Good single malts for < $50?

[Gollnick]

I, myself, don't drink expensive scotch for the purpose of "gettting a buzz." I savor a few tablespoons of it over the course of an hour inhaling more than I swallow. One wouldn't want a "buzz" since dulled senses would diminish the experience, an experience for which you paid a lot of money.

I find that great scotch pairs well with great chocolate. So, I sometimes wind down the evening with the aforementioned few tablespoons of scotch and an ounce or two of great -- and also expensive -- chocolate. These are savored over an hour or two often in concert with some great music and a few pages of a great book. It's a slow and lazy process which is really about relaxing and savoring the slow pleasure. So, while the scotch may be a hundred or more dollars for a bottle and the chocolate may be twenty-five dollars for a bar, a little of both goes a long way. While the scotch may be a hundred dollars a bottle and the chocolate may be twenty-five for the bar, the pair end up being only maybe ten or fifteen dollars a serving... still not something for every day, but a great treat from time-to-time. But, no "buzz."

 

[kamagong]

I come from a working class background, and my extended family has what I would call pedestrian tastes when it comes to alcohol. They've commented that I have expensive tastes when it comes to alcohol and that I've become a bit of a beer and liquor snob. What they fail to acknowledge is the fact that I don't drink very often. The last bottle of scotch I bought lasted me a good six months or so. They OTOH drink very often and are in the habit of drinking to get drunk. So although they make the claim that I am a bit high-brow, they spend much more on drinking than I do. And they never seem to complain when I'm the one providing the hooch.

I, myself, don't drink expensive scotch for the purpose of "gettting a buzz." I savor a few tablespoons of it over the course of an hour inhaling more than I swallow. One wouldn't want a "buzz" since dulled senses would diminish the experience, an experience for which you paid a lot of money.

This past May I brought out a bottle of 12 year old Macallan to share with my groomsmen the morning of my wedding. I wanted something to take the edge off my nerves. The five of us had a couple drams each before the ceremony, so the bottle was still a good 1/3 to 1/2 full. I wanted to imbibe a little during the reception so I asked my cousin where it was. It turned out that he had already finished it all. I was dumbstruck, the idiot downed it like it was a bottle of cheap tequila. I am now more discriminating when it comes to who I share the good stuff with.

 

[BoxANT]

I love a good scotch whiskey They go great with a tasty cigar and a nice beer.

Many good names have been suggested so far.

I would also suggest trying Ardbeg 10, it's similar to Laphroaig 10 (which I love) but a little less bite.

As for people claiming snobbery, don't sweat it! We buy what we like and it does not concern anyone else

 

[tyr_shadowblade]

Oban is a good scotch in that price range.

 

[mitchshrader]

If you're a Mac fan, try the Aberlour 16, or the Glen Rothes '91. They might ding the budget but you won't hate yourself for it. I put the Aberlour within a point or two of the Mac 18, fwiw. Tasty. I tend to drink more of the 15 yr Balvenie single cask than anything else, and that ain't shabby neither. Those three whiskies are/were in the 50's range when I bought them but no price guarantees. I've bought online from Chicago, from NY, from Colorado and from California. It has everything to do with the vendor and not much to do with the law.

 

[komondor]

While the scotch may be a hundred dollars a bottle and the chocolate may be twenty-five for the bar, the pair end up being only maybe ten or fifteen dollars a serving... still not something for every day, but a great treat from time-to-time. But, no "buzz."

Of course there's no buzz. You're depressing and stimulating your nervous system at the same time. Kinda like hitting the gas and brake together.

 

[lightleak]

One of the best single malts I´ve ever tried is the (now hard to get) Scapa 14.
And with 50-60 USD it is about your price range. If you can get one of those, don´t hesitate a second. Very elegant, very balanced.

My second recommendation is Talisker 10. It is about 50-60 USD as well.
Might be the whisky I prefer most of the time.
Very complex with a tad of smoke, very round, full taste.

Best regards,

lightleak

 

[datsgor]

Can't really add anything more to the suggestions already. But I do want to second the recomendation of Highland Park. It is on the budget side of things and really, really good.

Tasting Notes: (not mine)
Opens with the sweet and smoky fragrance of peat with notes of honey and fruit. The palate is exceptionally smooth and light, with a bright, velvet texture and a subtle smokiness, a rich malt background and delightful tones of light butterscotch. It finishes in a sweet and smooth lusciousness that is superiorly calming and slightly warming while it fades rather fast, but not too fast.

For an exceptional expeience...try the 18.

 

[pilote]

i've bought nearly all the single malts talked about here, but the only scotch i buy on a regular basis are blends; johnnie walker green and gold...and i've got a bottle of johnnie blue that i bring out for touches with a few close cigar smoking friends on special occasions...

 

[338375]

I'm really glad some, or many, of you guys have the resources to afford quality Scotch. I read this thread yesterday and went to the supermarket today. The Scotch whiskeys ranged from $26 to $60 for a scant fifth. I'm on a fixed income so I bought a cheap one and three-quarter liter bottle of Canadian Mist whiskey for $22 bucks and told myself it would have to suffice. I've had a couple of hits on the Mist this evening and try to tell myself it is quality Scotch, however, I do fail in the attempt. What the hey, it's still alcohol and gives me a pleasant buzz.

You can tell yourself that CM is good whiskey all you want, but its not going to change the taste

 

[Sid Post]

I'm really glad some, or many, of you guys have the resources to afford quality Scotch. I read this thread yesterday and went to the supermarket today. The Scotch whiskeys ranged from $26 to $60 for a scant fifth. I'm on a fixed income so I bought a cheap one and three-quarter liter bottle of Canadian Mist whiskey for $22 bucks and told myself it would have to suffice. I've had a couple of hits on the Mist this evening and try to tell myself it is quality Scotch, however, I do fail in the attempt. What the hey, it's still alcohol and gives me a pleasant buzz.

I have purchased Seagram's VO in Arizona for about the same price at "Total Wine" and find it to be much better. It is much smoother and mellower then Candadian Mist. If you shop at a cheaper merchant, I would encourage to take your $22 and try some Seagram's VO which is smooth enough to drink neat. The only thing I would use Canadian Mist neat for would be as a fire starter because I find it to be too harsh and it upsets my stomach.

If you want a cheap buzz, neather of these suffice IMHO.

 

[Peruna1998]

I lived in Scotland for two years. At that price range, I would look at Balvenie 12, Talisker 12, and Highland Park 12. My personal favorite is Highland Park 18, but it is closer to $100.