Top 'ordinary' malts

[Alexppp]

When you don't want to be blown away by smoke or sherry, or cask-strength richness, when you don't feel like drinking something complex or be challenged by something new - what single malts do you turn to? 'Ordinary' is perhaps the wrong word, I just mean the nice, simple, enjoyable drams we have when we're not in the mood for something particularly special or for a big drinking night.

Personally, I realise it now that I don't have a bottle, but I'm often in the mood for a Glenlivet 12. Aberfeldy 12 is another one I'd like to have for moments like these.

[Bookie]

For me when i am looking to have an enjoyable single malt that isnt a peat monster or sherry monster and are very good value for money whiskies i go for one of the big 3 Glens, Glenmorangie 10, Glenfiddich 12 and Glenlivet 12. By no means would i call any of them ordinary, just very easy to drink enjoyable whiskies.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Drinking Glenmorangie 10 now - fabulous stuff

[James T]

Apart from the big 3 Glens - Glenmorangie 10, Glenfiddich 12 and Glenlivet 12 when i am looking for a enjoyable decent dram which isnt too heavy in smoke or sherry i would often have one of these - Macallan 10 Fine Oak, Glengoyne 10, Old Pulteney 12, Balvenie Signature, Arran 14, Glengoyne 10, Balblair 2001, AnCnoc 12. All outstanding drams IMO

[Big Mac]

I think many whisky drinkers get hooked on the more intense in your face characters of the heavily smoky and heavily sherried whiskies and can sometimes forget that there are some excellent subtle but still very complex whiskies also.

Some very good examples of subtle yet complex whiskies which have already been mentioned above are Glenmorangie 10, Glenfiddich 12, Glenlivet 12 and AnCnoc 12 which rarely gets much of a mention

[Keith]

I do enjoy the An Cnoc 12, its a lovely fresh Speyside malt which hasnt got a bit sherry influence.

[chrisg]

I have to say over the years the 3 whiskies which i have probably drunk most of are the big 3 Glens, Glenmorangie 10, Glenfiddich 12 and Glenlivet 12.

[Big Mac]

Alex if i was to name one top ordinary malt it would be Glenmorangie 10 with Glenfiddich 12 as a close 2nd. For your money the Glenmorangie 10 is a hugely complex and very enjoyable malt whisky which you can pick up for a decent price

[DavidUK]

Bladnoch
Bruichladdich
AnCnoc

[Quaich1]

My standby single malt scotch when I just want to return to an old friend is usually Glenmorangie the Original or Aberlour 10yrs.

[Ant]

Interesting question, really speaks to our personal tastes. I simply do not enjoy non-smokey scotches the way I did when I was younger. In my early-mid 20's, I would've said Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Macallan. In my late 20's, Highland Park or Talisker.

But now, when I want something "ordinary" I interpret that as "smokey - not cask strength". So for me, that means standard Ardbeg 10, nam beist, or laph 10. If I'm not in the mood for the iodine but want to keep the smoke, then laph 10 is replaced by laph 18 or coal ila 12. Interestingly enough though, laga 16 doesn't make the list even though it's not cask strength, because I rarely find myself in the mood for that sweetness.

[Alexppp]

[Ant]