Best products from r/scotch

We found 89 comments on r/scotch discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 161 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

8. Teroforma CLASSIC Whisky Stones - Handcrafted Soapstone Beverage Chilling Cubes, Set of 9 (Natural, 0.88")

    Features:
  • THE ORIGINAL WHISKY STONES - Teroforma saw the need to fix the issue of melted ice ruining your favorite pour of liquor. To address this, they crafted the first whiskey stones out of soapstone, so you could truly enjoy your whiskey or scotch "on the rocks".
  • NO DILUTION - If you enjoy your favorite alcohol gently chilled, then you know what it's like to have it get ruined by ice dilution. Worry no more! Whisky chilling rocks are designed to cool your favorite bourbon, scotch, or whiskey in 5 minutes without having to worry about losing natural flavors.
  • US MADE SOAPSTONE - Using a closed-loop sustainable milling process, Teroforma has proudly kept their manufacturing right at home, in the USA. Each whisky stone is handcrafted in the oldest soapstone mill in America from the finest soapstone materials around.
  • REUSABLE ICE CUBES - Ice is great for the first use, after that it just melts away. With whiskey beverage cubes you don't have to worry about your investment going away. Simply wash when not in use and air dry before placing in the freezer for 4 hours before placing in your next dram.
  • WHISKY GIFT SET - Turn any whiskey lover's birthday, Father's Day, or Christmas that much better with a sophisticated bar tool. Each set comes beautifully packaged while including a handy muslin storage bag for easy storage.
Teroforma CLASSIC Whisky Stones - Handcrafted Soapstone Beverage Chilling Cubes, Set of 9 (Natural, 0.88")
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Top comments mentioning products on r/scotch:

u/wreninrome · 37 pointsr/Scotch


Introductory Comments: Today I'll be reviewing the heart of the GlenDronach lineup, the Original 12, Revival 15, and Allardice 18. Before I get into it, I'm going to touch briefly on GlenDronach's recent history, namely their brief closure and differences in production before and after the closure. I know that many of the veterans here already know this stuff, but there always seems to be someone who isn't familiar with it when a GlenDronach review is posted, so I figured I would rehash it. After my discussion, I'll review the 18, 15, and 12, with brief comments for each, followed by a summarizing comparison of all three.

An important thing to keep in mind when you look at a bottling of GlenDronach is that the distillery was closed from 1996 until May 2002. This means that depending on the bottling date of the bottle that you get, the whisky may have been matured for significantly longer than the age statement indicates. But for all of the GlenDronach expressions with stated ages, there will come a point where the age statement subtracted from the bottling date falls after the distillery was re-opened in 2002, which means that nominally identical bottles that were bottled before and after this point could differ in the actual age of the matured whisky by up to six years (this Words of Whisky post on the topic includes a nice chart to help you visualize this). In theory, this means that the "pre-mothball" bottlings of the Original 12 and the Revival 15 should be more mature and exhibit a richer, sherried character than the "post-mothball" bottlings.

Of course, the story is a bit more nuanced than that. First, the quality of sherry-seasoned casks is just as important as the maturation time. Even though reviewers consistently rate the pre-mothball Original 12 and Revival 15 higher than the post-mothball versions, it's possible that the older releases also spent time in more active sherry casks, in addition to simply spending more time in sherry casks. We may be seeing evidence of this with the Allardice 18, which despite still containing pre-mothball distillate, has had some less than flattering appraisals for the recent 2018 bottlings: For examples, see this review by /u/playingwithfire and comments by /u/bpnelson7.

The second difference between the pre- and post-mothball bottlings is the distillate itself. Prior to the closure, GlenDronach did their own floor maltings and directly fired their stills, but after the closure, they stopped using their own malting floor and in September 2005 they switched to indirect firing. Although a brand ambassador recently told us in a AMA that the distillery attempts to simulate the effects of direct firing (hat tip to /u/forswearThinPotation for asking this question back then):

> In layman's terms, we have made a mechanism that recreates the "hot spots" that you would have on a still that is directly heated. The whisky is pumped through this machine and then reintroduced into the stills.

The distillery used lightly peated malt prior to the closure, but according to scotchwhisky.com and Charlie MacLean's Whiskypedia, they are still using lightly peated malt. But of course, it's possible that the exact ppm has changed.

When you add all of this up, there's a lot of variables at play and it's hard to make the blanket statement that pre-mothball is guaranteed to be great and post-mothball is guaranteed to be not so great. But when you look at the reviews over the years for the Original 12 and Revival 15, that certainly seems to be the consensus opinion. It will be interesting, and potentially disappointing, to see if the Allardice 18 follows the same trend over the course of the next year.

---

GlenDronach Allardice 18 (46% ABV, non-chillfiltered, natural color, aged in Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks, bottled on 2014/06/17)

  • Nose: A wonderfully rich, musty, heavily sherried nose, with raisins, cherries, orange citrus, oak, earth, wet leaves, caramel, milk chocolate, brown sugar, and baking spices
  • Palate: Strong notes of orange, milk chocolate, bitter oak, and nutmeg, with milder dark fruit, clove, earth, and tobacco notes; not the heaviest mouthfeel but the flavors are intense
  • Finish: More oranges, spices, and bitter oak, with the dark fruit becoming a bit more prominent, giving way to lingering malty and nutty notes; impactful finish with good length

    Score: 94/100

    Comments: This is a tremendous sherried whisky that shows just how good this style can be when you have active casks and 20+ years for the spirit to spend in them. It's not the most complex whisky, but the aromas and flavors that are here are rich and intense, but at the same time it exhibits a lot of maturity and harmony among its flavors.

    ---

    GlenDronach Revival 15 (46% ABV, non-chillfiltered, natural color, aged for 15 years in Oloroso and PX sherry-seasoned casks, bottled on 2018/08/15)

  • Nose: Similar character as the Allardice 18, but not as rich or intense, with notes of orange citrus, raisins, plums, cherries, baking spices, oak, and a bit of green fruit
  • Palate: Sweeter initially with vanilla and fruit syrup, then notes of dark chocolate, oranges, nutmeg, and clove, and oak; moderate mouthfeel
  • Finish: Bitter baking spices and oak initially, followed by lingering notes of dark chocolate, nuts, and coffee

    Score: 86/100

    Comments: This is a really nice sherried whisky that is similar to the Allardice 18 in many of its core traits, but is noticeably less rich and less complex. Those dank earthy notes that the Allardice has are not to be found in the new Revival, and the Revival is a touch sweeter on the palate but more bitter on the finish.

    ---

    GlenDronach Original 12 (43% ABV, non-chillfiltered, natural color, aged in Oloroso and PX sherry-seasoned casks, bottled on 2017/11/13)

  • Nose: Oak, vanilla, caramel, raisins, cherries, milk chocolate, and milder citrus, apple, and ethanol
  • Palate: Sweet and creamy vanilla with some background oak, pepper, nutmeg, and clove; moderate mouthfeel
  • Finish: Stronger spices and pepper with milder notes of malt, dark fruit, oak, vanilla, citrus, and dark chocolate; moderate length and more spicy than the palate

    Score: 81/100

    Comments: This is very typical of the modern entry-level sherried whisky: Sweet, creamy, and toffeed, it's very accessible and easy to drink, but the sherry influence is not especially assertive and at this point we have lost almost everything that defined the Allardice 18. I don't think I could identify this as GlenDronach if it was given to me blind.

    ---

    Side-by-Side Comments: First, a comment on color. The lighting in my pictures is not the best, but this picture tells the story: The Original and the Revival are almost identical in color, with the Allardice being significantly darker than both of them.

    There used to be a time several years ago when the Original 12 was considered one of the best values in sherried scotch, and the Revival 15 was lauded as being as good as any sherried scotch at its price point, and it was not uncommon to see people rating the pre-mothball Revival 15 as highly as the Allardice 18. Those glory days for the 12 and the 15 are over. The 18 is now the bottle of choice from the GlenDronach lineup if you want something exceptionally sherried.

    The 18 is intense on both the nose and the palate and has a strong and long-lasting finish, with a profile defined in large part by tannic oak, chocolate, baking spices, oranges, dark fruits, and a musty earthiness that really adds to its overall character. It tilts more towards spicy and bitter than sweet, but not overly so, and there's harmony between all of the flavors and a wonderful level of maturity.

    When you step down to the 15, you are still getting most of that core profile, but the richness and intensity is dialed down, and a bit of balance is lost. The influence of the PX casks is noticeable, both on the nose and with a bit more sweetness on the palate. But then the finish is more bitter than the 18, and I'm also not getting the dank earth notes that the 18 had. Stepping down to the 12 is an even more dramatic shift, with the Oloroso influence now taking a backseat to the sweet and creamy notes. I mentioned above that I don't think I could identify this as being GlenDronach if I was given it blind. The first time I tried the 12, it was in a restaurant, and I found it so lacking in sherry influence (both taste and color) that I honestly thought they misheard me and poured me Glenmorangie or something else.

    Despite its ever-increasing price, the Allardice 18 remains an exemplary bottling of Oloroso-matured whisky, although whether or not it maintains this level of quality remains to be seen. The new Revival 15 is very nice, and serves as an acceptable alternative if you can't stomach shelling out $150-$200 for the 18, although it's tough to find the Revival on the shelves and even tougher to find it for less than $100. It's hard to recommend it unless you can get it for less than $100. The Original 12 is a perfectly drinkable whisky, but the sherry influence is not especially assertive, and it's usually priced above its age-stated sherry-matured competitors while not being head and shoulders above them. So for that reason, like the Revival 15, it's something I would only tentatively recommend.
u/buckydean · 2 pointsr/Scotch

I'm doing something different for this review. I enjoy live music, and when I go I also enjoy smuggling in a hip flask because A)I enjoy Whisky, and B)I don't enjoy paying $10 per fucking beer. I've always used a standard 12 oz metal hip flask tucked into my sock, and it works great. But unfortunately I recently lost it in the metal detectors at an Iron Maiden show, which made me decide to replace it with a plastic one, seen here. I wanted to fill it with a cheapo that I had on hand to make sure it didn't add any nasty plastic taste, so I grabbed this Speyburn 10. I filled a 1oz glass sample bottle as a control, then emptied the rest of the bottle into the flask, let it sit two months, then did this review as a side-by-side.



Speyburn 10, 43%, $25

Nose: Hits all the classic malty Scotch notes: Caramel maltiness, honey, orange zest. There's some funky and slightly bitter wood notes that are a little off-putting but nothing horrible. The flask sample has no discernible difference. It actually is a little bolder oddly enough, with the wood funk being a little more prominent.

Taste: Smooth caramel, malty and fruity, mild citrus, lightly sweet. Some toffee richness that keeps it from being too light-bodied. Pretty straight forward Scotch goodness. Again the flask sample has no signs of any ill effects, on the contrary the flavor is slightly bolder and richer(!?).

Finish: Sweet caramel, that mildly rich toffee, malt. The sweet malt actually lingers for a much nicer and longer finish than I would have expected.



I'm always surprised by just how good this Whisky is for the price, it always manages to catch me off guard. It seems like there's so many Scotches that can't deliver what the nose promises, but this one actually tastes better than it smells. No ethanol or "young" astringency, just straight forward Scotch goodness. And it does pretty good at 43%, doesn't taste overly watered down or boring.

The flask performed excellent, with no plastic flavor that I could detect. In fact the flask sample performed a little better somehow, being just slightly bolder and fuller flavored. Maybe the air in the flask, which was only 1/4 full, helped it? I dunno. It fits well in my sock too against my leg, so I think I can safely recommend it at this point.

Score:

Scotch: 5

Flask: would totally use to smuggle mid shelf booze into an event

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I'd rather have.

5 | Good | This is a good, solid daily.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Insurpassable | No better exists.

u/[deleted] · 3 pointsr/Scotch

First off, I want to express the idea that there are many ways of learning, but two of the main ways I learn about a particular subject is by consulting experts in the field, and hands on experience. After months of trying out various whiskeys (thinking the only way to properly enjoy and taste every aspect of a scotch was by drinking it neat), I came to the conclusion that they were not for me. However, I didn’t want to give up, so I talked to a buddy of mine who appreciates whisky. He referred me to a book - Dave Broom’s Whisky: The Manual. It is important to note then, that I didn’t come up with all the ideas I’m about to suggest, but they were inspired by the work and words of Broom in said book. I can only reaffirm these ideas through first-hand experience (putting his theories to the test in my own home, and then comparing our palates).


Broom’s book explains some of the history of various whiskeys, but it is for the most part a guide on mixing (or in few instances NEVER mixing) scotch blends, scotch malts, Irish whiskeys, American whiskeys, Canadian whiskeys, and Japanese & Taiwanese whiskeys.


Examples? Broom taste tests many bottles of scotch with 5 different mixers: soda water, ginger ale, cola, coconut water, and green tea. He then rates each mixer with each bottle. When a mixer scored 4 or 5 with a particular whisky that I owned, I would try it neat (as a control), and then try it with the high rated mixers. What I found is that certain mixers either amplify notes or create bridges between notes hidden in the whisky. I am not an expert taster, and I don’t know all the terms or how to use them all correctly. This is all still new to me (within the last two years or so), so I’m sorry if I say something wrong here.


SODA: I concur with Broom that Soda often strengthens the florals, and the minerality of the soda brings out salinity. (Glenfiddish 12, Glenmorangie The Original)


GINGER ALE: I’ve also found Broom to be spot on with ginger ale too, being one of the best mixers. He explains that it works “horizontally, extending the palate.” I’ve found that ginger ale simply expands the aroma and finish. (Glenmorangie The Original, Glenfarclas 15, Jameson 12)


COLA: While the sugar in Cola obviously masks many flavors in many whiskeys, I’ve found that it sometimes works to bridge the natural vanilla and oak flavors in some whiskeys and can highlight smoke, spices, and especially fruits in others. (Gentlemen Jack, Monkey Shoulder, Lagavulin 16…don’t kill me please)


I can’t stand coconut water and I’m not very fond of green tea, so I haven’t actually worked up the courage to try them with whisky yet. From what I’ve read about them though, it appears that they are more of flavor adders, rather than enhancers (as Broom puts green tea can work “vertical[ly], adding flavors to the mix.”)


Broom’s book single-handedly opened my mind to trying new things in the world of whisky, and consequently I became a fan. I'm also a fan of some whiskeys neat. But even starts out his book with a section about the myths concerning the drink, one of them being that you MUST drink whisky neat to get its full flavor spectrum. It was like it let me off the hook with whisky and I had the liberty to expand my options.


If you think I’m full of crap, don’t try it. If you want to stretch your palate, be my guest.

u/Popeychops · 6 pointsr/Scotch

Popey is back again with a bargain bottle to share with you all! Having recently hit shelves again in the UK, Black Bottle is a no-age statement blend recommended in Ian Buxton's "101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die". I snapped it up for a mere £15, an absolute steal to clear one of my bucket list, right?

Colour: Honey, with a reddish coppery tinge. It reminds me a little of Glenfiddich 15 and some Speyside malts. I'll see what I think it's blended from later.

Nose: Iodine, a strong fishy smell hits you immediately, betraying the heavy peatyness coming forth afterwards. Taking a little more time brings out some bread, like a tuna mayo sandwich. There's more. Definitely the smell of rust and copper, like a chemistry set. The furthest I can go is wet concrete. It's... urm... different, I guess.

Mouth: A forceful mouthful of rotten wood and blackberries. I can feel that same damp sugar I get from sherried Speyside malts, but with the greasy peat of an Islay thrown on top for good measure. I like this, but it's very similar to the Lochlan blend you get in Tesco. It's surprisingly pleasant, everything seems to work together perfectly with none of the many indistinct and subtle flavours sticking out awkwardly, as I find with many single malts I don't like. This seems to be the joy of blends, being able to get something hugely drinkable for almost no money.

Finish: almost non-existent. Medicinal and herblike, as if I'd swallowed Jägermeister instead of Scotch. The peat smoke dominates after a short while, but isn't really very inspiring. The mouth is warmed, but not the chest. But I suppose you only get what you pay for.

A damn fine whisky for the price. This is a charming bottle which contains a charming liquid. Reading some more about the history of this blend really brings it to life. This is great value, and I daresay the most fun I've had with peated Scotch since the days of drinking Talisker with my Dad on a school night.

Bought for £15 in J.S. Sainsbury's.

76/100

u/chiefkeefOFFICIAL · 1 pointr/Scotch

Agreed here - Highland Park is great for working in the peat and smoke flavors that a lot of other bottles will hit you in the face with. I've had a dram of HP 18 (not enough) and just finished a bottle of HP 12 (one of my favorite daily drinkers) and they're both fantastic. Definitely enjoy this one slowly, maybe take a few drams and get some Wine Preserver and seal it back up if you plan on keeping it for a longer period of time. Maybe try some now, seal it up, and come back to it when you might have more experience with scotch.

Sorry for your loss, but congrats on your bottle. Sharing with family is a great way to taste it and enjoy what's been passed on to you. When my great aunt passed a couple years ago, I was given a great brandy and we all split the Dom P in her liquor cabinet, so that's always a great way to remember with your family.

u/quercus_robur · 1 pointr/Scotch

> I'll have to do some research on what to buy and invest in something better.

A Glencairn glass is most popular, but there are others. You can get one for about $10 at some stores or online:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/B003TMCNI8/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/B005LR3P1I/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003QX2JMA

> That seems a little pricey, and I don't know if my drinking habits will allow me to stretch a bottle across 6-8 nights.

Scotch is more expensive than bourbon. In my opinion, you won't find much below $50-60 that's well regarded. There are some cheaper options, but you'll run out of them eventually if you want to try something different each time. Additional price increases have started pushing many of the more flavorful malts you'll see recommended on here to $60-$80. That price range will provide you with many options; some of those options are higher proof, so you might be able to drink less or add water to your scotch. The base assumption is that these bottles are all 750 ml.

> So why is it looked down upon?

It's fine, but it's somewhat bland in my opinion. It's the highest volume single malt in the world, so it's mass produced at lowest cost. This is somewhat indicated by its price. To an extent (but not always), you get what you pay for (at this end of the market--not really true at $100+), which is why eventually you'll have to pay more.

> I'm starting to look towards the peaty end of the spectrum. Anything non-respectable there?

By no means are peated scotches the only respectable options. You want a list of non-respectable options? Instead, I would recommend that the Islay single malts are mostly all decent. The least expensive from the distillers are some of the new no-age Bowmores and Laphroaigs, but again you get what you pay for. ~$50 will get you entry-level Laphroaig 10yr and Ardbeg 10yr, which are both very good. Others have recommended a few of the "mystery" single malts or blends, which are a little cheaper but also younger.

All of this is just my opinion. I would also agree with most the other bottle recommendations here, but I chose my favorites to recommend. Ultimately you'll just have to try a few and see where it takes you and come back for more advice if you need it.

I would recommend that you don't necessarily have to rush through many options at once. Instead, focus on your Glenfiddich bottle and getting as much out of it as you can. Get a better glass and keep drinking Glenfiddich over a period of time, because as your palate develops you'll discover new aspects of it. You may have to buy another bottle of it if you're drinking that fast. Then eventually take the plunge and try something else. Rinse, repeat.

u/ambiguo42 · 2 pointsr/Scotch

There's a lot of good advice here already, so I'll try not to reiterate too much.

I find that the key is taking your time with whisky. Don't just nose it once or twice; go in several times and sniff softly. Careful, as a big deep breath can overwhelm you with alcohol. Take your time drinking it, too. Moderate sips and all that.

While everyone has a completely subjective experience with food & drink, it doesn't take a superhuman sense of smell to appreciate subtleties in Scotch. You already enjoy it a great deal; experience will likely help you articulate why and how, including details of aroma and taste.

My sense of smell/taste hasn't changed since I started drinking whisky, but I have found more accurate ways of describing what I've been tasting all along. Expanding my whisky selections and playing around with food/spice flavors in the kitchen really helped me start to articulate nosing and tasting notes.

Reading lots of reviews also helped, especially those by Michael Jackson. I went back to some of my favorite drinks (Highland Park 12 and Laphroaig 10) and compared what I was tasting with other people's notes. Sometimes I could detect what someone was talking about, and sometimes not. This helped me continue building a vocabulary for my own tastings.

I suggest taking a look at some of Michael Jackson's reviews, since they are the most concise and objective I've seen. I agree completely that poetry can take over in any kind of tasting (food, wine, whisky) and get a bit ridiculous. I'm probably guilty of this on occasion, since taste is so often linked to memory and emotion for me. Still, I try to keep the flowery language in check whenever I notice it getting out of hand.

I found Ralfy's masterclass video series helpful with regard to taking tasting notes. I recommend viewing Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

Edit: I didn't see this mentioned elsewhere, but smoking can also really blunt a sense of smell. Likewise for drinking whisky in smoky surroundings.

u/angryowl14 · 2 pointsr/Scotch

start scroll

Episode 1: A Noob Hopes

In a galaxy far, far away

A long time lurker decides to sack up

and provide some horrible reviews

for some good scotch.

On to the review....

end scroll

=========================

What's being reviewed: Compass Box Peat Monster

In what: Glencairn on steroids. This one actually.Let's forego the rest of the details since you all know it by now.

Pre-drink thoughts: I like Compass Box (tried the Muse at a bar, loved it, bought a bottle 2 weeks later. That's a review for another day). But I'm not sure if I like peat. But the wife does and this is a hobby I'd like to share with her, especially since I plan on spending our money on it - so why not try something she might enjoy as well.

Nose: Smoke. Nasal burn. Light band-aid-y scents.Taste: Faint smoke, kind of like how I would imagine what my shirt would taste like the morning after a bonfire. There's a sweetness to this as well. A hint of something salty I think.

Finish: Might be me, but the finish seems long. It's smokey, It stays with me after the exhale, it lingers...like a memory. (Also that medicinal note is there too)

Rating: * * * *Would I buy again: Yes absolutely

Final Note: This review is being written without notes to reference, as I want to only convey the parts that really stick with me. Plus, I can't discern things like "malty peat", "hammy fruit jam", "wafting fields of baby octopus tentacles", hence the very short descriptors.

================Rating System (stars)

  • 1 = nope. never again
  • 2 = will drink if offered for free
  • 3 = would not buy a bottle, but would buy at a bar
  • 4 = must have on hand at home at all times
  • 5 = cream of my crop. willing to pay premium for a bottle.
u/ODMBitters · 57 pointsr/Scotch

So... I'm rearranging my bookshelves, and came across my copy of, ["Whiskey, the Manual"](Whisky: The Manual https://www.amazon.com/dp/1845337557/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_EalQzbVMTWKX9), by Dave Broom. A fantastic book, but one I haven't browsed in a while. Decided to flip through and found something so outrageous, I simply had to try it.

Yes, none other than Dave Broom says to mix Lagavulin 16 with Coca-Cola 1:1 over ice. In fact he says, "The most astonishing revelation is how it goes so well with equal parts cola..."

So, I had to. I wish I could agree with Broom's ranking of this as a 5 out of 5, but I'd put it somewhere in the "easily drinkable, but nothing special" category. I'd rather have the whisky neat, or a cold Coke.

~ Cheers!

u/Trexid · 3 pointsr/Scotch

Great choice for your first review! Don't worry to much its your first one, you did fine. If you haven't already taken a look at Texacer's guide to reviewing it's got some sound advise in there.

Also, check out this tasting video from Highland Park which will also help you appreciate the aroma's and tastes with a bit more focus from our videos section.

Also, a Glencairn nosing glass or similar is highly recommended, cheers!

u/KTRyan30 · 1 pointr/Scotch

I agree, a lot of the time I want something heavier in the hand for relaxing with a dram. These are my go to now :

Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey Glass - Set of 2 10.5 oz Scotch Glasses. Premium Bourbon Rocks Glass Shaped for Improving Tasting and Aroma of Spirits. Crystal Clear Glassware https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATV2Q5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IzoQBbAYXQ2AB

u/Devoz · 3 pointsr/Scotch

It was a gift, but it is called a crystal cut glencairn. You can find them on Amazon or Ebay - example - https://www.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Whisky-Tasting-Glass/dp/B016YJ0SA2?crid=2GGZG5K37EXNE&keywords=crystal+cut+glencairn&qid=1537475356&sprefix=crystal+cut+glen%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-2&ref=sr_1_2



I absolutely love the thing. The additional heft makes for a fun drinking experience.

u/gavrok · 2 pointsr/Scotch

I have the Whiskey Opus. Got it as a gift last year, but it's a really good book with lots of information and beautiful pictures. No reviews or scoring or anything like that though, but it does have some tasting notes, and lots of background info on distilleries all over the world and on whisky itself.

u/daeedorian · 4 pointsr/Scotch

$7.60 apiece to anyone with Amazon prime...

I keep ordering them for friends, mostly because I want to have one to use when I'm at their houses... but it makes me look nice.

This $5 mini pitcher is also a great addition...

u/mfeds · 1 pointr/Scotch

Yeah, those are great for tasting whisk(e)y - this style can also be good and is a bit bigger if one should ever like to make a cocktail or use ice: "Canadian Glencairn". http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005LSA4GQ?pc_redir=1414501324&robot_redir=1

Tasting - as in really thinking about the smells flavors writing down notes - ice will only dull your tongue and not help, and the regular Glencairns might be too small to fit ice cubes. If you ever like to make cocktails (more common with bourbon/rye than scotch for sure) like Manhattans, old Fashioneds, or just have some booze over a few ice cubes, the Canadian may be a bit better and they are still very nice for "tasting" neat. Just my 2 cents - I have both styles and even just bought a "NEAT" glass but haven't tried it yet. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IK4I9RE/ref=mlt_B005LSA4GQ_B00IK4I9RE

u/ardbeg_head · 8 pointsr/Scotch

Normally I would never recommend these let alone chilling your whisky, but I can make an exception. Whisky stones are probably the best way to chill if you have to. Historically, when people wanted to chill their whisky they would go to the river and pick up a stone out of the water so there is even more history for you. Be forewarned that if you chill whisky you will lose some of the flavors present in scotch, so if you are studying tasting notes and don't understand why you don't get a specific flavor that is why.

As for bottle suggestions I don't know exactly what to recommend since you have no taste history to go off of besides MacGregor. Because of this I am going to say if you like bold tastes go with a Laphroaig 10. The smokey-brine in this whisky is fan-fucking-tastic. As RustyPipes put it 'If you want a Koala bear to crap a rainbow in your brain'. If you like sweeter more complex flavors go with Bruichladdich Rocks.

Edit: I originally sounded like an enormous prick so I changed that.

u/mfinn · 3 pointsr/Scotch

https://www.amazon.com/Private-Preserve-Wine-Preservation-Spray/dp/B0000DCS18

10 bucks for more than you'll use in probably 2 years. Nitrogen is completely inert and a better choice than CO2 in a non-carbonated beverage...this is a mix of Nitrogen, Argon, and CO2 and I think a better "cheap" option thank straight Nitrogen or the marble route.

u/Dustin_Breadcrumbs · 4 pointsr/Scotch

How does he drink his scotch?

If with ice, go with a rocks glass and throw in a round ice maker.

If he drinks it neat or with a little water, go with the Glencarin glasses everyone is recommending. They are my go to. Another solid choice in this vein would be a copita nosing glass. They're basically a Glencairn on a stick.

Whatever you choose, Amazon or Waterford, a nice touch would be getting the glassware engraved.

u/Radun · 1 pointr/Scotch

I use glencairn glasses like this: https://www.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Whiskey-Glass-Set/dp/B00H143UXW


I am thinking maybe that glass is intensifying the smell which normally I enjoy, so maybe I should just drink it out of a rocks glass neat, and won't get the smell as much, does that make sense?

u/Goatpunching · 3 pointsr/Scotch

I am in the US, I got a little better deal than what you can get them on amazon right now and it was a local place so no shipping. The one issue is they did come in the commercial box and not in the retail box. I would say this is the best deal right now.

u/FreelanceSocialist · 8 pointsr/Scotch

I think that ice not only dilutes as it melts, but dulls the character and nose of whisky by dropping the temperature too drastically. You miss out on a lot of the complexity. If you want to chill your whisky (though not as harshly as with ice) without risking dilution, pick up a set of whisky stones. I have that set from Teraforma, myself, and I think they are awesome. When I use them, I add water to taste, then take the stones out of the fridge and use them to cool the whisky just a bit, if needed.

u/Hoozin · 1 pointr/Scotch

You may want to consider investing in some whiskey stones like these. I still like a little bit of water, but I'm coming around to the idea that maybe a melting ice cube isn't the best.

My house is decently cool thanks to A/C, but I still use a small dash of cold water about half the time I pour a glass.

u/Cdn_Nick · 1 pointr/Scotch

You may find some inspiration - and an entertaining read - here: https://www.amazon.com/Raw-Spirit-Search-Perfect-Dram/dp/1844131955

u/devilsadvocate23 · 2 pointsr/Scotch

I have tried a number of methods. These label removers work the best. http://www.amazon.com/Oenophilia-Label-Lift-50-Pack/dp/B003Z9AUCQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427824815&sr=8-1&keywords=wine+label+remover

You have to be careful to get the sticker on without any air gaps and I usually leave them on for a few days and rub them with the back of a spoon numerous times over the course of those few days.

u/WubbaLubbaDubStep · 3 pointsr/Scotch

This seems like a lot of work, and potentially risk cracking your bottle when you drop them in, or cracking a glass when you pour it out.

If you're concerned with shelf-life, I recommend purchasing an inert gas spray like this. It will dispel oxygen and should increase the life enough to hold you over.

u/Razzafrachen · 30 pointsr/Scotch

Room temp is good for whiskey. Don't worry about special ice or water. Maybe also have a small bottle of water on hand in case she wants to add a splash.

If you're not sure if she likes ice or not then I'd go with Canadian Glencairn Glasses. They've got the tulip shape which helps enhance the nose but they're wide enough to accommodate ice unlike other tulip-shaped glasses.

u/neurad1 · 2 pointsr/Scotch

I even find Glencairns opening is too small. I really love the Canadian Whiskey glasses made by the same company as Glencairns....

u/Belmish · 1 pointr/Scotch

This book is what I would reccomend, as it remains one of the best on the subject

Ask for a bottle or two from each region/distillery,for research purposes.

u/kaellinn18 · 1 pointr/Scotch

As I mentioned in another thread, I use one of these, and it just opens it right up. I love it, especially for Islays.

u/Rhetoriclese · 1 pointr/Scotch

I love the sturdy glencairn. Stemware has just a little more sex appeal.

u/Brian_MB_05 · 1 pointr/Scotch

As a few others have mentioned - as you become more exposed to peat the less shocking, if you will, to your taste it will be. However, the more complexities you may find being able to taste between the peat.

As to the glassware, if you're just drinking out of tumblers, I'd highly recommend getting some tasting glasses. There's the classic Glencairn, the Canadian Glencairn, a copita or anything similar. A glass like these will allow the whisky to concentrate and focus the smell which will allow you to find the more underlying character of the various whiskies.

u/Quorum_Sensing · 1 pointr/Scotch

I like the Canadian whiskey Glencairns too. I use them for bourbon mostly, but they are significantly more stable.

u/mrhobo_rz · 2 pointsr/Scotch

I actually just found out that preservers are a thing. You can buy a can of a preserver (which is basically an inert gas) and this will help keep it from getting oxidized.

The basic rule of thumb is that once a bottle is about 1/3 full it's time to either use a preserver, or invite some friends over to finish it off.

u/shane_il · 2 pointsr/Scotch

You might want to try argon gas or such stuff used for preserving wine (like this). It's a nonreactive gas that's heavier than air so it sinks down and covers the booze which stops it from oxidising.

Summers get pretty damn hot where I am (upwards of 40C), and my whiskies do just fine in a cool, shaded cabinet. I've kept open bottles for 2 years or so before.

u/wkndgolfer · 6 pointsr/Scotch

Buy a bottle of wine preserver at Total Wine or Amazon, like [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Enthusiast-Private-Preserve-Preservation-Spray/dp/B0000DCS18). I opened a bottle of 'Fiddich 18 about a year ago and after I drank about half of it I used the wine preserver and put it in the back of my cabinet. Had a dram last night and it was fine...which reminds me, I need to go use it again before I put the bottle back in the cabinet.

u/LocalAmazonBot · 2 pointsr/Scotch

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: these


|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|France|amazon.fr|
|Germany|amazon.de|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|




This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

u/willdb11 · -1 pointsr/Scotch

I bought one of these that makes a lot of scotch more palatable.

u/wallysmith127 · 3 pointsr/Scotch

If you want to cool your scotch without ice, try whiskey stones.

Chills without freezing, and add water to dilute to your preference.

u/a8vision · 1 pointr/Scotch

looks like you can get 2 for $18 rather than 1 @ ~$7 each.

u/PeatReek · 1 pointr/Scotch

You could always try a wine label remover like this.

u/FToThe3rdPower · 5 pointsr/Scotch

I use one of these nalgene 12 oz flasks: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001C1SSN2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_52U3CbM3794T4

-Won't affect taste or interact with any alcohol
-Store alcohol in it indefinitely
-Large capacity
-Won't break like glass

u/jyhwei5070 · 2 pointsr/Scotch

if you're concerned about chilling it without extra dilution, look into some whisky stones, which are essentially insulating rocks that can keep cold for awhile. drop them into a glass with your whisky and get 0 dilution and chilled drink!