Whisky

[anonymous-user]

Ok so it's an old friends birthday soon and, being a bloke, I never know what to get him. He likes "whisky" (I put it in inverted commas because it's restricted to Bells and Famous Grouse), I'd like to get him something of a half-decent quality but I have no idea about brands, prices, etc. Any recommendations?

[BigWithey]

There's loads so brace yourself! My fave at the momment is Balvenie Doublewood 12yr single malt. They part mature it in old sherry casks tastes real smooth ..Mmm
It's about £20-25 a bottle.

[M3John]

Not really a whisky fan but am in the position of a very nice one called `Middleton Extra Rare Irish Whisky`. Very very smooth and doesn't burn the roof of your mouth off. Retials for around £100 ish. If he like's whisky then he'll like this.

[Don]

A good option at a reasonable price would be "Ardbeg". Peaty, tasty and available in Sainsbury's. £25 - £30.

If you want to blow him away with your generosity visit the Covent Garden Whisky Shop and blow a hundred quid on something. Its all good.

[Podie]

If he normally drinks the blends, then personally I'd go for a Glenfiddich Solera Reserve (15 Year Old) as they're a touch softer than a lot of malts - he'll see it as a nice whiskey, rather than an overpowering malt. Not only that he'll recognise the brand, and at about £30 it wont break the bank either.



ETA - buy it direct from Glenfiddich themselves and you can get the label personalised too...

http://shop.glenfiddich.com/shop/prod_solera_reser...

Edited by Podie on Tuesday 6th November 08:20

[muppetdave]

I was going to suggest an Ardbeg as a safe bet.

[anonymous-user]

Podie said:

If he normally drinks the blends, then personally I'd go for a Glenfiddich Solera Reserve (15 Year Old) as they're a touch softer than a lot of malts - he'll see it as a nice whiskey, rather than an overpowering malt. Not only that he'll recognise the brand, and at about £30 it wont break the bank either

Sounds like the best option for me, thanks everyone

[tvrforever]

M3John said:

Not really a whisky fan but am in the position of a very nice one called `Middleton Extra Rare Irish Whisky`. Very very smooth and doesn't burn the roof of your mouth off. Retials for around £100 ish. If he like's whisky then he'll like this.

Agree totally - may have a tot of this tonight to celebrate Audi wining @ Le Mans, really is good stuff.

But if you can stretch (and I can't as it's around €2k a bottle) they have an far more exclusive bottle that is quite simply nectar from the Gods...

[M3John]

tvrforever said:

M3John said:

Not really a whisky fan but am in the position of a very nice one called `Middleton Extra Rare Irish Whisky`. Very very smooth and doesn't burn the roof of your mouth off. Retials for around £100 ish. If he like's whisky then he'll like this.

Agree totally - may have a tot of this tonight to celebrate Audi wining @ Le Mans, really is good stuff.

But if you can stretch (and I can't as it's around €2k a bottle) they have an far more exclusive bottle that is quite simply nectar from the Gods...

Hummm interesting. Might have to try a sample. My brother has just recently bought me a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue label. Not opened it as yet be certanly looks special in it's packaging. Anybody tried this?

[threesixty]

If you can find a decent shop get an Adelphi bottle. Adelphi specialise in doing limited runs from smaller distillerys, usually reasonabley priced £~50 and always a good drink. Also implys you put in abit of thought rather than just popped down waitrose.

[M3John]

swerni said:

Oddbins are great for whiskey.

Brilliant selection, the staff know what they are talking about and they let you sample them as well.

Don't drive there

Talking from experiance are we Steveo?

[jimothy]

I tried a japanese whisky last weekend. Really nice (they're now getting a reputation for making superb whisky), tasted like a very good scotch. Maybe one of these for something different.

[drfrank]

Glenmorangie, easy drinking and £25 a bottle

(steer clear of the sherry wood/port wood finished ones though)

If he prefers something much lighter then Isle of Jura (many would term it a lady's whisky) very easy drinking (scarily so) a half bottle can vanish in an hour !!!

I love it

[turbomachine]

Balvenie 12yr old double wood!!(£20-25)
Or my local: Springbank Longrow 14 year old (£45)

[BigAlinEmbra]

Rather than 1 bottle of something, why not some sort of gift pack?
http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/product.asp?pf_id...
http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/product.asp?pf_id...
http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/product.asp?pf_id...

Then if you do get it wrong, he's not got to chew through a bottle he doesn't really like.
Also means he can sample a broader range and find what he does like.