Help with Scotch/Whiskey for Groomsmen Gifts???

Question

Getting married at the end of next month and I'd like to buy my groomsmen a bottle of either scotch or whiskey. Can anyone recommend some great scotches or whiskey and stores around the city to get them. I'd like for the choice to be somewhat unique/rare as none of the guys are from the area. So, McAllen or other brand name scotches/whiskies won't do. Anything under $100/bottle works.

I realize this is a fairly open ended questions and everyone has their own tastes in scotches/whiskies, but I was hoping to get a little help from the experts.

Thanks.

Answer

flieshman's whiskey or a simple single malt something like Glenleviet or Glenfiddish that will cater to a broader group

Answer

It sounds like you are asking for something that will be appealing to people who are perhaps not huge Scotch afficianados and something a little different than you would find in a run of the mill bar. Based on those assumptions, I would recommend Highland Park which is a full-flavored Scotch but not too smoky. Lagavulin, as was suggested by small h, is an excellent malt, but is very smoky and might not appeal to everyone.

The ten year old HP should meet your needs just fine. Since I don't know what city you're in, I can't give you tips, but any premium liquor store should have it.

Answer

OP, do your groomsmen drink scotch, or is this simply a gift idea?

Answer

Here is a link to a long-running discussion on single-malts:

www.chowhound.com/topics/503721

Answer

I am partial lately to Balvenie. Though Macallan is fairly well-known, it's for a good reason. You may also want to try Aberlour--I've visited the distillery and it is wonderful. (It's a Speyside whisky--when you are talking scotch, you leave out the "e.")

Answer

Since this is an open ended question, I'll try to suggest some bottles that might be acceptable for everyone. 

As far as American Whiskey, you could go for a well known name and get something like Wild Turkey Rare Breed, which is around $40.00 here on the east coast. Or maybe something like Bookers, which is $60.00. Or if you can find it, maybe Pappy Van Winkle's 20yr Family Reserve, at around $100.00. I hear nothing but great things about this last bourbon. 

As far as Scotch, it might be a little risky to give everyone an Islay. They are pretty strong in peat/smoke flavor. I would maybe lean more towards an aged Speyside. But if everyone is Scotch drinkers then, absolutely go with the Lagavulin. 

But maybe something more like Glenlivet 18, Glenfiddich 18, Glenfarclas 17, or one of my favorites; Balvenie Sherry Wood 17 year.

Answer

If you really want rare,hard to find or ltd 1 keg/cask bottlings try THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY.I just received the members summer sale bottling list.It is pricey,
on past lists most are not so dear in $$$$.Now the dollar is sooooooo weak to the 
EURO and #Sterling.

1 800 990 1991 or www.smwsa.com CONGRATULATIONS !!!

Answer

id personally go irish and get one (or 2, depending on how many groomsmen) bottles of rare middleton or similar, then present each groomsman with a beautiful, "formal," pewter flask, perhaps with knotwork, then you can all fill up your flasks from the same bottle, ahh, lads! after the whiskey is gone, the flasks will be cherished for formal occasions: weddings and funerals and christenings and cookouts. . . you get the idea. every time your groomsman tucks it in or out of his breast pocket, he'll think of you, brotherhood, the occasion of your wedding, blah blah blah.

scotch is very personal, some may like the mellowness of a dalmore and some prefer the peatiness of laphroaig. it's not something i would pick out for another person unless i knew a lot about their palate and drinking custom. i'd even go with a great & rare american bourbon over trying to select a scotch for any other person. i think that going with an irish or american whiskey will ensure that your gift will be most appreciated by all. 
cheers & congrats.

Answer

After thinking about this more; here are two more ideas that would work really well. 

Scotch = Chivas Regal 18 Yr. I very good "light" scotch blend that "everyone" knows. 

Other Whiskey = Crown Royal Cask No. 16. I very "light" but smooth and tasty whiskey that everyone knows. 

I don't think you could go wrong with either of these. 

I also second the flask idea. A good looking flask with some knot work would be totally cool. :)

Answer

Just a practical point about silly gifts you have gotten in the past. If the groomsmen have to fly to NYC they may use carry-on and a bottle just won't work. Just a thought on your otherwise great idea.

Answer

If I were doing this and wanted it to be special, I would go for independent bottlers (such as MurrayMcDavid, Adelphi, Douglas Laing, Hart Brothers, etc) who do single cask bottlings that are different than the standard distillery offerings. Choose a different whisky for each person. They vary in price, but you should be able to get something under $100, and it will be unique. It may not be the best whisky - if you want that, simply go for something like Highland Park - but I don't think this is about just getting a good drinking whisky as much as a good gift. And these IB offerings are still often extremely good, and something that will be more memorable than a standard, readily available bottle.

Answer

If they are all scotch drinkers then the double wood Balvenie 15 year is tops in my opinion - it's finished in port wood casks so gives it the slighest hint of sweetness. 

 If they are more casual scotch/whisky drinkers then I'd recommend Oban, as it's a really good beginners scotch (and I don't mean that in a bad way, I love Oban too). I've had many people tell me they don't like scotch because it's too peaty, but Oban is much lighter.

For non-scotch whisky I've fallen in love with bourbon over the past few years. Old Rip Van Winkle (and the further aged Pappy van winkle) could be the way to go. I go through bottles of Old RVW ... well... let's just say faster than I should.

I'd highly recommend going out and doing some hands on "research" before you commit to just one. 

Just to be the voice of dissent here - I think the flask idea is a bad one. I have about four that I've received as groomsman gifts and used one of them, once.

Answer

Do you have to buy all of the same? Because you know that they all like scotch, but aren't certain what kind they like why not buy a variety. If they don't like what they got they can just swap. 

But if you do what all the same I would also suggest sticking with the Speyside. In my (limited) experience with scotch drinkers the dislike of a Speyside is not as great as the dislike of a Islay.

As a fan of The Balvenie I join those is suggesting the 12 yr or the 17 yr.

And another thought, have you considered going Japanese? Definitely would be unique or rare.

Answer

I would steer clear of the Islay scotches for novices, even though they're my favorite, they're not for everyone. You'll want to go with something more along the lines of and Arberlour or an Aberfeldy.Both are quite good and easy drinking, especially for someone that's not too into scotch. Acutally a better, more interesting pick, would be Old Pulteney. It's an easy drinking scotch with uniquely shaped bottle.
Other possiblilites: (excuse the spelling if incorrect)
Glennmoranngie
Balvenie
Highland Park
Auchentouchen

Here's a link to help you get reivews.
http://www.whiskymag.com/whisky/

Answer

If they like smoky, Caol Ila's 12 year old is a great buy for scotch novices. Very smooth as well. Another option would be any from the Compass Box blended scotches series. I think the most inexpensive of the bunch is called Asyla

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Help with Scotch/Whiskey for Groomsmen Gifts???

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