Recommend a Scotch that...

[bigloo]

has the smoothness of JW Blue. It can be blended, SM, but needs to have that super smooth body and taste. I am looking to give a gift to someone who loves JW blue and would like to give him something else.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions guys.

Lu

[DrDubzz]

JW Gold? :ss seriously, I like the gold better, smooth? Glenfiddich 15 yr is the smoothest I've every had.

lots more scotch knowledgable types around here though, but those are my two pence

[SvilleKid]

IF you can find it......

Talisker's Distiller's Edition. Tough to find. Single Malt. Expect to pay at least $60.

I'm not a scotch fan at all. However, this one gets thumbs up. Had some Glenfiddich 18 (20?) year old that came close..

[goalie204]

I've never had JW blue so i can't compare unfortunately. But looking forward to reading some responses cuz i looove it smooth

[JohnnyFlake]

Chivas Regal 18yo, at about 1/3 the price of JW Blue. It will amaze you, with it's smoothness and extreme complexity. Drink it neat, with a few drops of cold water and then give it time to open up, 10/15 minutes. It's awesome!!!

[wayner123]

Chivas Regal 18yo, at about 1/3 the price of JW Blue. It will amaze you, with it's smoothness and extreme complexity. Drink it neat, with a few drops of cold water and then give it time to open up, 10/15 minutes. It's awesome!!!

I agree with you on the Chivas Regal 18yo. For me it has a little more bite than JW blue, but that is overcome with a single cube of ice. At the price point it would match up very well.

When you say a few drops of cold water, do you mean "a few drops" as in using an eye dropper?

[Scottw]

Chivas Regal 18yo, at about 1/3 the price of JW Blue. It will amaze you, with it's smoothness and extreme complexity. Drink it neat, with a few drops of cold water and then give it time to open up, 10/15 minutes. It's awesome!!!


I agree with this but I will also suggest that if your friend is open to Irish Whisky, get him the Bushmills 21 yr old. Quite good, extremely smooth and half the price of the blue.

[godzilla]

yeah, chivas 18 is my blended scotch of choice. jw blue is way too expensive for how good it is chivas is a better choice. i have to point out, though, that i like islays so my definition of smooth might be different.

[mosesbotbol]

There's another blended Scotch that looks like a rip-off of JW. Even have the similar colored bottles, but goes for a lot less than JW. I forget the name, but a large Scotch B&M near me boasts its QPR for this brand. I think it is someone's name like Tom ...

Surly someone knows what I am talking about...

[JohnnyFlake]

I agree with you on the Chivas Regal 18yo. For me it has a little more bite than JW blue, but that is overcome with a single cube of ice. At the price point it would match up very well.

When you say a few drops of cold water, do you mean "a few drops" as in using an eye dropper?

Actually, I have a friend that uses an eye dropper and he drops about five drops of cold spring water into a jigger, of whichever scotch or bourbon he is drinking. I think that is kind of neat. However, for me, I use a level teaspoon into a jigger. BTW, if your not sure, a jigger is a shot and a half. After you add the water, swirl the scotch a time or two, and then let it set for at least 10 minutes before you start to sip it. That will allow it to open up and offer a complexity of flavors.

[ahc4353]

I agree with the few drops of water. Once a guy showed me that trick scotch has never tasted sooooo good. Makes a huge difference.

[MadAl]

Springbank, Glenmorangie Port Wood

[MadAl]

When you say a few drops of cold water, do you mean "a few drops" as in using an eye dropper?

Figure between a teaspoon and a tablespoon.

[bigloo]

Thanks for the reqs. Off to find Chivas 18 yr. What about Lagavulin 16 yr? Smooth?

[macpappy]

A friend showed me a good one to try. He puts ice cubes in his glass, swirls it around a few time until the ice starts to melt and moisture collects on the inside of the glass. He then dumped the ice out and pours the scotch in and swirls it around.

And for the purist out there he makes his ice cubes from natural spring water.

[JohnnyFlake]

Thanks for the reqs. Off to find Chivas 18 yr. What about Lagavulin 16 yr? Smooth?

Lagavulin 16 is anything but smooth, it's very aggressive, oily, salty, grassy, hints of iodine, and above all, loaded with smoky, peaty flavors! It's a wonderful classic for what it is!!!

[Cigary]

Springbank, Glenmorangie Port Wood

Ditto, when you have tried the rest then try the best,,,nuff said!

[RichardW]

Lagavulin 16 is anything but smooth, it's very aggressive, oily, salty, grassy, hints of iodine, and above all, loaded with smoky, peaty flavors! It's a wonderful classic for what it is!!!

:tpd:

;)

[MadAl]

Lagavulin 16 is anything but smooth, it's very aggressive, oily, salty, grassy, hints of iodine, and above all, loaded with smoky, peaty flavors! It's a wonderful classic for what it is!!!

Agree too!

The single malts used to create the Blue Blend are a little short on Islays (which includes Lagavulin)

[Partagaspete]

I agree with the few drops of water. Once a guy showed me that trick scotch has never tasted sooooo good. Makes a huge difference.


:tpd:

ABSOLUTELY! It also really brings out the aroma. I have never had JW Blue but I do know I found Glenlivit 18 y/o to be about the smoothest I have ever had.

T

[wayner123]

Sorry to thread jack here, but what temp do you serve/drink your scotch at normally?

[MadAl]

Sorry to thread jack here, but what temp do you serve/drink your scotch at normally?

Right out of the liquor cabinet, room temperature. I've had JWGold frozen, and it was delightful, but for the price of Gold...

[MTB996]

I would also recommend the genmorangie portwood or even a maccallan. Both are decent, smooth single malts.

JW blue is a really, really, really good, smooth johnnie walker. To me, the taste profile of JW is not good enough to justify the $, no matter how smooth. Again, a lot of personal preference here.

SM's have more complexity and variety in flavor.

[JohnnyFlake]

Sorry to thread jack here, but what temp do you serve/drink your scotch at normally?

Room temp is best!

[blugill]

IMHO JW Blue is over valued. It is good but for the price you can get three or more bottles of single malt premium quality scotch.

I'm not diminishing its flavor by any means. I progressed way past the almost simple taste for the way more complex Lagavulin 16 long ago. Now Lagavulin, as point out earlier isn't a scotch for everyone either, it is however one of the best out there at a relative steal compared to JW Blue.

JW Blue has a honey sweetness to it that to me isn't nearly as good as the smoky bliss of the Lagavulin!

[SilverFox]

JW Blue is good but too much $$$

Chivas welllll :pu

I am a small batch single malt fan myself

My two favorites by far are

Benriach Madiera finish 15yr

Benriach Aged 20

Bruichladdich the 1973

Bruichladdich Infinity2

Temp should be room temp and I have heard many a comment on the water thing but never tried, it apparently opens the Whisky up

[JohnnyFlake]

JW Blue is good but too much $$$

Chivas welllll :pu

I am a small batch single malt fan myself
My two favorites by far are
Benriach Madiera finish 15yr
Benriach Aged 20
Bruichladdich the 1973
Bruichladdich Infinity2

Temp should be room temp and I have heard many a comment on the water thing but never tried, it apparently opens the Whisky up

If your talking the standard Chivas 12yo, I agree, it's okay but nothing special! Try the 18yo and you'll be amazed!!!

[MadAl]

JW Blue is good but too much $$$
Chivas welllll :pu
I am a small batch single malt fan myself
My two favorites by far are
Benriach Madiera finish 15yr
Benriach Aged 20
Bruichladdich the 1973
Bruichladdich Infinity2
Temp should be room temp and I have heard many a comment on the water thing but never tried, it apparently opens the Whisky up

Agree with you on Blue!

Adding a small amount of water does open the whisky up, toning down the alcohol and allowing the other flavors to come forward. Roughly a teaspoon or two is about right, though quarter casks, etc., can (and should, I'm told) take a bit more.