When I was in my 20's I would try to find a "better" scotch for gifts and I was told... "you buy a scotch drinker what they drink".

Not sure if this was just my family/friend/scotch drinkers. So I stopped trying to buy them "better" scotch and just bought them what they drink.

DH has been a bourbon drinker for as long as I can remember. He's not a big fan of Scotch, so I don't think the two are interchangeable for those that really know what they like.

Don't have any advice beyond the Johnny Walker...DH is a single malt bourbon guy and my dad is a single malt scotch guy.

Johnny Walker is a blended scotch which has a few varieties in your price range.

If you do a bourbon, don't do a single barrel. Do a blend because obviously your friend likes more complexity and evenness.

Anonymous wrote:People actually admit to preferring blends? Isn't that like admitting you like Miller Lite?

That's what I was thinking.

But OP, PP is right that bourbon is really popular right now. There's one that's blended in DC (but not distilled, because our laws don't allow that) called Filibuster. It's about $60 and it's not bad. You don't want to give someone the thing he already buys for himself. Give him something new and different in the same ballpark.

People actually admit to preferring blends? Isn't that like admitting you like Miller Lite?

OP again - looks like my original post *just* posted for whatever reason.

Anyway, in general, they drink John Begg (which I'm having a difficult time finding), and will order "my usual" when we go out for dinner, so I can't use that as a guideline.

Does that help anyone?

No, johny walker is blended. You could also try the longer aged labels of the traditionals, like dewers. If you go single malt go lowlands for smoother feel.

OP here - I've seen the Johnny Walker blue/green/red/black...

Aren't they single malt?

And there are 5 distinct regions for scotch whiskey. Most people have a preference for where it comes from

Anonymous wrote:After wracking my brain for a gift for a scotch drinking friend, I was thinking of buying a decent bottle for them. However, they strongly prefer blended scotch, and I can't find anything in the $50-$75 range. Is there such a thing?

If not, can you recommend a single malt that you like?

you need to avoid the peaty ones - some are peat monsters - and generally U.S. drinkers don't like that, but maybe your friend does.
I like Glen Livet and Macallans.

Anonymous wrote:Youtube has a lot of people who review Scotch/Whiskey. My favorite by far is Ralfy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aEtGOuLXsU

If you cannot find what you want in DC try Montgomery County for cheaper prices.

To add to this I would also look into a single barrel bourbon since bourbon is now in fashion.

Youtube has a lot of people who review Scotch/Whiskey. My favorite by far is Ralfy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aEtGOuLXsU

If you cannot find what you want in DC try Montgomery County for cheaper prices.

Johnny Walker makes a blend in that price range (they have 4-5 different price points).

For non blends--Highland Park is good.

After wracking my brain for a gift for a scotch drinking friend, I was thinking of buying a decent bottle for them. However, they strongly prefer blended scotch, and I can't find anything in the $50-$75 range. Is there such a thing?

If not, can you recommend a single malt that you like?