The ultimate beginner's guide to SCOTCH WHISKY

[@AndersErickson]

Favorite bottles we should all try?

[@jonathanwilliams1974]

Bourbon or rye :). Get your hands on a bottle of Peerless Single Barrel cask strength rye. Amazing distillery I got to visit last month with amazing bourbon and rye.

[@schelzel]

For scotch beginners…. Give them anything Speyside! Give them a peated Highland and they’ll never trust you enough to try another one.

[@pimpernel666]

Balvenie. All day long.

[@DaveJ188]

A good intro to peat is Islay Mist 8. Or Bowmore.

[@fredericc.laurin9389]

Lagavulin 16

[@schelzel]

Oh boy, Scotch for Beginners. Get ready for fighting in the comment section among the non-beginners! Taking some chances on this one, Anders. Some might say it’s… whisky business.

[@lolzguyl]

I, this stranger on the internet, approve of this message. Puns and all.

[@jonathanwilliams1974]

Never piss on someone's sacred cow!!! I'll never poo poo anyone's choice of whisky they prefer. I'm a bourbon/rye guy, but am open to anything and a good friend who's a Scotch guy has introduced me to some interesting stuff. Not in love with it, but it's a fun diversion on occasion.

[@prefon13]

Came for this comment, and I am not disappointed. Hats off, sir.

[@brianpaget]

That's the spirit!

[@brianherman503]

@@brianpagetI see you workin

[@bw5260]

Honestly, as someone who loves Scotch, there isn't much to add except for maybe some info on the barrels used for aging. Unlike American bourbon that, by law, must be aged in NEW oak barrels, Scotch is often aged in USED barrels that were previously used to age bourbon, or sherry, or port, or rum, etc., and this imparts a ton of flavor to the Scotch. So, along with "peat-monster" scotches that have their own following, there are also "sherry-bombs" that others tend to enjoy. But the peatiness and sherriness are not necessarily mutually exclusive, i.e. Ardbeg Uigeadail (my personal favorite Scotch)

[@MrBoogurt]

I was going to make this same point but you beat me to it. Use of bourbon barrels vs sherry barrels is a big part of the variation in Scotch.

[@Arglbarglify]

Some years ago I bought a bottle of Glenmorangie which was aged in barrels that had previously held bourbon. Attached to the neck of the bottle was a small booklet explaining the production process. In here they explained that bourbon barrels were great to use, as "the bourbon seasons the wood and absorb undesirable flavors". ...Which really is the most elegant way I have ever seen of saying that bourbon is shait, we make the good stuff :D

[@bw5260]

@@Arglbarglify Lol, I don't disagree. I like bourbon in cocktails, but otherwise... it's just so boring to me.

[@GogiRegion]

Yep. And some newer scotches use ex-French wine barrels. Bordeaux red wine and Sauternes tend to be the ones I see the most commonly.

[@TheNewRevolution]

​@Arglbarglify 😂you obviously are not drinking the right Bourbon.

[@1061shrink1061]

You know what mate! As a Scotsman and a whisky enthusiast, this didn’t actually hurt my feelings at all, a really respectful summary of things and pretty much on the money throughout. You should try to get into more Campbelltown’s for sure, the springbanks are great but longrow, Kilkerran, hazburn etc are all utterly superb. If you ever wanna chat whisky, get some suggestions or need any info, feel free to give me a shout! Keep up the good work!

[@parkinglot2642]

Anders is knowledgeable and charismatic. He shows an understanding of art and craftsmanship without being pretentious. My wife and I love your channel, keep it up brother!

[@christinecamley]

Right on!

[@Xylasider]

I knew almost all of this, as I love scotch. But still great to watch and here someone else's perspective. I tend to drink scotch neat, but I would love to see a follow-up episode with some scotch cocktail recommendations that are lesser known. One I make myself from time to time, a Rob Roy with Glenmorangie 14 year. The port cask finish goes so well with the vermouth to make the cocktail REALLY wine forward, and it's very cool!

[@georgesteckert6334]

I was gifted a bottle of Laphroaig and hated it. But because I'd been raised in a "people are starving in China" household, I mentally wasn't allowed to throw it away. So, I began sipping it and sipping it and sipping it. By the time I was at the end of the bottle, I loved it and bought another one. And then another after that, and then and Ardbeg, and so on. Coupled with the fact that my godmother gave me a taste of Scotch and Seven Up when I was barely old enough to drink, I've developed into a full-blown whiskey/whisky addict. Scotch, Bourbon, and Irish are my favorites. Since I live in the US, I toured distilleries in Kentucky twice and spent more money than I ever should collecting and drinking different whiskies.

[@Beliedat]

Amen to this😅

[@quietreason8679]

My introduction to Whisky was kind of similar. I had tried Jack Daniels and Jameson and didn't much care for it. Then during an 18 months military deployment in country where alcohol is illegal, my friend "smuggled" me in a bottle of Lagavulin 16 for my birthday. I didn't want to seem ungrateful, and it was the only alcohol I'd be able to drink for a year and a half, so I started sipping it. By the end of the bottle I loved it so much, I've been wishing for a bottle for every one of my birthday's since! Now I'm also into the other Islays, particularly Caol Ila and Laphroig.

[@TheRealCoyote]

That's quite funny😂 But then again often the best things in life are things that are difficult, complex, and challenging at first! Slainte😊

[@Inguiasu]

Can’t take it with you. Unless you are going to purgatory; more fun than heaven. Enjoy life on earth, George.

[@joebowbeer]

I'm glad you mentioned Talisker from Isle of Skye

[@jahede]

Great episode!! I'd love to see a beginners guide to Bourbon as well. We tend to drink more Scotch than Bourbon here in Europe so knowledge is generally low.

[@odiec5567]

I've been using Scotch more and more as a flavor enhancer in cocktails. A .25 oz works surprisingly well to bring a smokey element to a tiki drink.

[@GogiRegion]

You should try Plantation Stiggin’s Fancy Smokey Formula. It’s a rum that is infused with real pineapples and then aged in ex-peated Irish whiskey barrels to give it a sweet, creamy, smokey vanilla with rich tropical fruit undertones. Unfortunately it was a limited release so it’s not always easy to find.

[@bradsimpson8724]

This is how I got through a bottle of Laphroaig that my dad got me(and I still can't fathom how people drink on it's own). I mixed a half-ounce at a time with my blended Scotch, gave it half an ounce of lime juice, and topped it up with a properly spicy ginger ale. Scotch snobs will turn their noses up, but I don't care what anybody says; that's a complex highball you can contemplate equally next to a fireplace in the winter or on a patio in the summer.

[@jeremyapplegate4868]

As an avid whisky collector, I'm happy my favorite mixologist did a video on it. For an in depth understanding, I highly recommend First Phil Whisky another must watch channel. Thanks Anders for always providing accessable content.

[@kayellai5278]

I follow First Phil Whisky too. I like his presentation and his fondness on Springbank. This presentation from Anders is so simple and short to understand. It has Springbank in it too.

[@michaelyork2292]

I once had a stout aged in laphroaig barrels and it was freaking amazing. That peat flavor was mellowed a bit but was still present. It really added to the flavor.

[@IverJ]

While I was in the Navy, back in the early 2000's, I was fortunate to visit Scotland on many occasions. On one visit, we took the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh where we explored the Castle, and just outside the castle - the Scotch Whisky museum. For anyone who enjoys whisk(e)y, this is a must do pilgrimage. Cheers.

[@andrewwheelock7418]

It's actually called the "Scotch whiskey Experience". And their collection of scotch is incredible. It was gifted by its previous owner to them on the condition that it was viewable by the public And of course, they determined Scotland was its rightful home.

[@andrewwheelock7418]

Voice typo there. Whisky without an e.

[@PetraDarklander]

I remember when I was trying to get into scotch and bought a 6 year Glenfiddich. She was a rough go and a visitor wanted to try it ... because scotch. He said it was like drinking rubbing alcohol. I've found it's easier to find a good tasting affordable bourbon than a scotch. Maybe that's just because I'm in the states though.

[@blind7000]

Great vid as always - 2 quick notes on the rules, 1 - only Single Malts have to be bottled in Scotland but all have to be made there of course, 2 - age statement of the youngest applies to all categories not just not just "blended" but it is easy to get confused between the category "blended" and the act of "blending" multiple casks from the same distillery for a Single Malt.

[@Volcodom]

Coming in to second and boost this. It's very easy to assume the spirit in the bottle is 10 years old, but when a spirit is marketed the age statement refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle for the purposes of making a good (or consistent) product. Ralphy has a few great videos on the subject of the entire production cycle of a bottle for when you really want some granular facts about how whisky comes to be.

[@jodiesandiford6503]

A good example of the ‘blending casks’ for a single malt, I think, is also the Laphroaig Select (which made me a very confused girl when I saw it said blended and single malt on the same bottle!) oh, and also to point out, some whiskies like the Glenfarclas 105 refer to ‘proof’ as the UK definition (we class it as 1.75x the ABV, not 2x for some strange reason)

[@Sonofamensch]

@@jodiesandiford6503 the strange reason is that at 100 (UK) proof, gunpowder doused in the alcohol would still ignite; this led many rums to be bottled at "Navy strength" aka 100 proof (UK) aka 57% ABV and is also partially responsible for the relatively high prevalence of whiskies bottled at 43% (~75 UK proof) ABV. Bottling whiskies at 46% ABV is not solely popular due to being 80 (UK) proof but also because that is the lowest ABV at which chill-filtration is not necessary to prevent esters and other oils and fats from precipitating out of the solution in micelles of sediment (which looks unappealing and "cloudy" and may convince a consumer that the product has spoiled somehow) when the bottle or its contents are chilled.

[@kingkrow420]

We should really start using the term batched or batching more when speaking on the “blending” process of multiple barrels for a batch of a single malt product

[@cochazza]

​@@kingkrow420 I'd say "batch" refers more to the distillation phase, which usually has a clear starting and finishing time (although distillation is a whole chapter by itself so I can't be very sure 😅) anyway something I relate more to the meaning of "batch", and that is happening by definition years before the final blending and bottling. Maybe the french term for champagnes and wines "cuvee" (meaning the particular selection and assembly of different wines for a line of production) would describe it well.... but I'm afraid the french would be sensitive to borrowing the word 😂

[@jkknyc]

… and the graphics - the map and the explanations of the different classifications - were really nice. kudos on those, too.

[@fcamiola]

Nice video! We toured both Edradour and Talisker in 2019, both were great but Edradour was very, very special! Pitlochry is a lovely village and I highly recommend it. Skye is amazing, as is Mull. Magical place!

[@tommym1966]

Another great wee beginners guide to a spirit. If you and Oz are ever in Glasgow then try the Pot Still, Bon Accord or Ben Nevis bars. All full of great whisky and knowledgable staff.

[@AndersErickson]

Appreciate the tip. Cheers

[@ChemistryTalkwithDan]

My introduction to Scotch was actually through mezcal. I was taking a class on tequila and mezcal, and the presenter described mezcal as something people who love Islay Scotch would also love. I already knew that I enjoyed mezcal so I went and bought a bottle of Ardbeg 10. I honestly do enjoy mezcal more, but my journey through Scotch is very enjoyable. I also recommend for people to try a Texas whisky from Balcones called Lineage. It's heavily influenced by Scotch but is also uniquely Texan.

[@ethanlitwin3757]

One of the best cocktails I ever had was built on the Negroni spec with Ardbeg 10, Vida mezcal and Amaro Zucca. Father’s Davirite Chair.

[@AntiDot70]

Oh this is exciting! I'm thinking this could be a series for the intro to bourbon, rye, Irish, etc. Then sherry, cognanc, and so many more types of lovely bottles we could learn more about. Love it you guys!

[@addisonmcquaid1459]

I always use Monkey Shoulder for rusty nails! The first scotch I bought was Bowmore 12 and I've been hooked on scotch ever since!

[@DaveJ188]

Yeah, Bowmore is a great starting point. A bit of character and not too expensive.

[@monagave]

do 1 oz monkey shoulder and 1oz Laphroaig !!!!!! thank me later

[@ieuanhuw2009]

or just skip Laphroaig and use Smokey Monkey!@@monagave

[@meadowonmars]

Fun, concise, and informative, as always! Much appreciated, Anders! ☺️

[@charliecooper9794]

Big fan of Glengoyne, the distillery is just down the road from my grandparents so I've been several times. Also, interestingly, it's the only distillery in Scotland that distils its whisky in the Highlands but matures it in the Lowlands, because the distillery straddles the border.

[@kevind.3389]

My wife and I both agreed that this was a super helpful video. We finally understand what bottles are talking about when they say "Single Malt". Thanks so much, Anders! We love learning on your channel.

[@garycooper323]

absolutely one of my wifes and I favorite videos. Perfect amount of information without bogging it down with things that do no help us understand Scotch. We do like Scotch just did not understand enough to make informed decisions and now we feel we can make better decisions on our purchases.

[@alivetoride59]

Very fortunate to find Springbank! Good on you! Best distillery in Scotland!

[@ciaran128]

As a whisky lover from Scotland, I just wanted to say how great a video this is. Fantastic intro to Scottish Whisky and full of really good advice and accurate information (which is sadly not always the case!) Love your channel, Anders.

[@mazriim]

Idk how, but every time I think "I wish I knew more about X", you make a video about it. Thank you so much for making such excellent and informative content. I've learned a ton from you over the years and always look forward to your next video!

[@claytonmitchell5685]

Blended whiskies are becoming more of an appreciated art form in recent years. Barrell Craft Spirits here in the US is blending bourbon and rye and making some amazing stuff, and Compass Box is upping the blending game for Scotch! Some of Compass Box’s lower end products are gonna be in the $40-60 range and are a good entry point for someone looking to get into Scotch with something approachable! Fantastic video, cheers!

[@Staniii2360]

Nothing wrong with blended Whisky. When single malt snobs start to argue right away how superior single malt is, I just explain that a single malt is blended as well. Obviously from the same Whisky, but across different years. If you want to brag, brag about single batch / single barrel.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

As a whisky geek (but a cocktail novice!) This was a great overview. Cheers Anders!

[@AndersErickson]

Thanks Phil! Appreciate it. Cheers!

[@kayellai5278]

Anders mentioned Springbank too. The presentation is short and simple to understand.

[@adamsteinhardt6393]

The best beginners guide to scotch I’ve seen and I’ve been doing scotch for a couple decades I’m an Islay person Ardbeg Corryvrecken or Uigeadail, Bruichladdich Octomore 14.3, and Port Charlotte are my favorite spirits full stop.

[@arned2493]

In my 20s I started off w/ a Canadian blended whisky, then graduated to Chivas Regal in my 30s, 40s - that eventually got too sweet for me, and now I've settled on Johnny Walker Black for regular use, some Monkey Shoulder, and my single malt is Glenlivet 12 or 18 for non-daily use. What a great video! If I'm going to hell, I'm taking Black and a couple of cigars w/ me.

[@TheNewRevolution]

I've drank Bourbon for 30 years. I only recently started drinking Scotch when I was gifted a Johnny Walker black label. I really liked it. I tried Famous Grouse on the recommendation of a friend. I really like that one. I've tried others that I didn't like so much like Glennfiddich and Chivas Regal. I'd really like to try some of the expensive offerings but I find it hard to shell out a couple hundred bucks to try something. I like the smokey ones though, better than the ones that aren't smokey.

[@treymedley]

Really well done. I got into Scotch before any other liquor or cocktails, so it always holds a place in my heart

[@ronaldellison1847]

I have 80 plus bottles of bourbon but just now getting into scotch, I like monkey shoulder but want to try more. The video was very informative on the different regions. Keep up the great job

[@peadar-o]

My go to ones are Famous Grouse, Glenfiddich and Laphroaig 10 yr. Different weather and moods for different whiskies. I do need to branch out and get my hands on Tallisker and Glen Garioch. If you can’t find Famous Grouse, try Teacher’s.

[@bradleyfletcher6525]

I loved this video! Islay is my favorite, I love my smoke. Funny story I've always loved scotch but started out hating tequila. But then I ran into mezcal, and loved it because of the smoke. After that, I was actually able to start appreciating tequila as I started comparing them like you might scotch.

[@812cp]

My wife and I introduced ourselves to Scotch on a trip to Edinburgh several years ago. We started with lighter highland singles and blends often diluted with a bit of water, but we are now devoted Islay fans. Just picked up a bottle of Ardbeg 10 year today....KA-BAM! Huge smoke with a little background sweetness, just the thing to get us through the coldest part of a Toronto winter. Cheers!

[@jmuri002]

I bought Monkey Shoulder on a whim because it came with a banana flask! Turned out to be a great scotch. I like sipping it neat on the rocks. Good recommendation!

[@VFRCapBob]

I was served a flight of scotch whisky's in Edinburgh and was amazed at the variations in flavor. The smokiest left a taste in my mouth like fresh cooked bacon. Just bought a few mixing tools with your links for my bar.

[@TheOriginalRaster]

It is excellent that you were able to hit all of the key points about Scotch. I have conveyed this same information to close relatives but the points were spread out over time - so I'm saying you did an excellent job to convey all of the key information in one easy to absorb video. I started in Scotch and other whisky in 2015 and I've spent a lot of time online, reading and watching whisky reviews, buying bottles, trying them, etc. (so starting at that time means I'm not a major expert). Here's one point I might have stressed: I would have stressed that the viewer set aside highly 'Peaty' Scotch (like Ardbeg or Laphroig) and describe them as a separate 'animal' for folks who've had an introduction to scotch or other whisky, and I would make sure the viewer definitely does not start by sampling/tasting a highly peaty Scotch. I would warn "stay away from these highly peaty whisky" and only sample them after you have some experience. I could go on about the reasons for this. First an extreme example: my best friend described Scotch as this horrendous concoction that only some radical dude could tolerate or even like, and it's like eating a campfire. As a Scotch almost-expert I can tell what happened to my best friend. He had had no exposure to Scotch and some friend hit him with an Ardbeg saying something like "this is Scotch, and only real men can handle it." He takes a sip and knows that Scotch is garbage for some psycho macho-men, and later my friend tells me how horrible Scotch is. So do not let beginners start with a highly peaty Scotch. Warn beginners away from it. It's not a 'strong' version of scotch... to a beginner it's booze plus ashtray, and who the heck likes the taste of an ashtray! So with my friends I instead would say "Almost all Scotch that you will encounter is not peated." These are the ones you should try. Keep in mind there's no peat in them, and their flavor is quite interesting. If you encounter highly peated scotch, consider that a completely separate category and actually I recommend you avoid it. Don't assume that Scotch in general has that 'ashtray' or 'band-aid' or 'vegetal' taste. That is a really strange acquired taste, like smoking cigarettes and liking the taste of a cigarette. (When you first try a cigarette it tastes absolutely horrible. It is amazing that we end up having more than that one taste and it's amazing that we eventually become addicted to these things.) Peated Scotch is like smoking cigarettes. Once a person has experience a number of different Scotch brands and if they say they like or appreciate the taste, *then* at that point it is worth trying a highly peated Scotch. Some people have a strange affinity for that ashtray or band-aid taste. The affinity is hard to explain. By many years of periodic exposure to peated Scotch I can now tolerate the taste and now I can even enjoy it a bit. I think it's smarter to pitch Scotch this way. Your thoughts? Cheers!

[@taproot0619]

Monkey shoulder is my go-to scotch. It was the 2nd bottle of scotch I bought for my home bar, and I haven't been without it ever since. Its a good flavor neat or mixed, and its pretty affordable as well.

[@kayellai5278]

Agreed. A budget whisky.

[@bombyd66]

Great primer! Because I find Scotch rather overwhelming, I've had some Scotch-tasting parties. Everyone brings a bottle (and you can decide ahead if it's one region, one from each region, blends, etc.), we provide food, and we all sit around tasting, comparing, discussing... it's a great way to learn which ones are for you. And as a friend said when I initially said I didn't like Scotch, "Oh, you just haven't found yours. There's a Scotch for everyone."

[@stevesteve350]

Thanks so much for always being so easy and interesting to listen to. As a newish bartender in a craft cocktail lounge, your videos continue to teach and entertain at the same time. Appreciate it so much.

[@tonynovinska2121]

Hi Anders! Regarding Campbelltown, you're right. There used to be 45 distilleries, but that has dwindled to very few, but the top two, in my opinion, are Glen Scotia and Spring Bank. You highlighted S.B., but Glen Scotia flies under the radar nicely and produces OUTSTANDING whisky. Glen Scotia 15 is their flagship at about $100, but the best bang for the buck is the (no age statement) Matured in first fill bourbon barrels before being finished for 12 months in Pedro Ximinez sherry casks - about $60. Worth every penny!

[@michelleyoung5993]

I'm new to scotch and absolutely had no idea all this background. Thank you so much Andes, this has been exceptionally informative. Now off to the the bottleshop to indulge in my very first bottle.

[@pickpocket293]

First time seeing your channel, and what an intro it was. I love some kinds of scotch, but couldn't figure out why some within the same "category" were so different. It all makes sense now-- Highland is a bit of a wildcard, it would seem. Thank you for making this video; it was very helpful.

[@franingram17]

Oh my gosh!!!! Thank you for pronouncing Glenmorangie correctly. I’m Scottish and love single malt whisky. My father was a dedicated whisky lover so I learned a lot from him. His favorite was The Macallan. My favorites are Glenfiddich and Laphroig. However there isn’t a whisky that I haven’t enjoyed. Thanks for a really interesting rundown of Scotland’s amber nectar❤

[@erniearruda8861]

Glen Moray from Elgin Scotland is my favourite Scotch.Canadian single malt whisky for me the best and oldest distillery in Canada is Glenora distillery in Mabou,Cape Breton,Nova Scotia,ad the whisky is Glen Breton

[@dizzyg3890]

Cheers to You From Down Under🇦🇺 no Scotsman has pull an intro to the GOOD Drop better than yourself!! Well done I personally have been into Scotch and Whisky for 40 years and never have I had it presented so well😊😊 And hi to the Windy City😊😊 Mate

[@Forests0fFantasy]

One recommendation I have for a budget friendly intro Scotch is Shackleton Whisky. It's based on the MacKinlay's Blended Malt Scotch Whisky that the Earnst Shackleton Expedition took on their Antarctic Expeditions. It's about $35, and I find it comparable to Monkey Shoulder. I do genuinely prefer the flavor of the Shackleton's for a budget Blended Malt Whisky. It's a good pick for a first introduction for those who are accustomed to American or Canadian Whiskey

[@leohorishny9561]

Agree 100%.

[@rodneywhitfield5754]

Awesome Anders!!! Much appreciated, I learned something new and I’ve been a scotch fan for… well a long time.

[@poojak11]

I’m in sommelier classes and didn’t do well on this test. Your review is so good. I wish I had watched it before the test!!!!!

[@AndersErickson]

Thanks so much! Good luck on your certification!

[@AndrUju]

I appreciate the effort to make this video. Thanks!

[@loonypeat312]

Well laid out detailed descriptions on Scotch. I enjoy all the regions of Scotch depending on my mood. Thanks!

[@juliefindlen]

Thank you so much for this intro. I’ve dabbled a bit with scotch, but this really helps. Monkey shoulder is a good scotch, and I mix it with Fever Tree Ginger Beer, making my own “Glasgow Mule”. I put in a big slice of lemon instead of lime. It’s delicious!

[@RameshKumarrs-nv1qk]

I started with beer graduated in to scotch ,now it is relaxer of all tension at work ...social life needs little drink can use blue label too....great .. Thiruvananthapuram Kerala

[@thistlenstar]

Several years ago we were in San Francisco. There was a shop near the Chinatown Gate on Grant Avenue that sold all things Scottish. They had well over a hundred different Scotches for sale. On our first visit we bought a bottle of Edradour, because it came from the smallest distillery. It was a fine Scotch. At the time they actually listed the names of the people who worked at the distillery. The entire staff amounted to four people. I wonder if they've expanded. Regarding the pronunciation of some of the names: The proprietor of the shop was Named Hector, and he had a very strong Scottish accent, so I considered him a good resource. I asked him how to pronounce some of the names that were of geographic origin, and he said, "Sometimes only the people who live there really know how to say it." So, who knows? Maybe you nailed them all! Anyway, thank you for the video.

[@medicus5565]

Maybe my favorite video of yours. I love the subtle (and often not so subtle) distinctions among various Scotches. For the longest time I thought mixing a cocktail with Scotch was sacrilegious. I have revised my thinking since watching your channel.

[@federicon.5085]

i'm only 2 or 3 years into whisk(e)y, and this video gave me so much valuable info, thanksssssss!!!

[@eugenedewet1157]

I LOVED THIS , ANDERS you cleared my mind of the confusion of single and blend very quickly. Thanks mate

[@Discmaninac8494]

The Laphroaig Ciardeas White Port and Madera is amazing.

[@Boomer7x]

I’m a bourbon guy, I tried scotch 25ish years ago and did not like it, about a year ago I thought I would try again and bought a bottle of Buchanan and it almost turned me off again. My next bottle was Glenlivet 12 and I loved it, I bought a bottle of Glenfiddich and loved it also, I switch back and forth. Last week I bought a bottle of Lagavulin Offerman edition I am yet to try. I still prefer bourbon but am really taking a liking to scotch. Thank you for the great video and breakdown of the scotches

[@distant2soul]

Thanks Anders, that peaty taste some people like, for me growing up in ireland I’ve had enough of peat ha ha. But thank you for the suggestions, monkey shoulder is pretty nice

[@CybranM]

I love these kind of overview videos you make! The rum and gin ones gave me a lot more understanding of their respective manufacture and am likely going to pick up a few of your recommendations :D

[@AndrewHarnett]

Great beginners video. If you ever feel like doing a scotch 1.2, there are so many ways to go. I highly encourage it.

[@bonwatcher]

Glenfiddich 12-year-old is always at Costco for a reason, it is good sipping and popular. During the holidays they had a Sherry cask 12-year-old which imparted that sweetness of sherry to the blend. Fantastic stuff. 👍

[@AdvantureRoad]

Absolutely LOVE the Laphroig 10! Started with Jameson, then tried a Buchanan 10. They were good, but the Laphroig cemented my love of scotch. No mixing, neat only for me

[@myerlinggames]

As a scotch enthusiast, I agree with like 99.99% of what you have said. Well covered, Slainte!

[@81mysharona]

The only thing I would like to add to this discussion is that if you are doing a tasting, always start with the lighter scotch and end on the heavily peated ones. Once your palate has been blasted by peat, you don’t quite appreciate the nuances of the lighter stuff. Slainthe bha!

[@threadflowers9844]

Was gifted a bottle of Balvenie. Not knowing anything about Scotch I tried to start a small meet-up group to hangout, sip and get a bit more knowledge. It started out really good then fizzled. I guess the subject was too deep, too many components (which was just confirmed, thank you 🤣). Will revisit this sub, try to make the learning process more fun with funner participants. Thank you 🥃👏🏾.

[@bettyswunghole3310]

I find the "lore" surrounding Scotch whisky almost as confusing as that surrounding French wine...this vid actually makes the basics almost understandable!

[@mdb39602]

Not quite scotch, but I've been getting into Japanese whiskies lately, which for sure take a page or two from Scotland, and this definitely was a good little educational overview (especially with the different types). All the same, this is really making me want to pay a visit to my uncle over there in Scotland!

[@randomUnhold]

Springbank's my favourite of that bunch. Great guide for the uninitiated!

[@garyweston6701]

I live in the uk and if you want to start your whisky journey then I would recommend a Glendronach 12 as drinking Scotch. Look out for a new English distillery called Ad Gefrin. Also another excellent English whiskey is Cotswold.

[@-XTD-]

I've been inside the Edradour distillery before for a radio interview, they are very friendly and also drift like crazy on the forklifts

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

Excellent breakdown of the five categories of Scotch! But I would add: a) A single _malt_ Scotch must be made in a pot still (whereas a single _grain_ Scotch is often made in a column still). b) Bear in mind that some top-end whiskies, like Chivas Regal Royal Salute and Johnnie Walker Blue, are "blended Scotch." c) The definition of _blended Scotch_ was accurate, so do not be misled by the different coloured arrows: it is possible for the whiskies in the blend to all come from the same distillery.

[@SabreAce33]

This was great! It would be an expensive proposition, but having an intro video for each region as part of a periodic series would be amazing. Maybe a brief history of the region, a starter recommendation or two followed by an option that would be a good step into more complex palates. Cheers!

[@Reload7x1]

You have such a wealth of knowledge geez. Honestly I’d love to hear even more details about scotch.. even a long form podcast about it. Idk if it would be popular but I love to learn about this stuff

[@Janoy_Cresva]

Love this series. I would love to see a guide to bourbon in a future video, or just American whiskeys in general to allow for ryes

[@evansclafani2256]

I still remember a video of yours from a few years ago when you said "eye-lay" and I haven't been the same since. I'm finally at peace.

[@susanward398]

There's something for everyone in your collection, Anders--and a full bottle of Springbank, too! Another good one to try is Arran 10. It's 46% ABV, non-chill-filtered, and has no added color. This single malt is easy to drink, yet interesting enough to appeal to whisky experts. The price is reasonable for a high-quality single malt. It has become one of my favorites, along with Bunna 12.

[@AO1022_]

I've been a fan for a while and you are my go to when I need a cocktail recipe. I am going to New Orleans soon and wondered if you or any other fan had a few bars to recommend. There are so many that seem authentically old but where are the best cocktails?

[@The_Lundy]

As a big Scotch head, this was a super well done intro to the style! Great job!

[@edstar7894]

Good summary. I think it helps to understand scotch using quadrant scale of ‘Smokey to delicate’ and ‘light to rich’. Laphroig for example is light and Smokey. The lightness description might indicate to newbe that it is less harsh, but is actually harsher. This is because the lightness brings the smoke to front. A rich whisky will smooth off the roughness of smoke. Honestly you only need 3/4 whiskeys, one at each end of quadrant. There are few standouts that offer amazing value and quality. Anders true to form had 3 on show, and Bunahabben (can’t spell). Laphroig and Talisker. Mentioned lagavulin also, which for £20 more than others is an incredible whiskey

[@Sandy-rv9tv]

I was asked by a friend to buy a Laphroaig from the Delhi Airport DFS. After I gifted it to him he opened it and offered it to me. It blew me away. I just couldnt handle it..brought memories of my Mom applying tincture Iodine on wounds I'd get falling from my bike as a child! Wow! Its simply too strong. Not sure I'll try it again. Happy with, now what I know as Speyside whiskies, Glennfeddich and Glenlivet 😊

[@Ghostrander]

I bought a Springbank 18yr as an expensive wedding gift ($250), and it was hands-down the best scotch that I've had... The caveat is that I haven't had a lot of scotches, but of the ones I have had, it was amazing. And most whisk[e]ys/scotches I've had I prefer on the rocks, but this one seemed best neat

[@hakannorlings2439]

My go-to whiskys and the most bang for the buck (available, price, and taste) 2023/24 is from one of the youngest distilleries on Islay. It's the Kilchoman Sanaig, it's aged in bourbon and sherry casks (Oloroso) and comes at 46%. It has a smokey, fruity taste that's amazing. The Straight Rye Whiskey, Blind Seal 46% from Swedish Agitator, it got silver in the World Whiskey Award 2024. these two are my go-to Whiskys! Otherwise, Ardbeg 10, Ardbeg Uigeadale 54,2%, Lagavulin 16, Laphroaig 10, Arran 10, Port Charlotte 10 50%, Cotswolds 59,1% (England). To be really good, they should be non chilled filtered and at least 46%.

[@renahollwedel3302]

Bandaids !! Thank you so much ! I’ve said this to a tender that was having me try tasting some Scotch…. I told him it tasted of bandaids ! And he was offended and said I had no idea what I was talking about as several fellow patrons listened in ! He made me feel like an idiot ( which I probably am ! ) thank you for that little tid-bit !😂

[@gnothisauton2116]

Believe I’ll go pour a wee dram. Thanks for the nudge.

[@silv3rArrow]

Talisker is a an amazing option. The 10 years is excellent value for money, tastes amazing. Their factory tour was also lovely

[@seermayton-el3488]

Kinda funny my intro was Monkey Shoulder. Its inexpensive around $30 typical retail. Perfect to sip on neat or with soda. Me and my dad got it on a whim because we wanted something new. That bottle didn't survive the night.

[@kayellai5278]

Monkey Shoulder is nice and affordable.

[@christofourie1409]

great summary....my favourite of all time is 16 yr old Lagavulin, a really subtle yet sumptuous whisky

[@jlambert6084]

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is my favorite when I want a higher quality bottle. Glenlivet 12 year old single malt also is good and Glendiddich. My personal top 3 so far.

[@TipsyTofuTravels]

We just finished a bottle of Monkey Shoulder last week! Thanks for the educational video, I always get confused about whiskey, whisky, scotch, bourbon - whatever cheers 🥃

[@WolfetoneRebel1916]

Scotch is from Scotland. Bourbon is from the US. “Irish” whiskey doesn’t really exist as Ireland is the home and originator of whiskey and doesn’t need a special designation. Scotch can only be spelt without an e. Irish or Bourbon can be spelt with or without I believe.

[@travisfaircloth]

My 3 favorite distilleries are Edradour, Glendronach, and Springbank. Buy all the Springbank (Longrow and Hazelburn as well) that you can find. It is very hard to get these days. Edradour is fantastic if you like oloroso sherry matured scotch....which I do! That's 1 thing you didn't really go into is the cask types and what flavors they can bring to the whisky Maybe that could be in another video. Cheers Anders

[@robertw.1499]

I can drink all types of whisky, but not many from Islay. Too much peat, too much taste of, as you say, iodine. But a matter of personal taste. Great insight to those of us who are less informed 🙏

[@Wahlrusberg]

On special occasions I like to make a make a blasphemous little Rob Roy with Ardbeg Uigeadail. The peat & sherry notes with the vermouth is incredible

[@michaelquillen2679]

Good video! I'll come right out and say that my favorite Scotch whiskies are Speyside and Islay. But I'll never turn down a Scotch from another region! The only two Scotch cocktails I drink are Rusty Nails in the winter and Scotch and soda in the summer. However, I only do cocktails with the blends...never with a single malt! Just me. I also, do not consider myself a Scotch snob, that is, I don't ever consider the price...only the way it presents to the nose and palate. Thanks for the video!

[@hoygys]

Thanks for the Intro to whisky. My own favourites are Laphroaig and Lagavulin. Not very original, but I'm a sucker for Islay.