Well, this is me confessing to buying into the single malt craze and really being humbled by how great the blended scotch's can be. This realization came about as a challenge by a friend. At a recent poker game we were discussing the merits of several single malts. One friend noted that the blends (IHHO) were much better due to the complexity of taste. We all suggested that he was insane and that the single malts were far superior. He suggested both a bet and challenge.

The Challenge: We would all ante up $25.00 ($150) for the purchase of a couple bottles of blended scotch whiskey's to compare to a couple of single malts. I and two friends could choose anyone of our private stock of single malts to bring to the tasting which would take place at our next poker game. The single malts that were chosen for the tasting were: THE DALEMORE CIGAR MALT, THE MACALLAN 18 YEAR OLD, THE GLENLIVET 18 YEAR OLD, THE AUCHENTOSHAN SELECT.

We discovered at the end of the tasting that the blends were: The Ballantine's 17 Year old, The Bell's 8,year old, The Dewars 18 Year old - Founders Reserve and Chivas Regal.

The Bet in Two Stages:

The First Stage, That the majority of the tasters couldn't distinguish between the single malts and the blends.

The Second Stage: The blends would score equal or higher than the single malts.

If we lost the bet-we would have to admit on this site that we were ignorant about Scotch, bought into the single malt marketing and essentially loser's. If he lost-he would have to purchase the next two bottles of scotch for the next game.

Needless to say, I'm a Loser, I have no taste and have been duped by Madison Ave.

The majority of my colleagues (4 of 6) couldn't determine the singles from the blends. The Blends scored equal to the singles when scored.

Ahhh! I'm such a Loser! Are you satisfied Jay! I said loser three times.

Interesting game, thank's for sharing even though you lost your bet. I think that often times regardless of what the product is, the "lesser quality" choice can be the best.

Dewers 18 and Chivas are excellent scotches. I would take them over The Glenlivit any day.

Single malt scotches have certain advantages over blends.

Single malts are more area specific. Most Islay malt scotches have a smokey, peaty flavor.

Speyside malts are much less smokey.

Highland and Lowland are also quite different with Highland having more iodine flavor.

I am certain that if run again with one each of all the single malts (I believe there are 5 in all) then a tasting of several different blended scotches (I believe there about a million) Then run single malts against blends again you might actually be able to taste the difference.

I had a hard time telling the difference between 12 year old, 15 year old and 18 year old Bowmore (but I was easily able to tell the difference between 12 and 18) and I am not certain I would spend the money for the 18 year old again.

Try giving your friends some premium machine rolled cigars and see if they can tell them apart from premium hand rolled (Give them each an AyC Grenidere, a Robt. Burns Black Watch, a Don Carlos Robusto and a PSD4) see if they can tell the difference between cheapest, cheap, great and great Cuban)

quote:

Originally posted by Sloburn:

Needless to say, I'm a Loser, I have no taste and have been duped by Madison Ave.

The majority of my colleagues (4 of 6) couldn't determine the singles from the blends. The Blends scored equal to the singles when scored.

Are you kidding? Single malts are easily distinguished from blends.

Even Johnnie Walker does a free tasting (you can find them everywhere) to show you how different each component of their blends are...and they are all significantly different.

To be fair, you guys picked some of the smoothest and most neutral single malts around.

All you really proved in your bet is that you and your friends prefer blended scotch. Next time compare Talisker to anything blended and the difference will hit you in the face like a boot.

I have a good friend from Edinburgh Scotland who assisted in my education in single malts when I visited him there. However he drinks Famous Grouse, a blend, for his "everyday scotch"

Blends can be very good IMHO or not.

quote:

Originally posted by SAXON9075:
I have a good friend from Edinburgh Scotland who assisted in my education in single malts when I visited him there. However he drinks Famous Grouse, a blend, for his "everyday scotch"

Blends can be very good IMHO or not.

I must say that I agree with your friend S9075, as I am just finishing a glass of Famous Grouse on the back porch while smoking my evening cigar. I think Famous Grouse is probably one of the best blends for the price out there. I had never tried it until I started reading the W.E.B. Griffin books and he makes several references to Famous Grouse in his books. This is my go-to Scotch.

I would take Famous Grouse over most other blends...with the exception of JW Blue

Young Herfer_

I saw the references too in W.E.B. Griffin's books but nevertried it until my friend told me he drank it regularly.

For some reason I have never found it at a bar or resturant.

Famous Grouse was recommended to me as my first bottle of Scotch about 6 months ago. I liked it a lot and finished it in about two months. Now after tasting some of the other brands, both single and blend, I will have to go back to FG to see if it is still as I remembered it.

quote:

W.E.B. Griffin

Is one of my favorite authors, but I haven't tasted Famous Grouse yet. I now may only drink very limited amounts of booze, so a bottle Genlivit 18 last me forver. Over the years, I have tried every Scotch, that I have seen or heard of and keep coming back to Glenlivit 18. I must admit to secretly liking Highland Mist.

MacCallan 18 is very good

Just to continue this thread hijack, just got some famous grouse this weekend and I've been very impressed. Great value for the price and a quality scotch to boot.

which grouse? regular, 12 or 18?

The regular. As far as I can tell there isn't that much difference between the reg and the more aged stuff, and definitely not enough to justify the price jump...