The Best Scotches For Beginners: A Guide to Scotch Whisky

[@michaeloporto5202]

Bapa Edd dropping knowledge! Used to really hate peated whisky but found Highland Park 12 to be a great entry point.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Awesome! Highland Park does have that Orcadian heather peat that isn't quite as punchy as Islay peat, plus they use a bit less of it. Maybe I should have said the 12 instead of the Magnus. Oh well, they're both quite good.

[@sub04aru]

This is the type of learning kids should be taught in schools!! Good job bapacito!

[@callumtaylor5881]

Quality content, definitely got a couple ideas of what to try next. Thanks bapa

[@TheRotgutReview]

Thank you! I'm glad you found something to try!

[@kingcuz.]

My Gran and Grandpa lived on Islay all their life, myself from Glasgow. When my Grandpa passed we inherited some Holy Grail whiskeys, we sold a single Port Ellen bottle to someone from Japan and we travelled the world of it.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Oh that's really cool that he had some of that! Crazy how expensive those old bottles have gotten. It's too bad Diageo destroyed those Port Ellen stills, they're never going to be able to recreate that whisky, try as they might.

[@markreleford6810]

The first scotch I ever tried was an Islay and at the time I thought I was drinking a burnt tree. Fast forward a couple years I built the courage up to buy scotch again and bought a bottle of Oban 14 year and honestly love it and it opens the world of scotch for me.

[@meesternibbles]

Oban is magical

[@Bonetopick]

must be a personal taste thing. I love campfire smells and I love smoking meat. First time drinking a heavy peat whiskey was like drinking smoke, and I loved it..

[@BubblebathBourbon]

everyone said not to try islay when i was starting out, so i did. instant hit. ive got more peated than any other scotch now hahah

[@sergioazevedo4267]

That's one that I constantly recommend to people trying to get into scotch. Balvenie 12 is another one.

[@markreleford6810]

@@Bonetopick I've tried more peated whiskeys since then as well and have started to like them more too.

[@nekojimaresident4406]

Learned a lot about Scotch on this one bapa, awlways great cawlntent b

[@t.j.meechan682]

Love these videos! Looking forward to your take on Irish whiskeys for beginners. Appreciate ya.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Thanks, I'm excited for it too!

[@scottnickerson7876]

This series is fantastic, Edd! Thank you for the knowledge drops.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!

[@jeffe9429]

All good drinks, never tried them

[@paikat78]

Stellar advice and whisky suggestions for beginners. One of my earliest whisky experiences happened to be Lagavulin 16 and I instantly took to smoky whisky. A great follow up to this video would be how to taste whisky for beginners. This had a profound impact on my whisky journey.

[@jonjonesfiance7678]

Very decent accent and guide!

[@inojushitzu]

Liked for the username and avatar. Keep rocking bapa!

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Great job Edd. Wonderfully entertaining and informative. Cheers

[@TheRotgutReview]

Thank you so much!

[@willl793]

Very nice video! Some of these I haven’t tried yet

[@kimberlymckinney1414]

Thanking you for demystifying scotch....scotch has just came across my radar and I've been stumped.

[@TheRotgutReview]

It can be a little confusing when you first get into it, glad I could help!

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😮😊thanks. Now I need a drink😮😊

[@sergioazevedo4267]

Another great video, bapacito. Lots of great info that I wish I knew way back when I got into scotch. One thing that hasn't changed for me is my distaste for peat. I've had some whiskeys that people swore by and I nearly spit 'em out into their faces and was tempted to set on fire for desecrating my palate.

[@michaelspoto8720]

good video. never seen it

[@garywhite68]

Thanks for this Edd.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Oh, no need to thank me, I'm just glad to be making these vids. It's fun

[@ebscoHOSTpub]

I'm so glad I found this channel even if it was ironically. How do you suggest trying Scotch at home? Buy little shooters? I want to try a lot but have no good local spots and dont want to buy a full bottle.

[@TheRotgutReview]

I'm glad you found it, too! If you don't have a decent bar then minis are probably your best way to go. The problem there is that some of the premium brands don't make 50 mls but you might be able to find 375 ml or 200 ml sizes especially at some of the larger chains like Total Wine.

[@ebscoHOSTpub]

@@TheRotgutReview I kinda figured that would be my best option. Still working through your vids and taking notes on things I want to try. Appreciate the response and your content!

[@TheDeathlessDogs]

Much like your girlfriend, I was on board with the peat right away. I had tried some lighter scotches and just couldn't see what the hype was all about since I was so used to drinking big bold bourbons, but that first sip of Lagavulin 16 had me in love. I'm now starting to go back and find an appreciation for the non Islay stuff. Great video!

[@niallflattery7910]

Great info man! Btw a ufc fighter named Dustin Poirier brought out a new whiskey and is actually a nice guy that does lots for charity, you could have your own UFC rankings lol

[@TheRotgutReview]

I've been trying to get a bottle but unfortunately they don't ship to Wisconsin. Hopefully I'll find a way to get some soon!

[@Uchoobdood]

I think people need to try Teachers! it is delicious and very inexpensive. I love it!

[@TheRotgutReview]

Good thinking! I think I could get that on the show sometime!

[@mahtgeez8591]

Big fan of Glenfiddich 12! Thanks for the video!

[@CRGuitarr]

This is a great series. I’m going to show it to my inexperienced scotch drinking friends

[@TheRotgutReview]

Awesome, thank you!

[@danielbaxter2464]

Greetings from Scotland. The first whisky I managed to get my brother into was the Balvenie DoubleWood 12, so, for what it’s worth, I’d suggest that for first timers. But also, water weed dune hair?

[@TheRotgutReview]

Hey there! Glad we're getting folks to tune in from all over the world these days! You know, I'm kind of kicking myself for not including Balvenie 12, it wasn't my first whisky but it was the one that made me realize how good whisky could be. Water weed dune hair? Drinking whiggsky bapa

[@detectivemarvel8036]

Im starting to get into whiskey, very very new to it I might add, a Scotch I've found that I like is Dimple 15yo, probably not a popular recommendation but I enjoy it

[@TheRotgutReview]

There's nothing wrong with Dimple! I think people tend to be so obsessed with malt whisky they forget that there's good blended whisky too!

[@johng.7560]

1st peated was Ardbeg 10, never looked back!

[@AncientDirtbag]

First whisky to pull me into the rabbit hole was Old Pulteney 12, tried the Laphroaig quarter cask right after that and had my mind totally blown away. Still my all time favourite but there’s so many single malts I haven’t had the chance to try yet.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Oh those are both good options! And there are a ton of single malts out there now, not just from Scotland either. All sorts of countries are getting in on the game! It's nuts

[@GregLAFP]

There is another mma guys whiskey out now , I forget the name but the fighter I’d Dustin Porier I think. I heard it’s good and well priced

[@TheRotgutReview]

oh yah, I am doing my best to get ahold of some, but they don't ship to Wisconsin, unfortunately. I'm seeing about alternative ways to get some for a review

[@GregLAFP]

Thanks mate nice show ,Do you know if there are any good Australian whisky , I live here but don’t know , there is a lot of wineries and they are pretty good but I don’t know much about whisky??

[@hoodiestimbs2783]

@@TheRotgutReview Rare Stash. Dustin’s Whiskey

[@TheRotgutReview]

@@GregLAFP I really like Lark, it's a Tasmanian malt, they have a peated port cask that I love. Ironically, I think it was cheaper for me in the states than it was for a fella I know down there.

[@GregLAFP]

@@TheRotgutReview thanks mate, yes the prices of alcoholic drinks in Australia are high they have quite a high sales tax , they use some of the tax to help people with addiction problems,so I don’t mind paying a bit more. 700 ml Jameson Irish blended whisky $50 AUD.

[@markwilson3414]

All the best from Belfast Northern Ireland

[@Retro_Raptor]

Great video mate. I’ll even forgive you for the first 10 seconds!

[@TheRotgutReview]

I don't deserve forgiveness, but thank you anyways.

[@21drakken]

Any chance for an EDD-igo version of these where you offer suggestions for beginners like Octomore, ARRD-BEG and Springbank!

[@TheRotgutReview]

Hahaha, that's a great idea, I just might do that.

[@meesternibbles]

My holy Trinity of peat!

[@sirtanon1]

I was in the local Total Wine a week or two before Christmas, and I saw a couple looking at one of the Smokehead offerings. The silver box - High Voltage. I ended up chatting with them for a little bit, and it turned out they had a friend who had never tried scotch before and were trying to decide what scotch to get him for Christmas to start him out.. The thing is, his favorite whiskey, and the whiskey he drinks most of the time, was Jack Daniels. I could be wrong, but my first thought was "Going from JD to a massive peat bomb? This sounds like disaster". I ended up suggesting they get him a bottle of Highland Park Viking Honor instead, which they did.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Oh for sure, that would've been quite the... Shock! hahahaha, I crack myself up

[@darwinrz]

I like the peaty stuff...Laphroaig, Ardbeg. I once attended a Laphroaig tasting at the World of Whiskey Expo. At one point, they paired it with chocolate. It seemed like an odd idea, but it actually worked! Peat...great guy. Never meddum tho. Another great video. Looking forward to the one on rye. Thanks for the information.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Thanks for watching! I do think chocolate is a pretty good pairing with peated whisky, especially the dark choco.

[@ericmcdaniel2719]

Arran and Bladnoch would be great beginner whisky too.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Those would also be pretty great.

[@ranjansarkar08]

W I C K E D . . . SO MUCH INFORMATION . . . HELPS A LOT IN UNDERSTANDING . . . IT'S A. . . B L O O D Y. . . B R I L L I A N T. . . VIDEO. . . KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK . . . C H E E R S . . .

[@seamansj]

Thanks for this video cause I been wanting to try some scotch whiskey but don’t know much about them and you helped out a lot. But I have to admit, when I first started watching it I almost clicked off of it cause I’m thinking “ I can’t understand anything that he is saying”. But you got me. 😂 Thanks again

[@MaestroPdx]

is it weird that I started to lick the screen when you held up the lagavulin?

[@TheRotgutReview]

It's your screen, hey? Do what thou wilt.

[@brucetodd443]

Lauginvulin.. Spelling.. Is my fav peated whiskey

[@TheRotgutReview]

Hell yeah! The first time I had Lagavulin it blew my mind, I fell in love right away.

[@Bonetopick]

Have you ever heard of Dun Bheagan Islay Single Malt whiskey? its weird cause I see nothing on it or about it, its origins are sort of a mystery to me. Point being, it's a very peaty whiskey, for a lower price compared to say Lagavulin. While bringing 8/10 of the flavour, at 1/3 of the price. Just find it interesting. As a Canadian looking for a cheaper alternative to Lagavulin 12, i found that at our communist liquor store.

[@TheRotgutReview]

No, I hadn't heard of that, although it looks like it's an independent bottling series from Ian Mccleod. Not sure which distillery the Islay version is from. I've never seen it in the states, so that's interesting.

[@catsandrubber]

I gave your impression a second listening and honestly it’s on a par with the majority of English peoples attempt at a Scottish accent.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Haha, well I have that going for me, I guess.

[@sugarkitty4777]

Le Frog was a car Renault tried to sell to the US in the mid 80's... Oh wait, I guess that's frowned on these days.

[@winterburden]

My mom tried Ardbeg Corryvreckan and decided it's the best one and now she doesn't really want to try any others.

[@TheRotgutReview]

hahaha, good for her!

[@goldfish2289]

0:56 la phroaig = the frog

[@DaveyBlade13]

Monkey Shoulder is a great one too

[@TheRotgutReview]

I was going to mention Monkey Shoulder but , honestly, I kind of forgot. It is a great easy malt for beginners.

[@BubblebathBourbon]

TFW you find new whiskeys to buy from a beginner video even though you're not a beginner 😁 my wallets face 😐

[@TheRotgutReview]

Hahaha, we are all just beginners on the next part of our journey! I feel you about the cash, though.

[@rezixful]

I just wish the good single malt stuff was more affordable :/

[@TheRotgutReview]

That is the biggest problem, and the tariffs and supply chain issues of the past few years have not helped.

[@rezixful]

@@TheRotgutReview Part of the reason why a lot of people just can't get into the world of whiskey. The cheaper options with Scotch such as Johnny walker's red (and black to a certain extent) with the occasional Jameson (I know it's Irish, but so many people I know compare it to scotch lol) don't tell half the tale and it's super sad. No shade thrown at these whiskeys btw. It's just that you start craving different notes and flavors as you explore more and more, but the price tags are just brutal for someone who's still on the lookout for their "match". Small sample sizes need to be a more popular thing worldwide!

[@DavesLittleBits]

Mine is a similar story to your girlfriends, I wasn't too fussed about the fruity scotches, but as soon as I tried a peated scotch I fell in love.

[@TheRotgutReview]

It certainly does happen, it might not be the most common, but I've seen plenty of folks fall in love with peat straight away.

[@EoinDineen]

You went through about 6 different accents at the beginning 😂

[@TheRotgutReview]

Isn't that how the Scottish accent works? It's like 6 different accents all mashed together!

[@staguar]

What would get me to try Scotch (as a bourbon or Irish whiskey drinker): not tasting like it was filtered through a used ashtray

[@TheRotgutReview]

Haha, fair enough. You might like that Glen Moray or Auchentoshan, they aren't smokey in the least.

[@onggia850]

Try Speyside Scotches. They are not "smoky" and usually don't have the sulfur taste/smell. Speysides like Glenlivet or Glenfiddich are good places to start.

[@grouchypseudopod354]

I was really hoping that accent went through the whole video.

[@TheRotgutReview]

Oh god no, first, I definitely couldn't keep it up. And two, I think people would get very annoyed by my idiocy.

[@sanjeevdas5610]

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