say this really hits the spot with a freshly grilled steak and mushrooms. The scotch brings out flavors of the prime meat and the mushrooms. It is hard to deny the full flavor of the sherry mingling with the steak. It just pairs so well. The next time you have your steak (a bit on the rare side) grab your Macallan 12 and enjoy this flavor combo. I even had a drink of this and a bite of steak and man it was buttery smooth goodness. You are paying for the name though. I will say it is good, just not Monkey Shoulders good, in my opinion.
Noob here. 65 years old and have always avoided bourbons until now. Elijah Craig, Bulleit and Buffaloe Trace I like, BT is favorite. Now I'm trying Four Roses. All good bourbons. Thanks for the tips.
My first whiskey was Canadian Mist and it wasn't my thing. I tried Jack Daniel's and Crown after that and thought it was alright, but I really fell in love with whiskey when I tried Bulleit Rye, Monkey Shoulder, and Buffalo Trace.
this ain't vodka. pick a genre and go from there. you can't compare a bourbon with a rye whiskey. scotch, irish whiskey, bourbon, rye whiskey, each is their own category, with so many different brands, and each brand then has many different flavours.
Thank you so much for these suggestions! I have my first memory of drinking whisky with my dad when I was 17, but had some bad experiences later on which threw me off. This got me back to buying a bottle for the first time in yeaars!
With Four Roses, I also enjoy the normal Small Batch. I'd put it more alongside the Buffalo Trace / Elijah Craig SB with the 4R Single Barrel being a step up.
I suggest if you want to see if your the whisky kind of guy to start with jack Daniels they just came out with a rye. I consider myself super picky and jack daniels rye is a really nice whisky and cheap 20 bucks 18 at bevmo.
My first whiskey ever was Jack Daniels. It still has a fond place in my heart though I would rarely drink it neat now (still great in a cocktail). I quickly gravitated to Scotch, was somewhat ambivalent about Dewar's white label, then tried my first single malt with Talisker. I liked it, but I still wasn't sure I'd really become a Scotch drinker or even a whiskey drinker, until I stumbled upon Lagavulin by pure chance picking a bottle at random when I wanted to try something new. I fell in love, and I've been a diehard Islay fan ever since, branching out to Ardbeg, Bowmore, Laphroaig, and others, though locally I have a hard time finding anything from the other four distilleries outside of specialty shops. To this day I haven't found anything I like better than Lagavulin 16, but I keep looking. Ardbeg 10 and Bowmore 12 remain staples, and I try to never be without those three Scotches at home even as I buy a bottle here or there of other things as a I wish to spice things up with a little variety. I love that Scotch has such a huge range in flavors, I believe there's something for everyone, but I'm a black coffee kind of guy so the Highland stuff so many people like isn't really for me. Hey, that's great, more peaty goodness for me! For those about to turn 21, or maybe just new to whisky, my advice is try a bunch of different things. Don't try one bottle and then write off the whole thing if you don't like it. As has been said many times, there is huge variety of flavors, and until you really find your particular niche you're going to just try as many different whiskeys as you can. My favorite drink of all time, Lagavulin 16, is extremely polarizing. Go to a site with reviews and it's all 5 stars and 1 star reviews, with almost nothing in between. I think the best choice you could probably make is find a friend or two who is also interested in exploring the world of whisky, try some stuff together, and divide up what's left of your taste test bottles to whoever actually liked the stuff. If in your group of friends, nobody likes a particular whisky, make some new friends; I bet somebody would be really grateful to get a partial bottle as a gift. I got into alcohol first through the world of wine, and just as it's hilarious to me when somebody says they "don't like wine", I have the same reaction to people who say they "don't like whisky". Naturally, if you dig a little deeper you find out they tried only one or two kinds, then gave up, for wine or whisky. It takes a while to figure out if you like Burgundy more than Bordeaux, much less the product of one winery over that of another down the road using the same variety of grapes. Spend a little time understanding the different regions and styles, develop a vocabulary, and then try out stuff from different regions and styles until you start finding out what your personal preferences are. It's actually a lot of fun exploring these things and figuring stuff out. When you do find some stuff you like, try something that's supposed to be similar, and see if you like it more or less. Then try something that's really different, and maybe you like that too, or maybe not. I'm definitely a Scotch drinker now, but a year or so ago I started to explore bourbon, as a complete newbie. I still have a lot to learn, and I've definitely found some stuff I don't like, but it's still really interesting and I haven't had to pour anything down the drain, yet, thanks to friends taking bottles off my hands, or some creative mixing. Anyway, the point is, have fun with it, find some good drinking buddies, and don't get frustrated if it takes a while to find something you really like. There's absolutely no reason not to try anything at all if you think it might be an interesting experience. You don't have to stick to stuff that's "for newbies" when you're still a newbie.
You guys would get a kick out out of this. Basil Hayden can be $85-95 where I am and some people are into it because it's expensive. Am I the only one who thinks it has an odd funk note underneath?
Just recently discovered you gents! Awesome channel for people like me trying to learn the nuances of whiskey. Humorously enough, I was drinking more bourbon or Irish whiskey. I've had some scotch - mainly Speyside, but never got into it much. I had the opportunity to purchase a Johnnie Walker sampler of Black, Gold, Platinum, and Blue for around 40$... At a family party we were talking about beers and spirits and then my uncle was discussing scotch... He noted he's a fan of blended and just got into JW black. My cousin mentioned he should try Blue if he ever had the chance. Sooo, I pulled it out and we enjoyed. That moment, right there, got me into scotch. Just picked up Glenfiddich 18 special reserve (Glenfiddich 12 was my first Scotch, though I mainly used it in rusty nails - not anymore) and it's amazing. Also started to expand my horizons with Highland Park 12. Wow, I've been missing alot.
When I tried my first whiskeys, they were the cheapest stuff from the store, like 7 to 10 € (Four Roses, Golden Dew, Jim Beam and the likes). At the time I didn't think much of the taste, since we were drinking those to get hammered. Then I came across Glen Ardoch, a 10 € Whiskey from SPAR in Austria the taste of which changed my perception of Whiskey from "high % drink to get wasted" to "damn good taste experience, actually". From then on I started trying many other whiskeys up to the 100 € range and became a huge fan. Buy the Glen Ardoch if you can get your hands on one. It's a great cheap starter and always good to have in your home!
Good rum should be sipped like good whiskey. The flavors differ, but so do those of whiskey. Ron Zacapa, Ron Barrelito, and Barbancourt are among my favorites. Prefer rum in warm weather, often, over whiskey.
My friends dad back in 94 when I bought a lagavulin 16 year old, commented liquid smoke, it's been my favorite scotch forevermore, though the cardhu 12 year, which is the cornerstone of every Johnnie Walker blend, his uncle Steve when we gave him the cork to smell, was "glass with ice please."
My top 10 for beginners are : Glenfiddich 15, Jameson Black Barrel, Aberlour 12 double cask, Aberfeldy 12, Dalwhinnie 15, Macallan 12 Double/Triple cask, Glenmorangie's Lasanta, Quinta Ruban, Nectar D'Or, Tomatin 12, 14 and 15 YO, Glendronach 12 Cherry Cask and Royal Lochnagar 12 YO with a hint of smoke. Where I live all there are between 40-55 Dollars and are great malts.
I have noticed that my favorite whiskeys vary over time. If I hate something that doesn't change. But my preferences change. So it's good to try lots and keep buying the ones you like most. Also I have found that 2 whiskeys I don't like blended together can make something I do like. It's a journey
I’ve tried moonshine multiple times. The commercially available stuff is total shite in my opinion. The one good experience I had with it was some “locally sourced” moonshine from Appalachia. It was incredibly smooth and flavorful, but since I don’t like committing felonies, I never purchased any.
Just a little trivia, Sylvester Stallone movie “Bullet to the Head” every time he goes into a bar, he asks for bulleit bourbon. They never have it, so he brings his own bottle and rents a glass.
Between your whiskey expertise, your genuine personalities and unscripted content, and your public denouncement of the TH-cam disease that is clickbait videos, you have a new subscriber.
My grandfather was from Glasgow Scotland so I decided I needed to connect to my roots and begin a scotch journey. I wish I has seen this/these videos first. I jumped right in with Grangestone Highland Single Malt 18 (recommended by local store and "scotch" connoisseur). Wasn't to bad but being a novice I would drink over ice and liked it better as ice melt. Seeing this video and the talk of the last bottle being a smoke pit I also tried Laphroaig 10 which to me tasted like liquid campfire also not to bad. I next tried the Grangestone SM Bourbon Cask finish. I liked this better than the first Grangestone I tried. I gave up my quest for scotch and switched to bourbans. I like Knobb Creek but I find in the end unless I push myself to keep exploring Im not much of a whiskey or hard liquor drinker. Im just a beer guy at heart. But I will try some of these recommendations.
You can only buy Grangestone at Total Wine and More. It's their house brand of scotch. They have a wall of whiskey selections and the "connoisseur" recommends Grangestone first? That should be enough to cause your bs detector to go off. They recommend Grangestone for one reason - it's their most profitable bottle of whiskey. When I was a novice, they sold me on it when I was looking to buy Lagavulin. To be fair - Grangestone isn't terrible. I just don't appreciate the disingenuous recommendation from their sales people. It's like asking a waiter to recommend a dinner entree and they go straight to the most expensive item on the menu only because they've been trained to push the higher profit margin selections. If Grangestone was as good as they make it out to be in their sales pitch, you would be able to buy it in other stores because the distillery would want to maximize their market exposure. I'd stop short of calling it a scam only because its pretty good for the price point. It exceeds expectations for a cheap bottle of scotch.
My 1st video of yours. I’ve been looking for a “whiskey channel” to educate myself. What SOLD me on you is that you’re fun, educational AND don’t talk over eachother letting the other speak! Thank you for definitely helping me forward ! LOL “it’s raining men!” You sold me on the Hibiki but not the Caol Ila ( glad taste is subjective) but I’m in for the other 10!!
![Best Whiskey For The Money [Crowdsourced from Whisk(e)y Lovers]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/r4zc9p4YPk4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Best Whiskey For The Money [Crowdsourced from Whisk(e)y Lovers]](/img/tr.png)
2:36 Monkey Shoulder $27 750ml
4:36 Highland Park 12 $50 750ml
7:02 Glenfiddich 12 $28 750ml
9:20 Jameson $21 750ml
12:16 Bulleit 95 Rye $22 750ml
14:35 Elijah Craig $24 750ml
17:43 Buffalo Trace $24 750ml
21:22 Macallan 12 $58 750ml
24:39 Four Roses Single Barrel $40 750ml
29:07 CAOL ILA 12 $73 750ml
35:20 Hibiki Harmony $59 750ml
**Sunny California, Total Wine price
wow, didn't think I would watch this whole video ...that was super long one...
Did you taste any of them?
@@jeremiedumas8555 just got the Monkey Shoulder. Pretty smooth, I can see why he said dried apricots. Good choice
21$ for some Jameson ha worth it
wow...that's crazy...maybe the regional distributor for those brands made the difference.
Sydney, Australia, in AUD. $1 AUD = $.68 USD. Heavily taxed.
Monkey: $50
Highland: $87
Glenfiddich: $60
Jameson: $42
Bullet 95 Rye: $60
Elijah: $80
Buffalo: $54
Macallan: $99
Four Roses Single: $96
Caol: $100
Hibiki: $120
Taste is so subjective, I'm not a fan of Bulleit Bourbon. I recently bought a bottle, and when I got home my wife said "you don't like Bulleit Bourbon"
I had totally forgotten I had bought a bottle before, and complained the whole time drinking it lol. But she remembered... she always remembers...
They always remember
Whiskey Vault Oolong Tea. That's the between
Agree. I recall the first time I tried it, I loved it! But then that taste just moved away from me so very quickly. Can barely stand it now.
I'm not a fan of it either kinda weird that it's always recommended but I see it as below average. The bottle is cool though.. Maybe that's why
I had a similar situation with Bulleit bourbon as well. I did not like it at all. My go too is Knob Creek.
"my job today is drinking whiskey"
Man that's a phrase I want to have on my resume.
Get a job as a bartender.
@@joesuriani2838 or work in a retail shop.
I love how they progressively slur as the video goes on. Couple of legends.
Honestly you should see me when trying 20'ish Whisky ... well its funny but still
@@kcinnay2we should be friends
Ok, now you need to do a *Bottom* 10 Whiskeys for Beginners. Ones to avoid because they'll make people not like drinking whiskey.
Ardbeg is going to be in that list for sure. As well As Laphroaig.
Ardbeg!!!!
Man... I've had some rough ones. I used to be a J&B guy when I first ventured into the Scotch (Or any Whiskey, really) pantheon. Although one night at a bar, I asked for a Scotch and soda for the hell of it as I've never had one. I noticed the bottle they were pouring was Dewars. Whatever, right? I didn't specify or anything, so it's fine. I was talking to someone and took that first sip... only to get hit with the thought "Yep, that just ruined my night." I can only imagine what expression was on my face to the person I was conversing with. I honestly thought it was the soda, as I'm not super keen on it period and chastised myself for thinking it was going to be good, swearing to leave it alone after that.
Until I ended up at a company party (My girlfriend's) with an open bar years later, after having lived in Japan and REALLY got into whiskey there and the push into higher-end Scotches over the years since that first Scotch and soda. So I'm conversing with someone while at the bar and ask for a Scotch, it's an open bar so I'm expecting something like Cutty Sark or possibly even J&B and began to get nostalgic over it. Only for them to pour a glass of Dewars over ice. It was free Scotch and I didn't specify "Neat" so I didn't think there was reason to complain. As I'm talking, I take a sip and boom "Yep, that just ruined my night." AGAIN. Even with the ice dulling everything. It took me a serious half hour to actually down the rest of it. Which is weird because it isn't "Bad" per se, it's just that every time I drink it, I'm left with that reaction like when you go to drink Coke in a cup and it turns out to be tea... the tea isn't bad, it's just not what you were expecting.
@paly jefferson Talisker was the Scotch that got me into Scotch.
1835... a lady who considered herself a “bourbon expert” told me about this. Rough!
I've never considered saving an old cork in case one breaks, I just finish the bottle.
Rounded Prices in Australia (exact bottles):
Monkey Shoulder: AUD$55 (USD$38)
Highland Park: AUD$85 (USD$58)
Jameson: AUD$45 (USD$30)
Bulleit Rye: AUD$60 (USD$40)
Glenfiddich: AUD$60 (USD$40)
Elijah Craig: AUD$75 (USD$51)
Buffalo Trace: AUD$55 (USD$38)
Macallan: AUD$120 (USD$82)
Four Roses: AUD$110 (USD$75)
Caol Ila: AUD$100 (USD$68)
Hibiki: AUD$150 (USD$102)
Tumas Agius yep, we’re getting absolutely thumped down here
New zealand is even worse
Canada is worse. They all cross the border to the state im in because you can get a bottle that costs 150$ USD there For 40$ USD here. (Approximately)
Don't have time to watch this, so thanks for the list. Good to see there's no JW on there.
So, 5 years on from this (I'm literally just ripping these prices off the Dan Murphy's website as a rough estimate) we have:
Monkey Shoulder: 60 AUD (38 USD)
Highland Park 12: 115 AUD (73 USD)
Jameson: 55 AUD (35 USD)
Bulleit Rye: 79 AUD (50 USD)
Glenfiddich 12: 75 AUD (48 USD)
Elijah Craig: 100 AUD (64 USD)
Buffalo Trace: 73 AUD (47 USD)
Macallan 12: 140 AUD (90 USD)
Four Roses SiB: 110 AUD (70 USD) also not available in-store retail
Caol Ila: 135 AUD (85 USD)
Hibiki Harmony: 200 AUD (127 USD), and they also charge 250 AUD for it in a "gift box" which just looks like the regular retail box, which is absurd.
So, what did I learn from this? We've been stiffed by excise and by the foreign exchange rate. The rate Japanese whisky is going up is crazy, one of my mates told me he has a friend that's currently holding onto 20+ bottles of Yamazaki 18 which will set you back 1500-1700 AUD right now if you can get them retail and he's been sat on them for about 5 years.
Amazing tasting vid with hilarious hosts. For those who's in absolute rush, here's the list.
1. Monkey Shoulder (Blended scotch)
2. Highland Park 12 (Island)
3. Glenfiddich 12 (Speyside)
4. Jameson (Irish)
5. Bulleit Rye (American Rye)
6. Elijah Craig (Bourbon)
7. Buffalo Trace (Bourbon)
8. The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak (Speyside)
9. Four Roses Single Barrel 100 Proof (Bourbon)
10. Coal Ila 12 (Islay)
As it's 2021, I'd also add Amrut Fusion (India), Kavalan Distillery Select (Taiwan), and Nikka Whisky From The Barrel (Japanese Blended) to the Beginners list, if you want a taste of some non-traditional drams.
Isn t Highland Park Scottish?
@@nailen4753 Technically yes, and if you break scotch further down to regions, we’ll have Lowland, Highland, Speyside, Islay, Campbeltown, and Island
@@almoskam2735 Ty =)!
Yall notice how each whiskey is more appreciated than the one before it? I bet it's the whiskey talking lol
I thought it was Rex and Daniel talking?
This is the comment I was looking for 😂😂
Taste the alcohol less at least though.
Yeah, not sipping that much...
😂
Dude! Pouring your mate twice as much as you on each glass? Harsh, Can I join you for a testing sometime?
*RIGHT!?!?!?!?*
Trying to 'put he down'
It's simply just good friend etiquette
I love it...that's how you do it. More for you...less for me. I have gained a friend!
That's just called hospitality right there.
5 small whiskeys in:
"oooo, this is better than I remember it."
Strong relate.
Probably thousands of dollars of whiskey in that room but there is a cardboard subscribe sign taped to the door.
They're investing their money properly :P
$10's of Thousands. And,... yep.
Haha. Totally. Love it. Good shtick
Wouldn't you rather spend your money on Whiskey than a sign that says subscribe
The presentation of it is shockingly well done. It's always there in the background of the wide shot with both guys, and it's very prominent when the camera shows only the guy on the right. It grabs your attention by being crooked and not matching the overall look of the room.
As cheap as it looks, a good amount of thought went into it.
Whenever you feel down on the United States Of America, remember these dudes get paid to taste whiskey and talk about it. That's beautiful to me.
Ron swanson ?
The American dream my friend
Buffalo Trace was the first bottle I bought at 21. Still a daily to this day.
5: Henry McKenna BIB
4: Four Roses Single Barrel
3: Eagle Rare
2: George T Stagg or EH Lee
1: Buffalo Trace
Thanks, I will try Buffalo Trace. I have been drinking Evan Williams. Can you compare the differences?
@@rondail5675 ew is definitely a cheaper bourbon, but it punches soundly above its price point. It's priced to compete with JD and JB, but blows them out of the water. I'd say their 1783 small batch competes with regular BT, and their single barrel is really a treat for the price you pay. It doesn't come close to comparing with other single barrels, but for $25, it's EXCELLENT.
I'm drinking Buffalo Trace right now. I've not had too many bourbons, but my favorite up until now has always been Bulleit. I think I need to rethink things, now.
The weirdest thing about starting to get into whisky is that all of the sudden people in the whisky culture will come out of the woodwork to you. A day after I had my first scotch (Glenfiddich 12) I was telling a friend of mine how much I enjoyed it and out of nowhere he goes "oh man if you like that you'll love this stuff!" And proceeded to pour me a glass of Johnny Walker Blue Label. I've never looked back.
Sounds like a damn good friend.
Love your channel - just a suggestion for us noobs, show a closeup of the label for a couple of ticks - we are taking notes. Carry on.
@@staticjordan42374 one tick 6-way whiskey swap
The deeper I get into y'alls channels (emphasis on the plural) the more I enjoy the content. The knowledge is respected but the humor and honesty is so enjoyable. Thank you so much for recognizing the Beam!
This is coming from a beer drinker but bare with me. What i`ve noticed is that a lot of people are turned off by the burning sensation you get frm whiskeys or hard alcohol in general. And people try to get it down as quick as possible or mix in lots of sugar to mask that which takes away from the natural flavors, i`m guilty for it myself i`ll admit. You guys have changed my perspective on that though. From what i read you can develop a tolerance to the burning you get and that`s probably when you can pick out all the flavors. When i diluted it it smelt really nice and I could pick out some flavors i couldn`t before. I might try diluting it more until i can pick out the flavors easier and than I won`t have to worry about that anymore.
As "sort of" beer drinker, I would say it's likely similar to hoppy beer. If you're not used to it, all you taste is hops. Once you've tried enough, that becomes more of a background flavor and it allows you find the nuance in each beer.
Would this technique work well? (Dilution until tolerance)
yeah it goes away after time. but honestly just a couple drops of water or whiskey stones or ice. just try a bunch of different types of whiskey from different brands and try them all different ways to find what you like, then roll with that and explore some more. shit stick the bottle in the freezer if you want. its yours for you to enjoy. i mean dont mix the best of the best(pappy or some fancy scotch) obviously but yeah. to be frank i can drink whiskey neat and do, but i also sometimes like it on the rocks(or cold) or mixed. and some whiskey can be better with a couple drops of water, this one scotch i drink with my friend i prefer that way, i find the flavor comes out a bit more.
also try knob creek cold. people might bitch but thats a super smooth whiskey and thats how my one buddy who hated whiskey got into drinking it. he literally said its smoother then grey goose vodka which was also ice cold literally shot followed by shot. then sat there drinking an ice cold one in a freezer glass while me ad my buddy were playing a drinking game with shots of that and southern comfort jalapeno or some shit(it was spicy as fuck thats all i remember)
Whiskey Vault right.. it is about the flavor.. #whisky/beer/coffee drinker here
If you can't tolerate the burn, you need to drink it neat. You NEED to. Otherwise you'll never go past that block. I went from almost puking at the taste of ordinary beer to drinking specialty beers and neat alcohols all the way up to 60% cask strength stuff without breaking a sweat. The side effect is that a watered down spirit becomes obvious and it strains my budget to drink better stuff :P
Monkey Shoulder and Buffalo Trace were my first two whisk(e)ys and I have no regrets. It's been a couple years since I dove in, so I've since tried everything on this list and can honestly say that these are truly priceless recommendations for the whiskey noob. This video didn't just entice me into exploring whiskey, but helped me to explore the whiskey aisle with confidence.
I'm not much of a drinker, but being that I'm a bit of a zymology nerd I have an extreme appreciation for the flavors brought out in the fermentation and aging of beer/wine/spirits/etc. and get great joy from sipping on a glass (or two) slowly, and with good company (or a good pipe/cigar), from time to time.
Thanks for getting me into this world, gentlemen... it's been weirdly life-changing.
As someone that’s been dabbling in whiskey recently this video was super helpful, I bought a bottle of wild turkey today and I’m loving it, I can’t wait to explore more whiskies! Great channel and content boys
Well, this is now 2 years old, but I'd love to add that from my experience, classic mainstream whiskeys like Jack and Crown can be good introductions if you get the subject to remove the coke and ice, and just focus on "tasting" the whiskey. I got a friend to do that once and very soon he was getting into Jack's single barrel and Scotch.
These guys crack me up. “I’m getting hints of apple pie, buttered biscuits, caramel, burnt matches, fresh cut grass” LOL
Yeah. I like them but I think a lot of this is imaginary nonsense.
@@memememe843I'm getting some printer paper, moonlight, and Tyson vaccume notes 📝
@@cscott661 that is excellent!
And “8 inches of wood” 🪵 😅
I admire how you can analyze, distinguish, and verbalize variety of flavors. There is a deficiency of flavor descriptions, and you are doing a fantastic job conveying the flavors.
I've been searching for Hibiki for months and finally found one today! My son was stationed in Japan and brought home my first bottle. It's good! -Marine Mom
My 10 Beginner Whiskeys:
Glenfarclas 12
Bowmore 10 for an intro to smoke
Glenfiddich 12
Monkey Shoulder
Jameson Crested
Four Roses Single Barrel (this was my first bourbon)
Bulleit Bourbon
Highland Park 12
Lot 40 Rye
Dalwhinnie 15
Tim Dietrich, a damn fine list. I haven't had the Lot 40 though. Why do you like it?
Rex it is a Canadian 90% rye, 10% malted rye pot stilled product from Hiram Walker (JP Wiser) which I believe has distribution in the US. I'm a fan of the rye, the strong spicy notes. Guess that's why I like the stronger bourbons like four roses single barrel and knob creek single barrel. They will be launching a cask strength version this fall but that probably won't come to the US right away.
Rex, Here is a link to the product at Total Wine
www.totalwine.com/spirits/canadian-whisky//lot-40-canadian-rye-whiskey/p/134629750?s=522&igrules=true
I've always thought Dalwhinnie since i became a Whisky drinking is the best entry level. Which is strange because the Whisky that hooked me is Laphroaig! I love the smoke.
It wasn't until I stumbled upon Islay picking up random bottles at the liquor store that I fell in love with Scotch and knew I'd be a Scotch drinker for the rest of my life. Islay whiskys are really polarizing, but if you're the kind of person who loves them, you'll love them probably from the first sip. I love that monster peat.
My entry into single malt Scotch was Talisker 10, which I still think is fairly approachable, while giving a hint at more interesting possibilities, though I'm sure for many people it's too intense. On the flip side, for somebody like me, I think if I'd started out with something like Glenfiddich 12, I don't think I would be drinking Scotch now.
Probably the best thing a beginner can do is familiarize themselves with the different regions and styles, and not give up on Scotch (or whiskey in general) until they've sampled at least one of each. It's certainly fair to start with a region or style that sounds particularly appealing, knowing one's own preferences for things like coffee, wine, tea, or anything else with a range of flavor possibilities. Even then, you never know. I'm the kind of person who likes really delicate white teas, low-tannin red wines, but only drinks strong brews of black coffee and Ardbeg or Laphroaig is my idea of a good time. You may be somebody who likes your coffee really bitter but wants a more delicate whiskey. Maybe you can't stand dark chocolate but love a Scotch with a lot of peat. Flavor preferences are totally subjective and can be very unpredictable. Try a lot of different things, and make friends with other whisky drinkers so you can trade bottles if you end up buying something you don't like. Maybe get a little whisky tasting group together, everybody brings a bottle, and nobody has to leave with the bottle they brought.
I found this channel via Modern Rogue. This channel is awesome. You guys are awesome.
Glad to have you!
Steven Rose, thank you, glad you're here!
I drank my very first MACALLAN 12 while watching your show. You guys are informative, articulate with great knowledge of whiskey. Watching your show was like hanging out with my comrades. ✌🏼
2 guys slowly getting drunk .. its fun to watch and also informative
🤣😄👌🏻
They got so drunk they summoned a rogue
i could tell by the time they were describing buffalo 😂
It’s called tasting and it’s fancy! 😂😂
Seemed pretty fast to me.
Call me late to the show, but I recently found you guys.
I'd add Glenfarclas 15 any day, for one specific reason: A first time Scotch drinker really liked it.
We had a D&D session (NEEERDS, yeah yeah) and I was sipping Farclas and a porter during the session. This girl leaned over and asked if she could smell it, and really liked the scent. I suggested she tasted it (usually she drinks REALLY sweet ciders like Somersby) and said it was really, really good, but it burned a bit (I doubt you can kill that when you go from 4% to 40+%).
If a complete newbie to hard liquor can fall in love with something like that, it's definitely a good starter.
I'm a tad ashamed I first found you through the Pewdiepie videos. But you guys are the most charismatic, uplifting people on this site. You've been bad for the wallet but great for the soul. Thank you so much for broadening my whisky horizons. If you're ever in Australia let me know and I'm happy to host you and show you what we have to offer.
We're glad you're here!
I live in Oz and my daughter bought me a bottle of Starwards two fold and am really enjoying it
My first whiskey was Wild Turkey 101 bourbon many years ago. It was my grandfather's whiskey. I drank it through college then stopped drinking whiskey for 20 years or so. I recently decided to get back into drinking whiskeys and found this channel. I had Jameson's for irish coffee, but now use Kirkland irish, which is about the same flavor but much cheaper. I loved Michters American Whiskey, all gone now :( . I finally took the plunge and got some Johnny Walker Double Black and Laphroaig 10. Boy, am I glad that I did. Love them both. Ardbeg 10 still to come. Very entertaining channel.
Wild turkey rye 👌👍
Get some Proper twelve and Red Breast Irish and compare with Jameson
i think the beginners list for whiskey should consist of the most diverse spectrum of flavors so that a beginner can pin point the flavor profile they like in a certain type of whiskey then go from there.
Agree, Irish whiskey tastes nothen like Bourbon nor Scotch. And if Rye tastes like "eucalyptus", Im never trying it.
@@eveny119 , I agree, I don't want anything that has a taste or smell of "eucalyptus".
I normally drink Evan Williams Bourbon. I am now trying Seagram's VO Whiskey which seems a little smoother, less bite.
What would you recommend for smooth, less bite, and something that has a flavor other than alcohol?
2023 Pricing from NH - Hope you didn't like scotch because they doubled in price.
Monkey Shoulder - $30.99 - 750ml
Highland Park 12 -$54.99 - 750ml
Glenfiddich 12 - $51.99 - 750ml
Jameson - $28.99 - 750ml
Bulleit 95 Rye - $28.99 - 750ml
Elijah Craig - $29.99 - 750ml
Buffalo Trace - nearly impossible to find, $35ish - 750ml
Macallan 12 - $99.99 - 750ml
Four Roses Single Barrel - $44.99 - 750ml
CAOL ILA 12 - $72.99 - 750ml
Hibiki Harmony - $99.99 - 750ml
in PA,
Macallan 12 --$55
4 Roses -- $42
Buffalo Trace - 25
Glenfiddich 12 --$49
Bulleit Rye - $29
Elija Craig - $27
I think the price in PA is a bit higher than in other states. i.e. Glenfarclas 25 yr $158, JW blue label $235 !
yes I agree. They do a good job covering the spectrum from end to end but skipped out some of the finer details, which is fine for a beginner like me who should try out as many distilleries as possible, though the price could be horrifying some time.
buffalo trace is like 45$ here in canada
4 roses is the cheapest one here lmao... bulleit and buffalo the most expensive
Jack Zhang I've got a Four Roses bourbon glass
bmxriderforlife1234 where are you man the price is ridiculous
My first peated whiskey happened to be Laphroaig 10 and wow, the smell kicks your arse and taste buds before you've even tried it. Absolutely astonishing flavours completely blew my Dalwhinnie winters gold out the water for me
Have you tried Ardbeg?
Laphroig is very good with a tad bit agressive smoke flavour. I prefer a Talisker 10. But when Talisker 10 or Laphroig aren't available I go with a light choice J.Walker double back.
Still have to try Smokehead.
But the whiskey that sucked me in to this world was Glenmorangie. Still one of my favourites to appreciate while alone.
Glenfiddich 12 is awfully forgiving, and perfect for a beginner. I think important for a beginner is smoothness and drinkability, not price or proof.
Price is a thing for a beginner because they don't know what's available at each price point. If you're going to start someone on the paved highway to whisky-loving Hell, you have to suggest things that are affordable. So, smoothness and drinkability and affordability are the 3 keys to a good start.
Exactly - that is a very clean, honest taste of slightly smoked pears.
Why would price not be important for a beginner?
Speaking of a challenge, try moving to a Middle Eastern country that doesn't allow alcohol! I don't particularly like whisky, I ADORE and LOVE it. This is gonna be the hardest few months of my adult life. Please keep making video's so I can get my daily whisky fix, sort of! Cheers or as we say in the Netherlands: Proost!
Modern Rogue introduced me to the Whiskey Vault, and then Brian cameos at the end of the episode
today was a good day
QuantumTap, yes! We love getting Brian over here. Great guy 👍
Guys, this is the room i want to be surviving Corona virus in.
Stay at home order... Well... if you INSIST...!!!
I found when I had covid a bottle of whiskey was a good cure
Hints of grandma’s clothes piled on a bed without sheets, with sun light streaming through cracked blinds as dust settles through still air.
I was gifted a bottle of Highland Park 12 and that's where it all started. I love Highland Park.
Years ago whilst touring Scotland I was having a beer at a bar when an 'old local boy' suggested drinking a Scotch Whiskey with him! He really was proud to be Scottish and he began recommending Whiskey's for me to try during my life. Bottom line: he said 'If you're ever in a place where the Whiskeys are of the 'lower order' and you are not sure what to order---go for a Famous Grouse'! I took him at his word and I have never been disappointed!
Oh god...
Famous Grouse makes me vomit, unfortunately. I've never found any other whisky that has caused that reaction. It tasted fine for the price point though. Here in Australia we never see it, but everywhere has Johnnie Walker Red and often Black. I always pray they have a Chivas Regal, Monkey Shoulder or Glenfiddich 12 though.
WAY WAY WAY late to the whisk(e)y party.....but these videos (you can thank Modern Rogue) have really gotten me excited to get into trying more! I visited a British type pub in Ames, IA this summer, and experienced some Scotch, Bourbon, and American whiskey. I couldn't remember the name of my favorite, but YOUR videos made me remember: MICHTERS It was the best of the half-dozen I tried.
Anywho....This is my list of whisk(e)y which I am going to hunt down over the next few months:
Hibiki Harmony
Michters
Monkey Shoulder
Buffalo Trace
Eagle Rare
Hope you all approve of my endeavor and my beginning list!
The first "real" whiskey that I had and actually wanted more of was Dimple Pinch. My mom had it unopened for....god knows how long. I swear she had it *at least* 10 years. When she passed in 2009, I opened it a few months after laying her to rest, and I tell ya....it was really tasty.
Interesting, I put Glenmorangie Original (10yo) above Glenfiddich 12. Not because it is better but because it is the base for the rest of the line so a good lead-in for a beginner to start exploring the other finishes with a sound foundation of where they started.
For a small 6 pack scotch (mid-range, beyond beginner bar) to cover most of the bases...
Glenmorangie Original - Floral Vanilla, toffee, and orange. The low-cost drinker
Oban 14 - Balanced and leather notes
Tamdhu 15 - Ultimate sherry notes
Talisker 10 - The brine and seaweed notes
Lagavulin 16 - The smokey bottle
Longmorn 16 - The smooth long treat
You could do a lower-cost version of the above for example Laphroig over Lagavulin etc.
I would love your take on a mid-range "Scotch selection" the emphasis here is selection as in trying to cover the main categories.
The Glenfiddich 12 is my favorite, best balance between great taste without being too expensive.
Today I drove over an hour to get 3 bottles of Hibiki Harmony for $75 each (Northern Virginia).
The show keeps getting better and better! Cheers!
Dresden Clark Graves, thank you! If you know someone who may be interested in whiskey - share share share 👍
Rex done and done!
I only use Jameson, Famous Grouse, Chivas 12y.o and rest single malt for my tastings for novices.
4 of your suggestions are on my list as well.
Scotland have all regions included.
Campbeltown
Springbank 10yo
Highlands
Macallan 12yo Double Cask
Islands
Talisker 10yo 750ml
Highland/Islands Orkney
Highland Park 12yo
Islay
Laphroaig 10yo
Bowmore 12yo
Ardbeg 10yo
Lowland
Auchentoshan 12yo
Glenkinchie 12yo
Speyside
Glenfiddich 12yo
Japan
Yamazaki 12yo
Taiwan
Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish
Sweden
MACK BY MACKMYRA
Laphroaig was my first scotch and the peatiness reminded me fondly of the wonderful smokey residue of a campfire. I was hooked.
4 roses single barrel is my favorite. Another really good one is Maker's Mark Cask Strength. Much different from regular Maker's. There is a Russell's on the video shelf. That is surprisingly delicious too. One thing that needs to be mentioned is that as you get near 100 proof, it helps to add a couple drops of water. I like a small piece,dime sized, of crushed ice. It cuts the alcohol to the nose and opens the flavors up a lot. That 4 roses changes to a piece of Heaven with a little water.
I totally agree with adding h2o getting near 100 proof and im a n00b in whiskey
It can also ruin some pours.
30 plus minutes of Daniel and Rex, this is gonna be GREAT!!
Edit - Excellent video!
Québec SAQ prices for comparison (all prices in CAD not including sales tax for a 750ml bottle)
Monkey Shoulder: 53.00$
Highland Park 12: 70.50$
Glenfiddich 12: 61.75$
Jameson: 36.00$
Bulleit Rye: 35.75$
Elijah Craig: 56.50$
Buffalo Trace: 41.75$
Macallan Double Cask 12: 100.00$
Macallan Sherry Oak 12: 150.00$
Four Roses: Not Available
Caol Ila 12: 85.50$
Hibiki Harmony: 130.00$
I immediately regretted that I didn't take y'all opinion serious enough after trying Highland Park 12 T_T.
It tasted in the following order - little sweetness in the beginning (nice), (but then punch me in my face) peat, total burnt charcoal, chemical soap water because of the iodine taste. The smoky/peat taste even lingered for a long time too. I all of a sudden understood what you meant by mermaid bath water after the 1st sip of Highland Park 12.
I like Four Roses single Barrel and Angel's Envy very much though. Btw, thanks for introducing me to the whiskey journey. =)
Gems omitted: 1. Eagle Rare 2. Tullamore D.E.W. 3. Johnnie Walker Black 4. Evan Williams 1776 5. Jim Beam Black 6. Dewars White Label
Orwellian Observer eagle rare is my absolute favorite. If I was a millionaire I’d still prefer it.
wth the Hibiki Harmony is €120 over here in Belgium lol
Blame Pewdiepie
Even in Hong Kong, where it is closer to the place of origin, it costs at least US$ 125 to get one.
Definitely not cheap for beginner.
Its like 70 bucks in Sweden
Jesus. I lucked out and found one lone bottle on the shelf at my local store for ~$50 and I have never seen it since. No clue what that was all about but it was okay imo, not worth 120 euro at all though.
€95 in the Netherlands, so if you want to save a few bucks lmao
Didn’t even know y’all had this channel!! I love it!! Thank Daniel for introducing me to scotch back when I worked at the wizard academy and you allowed me to partake in your “tours of Scotland” at the top of the tower. I tell that story all the time.
"Where wood meets cherry". A perfectly valid, sincere description of the Four Roses flavor profile. But after sampling multiple whiskeys, this is exact moment this compilation video went sideways. 26:20. Also the exact moment I decided to hit "subscribe". Bravo, gentlemen. *Bravo.*
My list for getting into smokey stuff (kind of based on what's available in Sweden)
3 cheap ones are Illeach (lighter than Laphroaig), Laphroaig and Jura Superstition.
Then moving on to Bowmore 12, Lagavulin 16 and maybe Ardbeg or Caol Ila for an extreme and Oban 14 for something more nuanced.
+1 to Lagavulin. Amazing smoky option
Not a massive fan of whiskey but I love to learn and try things so will go sit and try them out
the experiences i made with friends who haven't been whiskey drinkers before.
they like in the bourbon category:
1.basel hyden followed by
2. Baffalow trace
in the scotch category
1.glenlivet 12
2.glendronach 12
and in Irish
1. redbreast 12
2. Talamor 12 (even over green spot)
and the hibiki harmony is a good Beginner whiskey but To expensive where i live (germany 70€+).and at tthat price i would recommend dalmore 15.(smoother then the 12)
Tallamore Dew was my first whiskey. Very beginner friendly on the rocks.
Easy on the throat, very easy to chug straight from the bottle
That's no lie. It was one of my firsts AFTER I focused on more than just drinking and started paying attention to the notes and flavors and yea... Solid whiskey for sure.
Malcrow Alogoran I like me some tallamore dew but only like the 12 year so much smoother and the price is not that much more.
It is THE go to whiskey for Irish Coffee.,
You're absolutely right. Fell in love with Laphroaig that really brought me into whiskey and out of just drinking Jack Daniels.
An ode to Macallan 12: This is seriously a great scotch. I have to say this really hits the spot with a freshly grilled steak and mushrooms. The scotch brings out flavors of the prime meat and the mushrooms. It is hard to deny the full flavor of the sherry mingling with the steak. It just pairs so well. The next time you have your steak (a bit on the rare side) grab your Macallan 12 and enjoy this flavor combo. I even had a drink of this and a bite of steak and man it was buttery smooth goodness. You are paying for the name though. I will say it is good, just not Monkey Shoulders good, in my opinion.
Noob here. 65 years old and have always avoided bourbons until now. Elijah Craig, Bulleit and Buffaloe Trace I like, BT is favorite. Now I'm trying Four Roses. All good bourbons. Thanks for the tips.
My first whiskey was Canadian Mist and it wasn't my thing. I tried Jack Daniel's and Crown after that and thought it was alright, but I really fell in love with whiskey when I tried Bulleit Rye, Monkey Shoulder, and Buffalo Trace.
this ain't vodka.
pick a genre and go from there. you can't compare a bourbon with a rye whiskey. scotch, irish whiskey, bourbon, rye whiskey, each is their own category, with so many different brands, and each brand then has many different flavours.
23 ounce craftsman framing hammer! The best ever!! I live in Kentucky so it's Bourbon!! For me! Knob Creek!!
My first ever whiskey was glenfiddich 12yo and i think that's one of the best starter scotches you can ask for
Thank you so much for these suggestions! I have my first memory of drinking whisky with my dad when I was 17, but had some bad experiences later on which threw me off. This got me back to buying a bottle for the first time in yeaars!
My introduction was Glenmorangie 10, can't think of a better one to start off with.
🙏
With Four Roses, I also enjoy the normal Small Batch. I'd put it more alongside the Buffalo Trace / Elijah Craig SB with the 4R Single Barrel being a step up.
About to turn 21 and I've been binging your videos to decide which bottles to get for my "first" time
Welcome to the tribe!
Same dude same
I suggest if you want to see if your the whisky kind of guy to start with jack Daniels they just came out with a rye. I consider myself super picky and jack daniels rye is a really nice whisky and cheap 20 bucks 18 at bevmo.
My first recently was extra aged black label jim beam and i loved it
My first whiskey ever was Jack Daniels. It still has a fond place in my heart though I would rarely drink it neat now (still great in a cocktail). I quickly gravitated to Scotch, was somewhat ambivalent about Dewar's white label, then tried my first single malt with Talisker. I liked it, but I still wasn't sure I'd really become a Scotch drinker or even a whiskey drinker, until I stumbled upon Lagavulin by pure chance picking a bottle at random when I wanted to try something new. I fell in love, and I've been a diehard Islay fan ever since, branching out to Ardbeg, Bowmore, Laphroaig, and others, though locally I have a hard time finding anything from the other four distilleries outside of specialty shops. To this day I haven't found anything I like better than Lagavulin 16, but I keep looking. Ardbeg 10 and Bowmore 12 remain staples, and I try to never be without those three Scotches at home even as I buy a bottle here or there of other things as a I wish to spice things up with a little variety.
I love that Scotch has such a huge range in flavors, I believe there's something for everyone, but I'm a black coffee kind of guy so the Highland stuff so many people like isn't really for me. Hey, that's great, more peaty goodness for me!
For those about to turn 21, or maybe just new to whisky, my advice is try a bunch of different things. Don't try one bottle and then write off the whole thing if you don't like it. As has been said many times, there is huge variety of flavors, and until you really find your particular niche you're going to just try as many different whiskeys as you can. My favorite drink of all time, Lagavulin 16, is extremely polarizing. Go to a site with reviews and it's all 5 stars and 1 star reviews, with almost nothing in between. I think the best choice you could probably make is find a friend or two who is also interested in exploring the world of whisky, try some stuff together, and divide up what's left of your taste test bottles to whoever actually liked the stuff. If in your group of friends, nobody likes a particular whisky, make some new friends; I bet somebody would be really grateful to get a partial bottle as a gift.
I got into alcohol first through the world of wine, and just as it's hilarious to me when somebody says they "don't like wine", I have the same reaction to people who say they "don't like whisky". Naturally, if you dig a little deeper you find out they tried only one or two kinds, then gave up, for wine or whisky. It takes a while to figure out if you like Burgundy more than Bordeaux, much less the product of one winery over that of another down the road using the same variety of grapes. Spend a little time understanding the different regions and styles, develop a vocabulary, and then try out stuff from different regions and styles until you start finding out what your personal preferences are. It's actually a lot of fun exploring these things and figuring stuff out. When you do find some stuff you like, try something that's supposed to be similar, and see if you like it more or less. Then try something that's really different, and maybe you like that too, or maybe not.
I'm definitely a Scotch drinker now, but a year or so ago I started to explore bourbon, as a complete newbie. I still have a lot to learn, and I've definitely found some stuff I don't like, but it's still really interesting and I haven't had to pour anything down the drain, yet, thanks to friends taking bottles off my hands, or some creative mixing.
Anyway, the point is, have fun with it, find some good drinking buddies, and don't get frustrated if it takes a while to find something you really like. There's absolutely no reason not to try anything at all if you think it might be an interesting experience. You don't have to stick to stuff that's "for newbies" when you're still a newbie.
You guys would get a kick out out of this. Basil Hayden can be $85-95 where I am and some people are into it because it's expensive. Am I the only one who thinks it has an odd funk note underneath?
14 oz Stiletto smooth face with an 18” hickory handle is my favorite hammer, just so we’re clear.
10oz stilleto smooth face with the 14" for finishing work and the smooth face mini-14 for framing,
The whiskey that got me into drinking whiskey was “the fighting 69th” I liked it. Have some Jameson black barrel now
Just recently discovered you gents! Awesome channel for people like me trying to learn the nuances of whiskey.
Humorously enough, I was drinking more bourbon or Irish whiskey. I've had some scotch - mainly Speyside, but never got into it much. I had the opportunity to purchase a Johnnie Walker sampler of Black, Gold, Platinum, and Blue for around 40$... At a family party we were talking about beers and spirits and then my uncle was discussing scotch... He noted he's a fan of blended and just got into JW black. My cousin mentioned he should try Blue if he ever had the chance. Sooo, I pulled it out and we enjoyed.
That moment, right there, got me into scotch. Just picked up Glenfiddich 18 special reserve (Glenfiddich 12 was my first Scotch, though I mainly used it in rusty nails - not anymore) and it's amazing. Also started to expand my horizons with Highland Park 12. Wow, I've been missing alot.
When I tried my first whiskeys, they were the cheapest stuff from the store, like 7 to 10 € (Four Roses, Golden Dew, Jim Beam and the likes). At the time I didn't think much of the taste, since we were drinking those to get hammered. Then I came across Glen Ardoch, a 10 € Whiskey from SPAR in Austria the taste of which changed my perception of Whiskey from "high % drink to get wasted" to "damn good taste experience, actually". From then on I started trying many other whiskeys up to the 100 € range and became a huge fan.
Buy the Glen Ardoch if you can get your hands on one. It's a great cheap starter and always good to have in your home!
Dude ! Bowmore 12 !
Pretty much everywhere and a good ''entry level'' peat.
Thats the one that got me into whisky personally.
I agree!
Ardbeg 10 was mine, but not everyone would like that as a starter whisky! :D
"it's where wood meets cherry"
I've found my people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The pause is what made it
@@MrNoochie7312 true
"it's where wood meets cherry" ... and it pops? =o)
"it's kind of 'rumish'"
Sir, I think you mean it's ruminiscent.
Cameron Ventura
I like rum
Good rum should be sipped like good whiskey. The flavors differ, but so do those of whiskey. Ron Zacapa, Ron Barrelito, and Barbancourt are among my favorites. Prefer rum in warm weather, often, over whiskey.
Parce rum is amazing too
3
My friends dad back in 94 when I bought a lagavulin 16 year old, commented liquid smoke, it's been my favorite scotch forevermore, though the cardhu 12 year, which is the cornerstone of every Johnnie Walker blend, his uncle Steve when we gave him the cork to smell, was "glass with ice please."
Watching this just makes me realize how much we get screwed on taxes in Ontario/Canada
Yeah but you got free medical right.
Trust me , you have it way better than us. How many times have you heard about to shooting in Canada 🇨🇦 in 2021
@@marisolaquino719 Trust ME, we have our own problems here... Americans just don’t hear about them from your media like we hear about yours.
My first whiskey was Jameson. Today i drink every whiskey. 🥃
10 ounces of whiskey consumed in 30 minutes. They then headed out to the bar after this video!
My top 10 for beginners are : Glenfiddich 15, Jameson Black Barrel, Aberlour 12 double cask, Aberfeldy 12, Dalwhinnie 15, Macallan 12 Double/Triple cask, Glenmorangie's Lasanta, Quinta Ruban, Nectar D'Or, Tomatin 12, 14 and 15 YO, Glendronach 12 Cherry Cask and Royal Lochnagar 12 YO with a hint of smoke. Where I live all there are between 40-55 Dollars and are great malts.
Thanks for the wonderful review! I am enjoying an 18 year limited reserve Jameson tonight and it is the smoothest thing to ever run across my tongue!
Love the 18 yr. I look at my empty bottle in sadness a lot. Haha
You guys are really the most real people and your both awesome thanks for making these videos
The Spirit Monk[e]y concurs.
These dudes have the some of the best chemistry of any duo on TH-cam. Keep up the good work boys! And most importantly, keep drinking!
I have noticed that my favorite whiskeys vary over time. If I hate something that doesn't change. But my preferences change. So it's good to try lots and keep buying the ones you like most. Also I have found that 2 whiskeys I don't like blended together can make something I do like. It's a journey
Buffalo Trace is a damn fine whiskey. Got it as a Christmas present a few years back.
I’ve tried moonshine multiple times. The commercially available stuff is total shite in my opinion. The one good experience I had with it was some “locally sourced” moonshine from Appalachia. It was incredibly smooth and flavorful, but since I don’t like committing felonies, I never purchased any.
When in Rome ...
The crime is what makes it taste good!
Just a little trivia, Sylvester Stallone movie “Bullet to the Head” every time he goes into a bar, he asks for bulleit bourbon. They never have it, so he brings his own bottle and rents a glass.
Between your whiskey expertise, your genuine personalities and unscripted content, and your public denouncement of the TH-cam disease that is clickbait videos, you have a new subscriber.
My grandfather was from Glasgow Scotland so I decided I needed to connect to my roots and begin a scotch journey. I wish I has seen this/these videos first. I jumped right in with Grangestone Highland Single Malt 18 (recommended by local store and "scotch" connoisseur). Wasn't to bad but being a novice I would drink over ice and liked it better as ice melt. Seeing this video and the talk of the last bottle being a smoke pit I also tried Laphroaig 10 which to me tasted like liquid campfire also not to bad. I next tried the Grangestone SM Bourbon Cask finish. I liked this better than the first Grangestone I tried. I gave up my quest for scotch and switched to bourbans. I like Knobb Creek but I find in the end unless I push myself to keep exploring Im not much of a whiskey or hard liquor drinker. Im just a beer guy at heart. But I will try some of these recommendations.
You can only buy Grangestone at Total Wine and More. It's their house brand of scotch. They have a wall of whiskey selections and the "connoisseur" recommends Grangestone first? That should be enough to cause your bs detector to go off. They recommend Grangestone for one reason - it's their most profitable bottle of whiskey. When I was a novice, they sold me on it when I was looking to buy Lagavulin.
To be fair - Grangestone isn't terrible. I just don't appreciate the disingenuous recommendation from their sales people. It's like asking a waiter to recommend a dinner entree and they go straight to the most expensive item on the menu only because they've been trained to push the higher profit margin selections.
If Grangestone was as good as they make it out to be in their sales pitch, you would be able to buy it in other stores because the distillery would want to maximize their market exposure. I'd stop short of calling it a scam only because its pretty good for the price point. It exceeds expectations for a cheap bottle of scotch.
The first whiskey I liked was Johnnie walker black label.
Daniel, you may already know this...but you are a chronic interrupter.
"Daniel, you may already know this...but you are a chronic..."
I'mma let you finnish but I gotta say something... XD
#hadtobedone
I couldn't finish reading your comment because I was busy responding to it
@@WhiskeyVault haha touché. To be fair, they are highly interesting interjections.
@@WhiskeyVault 😂🤣🤣🤣
That's the education speaking.
My 1st video of yours. I’ve been looking for a “whiskey channel” to educate myself. What SOLD me on you is that you’re fun, educational AND don’t talk over eachother letting the other speak! Thank you for definitely helping me forward ! LOL “it’s raining men!” You sold me on the Hibiki but not the Caol Ila ( glad taste is subjective) but I’m in for the other 10!!
The best moonshine where I'm from comes from a shed or garage but Ole Smokey isn't half bad
Only heard of you thanks to The Modern Rogue. Gonna definitely watch more of your stuff.
What makes this even funnier to me, is Brian showed up in this! I hadn't finished the video when I made the initial comment!
Thanx
Agree with the list , except would change jameson out with bushmills
My go to whiskey's are Glenfiddich 15, 21 years old, Lagavulin, bowmoore, and Chivas Reagal 18