My Guide to Cheap Scotch

If you're looking for a review of Glenfiddich, this is the wrong place (though that's very good stuff and I suggest you try it if you can afford to do so).

One more note: I won't be using foo-foo terms like "smokey" or discuss "bite." Whenever I talk to people who drink one variety of whiskey (e.g. the Irish kind) they'll say they don't like the "bite" of the other kind (e.g. scotch). Oddly enough, the opposing camp says the same thing. I like Irish whiskey and scotch, and I think terms like "bite" are just a fancy way to say "I don't like that stuff."

Ballantine's
This is on the upper end of "cheap scotch" (price wise). It tastes distinctly better than turpentine (which I'd consider as an alternative to some of the scotches on this page). Unfortunately, this is not enough to earn it my recommendation.

Duggan's Dew
My indelicate palate was unable to distinguish between this and paint thinner. The fact that my teeth retain some enamel is all that can convince me it was, in fact, scotch.

Clan MacGregor
This is a bit harsh, but I like harshness in a scotch. This is my preferred scotch of this calibur, and is the least expensive on the list. I would probably buy it exclusively if it didn't start coming in a plastic bottle, which does a wonderful job of inspiring dismay in the picky scotch buyer.

Cluny
My first night with Cluny left me with a headache. In fairness, it could simply be that I was dehydrated and the headache wasn't related to this blended scotch --aged for three whole years. I'm going to show you what a liar I am, and employ the word "smokey" to describe this scotch. I don't like drinking smoke, and this one definitely had a smokey taste (though not nearly so smokey as something like Laphroaig). That aside, it tasted more like a bourbon or Tennesee whisky than scotch I prefer to drink.

MacTays(yes, the bottle says "MacTays" and not "MacTay's")
This was not a bad change, and I will probably get it again. One concern I had was its gold cap. My brother has a superstition that plastic gold caps mean the bottle contents will make you sick, but I didn't get sick or have any abnormal or unpleasant experiences with MacTays. The taste was much like what I expect from a blended scotch, and not too much in any one direction. Though I still prefer Clan MacGregor, I find this an acceptable alternative and probably would not be disappointed to find a store out of MacGregor if MacTays were in stock.

Old Smuggler
I've found the Old Smuggler a good scotch for its price. For some reason I can't explain, though, I can't drink much of it or I end up with a hangover. Since basically nothing else on earth does this to me except cigarette smoke I find myself tending away from it. It's probably just me, though. ADDENDUM: my father has had trouble with multiple servings of this scotch. He said that, to him, the taste declines to the point that it's undrinkable after two.

Scoresby
One day when the local market's supply of everything else in my price range was low (read that as "empty") I got a bottle of Scoresby. I did not enjoy it, and have never gotten it again.

Tartan Royal
I don't have much to say about this, unfortunately. I know I've had it, but can't remember it at all. My guess is that I didn't like it because I never bought it again.

Old Smuggler is also a good choice, though you may pay in the morning.

Scoresby is an inexpensive, unpleasant, but drinkable third choice.

Beware other choices.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page