Scotch Whiskey vs Irish Whisky

KnotRight

KnotRight

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I am getting the taste for a single malt scotch (non-peaty) but can not drink Irish whisky. From what I have read, the Irish should be easier to drink.

What am I missing here?
 
Seriously, Irish is triple distilled so it is always smoother.
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KnotRight said:
I am getting the taste for a single malt scotch (non-peaty) but can not drink Irish whisky. From what I have read, the Irish should be easier to drink.

What am I missing here?
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A friend like me invited over to provide you a second opinion.;)
 
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J R Green said:
Seriously, Irish is triple distilled so it is always smoother.
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And not many know this. I too prefer Scotch Whiskey to Irish, but that is more a function of preferring single malts. Up until recently Irish Whiskey was almost 100% blends; there being so few distillers in Ireland and so many thirsty Irishmen. They even buy, in some cases, from Scottish distillers to make their blends.

Now the Irish distillers have entered the aging market (18 year +) and the single cask market and you may find those more to your liking if you prefer single malts. I certainly do. 18 year old Bushmills is as good as any 18 year old Scottish Whiskey.

Oh, and acquiring a taste for Scotch Whiskey or Irish Whiskey over bourbon is simply a part of growing up. Not unlike going from CoolAid or sippy boxes (depending on your generation) to Coke. You will start with the Highland Whiskeys at first and then one day someone will give you a Laphroaig or a Lagavulin and you will find that you like the smokiness that comes with proper malting over peat in Islay Whiskeys.
 
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Charlie R said:
And not many know this. I too prefer Scotch Whiskey to Irish, but that is more a function of preferring single malts. Up until recently Irish Whiskey was almost 100% blends; there being so few distillers in Ireland and so many thirsty Irishmen. They even buy, in some cases, from Scottish distillers to make their blends.

Now the Irish distillers have entered the aging market (18 year +) and the single cask market and you may find those more to your liking if you prefer single malts. I certainly do. 18 year old Bushmills is as good as any 18 year old Scottish Whiskey.

Oh, and acquiring a taste for Scotch Whiskey or Irish Whiskey over bourbon is simply a part of growing up. Not unlike going from CoolAid or sippy boxes (depending on your generation) to Coke. You will start with the Highland Whiskeys at first and then one day someone will give you a Laphroaig or a Lagavulin and you will find that you like the smokiness that comes with proper malting over peat in Islay Whiskeys.
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I might be common but I haven' found a single malt that I like. Most taste like you cleaned out the fireplace and dumped the ashes in the bottle.

I'll admit I haven't bought any $100 bottles of scotch to try though.
 
KnotRight said:
I am getting the taste for a single malt scotch (non-peaty) but can not drink Irish whisky. From what I have read, the Irish should be easier to drink.

What am I missing here?
Click to expand...
Jameson for irish, Glen Livet or The McCallan for non peaty scotch
 
J R Green said:
I might be common but I haven' found a single malt that I like. Most taste like you cleaned out the fireplace and dumped the ashes in the bottle.
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And that would describe the Laphoaig for sure, but it is not that expensive. And I would not dare consider you "common" considering what it took me to get to like Scotch. Let's just say you are a man in search of a Scotch that you like better than Irish Whiskey. There are plenty of good single malts out there that are only marginally more expensive than blends (in the $40-55 range). Glenmorangie and The Balviene come to mind and neither is particularly peaty. And as I said, the single cask Irish Whiskeys are excellent and I might add that I prefer Irish whiskey (preferably Jameson) to Scotch blends hands down.

But I know what you mean. I only went to Scotch Whiskey after a long day with Bookers, at the end of which, I nearly swam the Ohio River - from Cincinnati to New Orleans. After that, I sort of though it time for a change.
 
Charlie R, I have tried the Laphoaig and did not go back for seconds. Right now I have have Aberfeldy 12 y.o. (have not tried it yet), Glenlivet 12, Glenmorangie (Quinta Ruban port cask) that I like alot and Glenfiddich Special Reserve (bought it maybe 30 years ago and just cracked the seal). Got a bottle of Bushmill Black Bush and it is not very good. As far as blends, J&B, Cuttys, Dewars and JW Black Label but have not drank any of them.
 
KnotRight said:
Charlie R, I have tried the Laphoaig and did not go back for seconds.
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It is an acquired taste. First time I drank it, I was certain that I was exhaling smoke like I had just come out of burn house. It definitely is not for everyone. Lagavulin is a lot more "tame".

But you are working on a good list. If you like the Glenmorangie, you should also try Oban and if you are interested in what I consider to the best cross over between Bourbon and Scotch, you should look into Caol Ila.

Don't touch the Dewer's. That stuff kept me off of Scotch until, well I already told you what it took to start me.
 
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I am a Scotch person. But will not turn down some Good Irish whiskey too. I am a Glenlivet 12 and a Dewar's 12 year person. Had some Dewar's (I believe 50 year old) a while back and damn that was good. Never cared for Bourbon that much.
 
I am a Scotch drinker primarily and do not like Jameson's.

Try:
Writers Tears
Teeling

Both have earned a place in my whisky cabinet recently.
 
I considered myself a bourbon drinker until a buddy had me over for a scotch tasting. I am almost converted, I just can't afford the stuff I like best. Of what I tried, Aberlour 16 was the best followed by Oban 14, and Glemorangie. Lagavulin tasted like tree stump turpentine.
I guess peaty Scotch is like hoppy beer, it just doesn't tickle my taste buds.
 
In the effort of full disclosure I am sitting here writing this as I am working on a few fingers of Ardbeg.
I actually enjoy Lavagulin and I had to pick one for the reminder of time.. that would be the one.

I decidedly prefer the smokey peaty Islays....how hower Scotch over Bourbon, Bourbon over Irish...The only time I particularly care for Jameson is in hot tea with honey when I am sick.




scotch-taste-chart-scotch-taste-chart-the-definitive-single-malt-whisky-flavor-map-its-always.jpg
 
Whatever!!! I like me bourbon, rye, scotch and whiskey.

Work with your friends and do some tastings. Line up shots of several. Don't do it on your own (will be quite expensive) but, line up a few and truly learn (taste/smell) the differences. You will land on what you really like, or not.

My preferences for bourbon are not necessarily the most popular here but, I don't care. I like what I like.
 
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