Many times I have read here about enjoying a single malt scotch after a long hot day of hunting in Africa.

I'm not a drinker so have no idea what a good scotch is and have an elderly friend (a surgeon) from the Republic of South Africa and want to send him a fine scotch for Christmas.....and would like it to reflect some African heritage....so help me out....what's a fine scotch to send the elderly surgeon from RSA?

Depending on how "good" a friend the surgeon is to you, I would recommend an 18 year old
Glennfiddich (about $85 per bottle) or one of my personal favorites, the 21 year old Glenfiddich (about $120 per bottle).

Mangwana

I was going to say Glenfiddich as well. Either the 18 or 21 year-old will be highly appreciated.

Now, if you want to tie in South Africa, you'll have to do it via Winston Churchill as he was involved in the Boer war as a correspondent and later a soldier. Given that, you;d want to send him Johnnie Walker Red Label, which was CHurchill's favorite. But the scotch snobs might look down their pointy noses at that since it's not a single malt but a blend.

I like Black Label and was given one of the huge bottles as a thank you for recovering data from a dying hard-drive for a friend. That was highly (and still is) appreciated.

Johnnie Walker Blue label.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Talisker or Balvenie Double Wood. Your friend would enjoy all three, I'm sure.

Asking for a scotch recommendation is difficult, as everyone's tastes are different. I liken it to comparing Coke and Pepsi. Which is better? Depends who you ask. Qualitywise they are in the same ballpark, but some people like one, and some the other.


Every scotch has its own flavor, but regionally tend to be have similar characteristics... Islay scotches tend to be peaty and smokey, for example.


My recommendation is to stick at least with something similar to what your friend already drinks (if you can find out). If he drinks Glenlivet 12, maybe step it up and buy him a bottle of the 15 yr old... If he drinks Johnnie Walker Black, maybe buy him a bottle of Johnnie Walker Gold.

Since ALL Scotch tastes like the inside of an operating room smells, don't guess you would ever see me spending $100.00 plus for a bottle for me or a good friend. Just saying!! And yes I have tried numerous brands, blends and stand by my conclusion.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Vapodog,

Different brands of scotch taste dramatically different. If you buy something your friend doesn't like you may have spent $100 on something he really doesn't like so as others have suggested find out what he likes before buying anything.

Mark

Do not send any scotch to South Africa. Rather, get online and find a shop that you can order from and get it delivered using your credit card. This should work easily, especially if he lives in the Joburg, or Durban or Cape Town areas.

As for what, yes, a simple phone call to wonder aloud what that delicious scotch was that you two shared, or that he recommended to you could work.

Regards

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Since ALL Scotch tastes like the inside of an operating room smells, don't guess you would ever see me spending $100.00 plus for a bottle for me or a good friend. Just saying!! And yes I have tried numerous brands, blends and stand by my conclusion.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I have to agree with you! Infact you could just pour all acoholic beverages back in the mule for my part in drinks! However most folks seem to find them enjoyable, and in thier case the stuff seems to make a fine thoughtful gift!

Like everyone else here I think you need to find out what he likes,and if it can be bought in RSA by credit card that is the way to go!

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Vapodog,

Different brands of scotch taste dramatically different. If you buy something your friend doesn't like you may have spent $100 on something he really doesn't like so as others have suggested find out what he likes before buying anything.

Mark

If he is a local hunter, he will drink anything...lol - Glennfiddich + JW Blue is ALWAYS a winner.

Thanks one and all for your advice.....the man is originally from RSA and has practiced medicine in the United States all his life and now is retired in New Mexico.

I'll email his son to find out what his favorite brand is.....as has been suggested...Santa can wait until I have more info and then I'll ask him to deliver the brand known to his liking!

Just to chip in at the end - the best whisky is the stuff I make in my own still!! 6kg sugar and a packet of yeast - pretty small outlay for 6 litres/quarts of my finest hooch!

And yes - it's legal here. Good fun, and a great feedom we have in this country.

I like an old Jamiesons aged Irish myself.

Ask if he likes island, highland/speyside, or both scotchs.I don't care for island but LaGavulin seems to be good. Otherwise Glenmoangie LaSanta, Obama 14, Dallwenie 15 or Double distilled, or McCallan12. Balviene Doublewood is good as well.

Brett

quote:

Originally posted by bullterrier:
And yes - it's legal here. Good fun, and a great feedom we have in this country.

I believe it is legal to make here as well so long as you don't share or sell.

My deep south relatives are quite good at making it and I used to really enjoy a canning jar of clear when visiting.

Brett - I personally would not drink a single malt scotch by the name of "Obama"! Did you mean Oban?
Mangwana

Some of you have a friend in Brunswick, Georgia who posts here. He also enjoys relaxing with a sip of single malt in the evenings. Islay's are his favorite, but he doesn't look down on Johnnie Walker Red, either.

Because his girlfriend left it at his house (and he's a cheap old fart), of late, he has been drinking mango infused vodka with blueberries instead of olives.

Alas, he needs to get back to a real man's drink.

P.M. me for his address so you can see that he doesn't go thirsty in the evenings and gets back to drinking the cultured gentleman's stuff. It's a good cause.

As to my recommendation, even if the particular brand you get him isn't his favorite, he'll longer remember your kindness and good will more than a bottle of liquor. I do think that most everyone that drinks Scotch enjoys Genfiddich and that's a pretty safe choice. I've never had it turned down at my abode.

I, too, wonder what Obama 14 is, though.
Surely, Brett mean Oban, perhaps? Maybe not, though. Obama 14... The 14 stands for the trillions in debt. It had absolutely no character, very expensive and the only result is a headache and an empty wallet. The only good part is that it will only be aged for 4 years and gone forever in 2012!

quote:

I do wonder what Obama 14 is, though.

IQ

Judge - if there is in fact an "Obama 14", I think you nailed it! LOL
Mangwana

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Martinez:
I believe it is legal to make here as well so long as you don't share or sell.

No. Only beer and wine without a license or permit. Even possession of the still is illegal.

quote:

No. Only beer and wine without a license or permit. Even possession of the still is illegal.

My great-uncle was an old-time marshall who broke up many stills in NC. Some of the pics he took were very interesting.

Wild Turkey

it an't no stinkin' scotch--thank god

After trying a lot of different whiskeys I've pretty much settled on The Macallan. Depending on what you want to spend you can get 12, 15, 18 or 21 year old. (Even 55 year old but that's a lot of money.) The 18 is nearly as good as the 21 but quite a bit cheaper.

Balvenie has several very fine Single Malts. Not too harsh which can be an issue if you are not a hard core Scotch fan.

Laphroaig is one of my favorites, but it is peatiest of the peaty. Not for the faint of heart.

Talisker is second favorite as it has a very nice smokey taste to it.

But if you want a fine Scotch with broad appeal, then I'd vote for Balvenie. Either the standard 12 year double wood, or the the 21 year. Can't go wrong with either of those!

I think all whiskey taste like bad moonshine so I can't give you any recommendations even if I have worked as a bartender for some years of my life

I would recommend a well aged Armagnac instead.
But I guess that was not what you asked for

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Thanks one and all for your advice.....the man is originally from RSA and has practiced medicine in the United States all his life and now is retired in New Mexico.

I'll email his son to find out what his favorite brand is.....as has been suggested...Santa can wait until I have more info and then I'll ask him to deliver the brand known to his liking!

Shipping across state lines might be a problem. Heck, intrastate shipping might also be a problem.

Oh, good luck. In Argentina, I drank some Ballantyne's and it reminded me of some Wilbur Smith novels and made me think of Africa (but the stuff was not that great).

F*****g autocorrect on my phone got the best of me again!!!

Brett

Every single malt is unique. Glenfiddich are the most prolific and the pioneers of the modern trend towards global popularity of Single Malts over the last 20 years. How ever there are many other Single Malts which are top notch.

If the good doctor is knows his Single Malts or really tries to know them ... then he will have fun with any good single malt. Laphroiag is a very peaty and smokey malt which is considered a great drink for "moods". I really like the Glenlivet with the sherry cask fruity aroma and complex finish. Then there are the coastal and Islay malts which can have a whif of sea weed mixed with other good stuff. Higland Park is another good one. So also Glenfarchlass (spelling??).

You could look up Michael Jackson's book on single malts and get a good indication. You could even send him a copy of the book as a great gift. I am sure he will enjoy it and have years of fun trying the differnt Single Malts and comparing them to the book's descriptions etc.

Or you could send me a few bottles and I will test them and let you know what to send!