With the exception of the Black Label, the Monkey Shoulder is significantly cheaper than all the others in mainland Europe. Definitely a big reason why the latter is such a popular pick as a starter whisky
Glenfiddich 12 you can find for a very sharp price in Belgian supermarkets. Definitely cheaper than monkey shoulder (But I agree with your point in general).
@@karl-benediktbecker901 Belgian supermarkets generally don't carry Monkey Shoulder, but Drankgigant has it at €27. Glenfiddich checks in at €32, and supermarkets will charge a few euros extra to make a profit. So no, you will not find Glenfiddich at a cheaper price than Monkey Shoulder
Yeah it’s definitely a regional thing, in my country, monkey shoulder is cheaper than all the other whiskeys by a lot (not the JW black around the same price) Americans tend to forget other counties exist
Great list Bill! I agree with all your suggestions. I had the task of hosting a whisky tasting recently at work with a bunch of people who hadn’t drunk much scotch. Here’s what I chose: -Glenmorangie 10 as a light base whisky -Aberlour 12 to introduce them to a sherried whisky -Laphroaig 10 as a smoky option. It was an interesting night and fascinating to see which bottles connected with each person. Some people didn’t like any of the bottles except the Laphroaig and then others were the opposite. But they were amazed to learn how whisky can taste so different.
Monkey Shoulder is still the cheapest of these options (significantly cheaper than many listed). Monkey Shoulder is just great for that reason. Approachable ABV, pleasant flavor profile and definitely affordable. These are great options if someone is offering you a taste though.
My first intro to Scotch was Monkey Shoulder in cocktails, Glenfidich 12 was the first single malt I ever bought. Coming from beer and wine, the biggest obstacle was learning to just sip on the ABV levels of distilled spirits.Bunnahabhain 12 and Old Pultney 12 were the first single malts that convinced me I could get used to Scotch whiskies 😌🥃 great list. Definitely agree about the Classic Laddie and Highland Park 12. They’re great intro whiskeys
Monkey Shoulder was my first Scotch based on the recommendation of Daniel & Rex. Good stuff. But my suggestion for a beginner Scotch is Buchanan's Deluxe 12 year. It's inexpensive, it's got a great mouth feel, and it has sweet but also a smokey/ashy thing going on.
I have currently open , the Buchaladdie and Talisker storm , both very interesting tastes. I did start on Glenfidach 10 years old and still enjoy it. Staying in the Highlands , usually once a year I'll tour round the speyside area on my motorbike, only a couple of hrs from my home, matching up the distilleries to bottles I have tried , and looking for any I've missed.
Glen Moray all the way! You can explore wide variety of cask finishes as well as ordinary single malt and even age statements without a sweat of breaking a bank in a slightest. And to be honest it tastes better than many 3-4 times more expensive alternatives.
I am 100% on board with that suggestion. Glen Moray hits right down home plate and is inoffensive. I would add that McClelland's Islay is a good gateway to peat since it is Bowmore at a younger age and you can find it right in line with Glen Moray's pricing.
A great list. Monkey shoulder has gone up in price here and is as much or more expensive as most on this list. Kind of crazy. My suggestion would be Bowmore 12. An introduction to peat that won’t overwhelm the beginner and is just very enjoyable.
I thought about putting Bowmore 12 on the list but only had a bottle of the 15 on my shelf. Haven't had the 12 in a while so didn't feel right recommending it
A very nice list. For many years I thought I didn't like Scotch based on people trying to get me to like it by offering me Glenfiddich 12. Glenmorangie 10 is the Scotch that opened my eyes to sweet, approachable whisky. I discovered that I actually love good Scotch, I just don't like Glenfiddich. I introduced my daughter to Scotch with Glenmorangie 10, she loves it. I have since moved on to more complex Scotches, Islay's are my current favorites, but I will always have Glenmorangie 10 in the cabinet. Also, Bruichladdich is making some amazing whiskey, and their Classic Laddie is wonderful.
The first Scotch I bought was Black Label, however after that I wanted to try a fancier Scotch to tell the difference. That fancier Scotch ended up being Laphroig 10. I'm super glad for that because it showed me that whiskey could be amazing and I've gone down the rabbit hole since then. Laphroig 10 is still my favorite!
Far too many years ago as a young soldier Black Label was also my gateway. I usually have Powers Gold label as my daily sipper. Will try Glen Grant if I come across it.
My starter list (in no particular order) was Glenlivet 12, Glenmorangie 10, Balvenie doublewood, and Laphroiag. Why were they my starters? Because they were commonly findable at bars. The Laphroiag came earlier in my experience than I was ready for, but I enjoy it now.
Glenmorangie 10 I think is significantly better as an entry level whisky. I thought Monkey Shoulder was boring as hell when I first tried it but Glen 10 really sold me on it, as well as the Glenfiddich 14.
The briny taste is there but way in the back its easier to pick up in the 18 , if you get into some briny scotches then come back youll notice it i would suggest Old Pulteny
My first ones were Glenmorangie 10, JW Black, Glenfiddich 12, Monkey Shoulder. I'd put MS tied with the JW for last of the group. Liked both, but not anything I'd rebuy.
We are very fortunate to be in an age where there are so many great scotches available at reasonable prices to enjoy. Stranded on a desert island with a case of any of these would make me a very happy and sunburned guy.
IMO there are no “starter whiskies,” there are only good whiskies and bad whiskies and expensive whiskies and cheap whiskies. Any cheap, good whisky is fine to start with.
I drink JW black on vacation. But monkey shoulder being a blended single malt whisky is a hitter. And sherry and port is always the way to go with scotch!! Enjoy!!
my advice would be to save a lot of money and get to know the cheaper blends of scotch : if you cannot tell the difference between, say Johnnie Walker Red, Bells and Whyte & Mackay - blind tasting then forget it - learn your local supermarket blends and single malts - once you get used to it then get ready to splash out on some decent single malts and blends over 12 years - no point spending loads of cash on stuff you really don't know - start with the basics and when you know the differences move into higher cost scotch
This is a very good starter list. i would not include the JWB. it doesn't stand alone well but that is just my humble opinion. my first taste was the Glenfiddich 12 and it's still one of my favorites
All great picks! I do have to point out that they're all more expensive than the Monkey Shoulder, at least here in Finland where alcohol is already way too expensive. Here are the prices for all of them for comparison: Monkey Shoulder: 39.99€ Glenmorangie 10: 51.90€ Johnnie Walker Black: 43.97€ Glenfiddich 12: 49.95€ Balvenie 12: 71.50€ Highland Park 12: 50.99€ Glen Grant 12: Not available Bruichladdich: 68,49€
Excellent list; I totally agree with every one of the Scotches on it. You asked what else I’d put on the list, and I have two: first is the Naked Grouse, which is very similar to Monkey Shoulder, a blended malt that is tasty and inexpensive. I personally prefer it to Monkey Shoulder, and it is what I offer to people I want to introduce Scotch to. Second is Johnnie Walker Green Label, a 15 year age statement blended malt. It sells out quickly, but in my area (the ATL) it’s $49 pre-tax, not much more than JW Black Label, less than some of those on your list, and is very tasty.
Agree- JW Green is fantastic for the price. To me Glen Livet 12 yr is the best value out there (although the price has been creeping up steadily where I live (Charlotte, NC area). But my second choice is JW Green all day long.
Nice job! I agree with your alternatives to MS 100%. Of course I also love MS because it’s an easy scotch, single malt, and easy on the wallet. Most of the offerings you recommended are north of $50 (here in Florida). So if price is a serious consideration, I would go with the JW Black. It’s a blend like MS but it does offer that hint of smoke that makes it a bit more interesting than MS at a lower price point ($30 here).
MS is not a single malt, it's a blended malt. I also am in FL, and at least in my area, most liquor stores have an absolute crap selection of scotch. Store owners tell me it's just not that popular and they won't give up the shelf space for things that don't sell. Islay scotch is almost impossible to find. Luckily, FL is one of the few states that allows liquor to be shipped here from other states, so I buy almost all of my scotch online. You can find some really great prices in other states.
Glenmorangie was my first and, as a bourbon drinker, it was a good choice. My next was Benromach 10 and I enjoyed that too. My next was The English Smokey, which was a good intro to smokier Scotch.
Good job Bill. Dropping JW red is certainly the correct choice. To me Compass Box Artist Blend is a better choice than monkey shoulder to start as it is too malty for many people I have found. Cheers
The Balvenie is an excellent starter. It’s delicious and the Sherry influence is great. I always have it neat. It’s also a good transition Scotch for a bourbon drinker. I use the Monkey Shoulder for a mixer, most often in a Rusty Nail. I have the Highland Park on the shelf but have yet to try it. I’ve looked for quite a while for the Classic Laddie but have yet to find it. Great video, Bill!
I got the classic laddie after watching your review on it. It is astoundingly good, had it for about 5 months now. I ADORE it. It has everything I love about Islay minus the smoke, which is partly why I love it so much.
Agree that all of these are better whiskies, but I think a huge part of the draw for Monkey Shoulder is the price, which you don't really discuss here. Obviously it will vary by location, but where I live, Monkey Shoulder can be had for around $35, and the others are all around $50. Not a huge difference, and certainly worth it for those of us in the know, but a lot of novices might be put off by the idea of spending so much on something they're unsure of.
Nice list and nice video. I agree Monkey Shoulder ain't the best to start. To me its a bit too young/harsh for a beginners palate. I would also add Bunnahabhain 12. Its a good example of an integrity Scotch: 46%, Non-chill filtered, natural colored, aged stated, affordable, complex, and delicious.
Overall good video with some nice recommendations but a lot of these are not starter Scotches. Monkey Shoulder goes for ~$36 and The Balvenie goes for ~$75 here in Michigan. Over 2X is not an alternative starter Scotch. The Johnny Walker Black is a good recommendation at ~$37. Anyway I'd say these are good transition Scotches for someone looking to take a step beyond Monkey Shoulder. But even at transition The Balvenie is in the next price bracket.
I think that every bottle with the exception of the last one that I have not tried is basically pedestrian. And rather than go through them all individually describing how bland they are, I would recommend still the Monkey Shoulder over them. Two more would be Naked Grouse and Finlaggan Old Reserve. I've been on the hunt for more affordable scotch to drink on the rocks, maybe some water and these three are pretty good with the Finlaggan tasting above its paygrade, about thirty-three bucks here in Chicago. And they're not bad neat. Oh hell. let's throw Shackleton in the fray.
Hi, just picked up on your channel through this vlog and have subscribed. I think you have missed one real option as a "starter" whisky, Black Bottle. As a blend of malts it offers a decent flavour profile and whilst it has peated Islay malt as one of the constituent parts, it's not overly smoky. Black Bottle was the "hoose dram" of choice for my Father in Law and as such was my introduction to a decent dram. My own father was more of a Cameron Brig kinda lad, if any whisky made it as far as the hoose :) ...nuff said. As pointed out by some commenters below as well, price is a factor. Whilst here in Scotland, Black Bottle will be consistently under £20 per bottle, most of the others you have listed won't be (apart from Monkey Shoulder). Malts such as those you quoted fluctuate in price from the big four supermarkets by between £10 and £15 a bottle from week to week. Give it a try folks, as a go to whisky, it's not half bad! Kind Regards from Fife, Scotland. Rodger
Also those gift packs are a nice way to try some Scotch without buying a 750ml bottle. My 1st experience with Glenmorangie & Balvenie were with those gift packs and I had a small sample bottle of Glenfiddich 12 as I started trying Scotch as I was only into Bourbon at the time.
Same as with other people and other countries: here in Poland JW black and Monkey Shoulder are usually roughly the same price whereas all the remaining whiskys from this video are 2 to 2,5 the price of Monkey Shoulder. And I mean the regular price without any discounts that are much more common for Monkey Shoulder (or JW Black) than the other whiskys. The price difference is so huge that it's hard to consider all these whiskys an alternative to Monkey Shoulder. Not to mention that Monkey Shoulder is blended malt whisky (and JW black is blended scotch) while all the other recommendations are single malts - that's a different category of whisky.
As a long time single malt drinker from Scotland, I find all of these choices a bit depressing, apart from the Classic Laddie. The rest are chill filtered, watered down to 40%abv and I think also chill filtered. They are like castrated whisky to me. I feel like I am doing this journey in reverse. As supermarket scotch is for mass consumers here in Scotland, if after value and quality drinking experience I would opt for bourbon or rye every time. Buffalo Trace, bulleit bourbon and rye, Eagle Rare, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek offer better whisk(e)y introductions than that list IMO. I suppose what I am trying to say is that if a viewer becomes familiar with and enjoys a range of bourbons and rye with challenging flavours, they could be aiming a bit higher up the Scotch tree than those suggested. Perhaps Glenfarclas 10yo, Arran 10yo or if after a smokey experience Ledaig 10yo. (Caveat) I write this not knowing what availability of Scotch is like in North America.
"they are like castrated whisky to me" says the "long time single malt drinker from Scotland." Fair comment, but I don't think that "long time single malt drinkers from Scotland" were the target audience for this video! Just sayin'
@@Jolazo-Music thats fair enough, but the point I try to make is that I think that a long time bourbon or rye drinker need not think themselves the beginner to scotch that they think they are. I find plenty of challenging experiences in bourbon. The point is If I had an experienced bourbon drinking friend across to Scotland from the States who wished to try the local drink I would aim to have them experiencing drinks above those on this list.
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary its a good beginners list for those with no whisky experience whatsoever. I would say the Laddie stands above the others. Does starter whisky mean one for the novice of Scotch, or one for someone who has never sampled any whisk(e)y?
In a similar price range to Monkey shoulder I find naked grouse a little more interesting, less nuanced possibly but if you like a sherried whisky it punches above its price point.
Highland park is "salty" mainly because it comes from the Orkney Islands of the north coast of Scotland, "Monkey Shoulder" is an ailment that distillers get by turning the malts with a shovel, :D still tastes great
I've never understood why Monkey Shoulder gets the praise that it does. I bought a bottle back in 2018 (or thereabouts) and thought it was a pretty damn crappy product, to be honest. There are a million whiskies I'd rather drink. Yes, Monkey Shoulder is cheap, but if you pay a LITTLE bit more, you can get something MUCH better. That's what I think anyway. And I agree with the recommendations in the video here. Even Black Label and HP 12 (both of which have taken a dive in terms of quality, esp Black Label) are probably still going to be a better choice than Monkey Shoulder. I know I'd rather have them myself.
I started my scotch journey with Monkey Shoulder and wasn't impressed. I've had Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich and Glenlivet all of which I would pick over MS. I see I need to branch out and thanx for explaining why.
Basically most single malt scotches are simply better, ie. Glenfarclas 8, Tomatin Legacy which go for around the same price. Blended scotches are simply worse than single malts from my experience, have no idea how a blended scotch can cost as much as a single malt tbh, it is always a worse buy
Great list, personally I would upgrade Johnnie Walker Black to double black for a couple more bucks, GlenAllachie 12 , Deanston 12, Glen Scotia double , anything from Bruichladdich (Love that distillery exceptional value and quality I absolutely agree for 50% of alcohol drinks much easier). And last one I will add for affordable price and a great quality AnCnoc 12
Awesome list as usual Bill!!! And I happen to enjoy all the whiskies on the list depending on the mood😄 But thank you for adding Bruchladdies on the list because Bruichladdich is my favorite distillery!!! And Port Charlotte is my favorite peated whiskey! Thanks for all you do and expanding my palate! Cheers Bill!!😄
Like or Dislike: Like. Thank you, this list will come in handy -- although I would have also appreciated knowing which scotches have added color. There's something about Black Label's mouthfeel that I find too strongly evokes syrup, i.e. artificial.
I recently purchased the monkey shoulder and added part of it to my infinity bottle. This is weird that you have a video with it recently after I had it.
List should've be exclusively to blends. Of course most single malts will be better. For blends, Monkey Shoulder is damn near a perfect blend with mass appeal.
Price doesn't really come into the equation, if you don't like a particular style, you are not going to drink it however cheap it is. Johnny Walker black was probably my first experience of whiskey and not one I would go back to, almost put me off for good. My goto now is Glenmorangie 10, but I have also enjoyed the Balvenie double barrel and the Glenfiddich 12. I'm not a fan of the smokey and peaty whiskeys. And although Irish rather than Scottish the Bushmills 10 is also a nice smooth whisky.
Hey, I don‘t know if you can get your hands on it in the US but talking about salt with the highlandpark i can really recommend „Guglhof TauernRogg“ from Salzburg, Austria to you. I‘m from Germany and found this single malt by coincidence and am now ordering it ever since :D Love your work, wish you all the best!
Funny that you have the Glenfiddich and the Balvenie in here against the blended Monkey Shoulder. I have been testing and man... when you do so you can tell where the notes for Monkey Shoulder come from and it is SOOOO much less expensive to buy monkey shoulder. Black bottle is another blended Islays but hell at some point people need to put on their big boy pants and go find Lagavulin 16.
All good options…. I’ve drunk Scotch since 2010, 13 years and never tried Monkey Shoulder until last Christmas, I thought it was marketing hype and average corporate scotch, I was surprised and wrong, very fruity and good, similar to compass box, but not quite as good, 90% though, cheers🎉
With the exception of Glen Grant 12 and JW Black (neither of which I've ever tried) I can vouch for your list 100% and agree all of these are MUCH better than Monkey Shoulder (even if Glenfiddich 12 is only better because it's honest -- it is a component of MS, I believe) One thing that I always feel is missing from the "best scotch for beginner" videos is the personal care one has to take in showing people the true "ritual" of scotch drinking. At the risk of sounding like a snob (which perhaps I might be a wee bit of one...) to truly introduce a newbie to scotch drinking, it is more important (IMO) to show them how to nose, what glasses to use (ie: glencairn, not rocks), how not to "slam it down" like they do in the movies, how to roll the whisky over the tongue, etc. etc. i only say this because for the longest time I drank scotch with friends on camping trips: Glenfiddich 12 on ice in a plastic Solo cup gulped down after the third or fourth beer of the day. I can't say that I really "appreciated" it beyond the cool factor of drinking scotch. It wasn't until my brother-in-law took the time with me to discuss how nosing and tasting is done and the time you let it sit in the glass to breathe, etc. that I genuinely began to understand what this "scotch" thing was all about. Anyways (more than) enough said, perhaps, but your list is very good. I always like to start people off with Balvenie Double Wood (if I have it) or HP 12 (which I usually do have!)
JW Black is lightly smoked and flavourful, a nice blend. Still more expensive than MS where I live. This is a video about introductory scotch, so no, those here pushing Lagavulin 16 and Talisker 10 miss the point. Classic Laddie shouldn't be in this video, high ABV, that's too advanced for the beginner. Start with a blend like JWB or Chivas, then to single malts like Glenlivet 12, HP 12 Glenmorangie 10, then explore further.
Bill, your channel is awesome! I started my whiskey journey last year & your videos have helped me a ton!! Quick question - I recently tried JW double black & that is the first time I tasted smoke & I absolutely love it, what would u recommend as a next step into smoky whiskey? whatever u suggest, im going to go buy, lol. I trust your opinion, especially after buying Woodford Reserve & loving it.
Oh man. Talk about pressure! Ok... so, JW double black is a weird kind of smoke to me... and I have a bit of trouble remembering it... here's what I suggest. Talisker 10. It's just the right kind of smokey and salty maritime notes. It'll be good! Others to go to if you want to dive head in, Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig 10, and Lagavulin 16. My current favorite is Port Charlotte 10.
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary Wow that was quick! Thank you! I have a feeling i’ll get them all 😆 …. eventually - but ill start with the Talisker , cant wait to try it 👍 Looking forward to your next video, keep up the great work brother 😎🤙
Monkey Shoulder definitely has a funk to it that I personally am not a fan of and I'm also not the biggest fan of peated Scotch, so it's great to get suggestions on other options in the world of Scotch. Very intrigued to learn about the Bruichladdich Classic Laddie! Will have to keep an eye out for that one to try.
WOW!! This list is full of banging whisky. Love the selections here as well as the explanations behind them. Please don't get me started on the HP marketing. Ugh. For me I would say get the Glenfiddich 12; Balvenie 12 and JW Black to start for the reasons mentioned in the video AND they can be found easily in 375ml or smaller so 1 can start on these without breaking the bank. The Classic Laddie is a nay for me. Maybe if you're a white wine drinker ok but its finish riled me.
Gotta admit that white wine is a good place to start someone drinking wine though :) approachable. Anyway love your energy and glad you enjoyed the video
For the money its hard to find an equally affordable and accessible scotch just as good or better. Id say for bang for buck though Irish Whiskies will probably just as satisfying for beginners. Jameson Stout, Jameson Black Barrel, Bushmill Black Bush and anything from Teeling and Writers Tears will be good. They will cost just as much or less and be just as good or better. Irish is predominantly barley still so you still get some good barley vibes from it
Getting into? What is whisky ? Well it's alcohol, get into rum , wine , beer ? I don't know if scotch is something sophisticated as such, cheese and wine, whisky and haggis.
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Do you think Johni walker black label is better whiskey than Chivas regal 12 years.Thanks in advance
@@mikhailvetiso662 personally I do
With the exception of the Black Label, the Monkey Shoulder is significantly cheaper than all the others in mainland Europe. Definitely a big reason why the latter is such a popular pick as a starter whisky
Glenfiddich 12 you can find for a very sharp price in Belgian supermarkets. Definitely cheaper than monkey shoulder (But I agree with your point in general).
@@landricvautmans1920 Yes but its worse. It seems like Monkey Shoulder gets better casks, then the classic Glenfiddich 12
@@karl-benediktbecker901 Belgian supermarkets generally don't carry Monkey Shoulder, but Drankgigant has it at €27. Glenfiddich checks in at €32, and supermarkets will charge a few euros extra to make a profit. So no, you will not find Glenfiddich at a cheaper price than Monkey Shoulder
*Source: A Belgian whisky lover
Yeah it’s definitely a regional thing, in my country, monkey shoulder is cheaper than all the other whiskeys by a lot (not the JW black around the same price) Americans tend to forget other counties exist
Great list Bill! I agree with all your suggestions.
I had the task of hosting a whisky tasting recently at work with a bunch of people who hadn’t drunk much scotch. Here’s what I chose:
-Glenmorangie 10 as a light base whisky
-Aberlour 12 to introduce them to a sherried whisky
-Laphroaig 10 as a smoky option.
It was an interesting night and fascinating to see which bottles connected with each person. Some people didn’t like any of the bottles except the Laphroaig and then others were the opposite. But they were amazed to learn how whisky can taste so different.
Gotta love Aberlour. One of my favourites
Monkey Shoulder is still the cheapest of these options (significantly cheaper than many listed). Monkey Shoulder is just great for that reason. Approachable ABV, pleasant flavor profile and definitely affordable. These are great options if someone is offering you a taste though.
Agreed....for a starter scotch...in KS you can pick up a bottle of monkey shoulder for $30 vs a bottle of bruichladdich for $60.
@@eric4714 Balvenie is about that price here in Ohio too.
In the states we can get Johnnie black for $22 but monkey shoulder is $40
My first intro to Scotch was Monkey Shoulder in cocktails, Glenfidich 12 was the first single malt I ever bought. Coming from beer and wine, the biggest obstacle was learning to just sip on the ABV levels of distilled spirits.Bunnahabhain 12 and Old Pultney 12 were the first single malts that convinced me I could get used to Scotch whiskies 😌🥃 great list. Definitely agree about the Classic Laddie and Highland Park 12. They’re great intro whiskeys
Love old Pultney such a sleeper scotch
Monkey Shoulder was my first Scotch based on the recommendation of Daniel & Rex. Good stuff.
But my suggestion for a beginner Scotch is Buchanan's Deluxe 12 year. It's inexpensive, it's got a great mouth feel, and it has sweet but also a smokey/ashy thing going on.
Buchanans is so under rated, i love it
I have currently open , the Buchaladdie and Talisker storm , both very interesting tastes. I did start on Glenfidach 10 years old and still enjoy it. Staying in the Highlands , usually once a year I'll tour round the speyside area on my motorbike, only a couple of hrs from my home, matching up the distilleries to bottles I have tried , and looking for any I've missed.
Glen Moray all the way! You can explore wide variety of cask finishes as well as ordinary single malt and even age statements without a sweat of breaking a bank in a slightest. And to be honest it tastes better than many 3-4 times more expensive alternatives.
I am 100% on board with that suggestion. Glen Moray hits right down home plate and is inoffensive. I would add that McClelland's Islay is a good gateway to peat since it is Bowmore at a younger age and you can find it right in line with Glen Moray's pricing.
I'm actually surprised I didn't put Glen Moray on this list. I totally agree here
A great list. Monkey shoulder has gone up in price here and is as much or more expensive as most on this list. Kind of crazy. My suggestion would be Bowmore 12. An introduction to peat that won’t overwhelm the beginner and is just very enjoyable.
I thought about putting Bowmore 12 on the list but only had a bottle of the 15 on my shelf. Haven't had the 12 in a while so didn't feel right recommending it
Scotch Whisky is the King of Drinks 🏴
A very nice list. For many years I thought I didn't like Scotch based on people trying to get me to like it by offering me Glenfiddich 12. Glenmorangie 10 is the Scotch that opened my eyes to sweet, approachable whisky. I discovered that I actually love good Scotch, I just don't like Glenfiddich. I introduced my daughter to Scotch with Glenmorangie 10, she loves it. I have since moved on to more complex Scotches, Islay's are my current favorites, but I will always have Glenmorangie 10 in the cabinet. Also, Bruichladdich is making some amazing whiskey, and their Classic Laddie is wonderful.
I highly highly recommend Aberfeldy 12yr as a great starter. About $45 and tastes better than a lot of 14-17yr scotches
Agree 100%
I would also say Aberlour 12 is awesome
I’ve heard people poop on it, but I found it to be enjoyable. Great value too
Glenmorangie 10 is a great choice. For a step up in the fruity whisky category, Glenlivet 18 is very accessible and has a bit more complexity.
Thank you. Off this list, the "Laddie" is hands down my favourite.
The first Scotch I bought was Black Label, however after that I wanted to try a fancier Scotch to tell the difference. That fancier Scotch ended up being Laphroig 10. I'm super glad for that because it showed me that whiskey could be amazing and I've gone down the rabbit hole since then. Laphroig 10 is still my favorite!
Laphroaig is amazing.
I get that many people enjoy smoky flavour. It ls found in many foods and sauces. But what is appealing in Laphroig OTHER than the heavy smokiness?
Compass Box Orchard House or Spice Tree, JW Double Black, Naked Grouse, Bunnahabhain 12, Lagavulin 16, Glenfidich Fire&Cane, Glenfarclas 12…..Cheers Bill!
Far too many years ago as a young soldier Black Label was also my gateway. I usually have Powers Gold label as my daily sipper. Will try Glen Grant if I come across it.
I work part time in a liquor store. I steer the customers to Speyburn 10 or walker green. Dependent on their price point. Cheers....
Speyburn 10 is a tremendous value!
Glenfiddich 12 was my introduction to scotch and is still one of my first choices due to being a good whiskey at a good price.
Like the List, I think Aberlour 12 and Auchentoshun 12 are also great Lower proof scotches, complex but nothing over powering, My 2 cents
I’m thinking the Aberlour 12 is going to be my next bottle.
My starter list (in no particular order) was Glenlivet 12, Glenmorangie 10, Balvenie doublewood, and Laphroiag. Why were they my starters? Because they were commonly findable at bars. The Laphroiag came earlier in my experience than I was ready for, but I enjoy it now.
I loved glenlivet 12 for a long time.
Glenmorangie 10 I think is significantly better as an entry level whisky. I thought Monkey Shoulder was boring as hell when I first tried it but Glen 10 really sold me on it, as well as the Glenfiddich 14.
Amen on Glenmorangie 10. Great for cooking.
I wasn’t impressed with shoulder either but I love glenfiddich 12
Never picked up salt in HP. I’ve had many scotches and it’s a stand out for me. I do wish it was a bit more Smokey, but it’s def there. Really good!
The briny taste is there but way in the back its easier to pick up in the 18 , if you get into some briny scotches then come back youll notice it i would suggest Old Pulteny
As a bourbon guy ive found i like sherried scotch too. As far as that goes, the naked grouse seems like it should be on this list. JMHO.
It would be great to have something like this for Bourbon and Irish Whiskey
My first ones were Glenmorangie 10, JW Black, Glenfiddich 12, Monkey Shoulder. I'd put MS tied with the JW for last of the group. Liked both, but not anything I'd rebuy.
We are very fortunate to be in an age where there are so many great scotches available at reasonable prices to enjoy. Stranded on a desert island with a case of any of these would make me a very happy and sunburned guy.
IMO there are no “starter whiskies,” there are only good whiskies and bad whiskies and expensive whiskies and cheap whiskies. Any cheap, good whisky is fine to start with.
Costco 12 year old blend
....$35 for 1.75 liter.
Amazing cost to taste ratio....
I drink JW black on vacation. But monkey shoulder being a blended single malt whisky is a hitter. And sherry and port is always the way to go with scotch!! Enjoy!!
Very informative, thank you for some great choices to try😊
my advice would be to save a lot of money and get to know the cheaper blends of scotch : if you cannot tell the difference between, say Johnnie Walker Red, Bells and Whyte & Mackay - blind tasting then forget it - learn your local supermarket blends and single malts - once you get used to it then get ready to splash out on some decent single malts and blends over 12 years - no point spending loads of cash on stuff you really don't know - start with the basics and when you know the differences move into higher cost scotch
This is a very good starter list. i would not include the JWB. it doesn't stand alone well but that is just my humble opinion. my first taste was the Glenfiddich 12 and it's still one of my favorites
Thanks Bill, another great option for beginners of whisky is Compass Box Orchard House, very fruity ( Apple, pear), some vanilla and some honey.
Totally agree. I have a bottle behind me. It's great
Very interesting video. Have tried some of these whiskies and am in agreement with your thoughts. 🥃🥃🥃
Thanks for watching!
Glad to see Old Pulteney in the back ground!
All great picks! I do have to point out that they're all more expensive than the Monkey Shoulder, at least here in Finland where alcohol is already way too expensive. Here are the prices for all of them for comparison:
Monkey Shoulder: 39.99€
Glenmorangie 10: 51.90€
Johnnie Walker Black: 43.97€
Glenfiddich 12: 49.95€
Balvenie 12: 71.50€
Highland Park 12: 50.99€
Glen Grant 12: Not available
Bruichladdich: 68,49€
Yea. I considered that and it may factor into it, but better is better
Excellent list; I totally agree with every one of the Scotches on it. You asked what else I’d put on the list, and I have two: first is the Naked Grouse, which is very similar to Monkey Shoulder, a blended malt that is tasty and inexpensive. I personally prefer it to Monkey Shoulder, and it is what I offer to people I want to introduce Scotch to. Second is Johnnie Walker Green Label, a 15 year age statement blended malt. It sells out quickly, but in my area (the ATL) it’s $49 pre-tax, not much more than JW Black Label, less than some of those on your list, and is very tasty.
I think I really need to try Naked Grouse
Agree- JW Green is fantastic for the price. To me Glen Livet 12 yr is the best value out there (although the price has been creeping up steadily where I live (Charlotte, NC area). But my second choice is JW Green all day long.
Nice job! I agree with your alternatives to MS 100%. Of course I also love MS because it’s an easy scotch, single malt, and easy on the wallet. Most of the offerings you recommended are north of $50 (here in Florida). So if price is a serious consideration, I would go with the JW Black. It’s a blend like MS but it does offer that hint of smoke that makes it a bit more interesting than MS at a lower price point ($30 here).
MS is not a single malt, it's a blended malt. I also am in FL, and at least in my area, most liquor stores have an absolute crap selection of scotch. Store owners tell me it's just not that popular and they won't give up the shelf space for things that don't sell. Islay scotch is almost impossible to find. Luckily, FL is one of the few states that allows liquor to be shipped here from other states, so I buy almost all of my scotch online. You can find some really great prices in other states.
1:18 😆😆😆😆😆
Your disdain for the red still gives me guilty entertainment.
Haha! I had to try hard not to laugh
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary I can imagine. The rhythm of dropping it without looking was perfect 👌
@@WhispyWoods. I believe the keyword Bill has used in the past was "gasoline".
Glenmorangie was my first and, as a bourbon drinker, it was a good choice. My next was Benromach 10 and I enjoyed that too. My next was The English Smokey, which was a good intro to smokier Scotch.
Thats funny, I have a bottle of that and am not psyched about it (The English)
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary try other versions of the English if you don't like the Smokey - they have some great Scotch with different flavour profiles.
Good job Bill. Dropping JW red is certainly the correct choice. To me Compass Box Artist Blend is a better choice than monkey shoulder to start as it is too malty for many people I have found. Cheers
I need to try that one. I almost bought menagerie this afternoon
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary oh that is a great choice.
Good to know. I put it back when I realized it wasn't new
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary ita new within the last year
The Balvenie is an excellent starter. It’s delicious and the Sherry influence is great. I always have it neat. It’s also a good transition Scotch for a bourbon drinker. I use the Monkey Shoulder for a mixer, most often in a Rusty Nail. I have the Highland Park on the shelf but have yet to try it. I’ve looked for quite a while for the Classic Laddie but have yet to find it. Great video, Bill!
Thanks Tim! Keep looking, I bet you'll love it
I got the classic laddie after watching your review on it. It is astoundingly good, had it for about 5 months now. I ADORE it. It has everything I love about Islay minus the smoke, which is partly why I love it so much.
Fabulous dram...Did you go online and enter the code on your bottle to see the blend?
Agree that all of these are better whiskies, but I think a huge part of the draw for Monkey Shoulder is the price, which you don't really discuss here. Obviously it will vary by location, but where I live, Monkey Shoulder can be had for around $35, and the others are all around $50. Not a huge difference, and certainly worth it for those of us in the know, but a lot of novices might be put off by the idea of spending so much on something they're unsure of.
But also, as long as you're in the $50 range, Bunnahabhain 12 is probably the best dram for the price I've ever had.
Nice list and nice video. I agree Monkey Shoulder ain't the best to start. To me its a bit too young/harsh for a beginners palate. I would also add Bunnahabhain 12. Its a good example of an integrity Scotch: 46%, Non-chill filtered, natural colored, aged stated, affordable, complex, and delicious.
Oooo great suggestion!
can you start including a general price range for the bottles you mention? it would be super helpful for a beginner.
I actually typically do. Decided against it on this one for whatever reason. I'd like to say it was on purpose but I forgot :)
Overall good video with some nice recommendations but a lot of these are not starter Scotches. Monkey Shoulder goes for ~$36 and The Balvenie goes for ~$75 here in Michigan. Over 2X is not an alternative starter Scotch. The Johnny Walker Black is a good recommendation at ~$37. Anyway I'd say these are good transition Scotches for someone looking to take a step beyond Monkey Shoulder. But even at transition The Balvenie is in the next price bracket.
I think that every bottle with the exception of the last one that I have not tried is basically pedestrian. And rather than go through them all individually describing how bland they are, I would recommend still the Monkey Shoulder over them. Two more would be Naked Grouse and Finlaggan Old Reserve. I've been on the hunt for more affordable scotch to drink on the rocks, maybe some water and these three are pretty good with the Finlaggan tasting above its paygrade, about thirty-three bucks here in Chicago. And they're not bad neat. Oh hell. let's throw Shackleton in the fray.
Hi, just picked up on your channel through this vlog and have subscribed.
I think you have missed one real option as a "starter" whisky, Black Bottle. As a blend of malts it offers a decent flavour profile and whilst it has peated Islay malt as one of the constituent parts, it's not overly smoky.
Black Bottle was the "hoose dram" of choice for my Father in Law and as such was my introduction to a decent dram. My own father was more of a Cameron Brig kinda lad, if any whisky made it as far as the hoose :) ...nuff said.
As pointed out by some commenters below as well, price is a factor. Whilst here in Scotland, Black Bottle will be consistently under £20 per bottle, most of the others you have listed won't be (apart from Monkey Shoulder).
Malts such as those you quoted fluctuate in price from the big four supermarkets by between £10 and £15 a bottle from week to week.
Give it a try folks, as a go to whisky, it's not half bad!
Kind Regards from Fife, Scotland.
Rodger
P.S. I should have added, I can highly recommend Haig Club but only for cleaning paint brushes or engine parts, certainly not for drinking.
Also those gift packs are a nice way to try some Scotch without buying a 750ml bottle. My 1st experience with Glenmorangie & Balvenie were with those gift packs and I had a small sample bottle of Glenfiddich 12 as I started trying Scotch as I was only into Bourbon at the time.
Same as with other people and other countries: here in Poland JW black and Monkey Shoulder are usually roughly the same price whereas all the remaining whiskys from this video are 2 to 2,5 the price of Monkey Shoulder. And I mean the regular price without any discounts that are much more common for Monkey Shoulder (or JW Black) than the other whiskys. The price difference is so huge that it's hard to consider all these whiskys an alternative to Monkey Shoulder. Not to mention that Monkey Shoulder is blended malt whisky (and JW black is blended scotch) while all the other recommendations are single malts - that's a different category of whisky.
I understand that. The price difference is a fair point but hard to consider every countries prices
Excellent content for rookies like me. I’m starting out with Dewar’s White Label, which I really like.
love Monkey Shoulder.. way underrated gem.
I wouldn't say it's underrated. It's super popular
As a long time single malt drinker from Scotland, I find all of these choices a bit depressing, apart from the Classic Laddie. The rest are chill filtered, watered down to 40%abv and I think also chill filtered. They are like castrated whisky to me. I feel like I am doing this journey in reverse. As supermarket scotch is for mass consumers here in Scotland, if after value and quality drinking experience I would opt for bourbon or rye every time. Buffalo Trace, bulleit bourbon and rye, Eagle Rare, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek offer better whisk(e)y introductions than that list IMO. I suppose what I am trying to say is that if a viewer becomes familiar with and enjoys a range of bourbons and rye with challenging flavours, they could be aiming a bit higher up the Scotch tree than those suggested. Perhaps Glenfarclas 10yo, Arran 10yo or if after a smokey experience Ledaig 10yo. (Caveat) I write this not knowing what availability of Scotch is like in North America.
"they are like castrated whisky to me" says the "long time single malt drinker from Scotland." Fair comment, but I don't think that "long time single malt drinkers from Scotland" were the target audience for this video! Just sayin'
It's true. It's definitely for beginners
@@Jolazo-Music thats fair enough, but the point I try to make is that I think that a long time bourbon or rye drinker need not think themselves the beginner to scotch that they think they are. I find plenty of challenging experiences in bourbon. The point is If I had an experienced bourbon drinking friend across to Scotland from the States who wished to try the local drink I would aim to have them experiencing drinks above those on this list.
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary its a good beginners list for those with no whisky experience whatsoever. I would say the Laddie stands above the others. Does starter whisky mean one for the novice of Scotch, or one for someone who has never sampled any whisk(e)y?
I'm hopeful more people have it
Great into to the different blends! I have tried all but two!
All great recommendations.
I found some Glenmorangie 10 on clearance. Definitely a nice change of pace, but not a big enough difference to justify the cost over MS.
In a similar price range to Monkey shoulder I find naked grouse a little more interesting, less nuanced possibly but if you like a sherried whisky it punches above its price point.
Highland park is "salty" mainly because it comes from the Orkney Islands of the north coast of Scotland, "Monkey Shoulder" is an ailment that distillers get by turning the malts with a shovel, :D still tastes great
I've never understood why Monkey Shoulder gets the praise that it does. I bought a bottle back in 2018 (or thereabouts) and thought it was a pretty damn crappy product, to be honest. There are a million whiskies I'd rather drink. Yes, Monkey Shoulder is cheap, but if you pay a LITTLE bit more, you can get something MUCH better. That's what I think anyway. And I agree with the recommendations in the video here. Even Black Label and HP 12 (both of which have taken a dive in terms of quality, esp Black Label) are probably still going to be a better choice than Monkey Shoulder. I know I'd rather have them myself.
Now I have to try GlenGrant 12 lol
Famous Grouse Naked Malt (Naked Grouse) is also a super approachable intro Scotch
I started my scotch journey with Monkey Shoulder and wasn't impressed. I've had Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich and Glenlivet all of which I would pick over MS. I see I need to branch out and thanx for explaining why.
I started with Glenfiddich 12. Still remember that bottle lol
I think its a lot of people's first. It's a great option
Wee Beastie, I would have never got into whiskey without serious peat.
Glen 12 is my go to if I want the old familiar drink.
me personaly started with Glenmorangie 10, but 40% abv. then Glenfiddich 12. Both amazing in their own way. should I get a Monkey´s ?
What are some other suggestions you think are better than Monkey Shoulder?
Maybe Chivas Regal 12 and Glenlivet 12 🥃
Dewars 12.
Basically most single malt scotches are simply better, ie. Glenfarclas 8, Tomatin Legacy which go for around the same price. Blended scotches are simply worse than single malts from my experience, have no idea how a blended scotch can cost as much as a single malt tbh, it is always a worse buy
Great list, personally I would upgrade Johnnie Walker Black to double black for a couple more bucks, GlenAllachie 12 , Deanston 12, Glen Scotia double , anything from Bruichladdich (Love that distillery exceptional value and quality I absolutely agree for 50% of alcohol drinks much easier). And last one I will add for affordable price and a great quality AnCnoc 12
Laphroaig :)
Awesome list as usual Bill!!!
And I happen to enjoy all the whiskies on the list depending on the mood😄
But thank you for adding Bruchladdies on the list because Bruichladdich is my favorite distillery!!! And Port Charlotte is my favorite peated whiskey! Thanks for all you do and expanding my palate!
Cheers Bill!!😄
Freakin love me some Port Charlotte
Like or Dislike: Like. Thank you, this list will come in handy -- although I would have also appreciated knowing which scotches have added color. There's something about Black Label's mouthfeel that I find too strongly evokes syrup, i.e. artificial.
I've done individual videos on all of these whiskies at least. Should be easy enough to find.
JW Black definitely has artificial coloring.
All great picks for newbs. Agree 100%.
I recently purchased the monkey shoulder and added part of it to my infinity bottle. This is weird that you have a video with it recently after I had it.
List should've be exclusively to blends. Of course most single malts will be better. For blends, Monkey Shoulder is damn near a perfect blend with mass appeal.
HP12 is a very good bottle for its price. I can feel the difference in quality compared to other 12's. Also macallan 12 is a good one to start with.
Спасибо 🤝
Price doesn't really come into the equation, if you don't like a particular style, you are not going to drink it however cheap it is. Johnny Walker black was probably my first experience of whiskey and not one I would go back to, almost put me off for good.
My goto now is Glenmorangie 10, but I have also enjoyed the Balvenie double barrel and the Glenfiddich 12. I'm not a fan of the smokey and peaty whiskeys. And although Irish rather than Scottish the Bushmills 10 is also a nice smooth whisky.
JW blue is my favorite
The only Scotch that I’ve ever had was the Glenfidich 12 and I really enjoyed it. Gonna try a couple more of these!
I hope you love it!
Glenfiddich 12 is garbage. Balvenie doublewood 12 is where the moneys at. Anyone who genuinely drinks will like balvenie
“Get them all” best advice ever.
Hah! I'm an equal opportunity imbiber
Here in Canada, those other Scotches are considerably more expensive than Monkey Shoulder.
Balvenie 12 was my gateway whiskey
Hey, I don‘t know if you can get your hands on it in the US but talking about salt with the highlandpark i can really recommend „Guglhof TauernRogg“ from Salzburg, Austria to you. I‘m from Germany and found this single malt by coincidence and am now ordering it ever since :D
Love your work, wish you all the best!
Let me see if I can find it anywhere. Thanks for the recommendation!
Funny that you have the Glenfiddich and the Balvenie in here against the blended Monkey Shoulder. I have been testing and man... when you do so you can tell where the notes for Monkey Shoulder come from and it is SOOOO much less expensive to buy monkey shoulder.
Black bottle is another blended Islays but hell at some point people need to put on their big boy pants and go find Lagavulin 16.
All good options…. I’ve drunk Scotch since 2010, 13 years and never tried Monkey Shoulder until last Christmas, I thought it was marketing hype and average corporate scotch, I was surprised and wrong, very fruity and good, similar to compass box, but not quite as good, 90% though, cheers🎉
With the exception of Glen Grant 12 and JW Black (neither of which I've ever tried) I can vouch for your list 100% and agree all of these are MUCH better than Monkey Shoulder (even if Glenfiddich 12 is only better because it's honest -- it is a component of MS, I believe)
One thing that I always feel is missing from the "best scotch for beginner" videos is the personal care one has to take in showing people the true "ritual" of scotch drinking. At the risk of sounding like a snob (which perhaps I might be a wee bit of one...) to truly introduce a newbie to scotch drinking, it is more important (IMO) to show them how to nose, what glasses to use (ie: glencairn, not rocks), how not to "slam it down" like they do in the movies, how to roll the whisky over the tongue, etc. etc.
i only say this because for the longest time I drank scotch with friends on camping trips: Glenfiddich 12 on ice in a plastic Solo cup gulped down after the third or fourth beer of the day. I can't say that I really "appreciated" it beyond the cool factor of drinking scotch. It wasn't until my brother-in-law took the time with me to discuss how nosing and tasting is done and the time you let it sit in the glass to breathe, etc. that I genuinely began to understand what this "scotch" thing was all about.
Anyways (more than) enough said, perhaps, but your list is very good. I always like to start people off with Balvenie Double Wood (if I have it) or HP 12 (which I usually do have!)
JW Black is lightly smoked and flavourful, a nice blend. Still more expensive than MS where I live. This is a video about introductory scotch, so no, those here pushing Lagavulin 16 and Talisker 10 miss the point. Classic Laddie shouldn't be in this video, high ABV, that's too advanced for the beginner. Start with a blend like JWB or Chivas, then to single malts like Glenlivet 12, HP 12 Glenmorangie 10, then explore further.
I like Ballantines. Cheap, and doesn't suck
What about Aldi Highland Black?. Have you tried any of the Penderyn whisky’s?
I have. Penderyn isn't scotch though. It OS tasty though!
Agree fully with all of these.
As a person who doesn't like scotch
But thinks monkey shoulder is ok.
I'm listening LOL
Hope you walked away with some good ideas
Monkey shoulder isn't the best possible Scotch but it is pretty good and is a really good value.
Bill, your channel is awesome! I started my whiskey journey last year & your videos have helped me a ton!! Quick question - I recently tried JW double black & that is the first time I tasted smoke & I absolutely love it, what would u recommend as a next step into smoky whiskey? whatever u suggest, im going to go buy, lol. I trust your opinion, especially after buying Woodford Reserve & loving it.
Oh man. Talk about pressure!
Ok... so, JW double black is a weird kind of smoke to me... and I have a bit of trouble remembering it... here's what I suggest.
Talisker 10. It's just the right kind of smokey and salty maritime notes. It'll be good!
Others to go to if you want to dive head in, Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig 10, and Lagavulin 16. My current favorite is Port Charlotte 10.
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary Wow that was quick! Thank you! I have a feeling i’ll get them all 😆 …. eventually - but ill start with the Talisker , cant wait to try it 👍 Looking forward to your next video, keep up the great work brother 😎🤙
Enjoy!
Monkey Shoulder definitely has a funk to it that I personally am not a fan of and I'm also not the biggest fan of peated Scotch, so it's great to get suggestions on other options in the world of Scotch. Very intrigued to learn about the Bruichladdich Classic Laddie! Will have to keep an eye out for that one to try.
WOW!! This list is full of banging whisky. Love the selections here as well as the explanations behind them. Please don't get me started on the HP marketing. Ugh. For me I would say get the Glenfiddich 12; Balvenie 12 and JW Black to start for the reasons mentioned in the video AND they can be found easily in 375ml or smaller so 1 can start on these without breaking the bank. The Classic Laddie is a nay for me. Maybe if you're a white wine drinker ok but its finish riled me.
Gotta admit that white wine is a good place to start someone drinking wine though :) approachable.
Anyway love your energy and glad you enjoyed the video
Glenmorangie 10 or Glenfiddich perpetual vat 01 which one is best ?.
Glenfiddich perpetual vat is a Duty Free exclusive I think 🤔 so harder to find
Classic Laddie is the best whisky on the list, but may be a bit much for most just starting to drink Scotch whisky.
For the money its hard to find an equally affordable and accessible scotch just as good or better. Id say for bang for buck though Irish Whiskies will probably just as satisfying for beginners. Jameson Stout, Jameson Black Barrel, Bushmill Black Bush and anything from Teeling and Writers Tears will be good. They will cost just as much or less and be just as good or better.
Irish is predominantly barley still so you still get some good barley vibes from it
Bill you dropped Johnny red😱
Getting into? What is whisky ? Well it's alcohol, get into rum , wine , beer ? I don't know if scotch is something sophisticated as such, cheese and wine, whisky and haggis.
Good choices. I have a few of those but I buy Monkey Shoulder for my everyday dram now. It's a great value.
I learned a lot! THANK YOU!
Absolutely!