Like myself and a lot of beginners first entering the world of scotch, we tend to find ourselves themselves overwhelmed by the brown liquid of gold. When I first took my sip of Scotch, was approximately 14 years ago. It was either Jameson or Johnny Black, at that point not understanding the difference between either, nor comprehending the complex flavor profiles that each scotch has to offer.
Back on track. To me, I found this stuff to be the most vile thing on the planet. Luckily, for most of my lifespan, until last year, drinking Scotch involved, downing it shot after shot until you could no longer feel your face at some party. To me this was normal, and this was the only way to enjoy this so called “vile” liquid or so I thought at that time. When I tried it again many years later, I still could not stand the profile. In my mouth it tasted like drinking “rubbing alcohol cologne”. It was just awful. I could never imagine how anyone could drink this stuff.
The problem was obviously, not the liquor itself, but the kind of liquor I was drinking. It was not until last year, when I met my beautiful girlfriend (who was already a whisky aficionado), and my trying to win her over by going out on a Whisky Tasting date, that I realized just how judgmental I have been all these years, for judging my entire whisky career (or there lack off) of Scotch. The thing that swayed my mind, was our first drink. It was a sherry oloroso finished Glenlivet Nadurra. It was sensational. Even at first sip, I let the liquid run across my tongue and then to the back of my palate. I will never forget that day.
Today, I wanted to share my list of great starting Scotch that’s affordable and should be either part of your collection or rather yet, a good starting point when getting into scotch. The sweetness of the sherry is a great starter for all.
Number 5: Grant’s Sherry Cask Finish Scotch
Price: Around $25-$30 – Very affordable
Nose: Light, Sherry, Chocolaty and Fruity
Palate: Honey, Nuts, and Oak, no burn
Finish: Medium, with more fruits and light sherry
Number 4: Glenmorangie La Santa 12 year old Sherry Cask Finish
Price: $45 – $55 – Reasonable
Nose: Caramel, Sherry, Brown Sugar, and baked spices, cinnamon almost
Palate: Butter, vanilla, custard, and more sherry
Finish: Long finish with Nuts, Dry Oak and sweet honey
Number 3: Balvenie Doublewood 12 Yr. Scotch finished in Sherry Casks
Price: around $60 – Very reasonable
Nose: Sherry, Honey, Grapes and Walnuts with hint of molasses
Palate: Dried fruits, vanilla with hints of toffee, and some light spice on the end
Finish: Longer finish, with dark chocolate and sherry that keeps coming back
Number 2: Wolfburn Sherry Oak Finish
Price: $50 – Great value
Nose: Very sherry like sensual, lots of spices, almost like Christmas baked cake, sherry, cherries nuts and sweet molasses.
Palate: Raisins, Honey, Dried Fruits, and nice slow light burn. Obviously it has not spent too many years in the barrels, however, you can see the great flavor profile shine through, from a young spirit like this. I can tell that if it spent another 5-7 years in the barrel, the tannins would be rich and fuller of flavor.
Finish: Long, spicy sherry, quite wonderful
Number 1: Aberlour 12 year Scotch Sherry Cask Finish
Price: $50-60 – Great Value
Nose: Heavy Sherry, with citrus and butter. Some cocoa in the nose too
Palate: Toffee, vanilla, cocoa and honey mix well together, to create sweetness and chocolaty goodness
Finish: Smooth, rich complex with a nice short burn of sherry
Overall, all the Scotch above is great, this is just my personal list of favorites for the budget and early whisky goer. I hope this list brings you wonders like it did for me.
