4 Best Whiskies For Beginners 2020 (affordable)

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

What other whiskies would you recommend, or what was the one that drew you in? Beauty.

[@samcass7621]

Arbelour 10, monkey shoulder and my personal fave dalwhinnie 15, when i started drinking whisky i had to try and find the smoother whiskies on my own, these three are the best for me

[@rbgg2010]

Johnnie Walker Double Black is what really got me interested in scotch, which is funny since you say people don't recommend smoky flavors to people starting out. It was the smoke that drew me it! I'm definitely interested in trying an Islay single malt next.

[@DavidHukill]

Ardbeg Uigeadail is my favorite. 8 years in oak casks, 2 in sherry casks. Heaven!

[@inoutsoccer11]

Laphroig got me hooked because it was different than anything I had ever tasted at the time. I fell in love with the smoky flavor and then worked my way backwards to less smoky ones.

[@justme-sd6ye]

Oban 14. Nice, relaxing, a bit sweet, a little smoky and changes over the course of the dram. My first was Glenlivet 12, which I enjoy, but that Oban is so much more interesting.

[@jasonolyver6430]

A big part of a personal journey is also the time spent choosing for yourself the first bottle and then receiving it, opening it, pouring the first dram and with watery eyes trying to figure out the flavours through the alcohol burn.

[@astello8893]

The quality of your content is like Peter McKinnon! I hope your channels gets huge!!

[@harambae117]

My first smoky whisky (and my 4 or 5th whisky in general) was the Talisker 10 and it tasted amazing to me. I got the Ardbeg 10 a few weeks later and loved it as well but the Uigeadail was a little too much for me. I'm going to go try it again soon and I think I'd appreciate it a lot more now

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Talisker 10 is a great option and one I would have liked to of included here if I had a bottle at the time. Thanks for watching!

[@kendomcpar]

Interesting that you mention that some folks recommend steering clear of smoky whiskies at the beginning. I share your disagreement with that stance. It's where I started. I absolutely loved the hugeness. In fact, it took a much longer time to get into the mellower sweeter Speysides. However, if you are coming to Scotch from a Bourbon background, I'd be slightly more inclined to point you away from Islay initially. Only slightly

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Agree completely. Smoke is often not the challenging part, I’d argue the high alcohol strength is the hard part for people just getting into it. My only change to this video, if I was to remake it, would be to swap the Ardbeg (46%) for the Laphroaig (40%) as the hard part can often be getting used to the high alcohol strength and burn if your not used to drinking spirits. Although personally I like the Ardbeg better, but I’m very used to whisky 😅. Thanks Kenny!

[@krupke525]

I just recently started my collection. This Christmas I’ve opened with Auchentoshen, Aberlour, Lagavulin, Glenmorangie and a Balvenie. I’ll be looking out for Bowmore when I can

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Excellent! Great start to the collection!

[@b3aStYyY]

You seriously deserve many many more subscribers! Once again, incredible video, stunning editing, amazing information and presentation. Looking forward to more videos Phil!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks so much! Appreciate the support! 🥃👍

[@Allouran]

Agree with the Bunna 12, but you can get much better options than Glenlivet and Auchentoshan - Ardbeg is also heavy straight up ( stage 2 for me). My personal 4 looking backwards would be Glen Scotia double cask, bladnoch 10, bunna 12 and ledaig 10 for the smoked whisky. If you wanted a Speyside go Glenallachie or Craigellachie - both are great and not sherry bombs. It’s always difficult to break it down to just a few bottles, it’s like buying just 4 wines - you just need to add on and enjoy the ride...

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Yeah I agree. All those ones you mentioned would be good too. There's so many!

[@Froz3nTundra]

I love that you put Ardbeg on this. I've had maybe 5 people sample it at my house, most of them non-drinkers aside from the occasional weekend shot, and it was instantly everyone's favorite whiskey. Yet it seems to be touted as an intermediate/advanced scotch for some reason. It's the thing that got me loving scotch, honestly. I'm not a big fan of sweet alcohols and I had no idea something like Ardbeg existed when I first got it.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Exactly! It’s always worth trying, because you never know how people will react to a super smoky whisky.

[@jmanEOS17]

Great video! Watched your region video and now this. Tried a smoky whisky 10 years go and was turned off. Two year ago I got into bourbon and now I'm slowly exploring Scotch. Love Glenfiddich 12-18 and I think I'm ready to give Ardbeg or Lagavulin a try. Looking forward to more content. Cheers!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thank you! Yeah the Glenfiddich 12 and especially the 18 are great! You will probably love Glenlivet too then which is a bit more malty and has more cereal notes. If you want to try a much more mild smoky whisky - try the Highland Park 12. It’s a good middle of the road whisky. Appreciate the support!

[@jvtrirc]

Amazing video! The content and the editing is just perfect! It will be enough to make me explore some whiskeys. Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

That’s awesome and exactly why I made the channel for people like you. Cheers 🥃👍

[@charshavardhan]

While I like all the whiskeys that you've mentioned, I think Bunna and Ardbeg are pretty complex for a beginner to appreciate. As Ralfy says "the complex ones require Patience, Practice and Perseverance and they will come to you" .. but Good whiskeys overall .. I like your videos very much ...

[@WhiskeyStraightAl]

Another great video Phil...ahh that Bunnahabhain 12, love it! Cheers.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Such a great dram. Never gets old.

[@goose7782]

Just recently got into whiskey and was looking for a channel with good content. After watching a few of your videos, I’m hooked! Great content, keep up the good work!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Will! Appreciate that. It’s such a fun journey getting into whisky 🥃

[@vishalnrz]

Great choice for beginners , I also recommend the Glendronach 12. Amazing sherry combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks . A smooth creamy scotch with notes of toffee, fruits and nuts . Fairly priced at around 40-45€

[@warrenmoyses4424]

All 4 are on my shelf. Like others mentioned I'd add Talisker 10.

[@SagarPatelsensiblecrayman]

Just came across this channel and cant wait to binge watch and I'm excited for more videos

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks so much Sagar!

[@athinkingman8840]

Just started. I have mostly Scotch, but appreciate Japanese. Hatozaki small batch is pretty good and a good summer dram.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Ohh, haven't had that, but it does sound good. That's awesome. The whisky journey is a fun road to explore.

[@fturla]

Interesting collection for entry level whiskey drinkers. Unfortunately, in my area most of the Scottish and Irish whiskeys are priced well above 50 US dollars and/or isn't available, but the Glenlivet 12 which is usually around 50 does go on sale occasionally below 30. Glenlivet will probably become a standard go to drink along with Wild Turkey 101, Makers Mark, and some lower priced bottled in bond liquors around my area. Thanks for the video. I will try at least half the bottles you suggested eventually during the year.

[@janetarmstrong5844]

I wish I had watched this video before buying my first Scotch. I bought McClelland's (Islay). I had a taste I couldn't identify at first. Turns out that it was the iodine flavor. Not a fan. I'll drink down the bottle eventually, but will definitely take my notes from this video with me to purchase my next bottle. Thank you.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Janet!

[@babydavey2782]

Auchentoshan ok to start from i would recommend arran and aberlour a good start

[@kellywellington7122]

All good selections. I did Glenfiddich instead of Glenlivet, Glenmorangie instead of Auchentoshan (and then Auchtoshan), and Laphroig instead of Ardbeg. I'd say that Highland Park would be a good source for a Highland dram with a 'touch' of smoke. I do have a bottle of Talisker Storm on hand in case one of my guests indicates an interest in peatiness. If they indicate they like that, I'll step them up to the Laphroig.

[@kellywellington7122]

I agree with your assessment. The noob should be given an exemplar of each of 'classic', sherried, and peated, to determine if they have preferences in any specific direction. I was bludgeoned by Laphroaig 10 and thus obtained a bottle to allow others to sample it (as a 'warning'). I considered myself to be 'peat averse'. Then, I toured the Orkneys and the Shetlands and got a taste of Highland Park's peated whiskies. Not that 'punch you in the face' peating of the Islay (the name of the tea you sought was 'Lapsang Souchong', the little taste of creosote), but a 'lilting hint of peat'. Moderate peating. That, I liked. Particularly if it was sherried. When I finally tracked down my favorite peated Scotch, it turned out to be not an Islay, but a Speyside...Benromach 15. Highland peat does not impart the same peaty flavor as the maritime peat imparts to the Islay peated whiskies. It's much better. When comes to peat, I like to sit around the campfire and enjoy the smoky ambiance, but I don't like it when the column of smoke blows directly into my face. (Then there are those who like to throw a wet horse blanket on the campfire and stand close in on the resulting acrid smoke plume...Octomore fans, say.)

[@Bengoalkeeper]

Such a great video! Love that it’s so accessible. Fantastic info on affordable whiskies - definitely one of the difficult parts of getting into whisky is the price sometimes 😬

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Yeah I specially in Aussie. The tax there on spirits is some of the highest in the world. Much higher than the UK and NZ, which is why a bottle is often a third more in Aus than NZ

[@nickevans7687]

Cracked me up when you said it "smelled like alcohol". When i first started on my whisky journey id often say that during tastings! Thats all i could smell. Great content 👌

[@vetiwearerdaimyo1592]

This is how I would recommend Whiskies for beginners: Start with blend Monkey Shoulder and Johnny Walker Black and then move to: SPEYSIDE: Cragganmore 12, Dalwhinnie 15 ISLAY: Caol Ila 12, Bowmore 12 LOWLAND: Glenkinchie 12 HIGHLAND: Oban 14, Clynelish 14, Glenmorangie 10 ISLAND: Scapa Skiren, Talisker Port Ruighe BOURBON: Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek IRISH WHISKEY: SINGLE POT STILL : Redbreast 12, Green Spot BLENDED: Jameson Black Barrel, Teeling Small Batch SINGLE MALT: Bushmills 10, Connemara Peated

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Great list. Those would all be great.

[@oleksiimozghovyi4789]

Hey Phil! Please come back! The whisk(e)yTube is missing you so much!

[@Bernard0delaVega]

I am the ambassador for a brand of r(h) um and I always said I wanted to start the basics of whisky. Love your videos dude, the tone and editing is all I like. Keep going :) Beau travail from. France.

[@aaronmulcahy2004]

Thank you! Great video. I used to drink Single malt and then I went to bourbon but I'm starting to drift back to single malts. Particularly the pot stills of Speyside.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Great to have you back in the Single Malt club!

[@tjvanbenthem4333]

Thanks from Enschede, the Netherlands for these great introduction videos about whisky. I recently had my first bottle and that was a Black Bottle. This weekend i think i try an Ardbeg. Again thanks

[@raylewis2008]

Loving the channel! Treating myself to a bottle of the Glenlivet 12yo for Christmas. Thanks for the recommendations!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Glad to hear! Enjoy! Thanks so much Tom 🥃👍

[@alangray6961]

I like Ardbeg 10 but its a fairly punchy introduction to smoky Islay whisky. I reckon for beginners Caol Ila 12 would be great. Smoke is slightly creamier and less Briney. Caol Ila is also widely used by indepedant bottlers.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Yeah I actually completely agree. I need to do another video for beginners with updated recommendations.

[@hellswidd4628]

Great video Phil. Our four suggestions would be Bunnahabhain 12yo, Highland Park 12yo, Lagavulin 16yo & Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie 10yo (to highlight how good a blended malt can be) ... slainthe

[@mariiapikhotska5026]

Thanks for recommending Ardbeg, one of the strongest whiskeys I’ve had so far. I’m only starting on scotch and had it straight and recently I tried it with old-fashioned to mix bitterness and smokiness and that definitely didn’t turn me away, just delicious! So thanks I’ll try the rest too!

[@marceltzara3253]

Like the way you talk about mood - so important:) and also stressing the nose, drinking Whisky is about the combination of both nose and palate. I like the way you're talking about both evenly. Might have to question the Ardbeg for a start off there, but hey it;s all good stuff. But YES young Whisky is great!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

So important! Thanks Marcel

[@VinegarAndSaltedFries]

Your videos are gorgeous...keep up the good work. The effort you put forth is appreciated.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Casey! Really appreciate that. Grateful to share

[@SupermanBB]

Excellent production quality and all around great content. Also great choices!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Cheers! Great to have you watching

[@peterfinucane8122]

That Bunnahabhain 12 tasting was a "little pour". Sometimes I think miniatures or 200ml bottles do a good job to introduce a style instead of 700ml. Ardbeg 10 is a bit advanced ? I first tried it after a few other styles and it was awesome, followed by Bowmore 12 (awful) and Bunna 12 which was great.

[@unknown81360]

Im very new to whisky and only tried a few, will take some time to get into it

[@johnnyd5537]

Glenlivet 12 Double Oak was my first bottle and I love it. Had a dram of Chivas 21 Royal Salute before that and I was bloody confused.

[@b3aStYyY]

Hey Phil, I'm not sure if you're reading comments on old videos, but I just wanted to let you know that I followed your advice and got the Auchentoshan 12 ^_^ ! I am so excited to try it out tonight!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Awesome! How are you finding it?

[@b3aStYyY]

@@FirstPhilWhisky It's absolutely awesome. I love it! Both the nose and the taste are fabulous. Thank you for the suggestion!

[@JohnsDrams]

Nice picks! Don't forget Lindores Abbey for Lowland too - I've tried some of their maturing spirit and - dear god. Rosebank is currently getting CPR too. It's a good time for Lowland! My big favourite atm for the region is Bladnoch 10 - not especially affordable though :/

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks John. Wow, it's so exciting to imagine where the Lowlands will be like in 10 years. I didn't know much about Lindores Abbey - thanks for the info. Do you know what year they are up to? Can't wait to try a dram!

[@JohnsDrams]

@@FirstPhilWhisky I may have a video coming out in six hours about them 😏 But yeah, all seriousness they've laid down some stock that should be ready on or around December 20th this year - and it's worth trying from the cask samples I've had.

[@ct9737]

Deanston 12 was my starting point and moved up from there,however I always have a bottle of Deanston on hand !

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

What a great place to start. The great thing about deanston is that it’s a hard one to grow out of too. I’m trying to buy another 12 year old at the moment, but seems to be sold old with the lead up to Christmas. Such a good malt.

[@ct9737]

@@FirstPhilWhisky,I’m a fan of Bruichladditch and want to venture into smoke and peat,should I start out with the barley port Charlotte or the 10 heavily peated version or maybe just the regular Port Charlotte?

[@TheKavvz]

Love all the videos learning so much. Went out and got the Glenlivet 12. Really like it. Looking forward to trying more of your recommendations. Beauty! 😀 Much thanks.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

That's awesome. Glad you are enjoying it. Thanks! Beauty.

[@volvot5boy]

I’d also recommend Highland park 12 and The Dalwhinnie 15 👍

[@kellywellington7122]

I think a noob should be offered whatever is available. If you have the gamut, give the noob a chance to taste the kinds of whiskys you have and decide. Some noobs really like the peat. I offer Talisker Storm first and if they like that, I offer up a dram of Laphroaig 10. It helps sort whether they like 'some' peat as versus being smacked in the face with smoke. Some folks don't like it at all. I drank nothing but unpeated Speysides for decades and only recently stumbled over 'lightly' or 'softly' peated whiskys. I'm still waiting to get ahold of the Benromach 10....

[@philippe9225]

Great content. I hope your channel keeps growing and that you will be able to keep creating great vids!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I hope so too. My day job has been really busy lately. But I have a huge list of videos I want to make.

[@galford4793]

Thanks from Łódź, the Poland! I try this. I like very much Lagavoulin 16 and Macallan 12 ;)

[@mrriioo]

exactly !!!!! , aside of the tasting "thing" different Whiskies brings different modes .... i almost lost my mind 😇, I've been searching around for many many years just to find out any one that would be speaking about it. but every whisky review in that world seems to be mainly about the taste!😃. some whiskies puts me on deep mode feeling others are like open. that's why i would drink more than one kind a night,(blends). well pardon my English. i like the episodes 👍👍thanks.

[@Laura-fb1ls]

Good suggestions. Check the closed captioned on your videos. They did a really bad job. Closed captioned is what some of us go to for spellings of brands.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Ha I think it would of just been the KZbin automated subtitles. Fixed now though!

[@beergrill4607]

I don't consider ardbeg 10 as a beginner's whisky

[@thomaslau2362]

Yes JW keep walking

[@callumfoster10]

I’m almost 4 bottles deep and I still just get alcohol taste. Not off putting, but I can’t taste the intricate notes. Thoughts? Cheers

[@bc057]

1:55 GLENLIVET 12YR DOUBLE OAK SINGLE MALT SCOTCH 6:38 AUCHENTOSHAN 12YR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH 9:02 ARDBEG 10YR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH 12:40 BUNNAHABHAIN 12YR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

[@Bharur]

Great info bro from India 👍

[@MyFoxworld]

I always keep a bottle of Glenfiddich 12 year old special reserve, I have gave to none whiskey drinkers and generally they all say I didn't think whiskey was this nice or as easy to drink.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

That's a great one too. So smooth.

[@mariuszel759]

With smokies whiskies I would recomend Highland Park 12yo or Bowmore 12yo.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I never found Highland Park that smoky. But agree about Bowmore.

[@donaldpage607]

OK, I like whisky straight, at home when I'm relaxed. I like to sip and enjoy the flavor. I do not expect or desire to taste fruit, smoke, caramel or any thing other than whisky. For Scotch I "smell" the clean mountain air of the Scottish hills and I like to imagine I taste the quality of a clear mountain stream. I do not taste fruit, If I taste raw wood I find it unlikeable. If I taste wood I expect it to be the taste of charring and the mellowing nature of charcoal.

[@minniehunglee]

Thanks for all the videos. Great stuff. Hope to learn more about whisky here. Any thoughts on Taiwanese whisky? And I am wondering if you have any whisky log app you suggest using?

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

From what i've had Kalavan has been making some great stuff. I use Vivino for wine, but if you know one just as good for whisky - would love to know!

[@inoutsoccer11]

Quality video. Liked and subbed!

[@wayanagy3028]

I really love your explanation and totally agree with your opinion! keep it up mate!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@dinakarb8821]

Another video !!! Please try singleton

[@CG-vn8iy]

Don's take this the wrong way, but when you talk, all I can hear is Murray from the Flight of the Conchords TV show. Good info though, thanks!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

🤣🤣🤣

[@georgikostakiev8852]

Great channel 😎

[@sjnair9695]

Been a while thou... welcome back

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks!

[@ct9737]

My first peaty whiskey was Ugi !!!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Wow! Starting strong. Love that bottle

[@hayami3668]

Hello, What brand of glasses are you wearing?

[@pahlavandan3989]

My bottles don't last long enough to form a collection

[@user-cs2sm8sg9l]

Ardbeg for beginners...it's not serious...

[@venumadhav6796]

Hey hi nice one...good.info for beginners 😃😃

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Glad to share!

[@mariuszel759]

Red hot outside and I'm just sipping Lagavulin 16yo ✌🤷‍♂️

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Ha, if you're enjoying it, that's the main thing!

[@gavinyeatts9133]

Great video!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Gavin! Glad you enjoyed it

[@helljumper5586]

Where do you get your whiskeys from in NZ?

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Whisky&more, whisky galore and sometimes Glen Garry

[@markusweber7445]

I disagree about the Ardbeg 10, if you want the typical smoky islay taste for low Money the Laphroaig 10 Years is as good for less, if you want the best Islay Whiskey under 80 Bucks (in most Countrys) it is by far the Lagavulin 16 Years which is just a bit more then the Ardbeg 10. Ardbeg is great, but not the 10 Years.....

[@prasadhejamady2696]

Which software you use for vedio editing??

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Adobe premiere and after effects 👍

[@CherryPickerr]

Phil can you do 4 beginner Japanese whiskys?

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

That’s not a bad idea!

[@smashexentertainment676]

I've been to Yoichi Nikka Distillery and you basically can get all 4 and more from there 😃 In general you can't go wrong with anything that's imported from Japan.

[@sorinsorin20]

Phil, do you smoke cigars with the whisky?

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I would like to! Any recommendations?

[@sorinsorin20]

@@FirstPhilWhisky my first cigar with scotch was a Joya de Nicaragua Clasico Robusto. It was very balanced and not so strong. I do recommend to eat something before, this will prevent you from getting sick. I would love to see a video with your cigar experience. I appreciate what you do!

[@jamesnorwood4084]

Any medicinal Band-aid? In the Ardbeg??

[@Andy_Yates]

The band-aid is strong in Ardbeg in my experience. My fiance doesn't like it or Laphroig because of it. I personally really love Ardbeg 10, but it was one I tried and didn't like, and came back to after trying several others. I bought it after trying the Classic Laddie and Glenfiddich 12, so it wasn't something my palette was ready for before. Medicinal notes sorta come with the heavily peated Islay Scotches

[@jamesnorwood4084]

@@Andy_Yates Definitely an acquired taste.

[@archeofutura_4606]

Any interest in Irish whiskies?

[@mmitchellhouston]

An empty bottle is quite an endorsement!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Ha sure is! I already have another

[@bigtickandsalute]

I love you.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Love you too Matti 😉

[@BanjoSick]

Tiramisu has no glaze

[@Soldano999]

In what universe is the Bunnahabain 12 "affordable" ? Not Here in Europe. Laphroiag at 40€ is affordable. Caol Ila is affordable. Bunnahabain 12 is 80€ that's double the price. It's NOT affordable it's very much a high end product.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

True. Sadly it shows how much prices have risen in the last 2 years since I made this video

[@Soldano999]

@@FirstPhilWhisky actually i'm stocking right now, because it will probably get worse.

[@ross4709]

lol all the bottles shown are nearly empty

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Haha shows why I made the recent video. My shelf needs some restocking.

[@ross4709]

@@FirstPhilWhisky lol how long does it take you to get though all that

[@georgesdahy3426]

you missed dalmore 12 years old

[@richardgillette5759]

Ardbeg is not for beginners

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

It depends. I know people who we drawn in by Ardbeg. Depends on your palate. But yes for a lot of people - it will be too much. Whisky Tribe did a video recently with a noob and Ardbeg and she loved it for example.

[@Ricardo8388]

After a while you come back to whiskys you use to drink and it taste like watered-down garbage. 43 % atleast .. those 40 % bottles are just tasteless.

[@babydavey2782]

Totally do not agree these are whisky’s for beginners ardberg defiantly turn you off

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Agree. Watch my recent whisky for beginners video.

[@ST-lf8yv]

Dude, you are the @mrjww for the Scotch/whiskey industry/market!