Recommendation for 25 year old Scotch or Bourbon

[Anonymous]

I like where your hearts at but I think he will be disappointed. Unless you know for a fact there’s something very specific he’s wanted at this aging it’s highly likely he won’t like it. It’s overkill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glenfarclas

Oh, maybe not. That is entry-level "affordable" scotch.

[Anonymous]

Get 5 different bottles of 5 year old scotch!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is a huge scotch guy and his favorite is Balvenie.

+1

[Anonymous]

Go to Total Wine and ask a store associate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Glenfarclas

Oh, maybe not. That is entry-level "affordable" scotch.

It’s a great distillery and the 25 year runs $300 (unless you want a bottle from the cask that was started NYE 1999 which is 2x as much).

I’d much rather have that than the 18 yr Macallan.

[Anonymous]

Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg... these were my faves when I drank scotch. I like them peaty/smokey. Balvenie is much closer to a bourbon profile drink, as is Macallen. Less smoke, more sweetness. Nice bourbons are easy; ask the seller or judge by price. Woodford Reserve is always a safe bet, and easy to find.

Giving someone a "really nice" bottle of booze requires knowing what they like. Give an Islay person a Speyside and they'll know that it's good, but not LOVE it they way they might if you'd asked them what they like. I'd suggest a conversation about this, or at least a good look at what's already on their bar/booze shelf. Find what they already drink and then find the nicest version of that you can afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg... these were my faves when I drank scotch. I like them peaty/smokey. Balvenie is much closer to a bourbon profile drink, as is Macallen. Less smoke, more sweetness. Nice bourbons are easy; ask the seller or judge by price. Woodford Reserve is always a safe bet, and easy to find.

Giving someone a "really nice" bottle of booze requires knowing what they like. Give an Islay person a Speyside and they'll know that it's good, but not LOVE it they way they might if you'd asked them what they like. I'd suggest a conversation about this, or at least a good look at what's already on their bar/booze shelf. Find what they already drink and then find the nicest version of that you can afford.

PP here: this was my favorite bottle of scotch I ever had: https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/laphroaig/laphroaig-25-year-old-cask-strength-whisky/ The nuance in this was incredible, opened a bit with water, shifted a bit with ice... a beautiful sip, and I thought it was worth the money for a "big treat" bottle.