I need Whiskey help please. Top 5 whiskeys.

[J]

Ok. My list, if I had to pick only 5:
1. Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 18 year
2. Elmer T Lee
3. Jefferson Reserve Very Small Batch
4. McCallan 12 Sheery Oak
5. Bookers

[jgang]

Costco has Crown XR for $89. Smoothest I've ever had.

But then again, I usually opt for a bottle of the Leopold Brothers New York Apple whiskey just for sippin'.

[Adawg38]

You can't go wrong with most Irish Whiskeys.

1-Jameson
2-Bushmills
are my top 2

3-Clontarf
4-Michael Collins

Single Malt Scotch Whiskey's are awesome and not too pricey unless you want the top shelf ones. Any Glens from the Highlands...

1-The GlenLivet
2-Glenfiddich
3-Glen Moray

[pookawa]

glenmorangie is amazingly good.

[meatman]

Bourbon:
Woodford Reserve
Elijah Craig 18 yr
Eagle Rare
Makers Mark
Blanton's

Scotch-
Balvenie Doublewood
Glenmoangie
Glenfarclas
Macallan 12 or older
Laphroaig

Through college and up until about 8 years ago, I only drank bourbon and no scotch. Now if a bottle of scotch gets opened, it's usually gone in one night between my neighbor and I.
I still love bourbon though. Went to the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail about 5 years ago (7 at that time, Buffalo Trace had some sort of issue with the dept of tourism in KY since then). That was a good time with a private tour of Makers Mark and Buffalo Trace.

[Irving]

I'd go with 3 Scotches, two Bourbons and an Irish.

First, thank you everyone for the great ideas. I really like this suggestion because it lends some structure to the plan and gives me parameters to work within. So, with this structure in mind, I'd like to set up a kind of intro to whiskey bar. I want these three types of whiskey. If possible, I'd like a distinct flavor difference between brands in each type, and certainly between each type.

I want opinions on choosing 3 Scotches instead of one scotch. I find that scotch is the hardest to appreciate for a new whiskey drinker. Is that because I haven't had good scotch? I don't want to put stuff out that people can't handle.

Do these new suggestions change anyone's lists? Could we start putting what type of whiskey each suggestion is as well, since I don't know?

[Zombie Steve]

Hands down Jefferson's Reserve is the finest Bourbon ever made.

If I don't get some whiskey, I'M GONNA DIIIIEEEE!!!!

(c'mon, someone other than bobby name that movie...)


I'll second the Jefferson's Reserve.
Jameson is a great all-rounder Irish whiskey




Congratulations on getting married, by the way...

[Waywardson174]

I want opinions on choosing 3 Scotches instead of one scotch. I find that scotch is the hardest to appreciate for a new whiskey drinker. Is that because I haven't had good scotch? I don't want to put stuff out that people can't handle.

Do these new suggestions change anyone's lists? Could we start putting what type of whiskey each suggestion is as well, since I don't know?

Scotch is hard for a lot of folks to taste. I had an interesting experience in JW Blue Label being the first whiskey I ever tried, it was so smooth and tasty that I've been a scotch drinker ever since. Many of my friends are not.

For the novices, I serve Cardhu (a great $35 dollar bottle). It is light and sweet. Very nice on the pallat. Easy for a non-scotch drinker to get into.

With two scotches left to go, I admit my earlier Blue Label recommendation is quite pricey (that's why I let my brother buy mine).

The Macallan's are very hard to go wrong with, and there is one for every price range.

I'm glad someone mentioned Balvenie, those are also really good, but with the other two I've recommended, I think the best final bottle is a Laphroig. It is harder than the others, and will provide a nice balance across your scotch offerings.

All the above are scotches.

Irish Whiskey - I still say go Middleton, at $140 a bottle, it is pricey, but it is a light caramel whiskey that ANYONE can appreciate. (If you see anyone water this stuff down, kindly take their glass, set it down on a solid table, and proceed to beat them; I'll consider it a personal favor).

If that is way out of your price range Bushmills is great, but get an older bottle, the 16 year-old is head and shoulders above the younger ones, and for not too much more money.

[CO Hugh]

Everyone seems to have whiskey covered.

For cigars I buy from JR's Cigars. you can order a sampler, they have them often, say 20 mixed cigars for about $30-40. Honestly most people cannot taste the difference in cigars, like wine, beer or bourbon. The nuances are tough to pick up even for experienced smokers.

The key thing is to buy smooth easy smoking cigars. I like the Nicaraguans, but they are stronger. Dominican and Honduran are generally milder.

Fuentes are great cigars, if you can find them at a reasonable price.

[RMAC757]

Haven't read the while thread yet but I have to agree with this. Stranahans is way over priced for it's quality. If you want something along these lines made in Colorado for a much cheaper price go with Leopolds made here in Colorado
http://leopoldbros.com/New_site/Whiskies.html
I happen to be a scotch snob and if cigars are in order I suggest having a couple on hand. A good intro, quality one would be Balvenie Doublewood which should run you around 40 (Also consider their Carribean Cask). Macallen is a great choice for those who want something not to complex and would probably be enjoyed by all. Glenmorangie is pretty light and also relatively inexpensive. If you have to drink an Irish I would suggest Redbreast in 12 year or if you can get your hands on it Jameson Gold Reserve

I think I must be a whiskey snob. But stranahans is very overpriced for the quality IMHO compared with what you can get in single barrel small batch out of bullet county. feel the same way about peach street out of palisade. I really want a good Colorado whiskey, haven't found it yet.

The CO guys charge 15-20 year prices for a 3-5 year whiskey.