After I started drinking Scotch, I basically stopped drinking bourbon. For a long time. Except recently I've kind of gotten into Elijah Craig.
I know, there are high-end, single barrel, etc. But Elijah's the only one I've found interesting. The others are all either too sweet or too medicinal.

Anonymous wrote:BTW all of these can be found at the new DC Costco, probably cheaper than your local liquor store. They also had Kirkland single malt, believe it or not. And some luxury high-dollar 25 y.o. that was $650, I think.

I saw that, and also some single-barrel Kirkland bourbon. Anyone tried them? Anyone know who makes them? I'd have tried one, if it came in a smaller bottle, but the huge 1.75 was a bit much without any experience with either one. Plus, I'd have been a little embarassed to serve it to company, though maybe I'll put some in an empty bottle (if I can figure out the distiller) and do a blind taste test.

Anyone follow the Maker's Mark scandal?

Try it at a bar before investing. I prefer gold to blue, so does my husband. It's all personal taste.

Grrrr......

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW all of these can be found at the new DC Costco, probably cheaper than your local liquor store. They also had Kirkland single malt, believe it or not. And some luxury high-dollar 25 y.o. that was $650, I think. [/quot

Oh stop bragging! Hell will freeze over before Montgomery County Costco sells alcohol.

Not bragging. I live in Montgomery County too and am as frustrated as you. Just providing helpful advice. I'll be doing my Costco-ing in DC from now on. Totally worth the weekend drive. (Unless maybe I try Frederick--that's what posters on the which-Costco-is-best thread suggest.)

The Frederick Costco is nicer (and far less crowded!) than those in MoCo, but you still won't find alcohol there. It's a MD (not MoCo) regulation that a licensee may only have one liquor license in the state. I'm not sure if any MD Costco stores carry it. I know Trader Joe's declined to have just one MD store to sell wine and beer, but there is (or was) a Safeway in Silver Spring that carries wine and beer.

^Yeah, Scapa is from Orkney. Have you tried the Highland Park 18?

Anonymous wrote:

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:If you can find it Talisker 18 year old, from the Isle of Skye

If you like Talisker, an Island whisky, try Highland Park or Scapa. Highland Park 18 is wow!

I've had the Scapa (that's from the Orkneys isn't it) , and it is also very good, but I prefer the afternotes of the Talisker

OP, I recommend trying some different whiskys in bars first. A knowledgeable bartender can take account of your tastes, and steer you to something you might not find on your own. (And if you're friendly, might slip in a couple of free tastes too.)

You'd hate to splurge on something you end up not liking. Much better to buy what you already know you really like.

Let us know what you end up with!

I did really enjoy some Cragganmore recently. I hadn't tried that before.

For any beginners who find Scotch a little too daunting, you can start with Irish whiskey. It's generally lighter and smoother. I don't know a lot about Irish whiskey, except that most of it is blended, but there's a single malt called Redbreast that's supposed to be very good.

I forget whether the Irish spell whiskey with an "e". Irish whisky just doesn't look right.

Totally overrated. I personally think it only exists so that Asian businessmen can overspend on it and impress their clients. DH is Asian and he thinks this, too.

Sadly this has become true of good Bordeaux as well. Burgundy is probably next. (Not that anyone can afford Burgundy anyway ....)

Anonymous wrote:BTW all of these can be found at the new DC Costco, probably cheaper than your local liquor store. They also had Kirkland single malt, believe it or not. And some luxury high-dollar 25 y.o. that was $650, I think. [/quot

Oh stop bragging! Hell will freeze over before Montgomery County Costco sells alcohol.

Not bragging. I live in Montgomery County too and am as frustrated as you. Just providing helpful advice. I'll be doing my Costco-ing in DC from now on. Totally worth the weekend drive. (Unless maybe I try Frederick--that's what posters on the which-Costco-is-best thread suggest.)

My Asian father loves Johnny Walker. Even he doesn't drink Blue because it isn't worth the cost. Normally he'll drink black and occasionally splurge for green, but not gold or blue. I am a single-malt drinker and not as fond of the blended whiskeys.

Some good options depending on your tastes:
Smoother/lighter: Oban, Aberlour, Cragganmore
Medium body/well-rounded: Macallan, Balvenie, Dalwhinnie
Oaky: Talisker, Dalmore, Tomintoul
Peaty: Lagavulin, Laphroaig

Just a few of my favorites (Talisker 18 is my all-time favorite).

OP here - thanks for all the excellent replies. I think I'll skip the blue purchase based on these comments and try something else.

Btw, feel free to keep offering up for favorites! fascinating stuff.

JW Blue is totally overrated, IMO. For regular scotch, DH likes Macallan 18 (I prefer the 12, I think that's the one that's aged in sherry casks). He liked the Balvenie 12, too.

^^^oops I meant Skye not Island (subset of Highland)