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I was told by someone who considers himself an expert on such matters that single malt whiskeys are actually not as good as blends.
It is only that real connoisseurs generally drink single malts because they are consistent and one can distinguish the various component tastes and smells without overdue complexity. So that as a “hobby” so to speak one cannot properly compare one blend to another, only single malts.
But in truth the single malts are probably inferior to the blends in regard to the actual drinking experience.
He says those that consider single malts to be the best are actually not really knowledgeable about whiskeys but are amateurs who have been misled by a myth.
YW Moderator-80: I was told by someone who considers himself an expert on such matters that single malt whiskeys are actually not as good as blends.
I think it’s a matter of taste, an acquired taste (psychological). As people “acquire” their taste for whiskey, they probably trained themselves (or not) to like one type of whiskey over another. For example, I tend to like the more peaty scotches. I am not biased against bourbon as many people tend to be. Recently, my brother-in-law got me to try a caramel colored rum (Vizcaya, I think) which I thought was really wonderful.
My point is what is defined as “good” is a matter of opinion.
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For a mediocre Vatted Malt, try Johny Green, for a decent one – Famous Grouse 18, and for a very very good one The Hallmark of St. James 25 year old, which is nearly impossible to get, but is well worth the effort. l’Chaim
Cherry Dr Pepper? Is that single can? How well aged do you like it?
sammygol- i concur with you about johnny walker ‘green’. It is advertised as a “blend of single malts” and i did not find it that great. I have never seen famous grouse 18.
I do love all single malts, more than the blended ones because they have a much more intense taste- smoky,tangy…etc- and they are also much smoother, especially the older ones.
I thought blended whiskies presented a problem for kashrut. I don’t know the what fors, but at some point was told that and have stayed away from them ever since. I don’t drink so much to care one way or the other since I only have a shot on a Shabbat or Yom Tov with a guest if he’s interested – but not even every Shabbat or Yom Tov.
I just stick to vodka when I drink, which is rare. After the first shot of anything, you don’t taste it anyway. Throw in an ice cube (which connoisseurs detest) and you lose all taste anyway. It’s all advertising. Stick with Old Williamsburgh.
Blenders shmenders, is es batamt oder nisht?
Why recall the horrible, oval or straight. Stick to cherry peppers and enjoy them for mere 75 cents on a sale.
the only whiske that resembles your description is “royal salute’ by crown, about 75 bucks. Otherwise, I just don’t remember any other similar shaped bottle.
Cann you really tell the difference between red label, black or blue, (I think there is a gold label too)? My husband once bought 2 bottles of Johnny walker green, one bottle disappeared from my house and when he opened the remaining bottle my husband said he didn’t even like it so much.
mybat- actually -yes, you can tell the difference between these differetn bottles-aged differently. Johnny Black is the best for the money and blue is totally overpriced (about 150) green is good but not great, although they market it as single malt. I’ll take glenfiddich anytime.
Yes, when my son was born someone brought a bottle of blue, but nobody even liked it!
mybat,
As someone who can tell the difference between Coke, Pepsi, RC Cola, and tell the difference between coffee made of Arabica coffee beans and coffee made of Robusta Tree coffee beans, I assure you that I have no trouble tasting the difference between fine whiskey (such as JW blue, green or gold) and low quality whiskey (such as JW red and black labels). And I would not be surprised to hear that most people can taste the difference.
Jothar –
I have a letter from the former chairman of IBM advising all salesmen that if they drink at lunch they should specifically NOT drink vodka, because he wanted the customers they visit in the afternoon to know they are drunk, rather than think they are stupid.
Really squeak? I myself don’t drink whiskey (or any liquor for that matter) but you know what my husband if really into, wines… Whenever we go on a trip anywhere he has to bring back a number of good wines.
To YW Mod-80–shavua tov
“once had a whiskey that was the least horrible of all whiskeys I’ve tried.
It was about $75, came in an oval shaped bottle. It was called something like “Rodes”
Anyone know what it was? “
You may be referring to Glenrothes. It is a very good single malt, and is bottled at several ages.
If you wish, you can email me and I will tell you where to get it at very good prices if you live in the NYC area.
Home distilled hooch is the best for me. Its cheap, you know its kosher, and sans all the druid chochma. If you like blends, there are all kinds of stuff you can make starting with 99% grape based alchohol and herbs, seeds, or fruit. When they ask you in shamayim if you partook of the pleasures of the world in heter, they will probably not take you to task for ignoring single malt scotch.
JW Blue is probably the most overrated scotch out there. It’s ok, but not worth $200 a bottle! I wouldn’t even spend half of that on a bottle. I’d spend maybe 65-70 on it. For $65, you can get a Macallen 15, which is much better. For $100 you can get Glenfiddich 18, and for $135 you can get the Glenrothes 1984, which is fantastic.
Scotch is for yuppies.
I’ll take Jack Daniels over the most expensive scotch in the world.
Bourbon tastes better coming up, then scotch does going down…..
Once you make the switch, you can never go back.
Y.W. Editor:
have been drinking single malts for over 30 years, long before the yuppies discovered them. Unfortunately, though, you are correct, and the yuppies have turned a nice hobby (I collect as well as drink) into a status thing.
However, you should not feel smug. The yuppies have discovered bourbon as well.
Luckily, as a Modern Orthodox Jew, I do not have to keep my scotch and bourbon separate. While I would never, ever, mix them in the same glass, I hold that it is permissible to have bottles of each on the same tablecloth for a kiddush or l’chaim. For drinking one right after the other, I would have to say that one should consult one’s own halachic authority.
BS”D
He must be referring to the top blends such as Johnnie Walker Blue Label. It is overrated but was worth it when I could get it for USD 80 in duty free. Chivas Regal Royal Salute is completely overrated as well.
Johnnie Walker Green Label is worth it for the money; goes down smooth and easy enough for kiddush but “im lovon garti” when it comes to kiddush because whisky does not come UP smoothly!
Y.W. Editor – Bourbon tastes better coming up, then scotch does going down….. VERY TRUE! There’s nothing like a geshmake bourbon!!
starwolf – Luckily, as a Modern Orthodox Jew, I do not have to keep my scotch and bourbon separate. What does being Modern Orthodox have to do with anything? I’m not Modern Orthodox & I also can mix bourbon & scotch. After 10 shots of bourbon – when you lose your tastebuds – any scotch tastes ok…..
Y.W. Editor –
I love you man, but I have to strongly disagree with you.
A nice shot of single malt scotch is better then any bourbon I’ve ever tasted. (IMHO)
But as they say, you can’t argue about taste.
IY”H we should make a L’chayim at each others simchas and I’ll bring you bourbon if you bring me scotch!
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