Malt Whiskey to try for a Bourbon Drinker

[CGRenn]

Hi All,

Im a Bourbon drinker and wanted to delve in the world of single malts. Just need a bit of direction into what to start with what will match my pallet of bourbons. Im a huge fan of Wheated Bourbons ( W.L. Weller 12, Makers 46) and am quite partial to the Rye based too. Reason being for the change is that living in the uk, the tax we pay on US Whiskeys is a joke.

Any help will be greatly revised 😀

[opelfruit]

I'd be looking to medium weight Speysiders as these tend to be vanilla and honey led with some sweetness, that should match your wheater taste. Something like Balvenie; 12yo doublewood, 12yo first fill single barrel, 14yo Caribbean cask.

For something to match your Rye taste try something from the highlands, Clynelish 14yo carries a spicy character that's not too far from Rye. Something like anCnoc would also be good due to the spice levels, the 12yo and 16yo are very good.



Incidentally I'm doing the oposite to you at the moment and really getting stuck into bourbon.
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[CGRenn]

Wow that a fantastic list Opelfruit thank you! I got told the The Dalmore 12 Y/O or Macallans 10 Y/O are also Match the taste, Woukd you agree?

I do love a good Bourbon, its just the tax is borderline robbery!

[opelfruit]

Dalmore and Macallan use sherry casks quite heavily, this imparts flavours of dried fruit, nuttiness and can give a dryer finish, so not really similar to bourbon....you do good depth of flavour from sherry casks though if done right. Personally I find Dalmore flat and underwhelming, certainly the younger versions....same with macallan.

To get similar flavours then bourbon cask maturation would give the bourbon notes, if that's when you want. Ideally first fill casks or a higher mix of first fill in the vatting. Good bourbon cask whisky can give very complex and full flavours too if it's good whisky.

If you just want to experience scotch then you should definitely try sherry matured stuff too though, just make sure it's good whisky. Glenfarclas are great sherried whiskies and very reasonably priced, especially their 15yo.


You know that in the UK we pay 80% on a bottle of scotch right? it's not the rate of tax we pay on US stuff that's bad, it's the rate we pay on all.of it compared to America that's bad!

[Alexppp]

I agree with opelfruit's list, I would particularly second the Balvenie 12 Doublewood and 14 Caribbean Cask as great introductions to scotch single malt regardless of which spirit you're used to. Glenmorangie 10 as well, it's got a nice vanilla sweetness a bit different from the honeyed style of the Balvenie. Glencadam 10 as well, it's as good as it gets in its style.

For sherry-matured whisky you want to try Glenfarclas or Glendronach, with Dalmore and Macallan you have to look at the more expensive ones.

[GateToWire]

The Glenfiddich 15 might also be another good scotch to try. I am not a big bourbon drinker but I find it is a nice in-between if I am comparing some scotch to bourbon.
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Mike

[CGRenn]

Thanks for all your help guys,


Im going to order a bottle of Balvenie 14 YO Caribbean or Glenfarclas 15 Y/O - I saw the latter got voted Whiskey Exchanges Whiskey of the year.

Also, Interested in the Whiskey Exchanges sweetest gauge, The Balvenie was 4/5 and found that really helpful!

Got me thinking, has anyone see a 5/5? I do have a sweet tooth!

Thanks for all your help again

[Alexppp]

Bear in mind that it won't be as out-and-out sweet as some bourbons, it's a different kind of sweetness. The Glenfarclas 15 year-old is excellent and arguably the place to start for sherried whiskies but not really 'similar' in flavour profile to bourbons, which is another thing to keep in mind.

[opelfruit]

Can't think of any 5's off the top.of my head. Malt new make is quite sweet and as it ages it's gets bitterness from the oak and mellows in its sweetness, generally. The cask type with effect this.

You'd be looking at youngish whiskies filled in bourbon casks, 12ish years old and not really much older than 15/16. The older whiskies like 15yo that are finished in other spirit/wine casks will give you an extra layer of sweetness....Benriach do a range of 15yo wood finished whiskies that are sweetish; dark rum, madeira and PX sherry. They are also 46%, not coloured or chill filtered and we'll priced.

Benriach is also very good whisky at any age, just be careful you don't get their peat ed range by mistake.

They do a 13yo Virgin cask finish too which is quite sweet
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."