Whiskey/Scotch experts, I need advice!

[Phatferd]

I have really begun to enjoy whiskey/scotch over the past year or two, but have never really ventured out beyond the Makers and Knob Creek in quality. I prefer the Knob Creek to the Makers Mark, if this means anything.

Anyways, I am going on a trip for the weekend to Big Bear to stay in a family cabin and would love to enjoy some whiskey or scotch next to the fireplace at night with some good friends.

I stopped by Costco to see what I could get and to venture out past my American tastebuds. Here are the 3 finalists I am interested in buying. What is the best one and/or what do you see as the best value?

Macallan 12 for $39
Johnny Walker Green for $34
Johnny Walker Gold for $50

[The Artful Dodger]

Well, you have to consider how strong you like your whisky. If you like it stronger, go with single malt (which is the MacAllan) and if not, go with blended (which are the Johnnie Walker whiskies). However, if you really want to get a fine appreciation of the whisky for characteristics such as smell, mouthfeel, and taste notes (like you would distinguish with a beer or wine), single malt is up your alley.

If I were you, I'd pick the MacAllan.

[KCollins1304]

I love Crown Royal, but that's Canadian whiskey.

[bigh0rt]

I love Crown Royal, but I also love men so...

FYP

[Metroid]

I love Crown Royal, but I also love Canadian men so...

FYP

FYFP

[IllinoisBandit]

I'm not much of a scotch guy, but I do enjoy whiskey(bourbon) very much.
You can't beat Rip Van Winkle 12YR Lot B for ~$50 if that's your upper limit (though you might have trouble finding this and any other *good* bourbon if you live above the Mason-Dixon line) . For less than that you can save some cash and get WIld Turkey 101 - awesome IMO. JW is not my favorite, but it's worth a try.

I stopped by Costco to see what I could get and to venture out past my American tastebuds.

Americans perfected the art of whiskey making.

[AussieDodger]

Surprised Dan Lambskin hasn't chimed in, he seems to be the cafe's getting drunk/Canadian man-love expert

Americans perfected the art of whiskey making.

racist





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[The Artful Dodger]

Americans perfected the art of whiskey making.

Eh, it's a matter of taste and what you're in the mood for. There will be times where I'd want Wild Turkey instead of Highland Park when I want something sweeter and smoother, but there are times where I want something that can pack a punch and give me better well-roundedness (Scotch, single-malt particularly) as well as a smokier flavor. I've had both superb Bourbon and Scotch and really, I can't pick one style being better than the other.

Oh, and the Scottish will have something to say about your claim...and rightfully so.

[Dan Lambskin]

i dont know much about scotch other than Macallen and Glenfiddich are decent options...i know there's all kinds of other fancy ones as well

as far as whiskey i like Makers...Woodford Reserve is also really, really good. you can also give Gentelman Jack or Jack Daniels Single Barrel a try. i've never really gotten into the Walkers, but i say you spring for a bottle of Blue

[BitterDodgerFan]

if you enjoy scotch whiskey, you owe yourself to try single malt scotch whiskey.
the macallan single malts are generally considered one of the best, so yea give it a try. at costcos around here, they also have the glenlivet 12yr for $21 which is a very affordable quality single malt. i'd take these over blended stuff like johnny walker, although the green and gold are the vatted malts (blend of single malts). one blend i really enjoy though is jameson, a irish whiskey.

if you want to know more about what i think, check out my post in the liquor thread here: viewtopic.php?t=397751&start=10#p3159419

oh and please don't be like somebody here and mix the stuff with coke.