Those sound pricey...

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban

Glenmorangie La Santa

Macallan 10 years and 12 years

All are around $40. I highly recommend Quinta Ruban. You will thank me later.

Forget about 18 - 25 year old or cask strength. Those will not be fully appreciated by untrained pallet.

The Snow Phoenix was around $80 or so. The others between $40 and $60-ish. If you go for a glass every so often, it is definitely worth it to spend a little more for something smoother.

I have to agree with you on that last piece of advice. A person just starting to drink wine would be a fool to go out and buy a 1965 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Bordeaux or some such hideously expensive aged high end bottle.

There are a lot of very good single malt scotches that don't break the $40 mark that a newb or an old time scotch drinker would find very tasty and smooth enough. Believe it or not there are a lot of people, myself included that could afford to buy an $80+ bottle but just aren't going to do that on principle except for the rare special occasion.

If smooth is what a person is after in a whisky ya can get a lot more of that a lot cheaper bydrinking Irish Whisky instead of scotch. Scotch is double distilled where Irish is triple distilled which makes it inherently smoother. But I digress,

And my point isn't to say that a 25 yr old Macallan or a 21yr Glenlivit Archive isn't superior product, but your point, the neophyte should take some time refining the palate on less expensive selections that are nonetheless very good.

I think the interesting thing that comes up in discussions of single malt scotch is that there aren't very many that people who are experienced would say very negative things about, "That stuff is goat piss, etc.".

The cool thing about single malt scotches is there's a wide diversity between brands and between different offerings in a brand's line, so as with cigars, start out trying a variety. If you can't afford to buy several different bottles, then take the opportunity to try something different each time you're at a drinking establishment.

Many good suggestions in this thread for reasonably priced bottles, it seems though there's always a tendency for threads of this type to quickly acquire an elitist tinge that's less helpful to the person who initiated the question in the OP and more of an opportunity to display one's ability to routinely consume what most of us consider a very rare extravagance.

Two excellent change of pace Scotches @ roughly $55 a bottle

Your choice of Balvenie was an excellent selection.

Pdxstogieman is on point with post #46. In post #32 he indicates that Nadurra is da bomb and he is correct again. However I would consider Nadurra to be of the high octane varity and not one for rookies.

The reason I mentioned Nadurra is that to me, it has a light, refined floral quality, some notes of honey and citrus all of which I think to be accessible and enjoyable to even a neophyte scotch enthusiast. Also, it's a great change up from some other scotches mentioned here, such as the Balvenie, Dalmore, HIghland Park,,etc, that have a darker essence. While there are scotches I'd warn a person who's new to single malts away from initial on either the basis of high price not worth it for the as yet undeveloped palate or, as in the case of the Islays, a very specialized and seemingly extreme flavor profile that might put off the initiate from scotches entirely, I didn't think the Nadurra to be be in either of those categories. Mind you, I'm just discussing your interesting point, as this is all highly subjective and describing the qualities of such an ethereal spirit in a way that all understand one's intent is challenging.

The Glenmorangie Portwood is an excellent choice as well at roughly the same price point.

But I went through a bottle of each the Glenmorangie La Santa, and Quinta Ruban.....and didn't care for either really. The La Santa I liked better that the QR.....but not enough to buy either again. Actually prefer the Macallan 12 to em' both, and by quite a bit, so was a little put of by the Glenmo stuff. I do however, want to try the Nectar D'or at some point.....but there's some Balvenie stuff I'd like to try first (the 15 yr single barrel specifically).

Drink what you like and like what you drink. When it comes to Food, Drink, cigars, women, etc, etc, reasonable people's opinions may vary quite a bit. I'm not much of a a Macallan drinker, nothing wrong with the brand, and if someone offered me some I'd drink it and it would be ok, it's just not a bottle I'm motivated to buy. Same thing with Glenlivit 12. We all have different palates, one man's nectar is another's poison. With Irish Whisky I prefer Bushmills to Jameson's any time, that said, there's nothing wrong with Jamesons and in a pinch it will do for me.

Great bourbon!

Had to chime in here. pdxstogieman's description of the Nadurra is correct and it is outstanding. But Bruner is also correct ... no way is Nadurra a good starting place for a beginning scotch drinker. I always suggest Macallan 12 or Aberlour 12 as a great inexpensive start for someone starting to explore the world of scotches. Glenmorangie LaSanta and Finealta are also excellent,but not really for beginners.

On a cruise last year, I started to drink a blend I did not expect to enjoy but it was excellent. It was Dewars Signature. It's designed to compete with Johnny Walker Blue but it's much better IMO. It runs about $150 a bottle, if you can find it. Enjoy. 😇