Single Malt on the Cheap

So originally, I was a bourbon drinker and Dad was a scotch drinker, and just after my brother came of age, he told us about a program he saw where the host suggested buying a sampler called “Classic Malts of Scotland.” Each had a little 5cl bottle of Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Lagavulin, Oban, and Talisker. In the end, my brother and I bought Dad two of these. I discovered Dalwhinnie and after a waiting a couple of years, I’ve had them both. The reason this person said this was a good set was you could taste different ones without having to drop a few C notes, decide which one you liked, then look on the map (included) to see what region it came from and then try different ones from that region. It’s a good idea and nice way to start.

Sure, I tried blended scotches. I’ve had Johnny Walker Red, Black, and Blue and was shocked at the last one’s price. One roommate bought a bottle of Dewar’s White Label which took a long time to find it’s end. Then there was one roommate’s mother who bought us a bottle of Ballantine’s Finest, which ended up with the dubious fate of being fodder for Boilermakers. Needless to say, blended scotch isn’t a particular favorite of mine and I have never purchased a bottle personally.

But I digress. As time went on, I tried others like Auchentoshan and Aberlour, mostly because other people both them. Fifty plus dollar bottles of scotch are way out of my range to buy “just to try.” And going to bars with good selections and ordering different ones can be equally expensive. I figured if every time I had a desire for a Dalwhinnie, I put ten bucks in a jar, I could buy myself my own bottles which would last a whole lot longer. This I did and continue to do, but as time went on, I wanted to expand my horizons. Enter, the new strategy.

I try to keep my eyes out for tastings and flights. My biggest problem with tastings is 1) sometimes they are still outside my meager budget and 2) they are often when I have other things planned. Ah the life of the busy drunkard poet. In any case, if I can find a good flight (and if you know of one in the Boston area, let me know) that is usually more convenient since I can usually get someplace around my schedule. Two that are out near my area is Legal Seafoods and Gargoyles on the Square. The Legal one changes from time to time, and sometimes they don’t have one at all for single malt scotch. You’ll just have to go, but it consists of three one-ounce samples for about $13. Gargoyles on the Square has one consisting of Laphroaig, Glenlivet, and Glenmorangie for $20.

The mainstay of my new strategy has been nips samplers. I’ve tried two I found at Downtown Liquors in Somerville. One was the Glenfiddich Reserve Collection (a 12, 15, and 18 year). The other is a Balvenie (a 12, 15, and 21). The nip bottles are good since there is a pretty decent range of workhorse to mid-level scotches out there and they are a relatively inexpensive way of trying different ones out. Unless of course, you’ve got a well-heeled friend who likes to buy you expensive drinks. Plus, in some of these sets you can get a taste of something a bit higher up the food chain.

Shall I Expand My Horizons and Empty My Wallet

I fear that the sad state of my personal store grows by the passing day. Recently, I admitted to a good friend near Asheville that my house lacked bourbon and the only scotch left was a terrible bottle of the cheapest stuff known to Man and only enough of the bottle of Dalwhinnie that Pankaj gave me last year to coat my mouth. Breaking down at my last paycheck I bought a 200ml bottle of Caol Ila to try out, and noticed in my searches that there was a bottle of Suntory Yamazaki 12-year Single Malt whispering to me from out of the mist. And so I'm faced with either being responsible and resist or breakdown and return for it as a birthday present to myself.