Whisk(e)y

What’s the best Scotch?  Best bourbon?
There really is no “best.”  It depends on what you like, how much you want to spend, and where and how you’re drinking it. Only you have your mouth! Browse our tasting notes – particularly the B ratings and above – and see if you can find something that fits your price range and preferences.

Okay I get it, but can you please just tell me a good single malt Scotch to buy to get started?
Pushy, aren't you? Fine, try Glenfiddich 12, Balvenie Doublewood 12; Highland Park 18; and for the very adventurous palate try the much-revered Lagavulin 16.  If money doesn’t matter as much, try Macallan 18.  (And again, browse our tasting notes – find something that’s inexpensive but well-rated and sounds like it fits your taste preferences).

Why do so many people consider single-malt Scotch to be the top/premiere/most elite type of whiskey?
In a general sense, single-malt Scotch is the type of whisky that has a) the widest range and depth of flavors; b) the widest range of individual distillers and thus choices, c) arguably the richest traditions, although it is predated by Irish whiskey and earlier forms.  And of course, d) single-malt Scotch is the most expensive type of whisky.

Also very importantly, blended Scotch is much more widespread and generally perceived to be an inferior product, though this reputation is not always deserved.  Blends are a combination of whisky from various single malt distillers, plus a varying amount of grain whisky.  Grain whisky is cheaper and easier to make, so it is thus perceived as a "filler."  So when drinking a single malt, you're tasting one distillery's product -- when drinking a blend, you are tasting a combination of single malts and grain whiskies from many distilleries.

Can you help me with information on visiting Scotland and touring distilleries?
Nope.  Sorry.

I found/have some old whiskey.  How can I figure out what the value of this whisky is?  Where can I sell whisky? 
If you can send us good information about the bottle, we can (usually) identify it and help you determine the fair market value.  We'll sometimes buy such bottles ourselves.  Email us with a good description of the label, the fill level (e.g. neck, shoulder level, below shoulder), and the type and condition of the seal itself (e.g. wax, foil, screw cap, etc).  In addition, let us know how you acquired the whisky.

You can also sell whisky at auction on eBay and WhiskyAuction, plus some live auction houses, and you can also sell it to retailers like The Whisky Exchange.  You'll get the highest revenue from auctions; however, there are advantages in selling directly to collectors like us (mainly because auctions are a pain in the butt, for starters).  If your bottle is indeed a rare find, we'll fill you in on how all that stuff works. 

L.A.W.S.

See our membership page.  

I already read your stupid Membership Page.  I want in! 

The main thing that keeps us from accepting new members is that our club is kept very small. To be considered when a space opens up (rare but it happens), you just need to live in LA and, uh, know or meet or shmooze one of us.  Our members are professionals working in and around the L.A. area, many in the entertainment industry. None of us work in the spirits industry. This is just a hobby/obsession.

I want to give my husband/boyfriend a gift membership to your club. He's awesome and you'll love him!  You should let him in!  Please??

Surprisingly, this is one of our most frequent requests. We don't know jack about your husband, but you are obviously an incredibly smart and sophisticated woman with immeasurably good taste. Hey, that's a start.

Can I purchase a membership? 

What are you, one of those people who's so rich that they think they're entitled to just buy their way into everything?  Oh -- you are??  Sweet!  We're tired of paying for all this booze ourselves. (Seriously though, we have to turn away offers like this.)

Why don’t you all post your names?
Some members don’t want temperance-minded employers thinking ill of them for being in a whiskey group.  Others simply don’t like being in the public eye.  Some like the mystery of anonymity. And a couple of the guys are just kinda weird.

I like your website, what sort of CMS/Platform/Software/Etc. do you use? 

Our website is hand-coded and custom-designed by us, with the help of some freelance professional coders. It was honestly quite difficult to build and is an ongoing chore to maintain, so we love any positive comments you have about it. Heck, send the negative ones too; we're always looking to improve.

How come some of you have a lot more notes/ratings than the other guys?  
Entering notes can be a hassle, so many members don't do it at all, or do so very infrequently.  But since Adam and Chris administer the website, they don't mind it and TOTALLY RULE.

How come so many of your whiskies are rated highly, or at least above-average?  Can I trust you considering that you don't seem to rate that many whiskies as crap?
Any distiller that takes the time and effort to make whisky probably isn't making crap.  If it's on the market, it's usually at least okay.  And while we say that "average" whiskey is in the "C" range, when we say "average" we really mean your average, so-so, ehhh, plain-ish whiskey.  In most of our meetings and tastings, we're more interested in drinking stuff that has a promise of being pretty decent -- we seek out the good stuff.  Haven't we all drank enough crap already?

It's worth noting that since so much of our tasting is blind, even though on a given day we may be hoping/expecting to try some decent-tasting stuff, every whiskey is treated as a blank slate.  We've tried enough expensive trash, cheap delights, beautifully packaged gasoline, and nasty-looking nectars to know to approach every whiskey as a wait-and-see experience.

See Whisk(e)y Basics. 

Members and Alternates

This is my first meeting, can I get more info?
Congratulations on being chosen as an alternate.  Here’s what you need to know:

Seating for our Tasting Meetings is very limited.  Although seats are initially reserved for full Members, space usually opens up.  These open seats are given to Alternates on a first-come, first-served basis.  Thus, when you receive the email announcing the next meeting, reply promptly in order to be at the top of the Alternates list. 

You will receive a follow-up email confirming your seat.  Remember that the Society is a group effort – if you reserve a seat for a meeting but then bail, you are still financially responsible for that seat (unless it can be filled in time).  The fee for each meeting reimburses the Primary Gentleman for what he's spent on that meeting -- so he's counting on receiving everyone's cash.

(Alternates used to pay a $10 surcharge for meetings; that rule has been changed and replaced with a higher minimum cost for the "Membership Bottle").

If you are a “novice” – and/or if you are used to drinking your whisky on the rocks – we recommend you “train” for your first meeting.  Sip some whisky neat, in a proper glass if possible.  Pay attention to the aromas (very careful not to burn your nose), the way the whiskey feels and the taste changes (or doesn’t) in your mouth, and the lingering “finish” after you swallow it.

Please adhere to the dress code (see rules) and be sure to arrive promptly.  Other than that, be ready for a relaxing but adventurous evening through the world of whisky!

Am I supposed to do anything to prepare for a meeting?
Not unless you’re Primary Gentleman.  Just show up on time and observe the dress code.

I have other questions about the group not answered here.
Check the Society Rules.  If you are a Member, you can post your question on the Members’ Message Board.  Or, uh, just call somebody.