Let’s face it – whiskey isn’t for everyone. Sure, it may have some flavor in it, but for the most part, it’s a hard drink, and it doesn’t go down as easily as many other liquors in the market. That's exactly why we're going to talk about smooth whiskeys for beginners.
Many people would prefer other hard drinks over whiskeys, such as tequila or even vodka, crazily enough.
And let’s not forget the alcoholic beverage everyone loves – beer. There’s not much to hate about beer as a whole, and I’d bet you that your average person would, more likely than not, rather have a beer than a whiskey any day of the week.
That’s not to say that whiskey is inferior to beer, or any other alcoholic drinks for that matter. In fact, there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to whiskey.
There are different variants of whiskey, based on the country of origin (such as Irish and Scotch) or based on the ingredient in the rye mash (like Bourbon and Rye whiskey). You can learn more about these whiskeys in some of the articles we’ve recently written.
So if you’ve got a friend who isn’t a big fan of whiskey, then we’ve got just the article for you. We’ve listed some of the smoothest and most flavorful whiskeys in the market today, which will hopefully suit your friend’s tastebuds. Who knows, you may even end up converting him sooner or later.
Smooth Whiskeys for Beginners
Because of how varied whiskey can be, we’re going to give a recommendation of each type of whiskey, from Irish to Bourbon whiskey.
Think of what type of whiskey suits your friend the most, and then follow the recommendation on this list, and your friend will be joining your whiskey-drinking sessions in no time.
Scotch Whisky – Auchentoshan 12-years-old
If you’re living in the UK, or you’re heading there soon on vacation, then be sure to pick up one of these bottles on the way home. Made in a distillery just outside of Glasgow, England, Auchentoshan is a triple-distilled whisky that, as the name suggests, has been aged for 12 years in oak barrels.
What makes this whisky such a good try for first-timers is that it’s triple distilled. If you don’t know what that means, triple distilled whiskeys usually have a smooth texture to it.
This single malt whiskey should be a great entry whisky to both Scotch whiskies and whiskey in general. At just under £40, it’s not too bad on the wallet either.
Irish Whiskey – Jameson Caskmates
Alongside Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey is full of rich history in distilling and spirits, as they’re one of the first countries that commercially sold the liquor to the public.
You can really taste the experience of Irish Whiskey in every shot. But we’re willing to bet that the person you’re introducing the whiskey to doesn’t care too much about its history (yet), so let’s focus on the taste for now.
Jameson Caskmates is a great Irish Whisky to get started with. It’s different from the usual Jamesons, as Caskmates batches are aged in ex-stout barrels.
This provides an added malty, fruity flavor that you normally wouldn’t find in your typical whiskeys. If you want to offer something with extra flavor instead of going for the smoothness, then Jameson Caskmates is a good choice.
Tennessee Whiskey – George Dickel Superior No. 12 Whisky
Okay, so this whiskey, in particular, may not be the best for beginners, as it does have a relatively high ABV compared to other whiskeys at 90%. But if your pal can get past the alcohol itself, then they’re in for a real treat.
George Dickel Superior is considered as a good entry-level whiskey, not for its ABV level, but its flavors. The flavors of vanilla and caramel are more pronounced than the usual whiskeys, which are always a good thing if you want to ease someone into the whiskey.
You can even mix some water in the whiskey to lower the overall concentration of alcohol and get the drink to a milder level.
Bourbon Whiskey – Wild Turkey 101
If there’s one kind of whiskey that beginners will love, it’s bourbon whiskey. The unique sweetness of bourbon that’s brought about by the corn mashes its made up of makes for a great first experience at whiskey.
That’s why for the most part, any batch of Bourbon whiskey will do if you’re introducing someone to whiskey, though there are some that are better than others for this.
One good example of a “starter” Bourbon would be Wild Turkey 101. Wild Turkey 101 only comes in at a somewhat mild 50.5 ABV, and like other whiskeys, you’ll taste a lot of toffee and vanilla in every shot, combined with the already sweet undertones that Bourbon is prized for.
This is definitely a whiskey that any beginner should try out at least once.
Japanese Whiskey – Hibiki 12
While not as popular as its Scotch and Irish counterparts, Japanese whiskeys are a strong competitor to the already existing variants of the whiskey family. Originally, Japanese whiskeys took heavy inspiration from Scotch whiskies, and have since evolved to become a class of its own.
The great thing about Japanese whiskeys is that they aren’t as complex as other whiskeys, like many Scotch whiskies. Because of that, it’s great for beginners who don’t really care too much about the flavor, but are sensitive to the body of the drink itself.
We recommend Hibiki 12 as one of your go-to Japanese whiskeys, should you choose to go for this new yet interesting variant of whiskey.
Indian Whiskey – Paul John Peated
Like Japanese whiskey, Indian whiskey has a different take on whiskey compared to some of the older and more traditional variants.
In fact, because of how lax regulations are in India, the local whiskey can end up having very different flavors to that of what most people are used to, as they add other elements (such as molasses) in production.
If you’re fine with trying something a little different, though, then Paul John Peated can be a good place to start. The peated flavor of their whiskey is pulled off really well, and it’s one of the better brands of whiskey produced in the subcontinent.
Speyside Whisky – The Balvenie Caribbean Cask Aged 14 Years
We know, we know, Speyside whisky is just a sub-variant of Scotch whisky. But we consider Speyside whisky to be a variant of its own, as they’re home to enough distilleries to be called as such.
Popular brands such as The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich are considered Speyside whiskies, a testament to the level of quality that the Speyside area is home to.
For Speyside whiskies, we recommend The Balvenie Caribbean Cask. This whisky is especially great for those who’ve already tried and enjoyed rum. That’s because they’re finished in Caribbean rum barrels, giving the whisky a really sweet flavor that’s both fruity and vanilla-like. It’s great if you need a familiar taste to ease into drinking whisky.
Blended Whisky – Ballantine’s 17-years-old
Instead of starting off with single malts, why not go for a blended whisky right off the bat? Sure, they might not be as pure as the single malts, but blended whisky can be really flavorful.
Just look at the success of Johnnie Walker as a prime example of how enjoyable blended whisky can be. We’re not going to recommend ol’ Johnnie, though – chances are that you or your friend have already tried it out, and it didn’t really click.
So instead, we recommend Ballantine’s 17-years-old to try out. It’s really smooth but has some complex flavors, so keep that in mind before sipping so you can prepare for it.
Canadian Whiskey – Dillon’s Rye
There probably isn’t a more confusing term for whiskey than Canadian whiskey. The term often gets used interchangeably with “Canadian rye whiskey”, and “rye whiskey”, even when the batch doesn’t contain a single grain of the stuff.
But other than the confusing terminology, Canadian whiskey tastes great and offers a different taste from the restrictive flavors of Scotch and Irish.
Try out Dillon’s Rye if you plan on going for a Canadian. It’s spicy so it may not be for everyone, but the licorice undertones may be enough for a beginner to enjoy (or at the very least, tolerate). Other Dillon whiskeys are also worth trying out if you can’t get your hands on their “Rye” whiskey.
Conclusion
Many people find that whiskey is difficult to get into. It isn’t as mild as beer (or even wine) and isn’t as sweet as other spirits like rum.
But with so many different variants of whiskey, and even more distilleries that make their own unique batches, there’s bound to be some bottles that are easy to drink for almost anybody.
So whether you really want to convince your friend to get into whiskey, or you’re exploring whiskey by yourself for the first time, this article should help you find the ideal bottle that’ll kickstart your hobby in drinking and enjoying the wonderful flavors of whiskey.
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