NGC - need help with Whiskey...

[geoff in almonte]

Apologies to the Irish....

For a good drink of whiskey - Three Little Swallows -  not the real name - but google....
For a drink of good whiskey - Bushmill's - anything 15yo or older.  The 21yo is exquisite.

G 

[ahaussmann123]

For Whiskey, Evan Williams, but it is only $20 a bottle thereabouts.

LOL gift a bottle of EW that's how you make enemies bud

[kirb]

Since you guys seem to know everything....one of my coworkers is retiring from the Air Force after 36 years, and I'd like to to get him a good bottle of whiskey/bourbon/scotch. And there's the issue, I'm not a  drinker of such things, don't really understand the differences, so I'm looking for recommendations. I don't know what his preference is, just that his wife mentioned he enjoys an occasional glass of whiskey. My budget is $300, thanks in advance for any suggestions.  Jef

Knowing what TYPE of scotch he likes would help...highlands are great, but bland for an Islay fan. Islay can taste like a kingsford briquette in your glass if you like Highlands...and so forth.
Bourbon is easy...a fan will like anything high end. Problem is that most high-end in your price range are nearly non-existent or way over priced for what they should be.
Sometimes a fan won't go back and forth from scotch to bourbon...it's that different. Ask his wife?

Best thing to do is find a good store in your area, see what they have, research a bit before buying.

I'll throw in-
Highland scotch- Macallan 18yo. Yes it's expensive, but this guy is on the back end of a 36 year career. Most military guys I know would never spend Mac18 money. He will love you for it (if a highland fan)
Islay scotch- sorry, this stuff is beyond my reach, but older the better. Ask him if he likes the taste of seagull shit and the smell of burnt hair.
Bourbon- go top shelf, you can't go wrong. Find something hard to locate and he will like it even more. You have a great price point for this.
I'm a proof whore, so I'm all in when someone gets me a bottle of 120proof or higher bourbon.

 

[Dilliw]

Knowing what TYPE of scotch he likes would help...highlands are great, but bland for an Islay fan. Islay can taste like a kingsford briquette in your glass if you like Highlands...and so forth.
Bourbon is easy...a fan will like anything high end. Problem is that most high-end in your price range are nearly non-existent or way over priced for what they should be.
Sometimes a fan won't go back and forth from scotch to bourbon...it's that different. Ask his wife?

Best thing to do is find a good store in your area, see what they have, research a bit before buying.

I'll throw in-
Highland scotch- Macallan 18yo. Yes it's expensive, but this guy is on the back end of a 36 year career. Most military guys I know would never spend Mac18 money. He will love you for it (if a highland fan)
Islay scotch- sorry, this stuff is beyond my reach, but older the better. Ask him if he likes the taste of seagull shit and the smell of burnt hair.
Bourbon- go top shelf, you can't go wrong. Find something hard to locate and he will like it even more. You have a great price point for this.
I'm a proof whore, so I'm all in when someone gets me a bottle of 120proof or higher bourbon.

 

The seagulls would be offended!  Usual description is of a 60's hospital combined with the taste of a fresh can of sardines.  Oh and wrapped in seaweed.  Love the stuff!

[izzuG]

So i called his wife today, she checked his office shelf, he had a bottle of Jameson. So at least I know now that I've narrowed my search to whiskey! My local store has a 18 year Jameson in a nice wood presentation box, $149.   Thoughts?

[not-fishing]

I tended bar for a couple of years after college.  which helped me buy my first house

I favor Cardhu for Scotch but I'd buy him a couple of different bottles.

One of the things I learned at the bar is after the first drink ----------- it doesn't matter.

Heck I made whisky margaritas and the patrons couldn't taste the difference as long as I made them strong

[jrt]

Jameson is an Irish Whiskey, which is neither scotch nor bourbon. 
I was going to suggest asking where he was from- there are quite a few hyper-local whisky makers in Kentucky and that might have clicked. 
For American Whisky, I would have suggested Knob Creek.  For Scotch...Macallan is a good choice (most smooth, not hella peaty) but there are a lot of other really good suggestions here (I like Japanese Scotch- they do a very good rendition). 
Irish?  Sorry- not that much experience there.  But I bet there is a lot of cross-over to less peaty/smoky Scotches. 

[kirb]

So i called his wife today, she checked his office shelf, he had a bottle of Jameson. So at least I know now that I've narrowed my search to whiskey! My local store has a 18 year Jameson in a nice wood presentation box, $149.   Thoughts?

Jameson is very light, not complex whiskey. You can go higher end Irish (Red Breast), or bourbon (any), or highlands scotch (macallan)...he won’t be disappointed with any of them and they will match up well with his preferred.

[ahaussmann123]

Jameson is very light, not complex whiskey. You can go higher end Irish (Red Breast), or bourbon (any), or highlands scotch (macallan)...he won’t be disappointed with any of them and they will match up well with his preferred.

I agree, also considering you have a $300 budget you could maybe get him two bottles from different areas!

Red Breast is a very safe bet, he clearly likes Irish Whiskey.

Perhaps a nice Bourbon as well. I'd wager that somebody who drinks Jameson on the regular isn't going to go for the smoky flavors of Scotches.   

As always, I'll push hibiki again I was floored with the taste. With a $300 budget you could honestly swing all 3.

[Perazzimx14]

Unless you know his preferences I'd not try and guess. Your budget is very kind and I'd hate to see it blown on great Scotch if he likes Rum. I hate gift cards as they take no thought but possible in the case a gift card with a few heart felt sentences and conditions that the gift card must be spent on a singular bottle of a whisky/ey of his preference is warranted. He is not allowed to buy quantity he must buy quality.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Unless you know his preferences I'd not try and guess.

That was my point very early on in this thread. Don't get bourbon for a scotch guy, and vice versa.

[john fish]

So i called his wife today, she checked his office shelf, he had a bottle of Jameson. So at least I know now that I've narrowed my search to whiskey! My local store has a 18 year Jameson in a nice wood presentation box, $149.   Thoughts?

If he's a Jameson man it is an excellent idea to stick with Jameson.   I would be delighted to receive an 18 year old.  (I'll just leave that there.)

This is all vy thoughtful of you, btw.

[Chuck in Indiana]

If he's a Jameson man it is an excellent idea to stick with Jameson.   I would be delighted to receive an 18 year old.  (I'll just leave that there.)

This is all vy thoughtful of you, btw.

Unless.. the reason there is a bottle of Jameson in his cabinet is because he hates it.. and yes, very thoughtful.

[Perazzimx14]

If he's a Jameson man it is an excellent idea to stick with Jameson.   I would be delighted to receive an 18 year old.  (I'll just leave that there.)

This is all vy thoughtful of you, btw.

If he finds Jameson acceptable then any offering from the Burnett's line of of sub $30 1/2 gallon plastic bottle finery should be amply suffice.

[et18]

So many choices, most of them would make good gifts.

Rabbit Hole makes a fine rye and they have a virtual tasting tour for $219. It includes 3 or 4 bottles, a tasting mat ( whatever that is) and a private virtual tour where you can see how its made and talk whiskey with an expert for a while. I wouldn't buy it for myself but I would appreciate it as a gift. The  rye is over $50 per bottle so not a bad deal overall. They make other whiskey types also but I've only had the rye.

[ahaussmann123]

If he finds Jameson acceptable then any offering from the Burnett's line of of sub $30 1/2 gallon plastic bottle finery should be amply suffice.

LOL wowza dirty dirty fighting words there, sadly not untrue however a lack of understanding does not imply an inability to taste!