Help for a novice trying to enter the world of single malts

[blackcipher]

Hi all,
I am not new to whisky in that I actually work for a whisky company but I am new to enjoying whisky, I recently gave up smoking and I have since found that I can now pick up the flavours a lot better and so enjoy it tasting it more, however I am struggling a lot with a strong alcohol burn with whiskys I try.

I find if I put a little ice in it helps with the burn but I know I shouldn't really be doing this as it masks flavours, however some of the whiskys I try I just can't enjoy without it.
I recently visited a whisky bar where I tried a few different whiskys, I regretted trying kilchoman , I hated it from the moment it hit my mouth and I could still taste the peat the next morning! What I'm looking for is a few beginner ,maybe sweeter, whiskys to get my taste buds round.

Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

[rainbow79]

Hi there,

I don't think adding ice is bad, if you happen to enjoy whisky that way. Whisky should be drunk in the way you better enjoy it. So if you're happy with your ice, stick to it I would say.

If it helps, I started in the very same way, years ago, and I really enjoyed my whiskies as they became a bit watered down with ice. Nowadays, I'm very happy with my metallic ice cubes
which allows me to put the liquid to the right temperature (then I just remove them) and add spring water to my desire depending on the whisky and the strength it was bottled at.

Here in Spain, it's quite normal, to start malts by tasting Cardhu 12 years old, as it's available at practically any shop / bar out there. It's quite smooth and enjoyable to start with.

Regards

[unblended]

ice just kills flavour as far as I'm concerned
just put good quality water and reduce the alcohol proof till you find out what you like
islay whiskies are not everbodys cup of tea when I first tried islay whiskies 20 years agoI thought what is this but now twenty years on I enjoy islay whiskies when I'm in the mood for them but prefer what I like everybody has there own likes and dislikes we all learn something new everyday





richard









richard

[John_G]

Others here are far more knowledgeable than me (and that is an understatement) but something like Strathisla 12 might be worth a try - widely available, fuity, sweetish and very pleasant to drink.

[cdn_dram]

I started enjoying single malts about a year ago. I find its best to at least try it neat first before adding a few drops of water. Haven't tried with ice before but really it's what you enjoy.

A few beginner malts I'd suggest:

Glenfiddich 15yr solera
Cragganmore 12
Dalwhinnie 15
Highland Park 12 (bit of peat and smoke but quite gentle)

[Bookie]

Ice really does dull the flavours but I agree that to someone new to whisky it can also take the rough edge off a whisky. There is a technique to avoiding the burn from some younger rougher whiskies such as entry level blended whiskies. Do not take a drink and swallow it quickly, just take a sip, hold it in the centre of your mouth , let it mix with the saliva in your mouth then seep gently into the sides of your mouth then trickle slowly down your throat. It is an expensive drink and the flavour experience happens in the mouth anyway so keep it there and don’t take it straight down the back of your throat as this is sure to burn given its alcoholic strength the saliva will reduce the strength preventing burn but you still get to experience the floavour.

Some whiskies I would recommend having a look at are:

Glenlivet 18
anCnoc 12
Glenfiddich 15
Glengoyne 10
Balvenie 12 Doublewood
Aberfeldy 12

[opelfruit]

Perfect time to get into this really as all.major supermarkets will be discounting entry level whiskies on the run up to Xmas.

Pretty hard to beat Balvenie 12yo Doublewood as a first point of contact for quality malt. Other than that I'd also recommend Bunnahabhain 12yo (don't worry, it's unpeated) and actually (as much as I hate to admit it) Glenlivet Founders Reserve.....


Generally I'd say to stay away from No Age Statement whiskies for now as they aren't generally that good and won't give you a good first impression, but the Glenlivet is actually very good. It's young but quite sweet and tasty.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[blackcipher]

Thanks for all the responses, some good suggestions of a few whiskys to try. I have a bottle of Strathisla 12, which I enjoy after I have added a little water!

Seems like a few people experience this when starting out so perhaps it's just a case of my palate becoming used to it, those tasting tips will certainly help with that!

So many whiskys out there to try.

[TheWM]

Glenmorangie 10 and Aberlour A'bundah are a couple of bottles I'd also recommend. Whilst the Aberlour doesn't have an age statement, it is a brilliant sherried dram.

[Acksboy]

In my early days of discovering whisky I found that adding an ice cube to my malt really helped me find the flavours. They might be slightly more diluted, however it took the sting out of alcoholic punch! If it works for you then don't be swayed by others.
In addition to other whisky suggestions you could try the Glenkinchie 12 year old.

[opelfruit]

It's not pomp, snobbery or even preference with ice, it's science.

40% is quite a bit of ethanol if you're not used to it. Adding water has the same effect as ice as it dilutes the abv, just that adding ice cools the liquid which stops the important conginers from moving freely and easily escaping from the liquid. Once that happens you loose the nose and a lot of the palate as the flavour molecules done lift out as quickly in your mouth and up through your soft palate.

........it's why people warm brandy in their hands and drink scotch at room temperature.


But whatever helps you get in to it. That's the key. It's your money and your whisky so you drink it how you want you'll get more out of it down the line when you ditch the ice.



......and in no time at all you'll be sat there with a glass of Corryvrecken asking yourself when it started to taste so wussy
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[TheWM]

As above. It's why pubs sell crappy beer @ 0 degrees (or as close to it), because it tastes like shit at room temperature. Get a good beer (ale) from your local microbrewery and they'll insist that it's drank at room temperature so you can taste the flavours that the brewer intended you too.

I refuse to serve whisky in my house with ice cubes. One of my best mates insists on ice cubes in his whisky. He hasn't been seen in these parts for a while.

Another, more traditional way to look at it is back in the day people were being served scotch in big old crystal tumblers that dissipated the smell quickly and were whacking loads of ice into it. That's because most of the whisky back then was blended and not very good (compared to what we have now with more single malts being appreciated). Even now, you try and find a dram in your local. Bells? I'd rather pass, even with ice.

Get a nosing glass, a water jug and start tasting flavours. It will be weird to start with, even perhaps unpleasant. But you need to push through. Another analogy (or two) - this country for years has been obsessed with milk chocolate and instant coffee. Really rubbish stuff. But making the transition to a 90% cocoa dark chocolate can be really hard, or drinking espressos black and no sugar using the finest freshly ground beans is tough for a lot of people.

But once you get past that point and then can re-educate your tastebuds and understand the complex flavours at play that you won't get with any ice added, you'll soon see why we're all hooked on whisky.

Leave the ice for the cocktails

[Alexppp]

From the above recommendations, I second the Balvenie 12 Doublewood and Glenfiddich 15 Solera in particular. Look out for them on sale in supermarkets as Christmas approaches. The same applies to the Glenmorangie 10 year old. Anything from the Glengoyne range would also work if you're looking for a sweet, unpeated malt. The 12 and 15 year olds won't break the bank and have an added complexity over the 10 year old.

Finally, you won't find them in supermarkets, but Balblair 2005 and Glencadam 10 are both excellent.

[arqueturus]

To add to some of the other recommendations:

Glenmorangie Qunta Ruban - a little harder to get but well worth it
Glenfarclas 10yr Old - I tried this recently and it was lovely. Not available in most English Supermarkets but M&S are selling the 12yr Old for £35 which I expect will be similarly lovely.