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Original poster

To buy whisky based on year not taste?

76 replies

BoyMeetsWorld · 12/06/2015 20:28

Argh help!

Need special 30th bday present for DH. Who loves whisky. I don't, so know zilch about it.

Bright idea = to buy a bottle of 30 year old, because it's relevant. Is that a really stupid idea? They're certainly expensive. & which to get?!

OP posts:
sleepyhead · 12/06/2015 20:50

I would get him a really nice bourbon if that's what he likes - a couple of levels above what you'd normally buy or he'd buy for himself.

Best thing is to visit a specialist shop and get advice, otherwise there's loads of stuff online from reviews to top 10 lists.

If there's a "premium" JD then that would be a good place to start.

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 12/06/2015 20:50

If he really likes JD etc , it's a bit of a leap to get a whisky, and potentially an expensive gift he won't enjoy

FelixFelix · 12/06/2015 20:50

My DP loves whisky and bourbon (we have about 20 different bottles sat in the garage). Why not try and get him a different bourbon to the usual JD they sell everywhere? Wild Turkey is very good and you can get an older, slightly more expensive one.

Dalmore is good, and the bottle is nice looking too.

Do you have a good independent shop close by who do spirits? I went to one in Leeds when I wanted to buy something for DP and I told them what he liked and they recommended a whole bunch of different things.

Unreasonableandpetty · 12/06/2015 20:51

I live a mile away from the Falmore distillery Grin On the other end of the village.
The thing is whisky is very personal thing they really all do taste different even within Dalmore range there are many flavours from the type of barrels they use. Their cigar malt is quite popular. A stronger smokier taste than their standard malt. My dad, dp and ex all malt drinkers like the cigar malt though.

Unreasonableandpetty · 12/06/2015 20:52

And it isn't always possible but if you go for Dalmore give them a ring they sometimes have specials available only from the shop. I could even go and hand pick it for you Smile

Mandatorymongoose · 12/06/2015 21:01

The Islay ones are popular with the whiskey drinkers in my family too Smile.

If you get the names of some of the scotches he already has and likes and Google them you can check where they come from, if they are single malts or blends and what their main characteristics are and then look for something similar but 30 years old / in a pretty bottle.

Or post the names here and I'm sure people will suggest things.

MistressMerryWeather · 12/06/2015 21:05

If he likes JD why not get him one of the fancy collector bottles?

DH is a big JD fan and I have bought him both this and this in the past and he said they were both amazing.

You can also get those bottles engraved with something personal on that site. Might be a nice touch for a special birthday.

RedCrayons · 12/06/2015 21:06

If rather drunk TCP than any type of whiskey tbh.

We bought a 30 year old for a friends birthday. It's kept in the cask for virtually all the time, so was in a disappointingly modern bottle. The special year ones always get a price hike in their 30th and 40th year so will be incredibly expensive for what they are. You're probably better off going for a better quality one, or one he likes

VenusVanDamme · 12/06/2015 21:07

Ballantine's is a blend so I'd be a bit unwilling to part with a lot of money for it to be honest.

Dalmore should be a safe option.

From colleagues the favourites are Highland Park, BenRiach (they only do single malts so just choose year) and Macallan is safe too. I was told Deanston is sweeter like a bourbon but still tasted like every other whisky to me!

The distillery visit is a good idea too. Depending on where you live Deanston has a new visitor centre which is Perth and so a fair bit further south than going up to Speyside.

YouTheCat · 12/06/2015 21:07

I like a good whisky.

The best one I've ever tasted is Welsh. Penderyn. Beautiful stuff.

SenecaFalls · 12/06/2015 21:08

But if he is a bourbon and Dalmore drinker, he may not like the peated ones, which most Islay whiskies are. My husband is a bourbon drinker; his favorite scotches are Bruichladdich, (Islay, but the non-peated ones) and Isle of Jura.

CoffeeAndOranges · 12/06/2015 21:08

There is a JD single barrel version, which we have (we were given). It's ok but I actually prefer normal JD as I think it has more flavour. But it might be something to look out for.

If you can't find a whisky you think he'll like, there must be loads of cool JD memerobilia you could get him?

Original poster
BoyMeetsWorld · 12/06/2015 21:12

what is a "blend" whisky? I know he likes sweeter tastes...

OP posts:
Original poster
BoyMeetsWorld · 12/06/2015 21:13

the scotches he drinks most often are glenfiddich, he has a few different ones

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 12/06/2015 21:14

Amazon do a Jack Daniels 1985 black T shirt - which says 'Aged to Perfection'. You could get him that together with a bottle of liquor?

DisappointedOne · 12/06/2015 21:14

The best one I've ever tasted is Welsh. Penderyn. Beautiful stuff.

That's our local distillery. Grin

DH would drink that like squash. He prefers the likes of Jura, Caol Ila and laphroig.

DisappointedOne · 12/06/2015 21:15

A blend whisky is one that's a blend of more than one.

A single malt comes from one cask.

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 12/06/2015 21:16

I think Woodford Reserve is the best bourbon that's not too outrageously priced. Miles above JD in standard IME.

Original poster
BoyMeetsWorld · 12/06/2015 21:16

he's not really into memorabilia etc, although cool idea. just likes drinking it of an evening :)

OP posts:
SenecaFalls · 12/06/2015 21:18

JD sends a lot of their casks to Glenmorangie; that's another good option.

In case anyone on this thread is from Tennessee, yes, I know we are not suppose to call JD a bourbon. It's a Tennessee whiskey. Smile

Original poster
BoyMeetsWorld · 12/06/2015 21:18

is it bad to be a blend then?

OP posts:
43cupsoftea · 12/06/2015 21:19

Age is no guarantee of quality. A 30
year old average whisky will still be average. If he's a JD drinker then he may not enjoy a posh whisky. I love Speyside and Islay whisky. It really is about preference. A selection of miniatures may be a good idea.

sleepyhead · 12/06/2015 21:21

No, it's not bad to be a blend. It's only bad if it doesn't taste nice.

Blends tend to be cheaper though, and much less prestigious. Not always cheap though...

MistressMerryWeather · 12/06/2015 21:22

If he's a JD drinker then he may not enjoy a posh whisky

I agree, if he likes it sweet there are lots of nice bourbons out there rather that whiskey.

SenecaFalls · 12/06/2015 21:22

I think a single malt is better for a special birthday.

If he likes sweeter, I you might want to try Glenmorangie Lasanta. It is aged first in ex-bourbon casks and then is finished in ex-sherry casks.