My issue with JW Blue is nothing to do with the taste - as I haven't tasted it! It's more about the culture associated with it. It's the scotch that people get to impress people, not the scotch that people get to appreciate.
My sister in law was looking over my scotch collection a few months back (while I was pouring her a JW Red and coke) and commented that I didn't have any Johnny Blue. She then went on to say that she would love to get a bottle one day. This pricked my ears a little, and I (innocently) asked "I didn't think you were a scotch girl?". She pointed out that I was pouring her a "scotch" now, to which I asked, somewhat aghast, "You don't mean that you want to try some $250 scotch
with coke do you?". She replied in the affirmative...
I've got nothing against people having some whiskey and coke, and I always have some Wild Turkey or JW Red for people who want to do that. But the only reason you have a $250 scotch with coke is to tell people that you had it...
chivas 21yr old is a fav of mine. its a blend (and IMO better than JW blue). ballantines is also a nice one. i could also drink good old chivas regal 12 yr old till the cows come home.
As I mentioned earlier, I've got the 12, 18 and 21 year old Chivas', and the 21 really is a fantastic drop. You can taste the attention to detail. The 18 is nice, but not even in the same league as the 21yo.
I can't think of a logical reason why a carefully constructed pure malt blend made by an expert can't be as good or better than a single malt. I mean we don't make single malt beers exclusively do we?
I think a good comparison here is Cognac. With only a few exceptions, all Cognacs are blended. And prior to the devaluation of the brand by the US rap industry, there weren't many folk out there who would argue that Cognacs weren't a sophisticated and complex drink, that could be considered as refined as any single-malt.
(Read a book on the history of Cognac... Honestly, I couldn't put that baby down. Read it in a single sitting!)
To me though, the difference between the single malts and the blends (in my experience) is that the blends tend to be a little bit of everything - nothing to offend anyone. A little smoke, a little peat, a little apple, etc. Personally though, scotch is a "mood" drink. Some days I want to be blown away with flavour, to know I'm drinking a scotch, so I'll have a Lahproig or Talisker. Other days, I'm after something a little cleaner and easier drinking, and I'll have The Glen Livit, or a highland malt. There is a single malt for every mood. Blends, again in my experience, just don't have that individuality - jack of all trades, master of none.
One thing Scotch does to me that beer and a lot of other spirits don't is it gives me this feeling that it's made my blood noticeably warmer, and I can feel this warmth pumping through my veins. I don't want to sound like a junkie but that's the truth. This effect comes way before any actual drunkenness. It makes me feel cosy. I don't drink Scotch that much any more though, but it still gives me that feeling when I do. Like clockwork.
Scotch and Cognac both do this for me. Come home from a real rough day at work, pour a glass, sit back in the recliner, and just drift away...
