Smooth Bourbon and Smooth Scotch

Hello everyone.  I think I've talked to a few of you in the past regarding some good smooth whiskey's and bourbons.  I am trying to find some smooth bourbon and scotch.  I recently had Bulleit 10yr and Four Roses Small Batch Bourbons.  I thought Bulleit had great flavor but was super strong.  Four Roses Small Batch, however, was pretty smooth considering it was only $35USD.  I have been wanting to try Blanton's but most stores near have always been out.  Any suggestions on bourbon under $100 would be great

For scotch, I have tried Balvenie Caribbean cask 14yr, Glenmorangie 18yr, Glenlivet 12yr, and Yamasaki Suntory.  I had some Jameson Gold Reserve at my uncles at Christmas and thought it was pretty good.  The Balvenie I thought was ok, but a tad harsh.  The Glenmorangie 18yr was super harsh and not smooth at all; same goes for the Glenlivet.  Out of all the ones I tried the Suntory was the best, but it runs about $120 where I live.  I know that sometimes you have to spend a bit of cash to get the good stuff; however people tell me that their tons out there for under $100 that are actually pretty smooth.  So Suggestions on Scotch would be cool too.

So Bourbon and Scotch suggestions under $100USD would be totally awesome.  I would be glad to hear everyone's experiences of some spirits they have had and tried over the years. 

I adore a non-peaty Scotch, Glengoyne, which I've found in major airports/transit centers and is supposedly exported selectively to the US but I haven't found it here yet -- I've emailed a distributor so I'll keep you posted on what I discover.

I am mainly going to talk about Scotches as nothing else compares in my humble opinion, but first:

American Whiskey:  There are a number of versions/varieties/etc, but I only aim for Kentucky Bourbon or Tennessee Whiskey.

Kentucky Bourbons:  My favorite is Maker's Mark.  This is what I will order in a chain restaurant (Applebee's, etc) or a concert venue.  Maker's 46, to me, tastes just like regular Maker's Mark....hence save your money and buy the original.  Oh, and their cigars really are not worth trying, unless they are free of course!  The only "Small Batch" Bourbon I have tried and liked is Knob Creek.  Wild Turkey is something I will drink from time to time, Bulleit is okay and there a few dozen others I have tried, but I know what I like and I tend to stick to it.  Most bourbons I will drink straight, on the rocks or with cola depending on time, place, mood, barometric pressure, etc.

Tennessee Whiskey:  Jack Daniel's.  Can't beat it.  Shots, on the rocks or in a White Trash Classic (Jack'n'Coke).

Canadian Whiskey:  Crown Royal and only for the free dice bag....seriously.  I know most people get riled up over this one with me, but if it's Canadian and it's not mixed with a cola of some kind (I prefer Pepsi), then I'm not touching it.

Irish Whiskey:  Bushmills or Jameson work for me, though I have only had the original versions of both.  The only way I will drink them is on the rocks.  I cannot honestly recall if I have ever had another brand of Irish....and the Irish in me is just fine with that!

Scotch Whiskey:  I have a few favorites when it comes to Scotch, but only one brand that has delivered every time:  Laphroaig.  While I will be honest and say that I cannot recall all of the various ones I have tried, it is the 18 year single malt version I like best.  The bottle I thoroughly enjoyed with a handful of Cuban cigars was a gift, thus I am not sure what the local price tag would be (I live in Seattle), however online I have seen it from $85-$160ea. 

As for each of the others I have had, I have purchased myself both the Quarter Cask and the 10 year.  The rest I have had I tried at a local pub in North Seattle by the name of St Andrews where their Scotch & Irish whiskey list is three times longer than their micro brew list....and that's saying something in the Pacific North West.  Most bottles that I have seen locally go from $65-$95ea.

What I love about Laphroaig is that it always has a smooth, warm, full-bodied flavor with an after taste that will leave any Scotch drinker with a smile on their face, even if they are aging curmudgeons like myself...lol

My other favorites are Lagavulin 16 year (distilled over peat and has a very smoky after taste...very different, yet very enjoyable from time to time) @ $75ea, Oban (cannot recall what year/version, but very smooth.....a decently priced Scotch when having a round or two at the pub) @ $65ea and Talisker 10 year (another all around good Scotch for whenever ) @ $65ea.

Other than that, I have had most of the Johnny Walkers (not the Blue Label....yet), Glenlivents and Glenmorangies.  All good (because they are Scotch), but nothing I would buy given my list of what I already know I enjoy...however I never turn down a gift as most of my friends will buy me Scotch, cigars or both these days. 

Save Dewar's for the Maxim/FHM/Frat-like parties along with the Jim Bean and that bottle you got out of that purple dice bag.  My advice to find an inexpensive way to try difference whiskeys is to attend Whiskey Tastings.  The ones I have been to normally are at Highland Games or Ren Fairs, if not the local pub from time to time.

Now for my favorite personal story about scotch:  About 6 or 7 years ago, a good friend of mine who goes by the name of Moose, along with his cousin and another friend, picked me up to go to one of the nicer casinos up here in the PNW.  We were there to hit up the cigar bar named Lit for an evening of relaxation and good company.

After selecting a couple of nice Montecristo cigars each, we were seated at a cozy, perfectly lit table in the center of the cigar bar that had a decent sized, yet not full capacity crowd.  Someone was playing mild jazz on the piano in the corner, customers were enjoying themselves and all seemed right in the world.

Shortly after, our waitress came over to get our drink orders.  I can still see her in my mind as if I just came from that place: 5', blonde, black heels, dark green cocktail dress with black trim, black fishnets and black rimmed eye glasses.  Her dress was strapless/off the shoulders, and yes I can still recall the tattoo on her left shoulder.  She wore her hair straight down, small bangs in the front and the back was halfway down her back. 

Now, we were all experienced scotch drinkers and as such, one by one we each placed an order without looking in the menus and with me going last.  This is what happened...

Waitress: "And you, sir?"

Me: "Do you have Talisker?"

Waitress: "Why, yes we do....we stock both the 16 year old and the 30 year old."

My brain as the room darkened and a low siren could be heard in the background:  "16.  16.  16.  16.  Say 16, idiot!"

Me: "I think I'll try the 30 year old."

Waitress with a slight look of surprise on her face: "Okay..."

My brain as the room went war-room red, the sirens were blaring and some steam shot out of a random valve located on a pipe that had somehow appeared on the ceiling behind the waitress: "Change it.  Change it.  Chang---wait, no...shut up!  Shut up!!!"

Me...saying what I always say when ordering any whiskey: "Make it a double."

Waitress with a slight grin on her face and a twinkle in her eye: "Excellent choice, sir!  I will be right back with your drinks!"

The table was silent until the drinks came back, with the waitress making sure mine was put down first.  Right before she turned to head over to another table she said with a wide smile: "Enjoy and I will be back to check on you in a bit!"

After a few minutes of silence while Moose and the other two took a few sips of theirs, Moose reached over and picked up the menu and starts from the front, scanning each page and working towards the back.  Once he reached the back page and his eyes fell to the bottom of the list he actually jumped back a little in his chair, closed the menu, slid it across the table to me, gave me a look that said enough and looked away.

Having come to the realization that I just may have ordered something pricier than I have ever seen someone do (Hollywood movies excluded), I took a sip and tasted heaven in a glass.  It was warm, smooth and as vibrant as liquid sunshine.  I waited about 30 minutes....slowly sipping away as I smoke my cigars....before I finally looked in the menu:  $60 per shot.  And I had a double.  And yes, I tipped her very well.

Moose asked if I was done spending money for the night and I told him that a glass of scotch like that could not rest in my stomach alone and that the food had to match, thus while the other two gambled, Moose and I went over to the fine dinning restaurant across the way.  He had Elk (funny....right?) and I had the $55 18oz New York Strip that was cooked to perfection (medium rare, of course) which still haunts my taste buds anytime I crave steak after all these years.

And that's how I spent $300 after tips on one drink, two cigars and a steak.  Now, for some of you, that just might be chump change.  For me?  It was one of the best nights of my life.

TL;DR:  I love scotch!

» Edited on: 2015-12-07 05:04:56

Laphroig is one of if not my favorite Scotch, but it is very smokey and peaty. If you are not a fan of the smokey or peaty scotches you may want to avoid ones from Islay, which is both Laphroig and Lagavulin. I feel like I have seen the tiny bottles of Laphroig though so if you are curious you might be able to try it that way.

One you might like based on what you said is the Glendronach 12 year which is a sherried scotch, or maybe even the Glenmorangie Lasanta, which is a little more complex and more expensive.. The other i recommend is Johnnie Walker Green Label (its pretty hard to find nowadays), I think this is the best of the Johnnie Walker scotches, but the Black is probably the least harsh (besides the blue). You can probably find the Black in one of those tiny airplane bottles to see how you like it.

I am not a big bourbon drinker but iI would say I do enjoy the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.

My husband loves both Buffalo Trace and Four Roses (which you mentioned) and they are both smooth.  Blanton's is his favorite.  All of these are well under $100.

I appreciate all the tips and advice.  I am currently drinking Blanton's as I was able to locate one today.  I didn;t find it any smoother than Four Roses Single Barrel; however I thought the flavor was better.  Although I should note as I am writing this, the Blanton's is getting smoother.  I am not sure if this is due to taste bud numbing from high proof alcohols or if the bourbon has just had time to breathe more. 

On to scotch: I do have to go to tastings to figure out what types I like islay etc... If someone like me thought the Glenmorangie 18yr was too harsh you think I would think of Laphroaig the same way?

I can get Talisker 10yr for 46.99 and Talisker 18yr for 119.99

I can get Laphroaig 10yr for 36.99 and Laphroaig 15yr for 69.99

I can get Johnnie Walker Green for 54.99

I have had Johnnie Walker Blue several times at uncles and its pretty damn good, but it is 159.99

A new whiskey speakeasy just opened up in my town that has a bunch I should just go there this weekend and try them all out.  I was told as I am first starting out to avoid islays as they have an intense burn that may throw newbies off. 

For Bourbon, you could try:

W.L. Weller 12 Year:  http://buffalotracedistillery.com/brands/wl-weller#1

Hudson Baby Bourbon:  http://www.tuthilltown.com/tuthilltown-spirits/hudson-baby-bourbon/

Jefferson’s Ocean: Aged at Sea or Presidential Select:  http://jeffersonsbourbon.com/


All three brands have offerings well under $100 and are considered some of the smoother Bourbons.  Hudson Baby is notable for being pure corn Bourbon and exceptionally smooth, but it supposedly lacks a little in flavor.  I've tried Jefferson's reserve and Weller before, and liked both.

Kaerall, that was a beautiful story. I simply must try Talisker some time.

I'll second the mention of Lagavulin 16, assuming you love Islay. Might be an acquired taste for some, but I loved it from the first sip.

I just happened to be in a Talisker phase at that point, keeping a bottle of 10 year old around most of the time and thus it was what came to mind when we were giving our orders.  As for Islay, Lagavulin and Laphroaig have distinctly different tastes to me.  I just looked up all of the Islay Distilleries to make sure, but those are only two from there I have had.  Lagavulin 16 year was something I loved from the get-go some 9 or 10 years ago, however it's after taste is very unique.  Laphroaig does not have quite as long-lasting of an after taste, but is more enjoyable all the way around in my book.

As for tastings, if you find yourself at a friend's house who has a decent collection instead of a proper tasting, here is what is recommended in order to truly get the full flavor of each:  You only need a little bit of each whiskey (less than half a shot) and a glass of water.  Take a sip of a whiskey straight and allow that to run it's course.  Take a drink of water to cleanse your palete and then add a little bit of water to the remaining amount of the whiskey.  Swirl that around in it's glass and then take a sip.  You will find that the second time around the flavor will be more unlocked and telling. 

The difference, for anyone who does not know, is that the first time around it was straight which will always numb your taste buds, thus hindering you from getting the full flavor.  Mixed with a bit of water takes some of the potency of the alcohol out and allows your taste buds to get more flavor out of the experience.  This is why industry professionals and seasoned drinkers will almost always put theirs on the rocks, with water or mixed with soda of some kind.

» Edited on: 2015-12-07 23:19:58

Hey everyone thanks for all the advice I recently went to a liquor store locally that I haven't been to, but after doing my research and people suggesting going there had a great experience.  The guy walked me through his entire bourbon selection company by company and bottle by bottle; discussing the history of the distilleries, how they make it, and what to expect when tasting. 

He suggested I try Four Roses Small Batch since I liked the Four Roses Single Barrels.  He then helped me land on New Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon since it is smoother than others since it has a lower proof at 80 instead of 90 and above. 

Not sure how I forgot about this one...other than becoming more forgetful in my old age, but there is a Whiskey distilled by McMenamin's in Oregon called Hogshead Whiskey that is a full bodied bourbon with a vanilla flavor.  It's been years since I've been to my local McMenamin's restaurant and had some, thus I cannot recall exactly how smooth it was.  I do, however, recalled that it tasted great and is only about $40/bottle.

So, if you live anywhere near the PNW and do not know about McMenamin's, look them up!  Besides whiskey they do other spirits, a full selection of beer, various wines and, my favorite, some of the best hamburgers and fries you'll ever find!  All of it originally theirs.

Scotch:

Macallan 25 yr old is the best I've ever had!

Whiskey:

Basic: Basil Hayden's (fantastic!)

Rare: Angel's Envy (incredible)

I like Four Roses, but I'm a fan of Bully Boy Distilleries "American Straight Whiskey".

Here's a review: http://bargainbourbon.com/2013/02/13/bully-boy-american-straight-whiskey-review/

Remember to Drink Responsibly!