How on earth do you choose a scotch when there are over 150 scotch whisky distilleries, and countless blends, plus independent bottlings, age statements, vintages, cask finishes, peated… In fact, if I listed the seemingly countless variations I’d probably bust my word count. Despite this, people often think of scotch whisky as coming in one or (maybe) two styles; peated or sherry. The problem is people might try one or the other of these types and think scotch isn’t for them, not realising they’re just two options on a potentially endless menu.
It’s easy to try a Johnnie Walker Black and if smoke isn’t your thing, think scotch isn’t for you. Or your friend breaks out their favourite single cask, cask strength bottle and the ABV is so high all you notice is the alcohol burn. I know a lot about whisky and even I find it overwhelming sometimes. So what do you do if you’re a scotch whisky beginner, or even a seasoned fan of a different type of whiskey/bourbon looking to explore more scotch? I decided to reach out to four experts across the industry to find out their beginner’s scotch recommendations.
What Makes a Good Beginner’s Scotch?
Before we get started let’s quickly discuss what makes a good scotch for newbies. I asked the experts to think about accessibility, flavor balance, and approachability for new drinkers. For example, I once tried the most incredible single cask Craigellachi, but while I would recommend it, I wouldn’t suggest it as a beginner’s scotch given the difficulty of finding it and the price: not everyone is happy to spend $200 dollars on a bottle they might not like.
This is also where bars come in handy. While they might not be the cheapest option per measure, a bar with a well stocked whisky shelf can be a great way to try different styles without having to buy a full bottle.
Beginner’s Guide To Scotch: 4 Expert Picks
These four choices will help you take first steps in discovering a taste for Scotch.
For our first introduction to scotch Sebastian (Seb) Drignes, co-founder of independent bottler Wu Dram Clan has taken us to the heart of Speyside. He’s chosen the award winning GlenAllachie 12 year old, a single malt scotch whisky that offers newcomers an ideal entry point by perfectly combining complexity and accessibility.
“GlenAllachie 12 is ideal for beginners who want to explore richer styles of single malt without heavy peat or high alcohol content,” Seb explained his choice to me over email. “It is also a great fit for whisky lovers who enjoy a balanced dram with depth and character that is still very approachable.”
The GlenAllachie 12 year old matures in a mix of ex-bourbon, Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, which creates a sweet and accessibly complex whisky that is easy to enjoy without overwhelming the palate. It’s bottled at 46% which is low enough to not be overpowering but strong enough to allow you to experiment.
When you’re starting out with scotch whisky it can be fun to experiment with water—rather than going straight for the ice. Adding a few drops of water can allow you to really explore and control how the flavour changes with the proof. “A small splash of water can open up more of the fruity and spicy layers if desired,” Seb explained.
Overall GlenAllachie 12’s combination of accessibility and complexity makes it a smart choice for those ready to explore deeper flavours without getting overwhelmed by heavily peated malts.
Next I spoke to James Philips and his choice is ideal if you’ve been intrigued by smoke whiskies and want to take a small next step. Philips has over 15 years experience across the wine, beer and spirits industry and is the spirits buyer for London wine merchant, Jeroboams, making him perfectly placed to explore a huge varieties of whiskies from across Scotland. Unsurprisingly given his background, Philips has chosen something a little more unusual: The Draam from Isle of Raasay distillery, a relatively new distillery that was established in 2017.
“Raasay’s flagship malt, The Draam, has been carefully crafted to be a delicious, flavoursome contemporary take on an old style Hebridean dram, with an appropriately playful name to boot,” Philips explained his selection to me over email. “The Draam shows a fantastic balance of richness and drinkability, with lots of dark fruit flavour, biscuity malt, honey and dried fruits, underpinned by some beautifully soft and fragrant peat smoke.”
Peat and smokey flavours can be divisive and if you’re on the fence about them diving straight into a heavily peated scotch can be a bit intense. But it’s important to realise that not all peated whisky is the same. It’s not just down to the intensity of smoke either, the type of peat used contributes different flavours to the final drop.
Raasay is the island neighbour to Talisker, and Philips likens The Draam to it and its more distant cousin, Highland Park. “I’d suggest this for those who like Highland Park or Talisker, or even fans of Oban 14 Year Old but anyone new to scotch who would like to ease gently into the world of peat. In my experience, it is a fantastic all-rounder sure to please all whisky fans.”
Tilo Schnabel, AKA The Caskhound, is known for his meticulous cask selection and releases batch bottlings with unique flavor profiles under his independent label. I reached out to him over email to discuss his recommendations for beginners.
“I think Loch Lomond’s Inchmurin 12 Year Old is ideal for those who prefer a milder yet complex flavor, without being too heavy or overly intense. That also makes it a great fit for whisky beginners who want to slowly get used to more versatile whiskies.”
Loch Lomond is a highland distillery and Inchmurin is their lightly peated expression. The whiskies are typically soft and fruity with Inchmurin having light smoke characteristics that are ideal for beginners.
“Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 year old has the fruity and sweet elements of typical Loch Lomond whisky, with subtle notes of peach, apricot, toffee, and vanilla. It’s matured in three types of American oak casks, which makes it particularly interesting to me.”
Tilo’s selection would be ideal for anyone looking to discover an approachable yet characterful whisky that is suitable for everyday drinking or special occasions.
Finally, Carsten Ehrlich, Owner of The Whisky Agency, went straight in at the deep end with his suggestion of Lagavulin 16 Year old. For good reason, Lagavulin 16 is one of Scotland’s most well known whiskies, but in Ehrlich’s own words to me over email, “this is one to take your time with; it’s definitely not a light whisky but give it space on your palate and in the glass and I guarantee it‘s a game changer.”
I would agree that Lagavulin 16 is a right of passage for anyone exploring scotch. It’s widely available and well priced, and you can probably get a dram in your local bar if you’re not sure about a whole bottle. Even if you’re not sure about peat, the complexity and layers of flavour in the Lagavulin are really something to experience. Just remember to take your time.
“Certainly the peat smokiness is not everyone`s cup of tea, especially when you`re not (yet) used to such kinds of flavours, but it is so massive and rich, it offers density, sweetness, coastal and oily notes (kippers), earthy and mineral aromas, but at the same time a significant sweetness from the sherry cask maturation that perfectly balance the smokiness.”
Your Scotch Journey
Regardless of whether you’re a complete beginner to scotch whisky or looking to explore beyond more generic blends, my biggest recommendation is to keep trying and don’t be afraid to ask. There are so many incredible scotch whiskies out there to explore with amazing variation in flavours and styles.
If you’re not sure about smoke, start with something lightly peated like the Loch Lomand or Isle of Raasay. If you’re coming across from bourbon then something combining bourbon cask finishes with deeper sherry, like the GlenAllachie 12 can ease you into the single malt profile. And of course, if you are comfortable to just dive in at the deep end; Lagavulin 16 is an icon for a reason.