Unless it's cask strength, plenty of water's already been added in my opinion. I prefer neat unless I can only get Jameson or Dewers on a flight or something then 1 cube. I have stones at home but only to offer guests. I buy-in on the cold numbing your taste buds as a downside for the fine subtleties in my favorite Scotch's
The ONLY reason not to choose scotch is the insane price. If that barrier gets removed, I’m going to pound town.
Think about it this way: "cheap" single malts are aged 10- 12 years. For cheap bourbon it's 4- 6 typically some some like Eagle Rare being 10 year statements. Elijah Craig used to be 12 year old but they've since back off that (running out of stock of spirit that has been aged that long). You just don't see many bourbons that are more than 12 years old.
That's the wrong way to think about it.
Due to the climate and the fact that bourbon is in New casks vs scotch being in used ones the aging process is totally different.
A 12 year scotch is more comparable to like a 6 year bourbon
They don't make many +12 years because most would be gross.
I fully grasp the difference in the physics/chemistry of how bourbon ages differently in a barrel house in KY vs Scotch being in a cooler climate. But I'd be curious to hear what the loss pet year due to evaporation is at a typical Scotch distillery as opposed to Bourbon. Also the above doesn't explain why the most sought after bourbon in the world- i.e. Pappy - is aged for 15 to 20 years. Wouldn't it taste like overly oaked crap because of this and yet it does not?
Bourbon loses a shitload - the angel's share. It's something like 25% of the barrel over 4 years. It's hot and humid as fuck in Kentucky so a good portion of that is evaporation - but a decent chunk is also absorbed into the barrel - so the wood is somewhat saturated by the time it gets to Scotland to be used for their tight ass swill.
Ok so what do you guys recommend for a pour who wants to dip his toe into a highlands scotch?
Glenfiddich 14 is a great place to start. Theres a decent 4 bottle sampler box from Glenmorange that includes Quinta Ruban which is port finished, I love it for an inexpensive rich highland. Balvenie 12 is a great start. A lot of the 12's are forgettable and dont offer what is spacial about Scotch in my opinion. Anyway, get after it
Ok so what do you guys recommend for a pour who wants to dip his toe into a highlands scotch?
Glenfiddich 14 is a great place to start. Theres a decent 4 bottle sampler box from Glenmorange that includes Quinta Ruban which is port finished, I love it for an inexpensive rich highland. Balvenie 12 is a great start. A lot of the 12's are forgettable and dont offer what is spacial about Scotch in my opinion. Anyway, get after it
Ok so what do you guys recommend for a pour who wants to dip his toe into a highlands scotch?
Glenfiddich 14 is a great place to start. Theres a decent 4 bottle sampler box from Glenmorange that includes Quinta Ruban which is port finished, I love it for an inexpensive rich highland. Balvenie 12 is a great start. A lot of the 12's are forgettable and dont offer what is spacial about Scotch in my opinion. Anyway, get after it
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http://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/what-is-the-angels-share/
Pierre Ferrand Ancestrale Cognac would be the last.
Was my go to Scotch in the day.