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As I also enjoy scotch, these are some great suggestions! I've had my eye on Glenfarclas 105 for months, but never pulled the trigger. I've had Glenfiddich 14, which is decent, but never had any of the others you've recommended. I'll keep an eye out for others.
Hey Kurt another great video sir, I’ve had that Glen Scotia recently and entirely agree with your summation. The 14 yo Glenfiddich looks and sounds super as does the deanstone. I’ll be keeping an eye out for those two. As others have stated a reverse for Scotch drinkers would be terrific as well.
Great video! It is awesome that you are trying to help folks expand their horizons. Any of the Glenmorangie line is a pretty easy shift for bourbon drinkers. It is sweet enough to keep them engaged even if the flavors are different. The port finish, sauternes finish, and original 10 are great for bourbon folks. Keep up the great work!
I think you made excellent choices.. The Deanston 12 is a favorite and I can get it for $40us no added tax... The Spice Tree is a blend...But, a blend of single malts....no grain whisky like most blends..Johnny Walker for example. It was my first scotch actually. I love it...They changed the formula in 2021 and I have only tried the older formula with Clynelish and a few other Highland Single Malts. The 105 is a favorite...I can get a liter for $52us... I recently married some 105 with Glenfarclas 12...to bump up the ABV...turned out great. I just found the Glen Scotia Victoriana and you cannot go wrong with that choice. So, I have 3 of the picks you chose and love them over here in Cambodia.... I actually just finished a Deanston 12 from a previous release that came in a box. Love anything Deanston personally.. The organic 15 is quite nice and 18 is killer. Roy Duff...Aquavitae turned me onto Deanston and I sure am glad I watched his early videos. I think Clynelish 14 is a nice addition to this list. So great to see you make this video and you featured 3 bottles I have on hand... Cheers
Kurt these are great suggestions! I’ve had a few of them and I would agree they’re very good entry level bourbon drinker friendly scotches. I’ve also found that good entry-level scotches are the higher end blended versions, like Copper Dog, Monkey Shoulder, Sheep Dip, Shackleton‘s, etc.
Great session, Kurt. As a (mostly) bourbon drinker, the scotches I favor include the Deanston (great choice!!) Balvenie 12 year aged in first fill bourbon barrels, Craigellachie 13 year and Glenallachie 10 year.
I am going to have to try the Glenfarclas. My gateway scotch was Glen Allaiche barrel proof I got through a local whiskey club. But my love is Aberlour A’bunadh. I beyond love that one. So good with a cigar. I am mostly a Speyside fan. Not much for peat thus far. As always great video Kurt.
Kurt, Having started as a bourbon drinker and discovered scotch later, and also liking Smokey Scotch, I found that Highland park 12 Is as great introduction to scotch and smokey scotch.
Good show guys! Never tried any of those and possibly why im not a real big fan of scotch. Will be fun to try one of them to see if its actually drinkable 🤣.
I've not had Scotch since 1987. I saw you talking about Bunnahabhain 12. I picked up a bottle and love it. I enjoy it on a night that I'm feeling like something different. My usual pour is a gambit of Makers Mark, Gentleman Jack, Jamieson and Leadslingers.
As both a bourbon and scotch drinker the one scotch I found that most bourbon drinkers really like is Bowmore 15 it's a Beam Suntori company and I think they use beam barrels in aging their scotch.
I love scotch finished in sherry casks. It’s funny that I have friends who love scotch and HATE bourbon. I do not get that. I love both. I have been curious about that Goenfarclas 105. Thanks for your opinions about it. I hear what you are saying about bourbon drinkers knocking scotch for the lower proof. However, scotch offers such complexity of flavors in a 45% ABV. Scotch definitely changes as you go down the bottle. I love my bourbon for completely different reasons. So it’s nice that these bottles offer the best of both worlds.
Love the video guys ! As a scotch drinker I think you are missing something special if aren’t drinking something from Springbank. Hard to find now but Springbank 17 sherry cask is a fantastic scotch that alway has wonderful Sultana,Cola notes.
KURT!!!! Awesome class!!! That Glenfiddich looks like a great bottle!!! I bet any of these would taste great in a Rusty Nail!!!! CHEERS to you my good friend!!!
Great video! On another note, I went to 4 liquor stores yesterday to pick up Early Times BIB.. zero luck.. just add it to the list of bottles I want that I can't find lol
I'm maybe a novice at bourbon and still fairly new. Just got my first Scotch. Glenfiddich 14. Haven't opened it yet. It's their bourbon barrel version. So happy to see it show up on your show as I type this. I was hoping it would show up on this show and it did. Sounds like I made the right choice. You guys are great.
I would also recommend the Glenmorangie: Cadboll Estate 15 year. Like the Glenfiddich it is aged in ex-bourbon American Oak barrels. Sits around $90 in my area.
As a Scotch drinker living overseas, I don't, with a few exceptions, have much access to great bourbons. So it's fascinating to hear from a Bourbon veteran on what Scotch might appeal to Bourbon drinkers. Great choices, most of which I would not have thought of. What do you think of Glenfiddich's Malt Masters as an option for Bourbon drinkers?
Not sure because I have never had that one. Unfortunately our scotch selection in my area is lacking to say it mildly. I will def keep an eye out for it!
Two budget friendly scotches that may agree with the bourbon palates: Deanston virgin oak and the Classic Laddie from Bruichladdich. Both around 100 proof (virgin oak a little less) and excellent ex-bourbon barrel aged offerings.
I primarily drink bourbon and dont care much for scotch at all. However Glendronach batch 7 & 8 cask strength is unbelievably good to my bourbon obsessed palate. Albeit pricey, highly recommend!
Good call on the Deanston 12. I took a chance after talking with others on a couple different live streams asking for Scotch recommendations, it’s really good. 🥃
I’ve tried to like Glenfid 14 (and 15). I really have. Really funky finish. I could see someone that likes Dickel’s more cost effective offerings liking that, however.
I would also add the Balvenie 14yr Caribbean cask and the Glenmorangie "The Quinta Ruban" 14yr Port Cask Finish as two more fantastic Scotches for Bourbon fans.
The whiskey that got me into Scotch was The Balvenie Double wood 12. the Bottle that got me into peated scotch was Lagavulin, I think Lagavulin does a better job of incorporating the other flavors in with the peat. Whereas Ardbeg is like a fire right next to you, and Laphroaig is like a fire happened the night before a flash flood. The Glen Scotia Double cask is a lot gentler than the Victoriana but i do like the victoriana A LOT. Oban is my favorite scotch right now, but 10th street Distilling is my favorite single malt right now.
I tried laphroig for the 1st time last week. Omfg. Very very different The nose was something I’ve never experienced and the pallet. Well I’ll just say it was very different Medicine. Cleaner. Vicks vaporub I’ll be honest. Can’t see me buying another bottle but still want to try some bourbon finished scotches though
Hi there, i came to your channel as a Scotch drinker (in the UK) looking to learn about Bourbon. Deanston is a favourite distillery of mine, if you can get it in the US the Deanston 18 is fantastic.
My recommendations are Balvenie Double Wood, Macallan Double Cask, both of which spend some time in bourbon barrels, and Dalmore 15. I picketed Dalmore 15 not because she has bourbon notes, but because she has very bold flavors for a single malt. I find that bourbon drinkers prefer bolder, stronger flavors.
Hi Kurt, love your videos. Have you tried the Paul John whiskeys from India? I've tried their cask classic and it is impressive! They have about 5 different presentations. I'm confident you'd love them.
Timely. My daughter’s boyfriend brought back 2 bottles from Scotland on local’s recommendations. I tried one last night and was kind of taken aback. I realized I have to ease into the world of scotch. There’s a lot of palate acclamation that needs to take place before I can really enjoy. Thank you for the video.
@@daveapple205 I don’t know for sure. I think it was the peat? I’m strictly a bourbon drinker, so I don’t know what I was expecting. The one I had “Lindores” was tagged as low smokiness. So I’m guessing it’s just the peat I wasn’t accustomed to.
I find two things help me fairly judge a dram. One is to take a second sip. Have you ever drank something you thought was water but was seven up or something? The surprise can be off putting. The other is to add a half teaspoon of water and wait 5 minutes. Can sometimes change the taste a lot
I've found when I've first started drinking peated scotches or scotch in general, i had to slow down and savor each sip. Because there are flavors in scotch that you just can't find in bourbons. Some times, water helps, some times letting the glass sit, some times what you ate before or drank before brings out new flavors. Good luck on your exploration.
Heck, show 'em the peat. Laphroaig 10 year cask strength is my favorite single malt. When I go for a scotch, I'm not looking for a bourbon substitute. I love that diesel and smoke with a dash of citrus. 😄
Interesting.. I'm more for a scotch or irish and I'm trying bourbon. I saw lots of videos like scotch for bourbon drinkers and nothing like bourbon for scotch drinkers. That would be interesting if you could make it
I love single malts, but I think people looking down on blended malts are missing out on some great pours. Compass Box bottlings are regulars in my cabinet. Wish I could get GlenScotia, but it's not available in NC.
Not sure where you reside in NC but here in CLT if they can get it, they will order it for you & you pay when you pick it up. (At least my local ABC store does that). I've also had some luck in SC finding things I can't find in NC (although that may not be convenient for you).
Could you do a video on the different types of scotch, and your favorite from each category? Similar to what you did with Irish whiskey, that was very helpful.
@@slbdrinks Perhaps even his favorite higher priced and budget friendly from each category. If he has time, I know that would be a lot of material to cover.
I've invested some time into learning about bourbon so I'm resistant to even think about scotch. In fact I've wondered why a bourbon drinker would want to get into scotch. But if you have friends who like scotch then you would have to be able to socialize with them. And as hard as it is to find many bourbons today, we all may have to branch out into other things. When you start talking about proof that brings up some questions- bourbon has some rules about proof going into the cask and so forth, and there are some ideas about how the proof changes during aging. How does this work for scotch that is probably aged in cooler and more humid environments, but for more years?
All good thoughts! An average scotch is aged 10 yrs or more. Can’t say that about bourbon. Best single malt buys are 12 yr releases. A 12 yr bourbon is like whoa!!
I've also pulled out some Aberlour Abunadh to introduce my bourbon loving friends to sherried scotches. That being said Abunadh has batch variation while Glenfarclas 105 is consistently great.
... And the Deanston 18yo is even better, it's the most intense Ex-Bourbon Barrel aged Scotch that I've ever had, loved it, with very definite Bourbon notes indeed!
SLB drinks the glenfiddich 14 yr is another one of your suggest bottles I'm hunting down right now while I'm talking scotch have you tasted glenlivet 12 yr double oak?
The best scotch for bourbon drinkers and my brother in laws are strictly bourbon drinkers was Dalmore Cigar Malt. I know it is pricey and I buy it by the case because I can get 20% per bottle discount around 156.00. You should try it if you get a chance.
Some prices are not that bad here once exchange is taken into account. The Glenfiddish 14 is $83CDN here so a $60 equivalent price is $76, only an extra $7 which is probably duty.
Kurt, if you ever get the compunction, I would be interested in the inverse, i.e. the best Bourbon for Scotch drinkers. Why? I recently held a blind bourbon tasting, and a Scotch fan participated, opining that most of the bourbon was too sweet. I’m sure you already had this idea, so I understand if you’ve decided against it. One more thing, your summer sours have been a HIT with guests so far this summer! Thanks for a great show.
I see so many people saying scotch is “harder to drink” than bourbon but from my experience scotch has always been gentler than bourbon, and I’m yet to have a scotch I truly enjoy. Of course I haven’t had the expensive stuff, but that’s because I don’t want to spend a lot of money when my lower price experiments have been unsuccessful at best. I’ve had so many really good bourbons for under 30 bucks, and the few scotches I’ve had are usually over that, and so underwhelming
@@slbdrinks not sure what is available to you, I think Starward is available worldwide their nova just won an in the San Francisco whisky awards not sure what category though.
I understand there are some peated bourbons. For us peat loving scotch folks, any recommendations on those bourbons that might appeal to the Islay lovers?
Hard pass on the Glenfiddich; which is way over oaked. Glen Scotia is one of my favorites. I would highly recommend the Glendronach 15 and Auchentoshan three wood. For something high proof, Aberlour A'bunadh or Springbank 12 Cask Stregth.
To be fair, I'm not much of a Scotch drinker, I really only have one friend who is, and he leans into the peated stuff which works for me since we are typically having cigars. That being said, there are some American Single Malts hitting the market of late, but I've no idea as to their availability. However, everything I have heard so far is all positive. Maybe a little offshoot you can also explore if it is worth doing so...
There's a new McCarthy's 6yr out. Haven't seen it yet. The standard 3yr is pretty good. I've found i need to get to the neck before it gets good, and by the end i want to open the next bottle.
I’ve never quite understood folks who say “I drink bourbon but not scotch“ or “I drink scotch but not Irish” or “I drink whiskey but not beer“ or “I drink beer but not wine“ etc. I literally like them all: beer, cider, wine, scotch, bourbon, rye, Irish, Canadian, rum, gin, amaro, vermouth… Does that make me a professional drinker?🍺🍷🥂🥃🍸🍹🤣
It’s expensive but I had some Macallan Rare Cask. It had the notes of vanilla, oak, and chocolate that you’d find in a bourbon. Unfortunately it’s something like $400 for a bottle.
