Pickering Angels

Single malts to the left and Blended scotch to the right. Which side are you on?

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C

Ceiling Cat

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I find single malted scotch to be more expensive but not as satisfying to me than blended scotch. I prefer Chivas Regal over Johnny Walker black label even though JW black is much more expensive. Is the trend to drink single male scotch just pretentiousness and elitism?

The definition of single malt scotch is that it must be made from 100% malted barley and produced by a single distillery. Blended Scotch is made from a blend of malt whiskies from different distilleries combined with more neutral grain whiskey, which is usually made from wheat, rye or unmalted barley. How is a scotch better if you are restricted to using product from a single distillery, and how is it for a scotch to be inferior when it can be blended with a diversity of products to enhance it and give it character it may lack?
 
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papasmerf

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in theory the single malt is a more consistent Scotch.

Myself I like Dimple Pinch.
 
T

trm

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Apr 8, 2009
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Both have their good points, and the single malts are more expensive. My favorite single malt is Glenkinchie. If you want an excellent blended scotch, try The Famous Grouse. Blended scotches include some single malts. The label on my bottle of The Famous Grouse says that its blend includes The Macallan and Highland Park, two fine single malts. Try it.
 
H

Hangman

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It all tastes the same once you put it in the freezer snd mix it with Mountain Dew.
 
B

blackrock13

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Singles over blended generally, but I won't turn either down easily. As I understand it, when the quality of the malt grown in a season is top notch more single malt will be produced. if there is something wanting is the malt grain it's easier to hide in a blend. Much of the grain that is grown around the Dalwhinnie facility goes into Johnny Walker.

CC, it's not a case of being better, worse or inferior, just different, and that you know, as a consumer, where the ingredients come from, should you care. The water used is just as important as the grain. Distilleries literally across the street fro each other can have distinct tastes because they have different water sources/characteristics as they have different soil characteristics.

The blends are harder to make the same way every times as the grains vary from year to year. The extra expense comes from the rarity factor. The forty year old McCallum is so expensive because out of a 1000 barrels of a production run, if exceptional, single digit barrels will be designated for extra long maturation. I suspect it's not for profits as much as it it is for bragging rights and offering those who like the extra old Scotches; not me generally.
 
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Boss Nass

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Jun 7, 2002
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Hopefully with my face in a pussy
I enjoy blends and single malts, finding that blends, as a general rule, have more flavour, single malts have more of what you might call an 'essence', something sort of indefinable, at least to me. There are some single malts from some areas that have all the tongue wrestling flavour of a rough blend, and I like them too. As far as what single malts I enjoy, I would say anything but the one Canadian example, Glen Breton. I think it has a rather plastic taste, not to my liking. This may change as it gets older, or as their vats and/or process matures.

For single malts I like anything by Glen Morangie, which is reputed to be the most popular scotch in Scotland. The reason they have long remained a rather small and unfamiliar distillery has to do with their economics; they refuse to sell their product for use in blends, therefore they don't make as much money as others, therefore they don't have as much money for advertising. But it's good stuff.

For blends I enjoy Grant's, a lot of flavour and at a good price. Teacher's is perhaps the worst blend, at least in my opinion. Just never have enjoyed it. Decades ago (I'm dating myself here) the LCBO sold its own blend at a low price, and according to many it compared very favourably with brand names. I don't think they've had it in over twenty years, but it would be interesting to try. I wasn't into scotch at the time, so it's an unknown quantity to me.

Sláinte!
 
R

redwine109

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Scotch preference, like wine has no "right" answer. Depends on the mood, weather, company, time of day. I prefer a range of single malts from light (Dalwhinie) to heavy (Oban). But I also like blended, especially when mixing with a little water, or if trying to be good, a little soda. However, my best of both is the Johnny Walker Double Black, which at duty free, coming back into Canada is $44 a litre. This is a great, smokey blended scotch that is best neat, great with one ice cube, and can stand up to water or soda. My current go to scotch.
 
D

danmand

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Nov 28, 2003
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papasmerf said:
Myself I like Dimple Pinch.
Click to expand...
F@#K, there is something Papa and I agree on.

PS: Ballentine, which is a cheaper version of Dimple, will also do.
 
LadyTY2Uall

LadyTY2Uall

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I have a bottle of Highland Park, Glenlivet and Chivas Regal on hand to offer to guests,,,,the Chivas Regal is the one I have to replace the most often.
 
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BottomsUp

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There was a bottle of 64 year old Macallan auctioned at Southeby's a couple of years ago for $460k. Guess the buyer was partial to macallan, which is my favourite in the single malt category. Love Hart bros. as well. But for day to day pick me up I usually drink Grants...sometimes Chivas, Ballantynes of J&B. Drunkest I ever got was a time when 2 friends and myself drank a full bottle of JW blue straight in about 45 minutes. I'd buy it once in a while if not for the price. Getting thirsty...time for a Grants.
 
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