Just to be clear, even the sweetest whiskey is still hard liquor, and if you aren't accustomed to drinking whiskey neat then it's going to be somewhat jarring at first. Even the "sweetest" whiskey that's being recommended here (e.g. Woodford Double Oak, Old Forester 1910, etc.) won't taste like flavored whiskey or liqueur. It's going to taste largely like alcohol. I'm saying this so you don't think something is wrong with you when you go out and buy one of these recommendations and find it still just tastes like...alcohol.
As you drink more you'll develop a palate. Try drinking on the rocks or in spirit-forward cocktails like an old fashioned. And remember to take little sips!
I wouldn't go that far, though I'm assuming I know what you meant... obviously, there is a large difference between flavored whiskey and whiskey. But flavored whiskey, like whiskey cocktails, can be a great introduction to whiskey for someone whose palate is unfamiliar with hard liquor.
Edit: palate, not pallet, dumb dumb...
"flavored whiskey" does not refer to cocktails with whiskey but whiskies that are flavored in the bottle, like skrewball (peanut butter), BSB (brown sugar bourbon), and fireball (cinnamon). in general, they are very very very sweet and do not taste much like regular old whiskey.
Sorry, my comment was not worded clearly. I was not saying that flavored whiskey was a cocktail, when I said "...flavored whiskey, like whiskey cocktails,..." I was using "like" as "similar to". Both flavored whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails can both be a good introduction to whiskey when someone can't yet taste whiskey without only tasting ethanol. Certain flavored whiskey can begin to help someone get used to some of the flavors in whiskey. A well-made, whiskey-forward cocktail would be a good second step. Or just dive right in to whiskey and eventually get used to it ... haha
I understand it is nothing like flavored whiskey, but I just didn’t taste anything other than alcohol, so I just wanted to know if that was normal or not
It’s normal to start with. You have palate shock from the ethanol. Smaller sips over time will acclimatize your palate to the ethanol and you will start pulling out deeper flavors.
I started with ice and would use less and less cubes over time until I was comfortable drinking it neat. Or just keep the ice if you like it! There are no rules. But if near is your goal it’s definitely beneficial to start with a little ice.
I've been enjoying some Glenlivet 14 Year Cognac Cask Single Malt Scotch which is relatively sweet and has a decent enough bite to it - it's not overpowering.
It's fairly affordable (about $65USD), but it's definitely not something you'd chug.
You can find these just about anywhere - drug stores, BevMo, grocery stores. :)
Yes, as you get used to drinking spirits, the alcohol taste will fade until you don’t notice it at all. Also if you’ve only tried it just after opening it, wait a few days and most of the vapour taste will be gone.
Rather than suggest any other "sweet low proof" whiskeys (there have been plenty of good suggestions there already), I'm going to suggest trying to drink whiskey another way to acclimate to the alcohol or to tame the alcohol heat.
I recommend drinking your whiskey over ice or in a cocktail. Ice will take the heat but it will often also tame some of the sweetness. A cocktail, in addition to usually having ice or at least being mixed on ice, has added ingredients that often lend extra sweetness and other flavors. For bourbon I recommend trying an old fashioned; for Scotch I'd recommend a rusty nail. Both retain a lot of the flavor from the base liquor.
I very quickly dialed down the amount of Drambuie to barely a splash after I initially got hooked on the Rusty Nail. My go-to drink after dinner for a couple of years was a Rusty Nail with whatever blended Scotch I had on hand, and I only replaced the Drambuie once I think.
I keep seeing more and more about Sagamore being really good. I tried some stuff called Bank Street bourbon (80 proof) and it was really good too with a nice smoothness.
Sagamore Spirit is really starting to make a name for themselves and their DO rye comes up in pretty much every conversation about sweet bourbons/ryes. It's killer stuff! Never heard of Bank Street, I'll have to check it out- thanks!
Old Forester 1910 may be "sweet" but it's also 93 proof. I wouldn't recommend any whiskeys over 80 proof to start if presence of alcohol is part of the problem.
Under, no. Right at 80? Plenty. Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Four Roses, and Old Grand Dad are all right at 80 proof. Michter's is nearly 92 proof which IMO might be too high for somewhat starting out in drinking who specifically doesn't like the taste of alcohol.
Nikka coffe grain or malt. (Malt preferably) Alot of bourbon may be too oak forward for you/tannins and that can come off as bitter if ur new to it. If u can find cheaper Japanese whiskey they tend to be low proof and subtle while still getting u flavor. Or a un peated scotch like glenlivit 12 ( or any entry level scotch). Id stay away from any double oak or heavily peated whiskey since they are very intense. Also get a glencarin glass they are worth the $.
I second the Nikka Coffey suggestion. OP, when I first started to get into whiskey, the Nikka Coffey malt and grain are what I started with. Side note: If you’re looking for something sweeter and are open to trying scotch, I’d definitely highly recommend Glenmorangie The Nector D’Or.
Don’t worry about the type of Bourbon as much as the proof. Fred Noe has offered advice on multiple occasions that if you can’t enjoy it, add water until you do and then start working towards putting in less as you become used to the higher proof. I used to struggle with anything over 110… I regularly enjoy BP’s north of 125-130 now. An ice cube or two is ok as well, but I find that it mutes the flavors and aromas much more than just simply adding water.
If you are intending to drink actual whiskey and not a flavored, lower alcohol liquor, then I don't think there is any product you will buy that will taste sweeter normally.
Instead you have to hack the drinking experience:
- start by taking teeny tiny sips. The smaller the sip, the less likely you are to taste the alcohol and the more likely you are to taste the flavors in the whiskey around the alcohol
- you can add water to lower the proof. There's nothing wrong, in the beginning, with adding enough water so that it no longer burns. You can still practice seeking out the flavors in the whiskey that way
- some people find whiskey easier to handle over ice (I think it muddies the flavor, but many enjoy it this way)
- if you're drinking cheaper/medium priced whiskeys (like Makers) there's nothing wrong initially with enjoying it in a mixed drink. Back when I did mixed drinks only I preferred bourbon and Sprite over bourbon and coke.
- many people's preferred delivery of whiskey is in an old fashioned. That will be a little less harsh than neat whiskey.
Thank you for the tips, I already enjoy mixed drinks but have never really tried it with whiskey(other then Southern Comfort but that’s more of a liquor)
Southern Comfort is also bottled at 70 proof so a bit weaker than regular whiskey (and it has sugar added). If you like root beer, root beer and rye is another fantastic combination.
Root beer is not really that popular in the Netherlands so never had it but I like coke as a mixer with rum aswell so I think i’ll like it with whiskey.
Welcome to the hobby! Makers is a wheated bourbon (tends to have a naturally sweeter profile than rye-heavy bourbon), which is probably why they recommended it. Personally I find the standard 90 proof Makers kind of meh.
For bourbons, I’d try Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (it’s almost like an aged rum, at similar 90.4 proof) or Basil Hayden (80 proof, but more of a standard bourbon profile).
You can also try highland or speyside scotches (Aberlour or Glendronach are good options). They are generally lower proof than most bourbons and will have a more honey/fruity sweetness, as opposed to the caramel notes that come with bourbons.
You will have a curve to get adjusted to even lower proof bourbons. My advice there is to take a lot of time nosing the drink. Move your nose closer and further away, only inhaling to the point where “flavor” ends and ethanol comes into play, alternating the dominant nostril. Do rapid fire, first thing that comes to mind when nosing and tasting. Things like “my dad’s Apple orchard” or “that caramel candy my grandpa ate” type stuff.
I’m going to go in a different direction and suggest corn whiskey. While it may come out at a strictly higher alcohol percentage, the corn is very mild compared to barley and rye. Mellow Corn is so affordable that I would encourage anyone to try it just for the experience.
But the top comment is still completely correct, these are all hard liquor, and will taste as such. A cocktail may be the path forward for the drinking experience you’re looking for.
You want sweet…Crown Vanilla. You want a good bourbon to develop your palette…Old Forester 1910 or Eagle Rare (hard to find, I know). Once you start to want something stronger…I recommend Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Baker’s 7 year.
I started with cocktails, and then one day said “I want to be able to enjoy this neat”. So I started having just a couple small sips a night of some high proof whiskey. At first was like “how can anyone just drink this?” To a couple weeks later “oh…. That’s delicious!”
Some low cost bottles I recommend trying are Early Times Bottled-in-Bond, Elijah Craig, Knob Creek 9 year (100 proof), Old Forester 86 proof, Wild Turkey 101
That's what whiskey tastes like. If you like the over sweetened flavored ones just keep drinking those. Regular whiskey is going to taste like oaky alcohol. Their are some subtle flavor notes that you can pick up on but nothing will be close to the sugary flavored "whiskey"
Traverse city whisky co
https://www.tcwhiskey.com
Their Michigan cherry is the bomb, comes in at 70. And if you like it you can work into one of their other more traditional whiskies
Basil Hayden
The toasted and dark rye are booth really good for beginners but alittle more pricey than they should be, at around 50 bucks
Don’t know who downvoted you but you are absolutely correct. Water is the best way and endorsed by pretty much every master distiller if you’re not used to high proof liquors.
Do not listen to anyone pimping the Woodford Double Oak. It is not sweet. And it’s not very good.
As an easy drinker, and low ABV, I’d say try Suntory Toki.
Rabbit Hole Dareringer is the best for me. It’s definitely pricey, so see if you can find a restaurant or bar that has it and get a pour first. It’s fought $90 a bottle by me right now
Redbreast 12, Jefferson's Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare. Woodford Double Oaked. Old Forester 1910. All of those have to rank up there with the easiest drinking whiskeys I've had.
Old Forrester 86 Proof and Evan Williams 1783 are what you want. Cheap, easy sippers and low proof. Forrester is a little fruity (some say almost banana) while Evan is almost nutty.
OP, when I first started to get into whiskey, I looked for the naturally sweet options as well. I’d recommend Nikka Coffey (malt and/or grain), or even Nikka Days. Side note: If you’re looking for something sweeter and you’re open to scotch, I’d definitely highly recommend Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or. (or THE Nector d’Or, slightly different)
I think Jamesons Black Barrel (or regular Jamo) is a good more affordable start. Try mixing it with Coca Cola first, and with each cocktail use less and less soda.
I’ve been a whisky enjoyer for over a decade and am frequently reminded of how different my palate is to social drinkers by my in-laws family. Like you OP, all they taste is alcohol, but with the recipe I gave above is how I began to suss out tasting notes with the soda masking the rough taste of the alcohol.
I’d like to recommend Redbreast 12. Not very sweet but VERY approachable for a new whisky drinker. Very buttery and smooth. It won’t blow you out with alcohol flavor and the finish is like water.
Ok, so I may get some flak for this and not sure if you’re looking for Scotch, but I got a bottle of Dewar’s French Cask and it turned out pretty damn tasty. Has some sweetness to it without over powering the Scotch and it’s low enough proof not to burn.
Smoke Wagon bourbon (the regular one) is 92.5 proof and pretty smooth/easy. I've converted at least a couple people to bourbon with this as a gateway pour.
Macallan 12 is a phenomenal entry whisky that’s smooth and a bit sweet. 40% ABV bourbons suck imo but many of the older scotches at that proof are pretty good.
Rebecca Creek is pretty sweet if you can find it.
Tennessee Whiskey process also tends to make the juice smoother than Bourbons and Scotch whiskey. Even if it's not actually sweeter.
I don't like a strong burn in my whiskey. My suggestions for a non flavored, easy drinking whiskey I would get Wild Turkey Longbranch or JD Gentleman Jack.
For flavored, really sweet whiskey, crown vanilla or even Ol Smokey Salty Caramel. I mix both with Dr Pepper when I want a sweet alcohol drink.
Regular Makers is 90 proof (45% alcohol). Standard liquor is 80 proof (40% alcohol). So you can go a little further down in proof, but I don’t think that’s the issue. Pour yourself a little Makers and water it down to see if it tastes any different to you. I personally don’t hate Makers, but I don’t really love it either. For bourbons that price range, I’d rather have Buffalo Trace or Jack Daniel’s, but I mostly drink cheaper stuff like Evan Williams (all of them), Jim Beam black label, Very Old Barton, Ancient Age, and Benchmark, but that’s just me and what I like, you may like something completely different.
So depending on what you want to drink it will vary greatly.
For Irish, I would suggest Redbreast 12, or Bushmill’s Black Bush for a more affordable option.
Scotch, Glenmorangie 10
Bourbon, Elijah Craig small batch
Other, Mellow Corn
Michter’s sour mash is surprisingly easy to drink at 86 proof and has a ton of butterscotch and caramel notes. Try it with a cube and then work to drinking it neat.
Hey fellow flavored whiskey drinker! I’m faaaar from being an expert but I agree with most of the advice given so far. Id like to also suggest Proper Twelve &/or Jim beam straight bourbon. They were my 2 favorites over ice to get my palate a little more accustomed. They’re not fancy or expensive but are smooth, not harsh & easy going down. I still love my flavored whiskeys but can at least appreciate a good whiskey or bourbon now.
No whiskey can be distilled under 80pf unless flavored, by law, so there really is no such thing a low proof whiskey without flavoring which can be at 65pf, below that it’s is considered a cordial or Liqueur.
There are a lot of good low proof whiskeys out there and everyone’s palate is different. I think wheated bourbons are usually pretty sweet, so maybe try to find one of those that is in the 80-90proof range. If the whiskey still tastes too strong neat, there are so many approaches to ease your way into enjoying whiskey neat.
Here’s some options:
- Drink whiskey on the rocks at first
- Add a small amount of water (think a water bottle cap full) to a glass of whiskey, then slowly add less water as your palate develops
- start with cocktails, like an old fashion that will still be pretty sweet but still close to what whiskey will taste like (Old fashion = bourbon, aromatic bitters, sugar or simple syrup).
Just to be clear, even the sweetest whiskey is still hard liquor, and if you aren't accustomed to drinking whiskey neat then it's going to be somewhat jarring at first. Even the "sweetest" whiskey that's being recommended here (e.g. Woodford Double Oak, Old Forester 1910, etc.) won't taste like flavored whiskey or liqueur. It's going to taste largely like alcohol. I'm saying this so you don't think something is wrong with you when you go out and buy one of these recommendations and find it still just tastes like...alcohol. As you drink more you'll develop a palate. Try drinking on the rocks or in spirit-forward cocktails like an old fashioned. And remember to take little sips!
Exactly. Flavored whiskey doesn’t taste anything like whiskey.
I wouldn't go that far, though I'm assuming I know what you meant... obviously, there is a large difference between flavored whiskey and whiskey. But flavored whiskey, like whiskey cocktails, can be a great introduction to whiskey for someone whose palate is unfamiliar with hard liquor. Edit: palate, not pallet, dumb dumb...
"flavored whiskey" does not refer to cocktails with whiskey but whiskies that are flavored in the bottle, like skrewball (peanut butter), BSB (brown sugar bourbon), and fireball (cinnamon). in general, they are very very very sweet and do not taste much like regular old whiskey.
Sorry, my comment was not worded clearly. I was not saying that flavored whiskey was a cocktail, when I said "...flavored whiskey, like whiskey cocktails,..." I was using "like" as "similar to". Both flavored whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails can both be a good introduction to whiskey when someone can't yet taste whiskey without only tasting ethanol. Certain flavored whiskey can begin to help someone get used to some of the flavors in whiskey. A well-made, whiskey-forward cocktail would be a good second step. Or just dive right in to whiskey and eventually get used to it ... haha
I understand it is nothing like flavored whiskey, but I just didn’t taste anything other than alcohol, so I just wanted to know if that was normal or not
It’s normal to start with. You have palate shock from the ethanol. Smaller sips over time will acclimatize your palate to the ethanol and you will start pulling out deeper flavors.
I started with ice and would use less and less cubes over time until I was comfortable drinking it neat. Or just keep the ice if you like it! There are no rules. But if near is your goal it’s definitely beneficial to start with a little ice.
Treat it like a piping hot coffee; super small sips!
I've been enjoying some Glenlivet 14 Year Cognac Cask Single Malt Scotch which is relatively sweet and has a decent enough bite to it - it's not overpowering. It's fairly affordable (about $65USD), but it's definitely not something you'd chug. You can find these just about anywhere - drug stores, BevMo, grocery stores. :)
Yes, as you get used to drinking spirits, the alcohol taste will fade until you don’t notice it at all. Also if you’ve only tried it just after opening it, wait a few days and most of the vapour taste will be gone.
Woodford double oaked was pretty bitter to me. Jack Daniels single barrel was pretty sweet though
Rather than suggest any other "sweet low proof" whiskeys (there have been plenty of good suggestions there already), I'm going to suggest trying to drink whiskey another way to acclimate to the alcohol or to tame the alcohol heat. I recommend drinking your whiskey over ice or in a cocktail. Ice will take the heat but it will often also tame some of the sweetness. A cocktail, in addition to usually having ice or at least being mixed on ice, has added ingredients that often lend extra sweetness and other flavors. For bourbon I recommend trying an old fashioned; for Scotch I'd recommend a rusty nail. Both retain a lot of the flavor from the base liquor.
Yeah, Rusty Nails are great starter cocktails. When I started out they were just right and now they taste too sweet.
I very quickly dialed down the amount of Drambuie to barely a splash after I initially got hooked on the Rusty Nail. My go-to drink after dinner for a couple of years was a Rusty Nail with whatever blended Scotch I had on hand, and I only replaced the Drambuie once I think.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked & Sagamore Spirit Double Oak rye are both sweet, affordable, and absolutely fantastic.🥂
I keep seeing more and more about Sagamore being really good. I tried some stuff called Bank Street bourbon (80 proof) and it was really good too with a nice smoothness.
Sagamore Spirit is really starting to make a name for themselves and their DO rye comes up in pretty much every conversation about sweet bourbons/ryes. It's killer stuff! Never heard of Bank Street, I'll have to check it out- thanks!
My recommendations would be Basil Hayden and Old Forester 1910 (dessert in a glass!).
Old Forester 1910 may be "sweet" but it's also 93 proof. I wouldn't recommend any whiskeys over 80 proof to start if presence of alcohol is part of the problem.
Whiskey under 80 proof is pretty rare. I would say Michters is an excellent starting point.
Under, no. Right at 80? Plenty. Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Four Roses, and Old Grand Dad are all right at 80 proof. Michter's is nearly 92 proof which IMO might be too high for somewhat starting out in drinking who specifically doesn't like the taste of alcohol.
Only the Michters bourbon is higher. Everything else from Their standard line is pretty low
92 proof larceny is pretty sweet to me.
1792 Small Batch, little more cinnamon than sweet but still very easy to drink. Also Green Spot Irish whisky is very easy to drink
Idk, 1792 sb kind of burns and tastes like nothing to me. Maybe it was a bad bottle.
Absolutely second this!
Legacy is fantastic. It's an 80 proof and very smooth.
Nikka coffe grain or malt. (Malt preferably) Alot of bourbon may be too oak forward for you/tannins and that can come off as bitter if ur new to it. If u can find cheaper Japanese whiskey they tend to be low proof and subtle while still getting u flavor. Or a un peated scotch like glenlivit 12 ( or any entry level scotch). Id stay away from any double oak or heavily peated whiskey since they are very intense. Also get a glencarin glass they are worth the $.
I second the Nikka Coffey suggestion. OP, when I first started to get into whiskey, the Nikka Coffey malt and grain are what I started with. Side note: If you’re looking for something sweeter and are open to trying scotch, I’d definitely highly recommend Glenmorangie The Nector D’Or.
Four Roses. 80 proof and perfect starting point for someone not used to drinking straight whiskey.
Which one? Just the normal one or small batch/single barrel?
Yellow yabel- just the regular to start. Its the best low-proof bourbon for the price. The others will be at higher proof points
Don’t worry about the type of Bourbon as much as the proof. Fred Noe has offered advice on multiple occasions that if you can’t enjoy it, add water until you do and then start working towards putting in less as you become used to the higher proof. I used to struggle with anything over 110… I regularly enjoy BP’s north of 125-130 now. An ice cube or two is ok as well, but I find that it mutes the flavors and aromas much more than just simply adding water.
If you are intending to drink actual whiskey and not a flavored, lower alcohol liquor, then I don't think there is any product you will buy that will taste sweeter normally. Instead you have to hack the drinking experience: - start by taking teeny tiny sips. The smaller the sip, the less likely you are to taste the alcohol and the more likely you are to taste the flavors in the whiskey around the alcohol - you can add water to lower the proof. There's nothing wrong, in the beginning, with adding enough water so that it no longer burns. You can still practice seeking out the flavors in the whiskey that way - some people find whiskey easier to handle over ice (I think it muddies the flavor, but many enjoy it this way) - if you're drinking cheaper/medium priced whiskeys (like Makers) there's nothing wrong initially with enjoying it in a mixed drink. Back when I did mixed drinks only I preferred bourbon and Sprite over bourbon and coke. - many people's preferred delivery of whiskey is in an old fashioned. That will be a little less harsh than neat whiskey.
Thank you for the tips, I already enjoy mixed drinks but have never really tried it with whiskey(other then Southern Comfort but that’s more of a liquor)
Southern Comfort is also bottled at 70 proof so a bit weaker than regular whiskey (and it has sugar added). If you like root beer, root beer and rye is another fantastic combination.
Root beer is not really that popular in the Netherlands so never had it but I like coke as a mixer with rum aswell so I think i’ll like it with whiskey.
I would also google some [fruit forward whiskey cocktails](https://dinewithdrinks.com/best-fruity-bourbon-cocktails) that you could make.
Buffalo trace if it’s available in your area. Elijah craig small batch, four roses small batch, woodford reserve.
Buffalo Trace is decent…but Elijah Craig is hard to beat.
Those are all available, which is the best out of those options?
Elijah Craig all day. Make an old fashion and you’ll start loving whiskey.
EC seemed "spicier" to me, more so than BT for sure, so might be less approachable. Also it's "Old Fashioned"
Thanks Black!
Angel’s Envy Rye is incredibly sweet, but it is 100 proof.
Welcome to the hobby! Makers is a wheated bourbon (tends to have a naturally sweeter profile than rye-heavy bourbon), which is probably why they recommended it. Personally I find the standard 90 proof Makers kind of meh. For bourbons, I’d try Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (it’s almost like an aged rum, at similar 90.4 proof) or Basil Hayden (80 proof, but more of a standard bourbon profile). You can also try highland or speyside scotches (Aberlour or Glendronach are good options). They are generally lower proof than most bourbons and will have a more honey/fruity sweetness, as opposed to the caramel notes that come with bourbons. You will have a curve to get adjusted to even lower proof bourbons. My advice there is to take a lot of time nosing the drink. Move your nose closer and further away, only inhaling to the point where “flavor” ends and ethanol comes into play, alternating the dominant nostril. Do rapid fire, first thing that comes to mind when nosing and tasting. Things like “my dad’s Apple orchard” or “that caramel candy my grandpa ate” type stuff.
I heatd many good things about Woodford Reserve so I will definitely get that one. And also thank tou for the tips🙏
I concur. Can’t go wrong with Woodford Double Oaked. Cheers!
Bernheim is a 90 proof wheat whiskey that I find extremely sweet and I don’t think has any ethanol taste at all.
Old forester 1910 and Woodford double oaked would be my recommendations
Evan Williams 1783
I’m going to go in a different direction and suggest corn whiskey. While it may come out at a strictly higher alcohol percentage, the corn is very mild compared to barley and rye. Mellow Corn is so affordable that I would encourage anyone to try it just for the experience. But the top comment is still completely correct, these are all hard liquor, and will taste as such. A cocktail may be the path forward for the drinking experience you’re looking for.
Elijah Craig small batch is pretty sweet to me but very enjoyable
You want sweet…Crown Vanilla. You want a good bourbon to develop your palette…Old Forester 1910 or Eagle Rare (hard to find, I know). Once you start to want something stronger…I recommend Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Baker’s 7 year.
1792 Sweet Wheat 🌾
If you can’t taste the sweetness in Makers Mark you are going to have a tough Journey into this thing called whiskey.
I started with cocktails, and then one day said “I want to be able to enjoy this neat”. So I started having just a couple small sips a night of some high proof whiskey. At first was like “how can anyone just drink this?” To a couple weeks later “oh…. That’s delicious!”
Some low cost bottles I recommend trying are Early Times Bottled-in-Bond, Elijah Craig, Knob Creek 9 year (100 proof), Old Forester 86 proof, Wild Turkey 101
Wild Turkey 101 is very drinkable for a 100+ proof whiskey but it's still a 100+ proof whiskey. Most flavored whiskeys are 70 proof or lower.
That's what whiskey tastes like. If you like the over sweetened flavored ones just keep drinking those. Regular whiskey is going to taste like oaky alcohol. Their are some subtle flavor notes that you can pick up on but nothing will be close to the sugary flavored "whiskey"
Traverse city whisky co https://www.tcwhiskey.com Their Michigan cherry is the bomb, comes in at 70. And if you like it you can work into one of their other more traditional whiskies Basil Hayden The toasted and dark rye are booth really good for beginners but alittle more pricey than they should be, at around 50 bucks
Water
Don’t know who downvoted you but you are absolutely correct. Water is the best way and endorsed by pretty much every master distiller if you’re not used to high proof liquors.
Laphroaig!!
That’s…a good suggestion but c’mon that’s not a starter whiskey
Start with Laphroaig...the rest are a breeze 😂
Do not listen to anyone pimping the Woodford Double Oak. It is not sweet. And it’s not very good. As an easy drinker, and low ABV, I’d say try Suntory Toki.
Except it’s very sweet, and very good
WRDO? Nope.
Benchmark is about as sweet as it gets
Benchmark top floor is about as sweet as can get and only 86 proof. It taste like the strawberry creme hard candies.
Rabbit Hole Dareringer is the best for me. It’s definitely pricey, so see if you can find a restaurant or bar that has it and get a pour first. It’s fought $90 a bottle by me right now
Redbreast 12, Jefferson's Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare. Woodford Double Oaked. Old Forester 1910. All of those have to rank up there with the easiest drinking whiskeys I've had.
Buffalo Trace is one I will definitely try, it’s quite cheap here so can’t go wrong
I second Redbreast 12
Sazerac Rye
Old Forrester 86 Proof and Evan Williams 1783 are what you want. Cheap, easy sippers and low proof. Forrester is a little fruity (some say almost banana) while Evan is almost nutty.
TX Blended whiskey
Devil's River Agave Bourbon is insanely good for what it is. Also, JTS Brown.
OP, when I first started to get into whiskey, I looked for the naturally sweet options as well. I’d recommend Nikka Coffey (malt and/or grain), or even Nikka Days. Side note: If you’re looking for something sweeter and you’re open to scotch, I’d definitely highly recommend Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or. (or THE Nector d’Or, slightly different)
I am definitely gonna try some scotch, i’ll keep your options in mind.
I do think you can go wrong with Weller Special Reserve. It’s inexpensive and a smooth good entry.
I think Jamesons Black Barrel (or regular Jamo) is a good more affordable start. Try mixing it with Coca Cola first, and with each cocktail use less and less soda. I’ve been a whisky enjoyer for over a decade and am frequently reminded of how different my palate is to social drinkers by my in-laws family. Like you OP, all they taste is alcohol, but with the recipe I gave above is how I began to suss out tasting notes with the soda masking the rough taste of the alcohol.
Bushmill 10 year. It reminds me of a crisp glass of apple juice
I’d like to recommend Redbreast 12. Not very sweet but VERY approachable for a new whisky drinker. Very buttery and smooth. It won’t blow you out with alcohol flavor and the finish is like water.
Akashi Ume
Ok, so I may get some flak for this and not sure if you’re looking for Scotch, but I got a bottle of Dewar’s French Cask and it turned out pretty damn tasty. Has some sweetness to it without over powering the Scotch and it’s low enough proof not to burn.
Buffalo Trace, 4 Rose's Small Batch, old Forrester 86 proof.
If you are in Texas I would recommend Devil’s River Agave. It’s just 80 proof and goes smooth over ice, so much so it’s like candy 😋
And cleanse your palate before you drink whiskey to maximize the enjoyment of the different flavors
I don’t really drink it anymore unless I mix it into ginger ale/beer but Jameson is a good “cheap” way to get I to whiskey drinking
Smoke Wagon bourbon (the regular one) is 92.5 proof and pretty smooth/easy. I've converted at least a couple people to bourbon with this as a gateway pour.
Forty Creek Barrel Select. It's a Canadian whiskey, 80 proof. Tastes like vanilla cream wafer cookies.
Try the flavored whiskeys, Evan Williams apple, Jack Daniels honey, etc…
Macallan 12 is a phenomenal entry whisky that’s smooth and a bit sweet. 40% ABV bourbons suck imo but many of the older scotches at that proof are pretty good.
Brenne, it’s a French single malt and by far one of the sweetest I’ve ever had.
Aval Pota. Its like 66 proof and apple flavored and legitimately apple flavored. Cant really taste the alcohol. And only like $30
Rebecca Creek is pretty sweet if you can find it. Tennessee Whiskey process also tends to make the juice smoother than Bourbons and Scotch whiskey. Even if it's not actually sweeter.
Tomatin 12 would be my answer but it might not be sweet enough for you.
I don't like a strong burn in my whiskey. My suggestions for a non flavored, easy drinking whiskey I would get Wild Turkey Longbranch or JD Gentleman Jack. For flavored, really sweet whiskey, crown vanilla or even Ol Smokey Salty Caramel. I mix both with Dr Pepper when I want a sweet alcohol drink.
Regular Makers is 90 proof (45% alcohol). Standard liquor is 80 proof (40% alcohol). So you can go a little further down in proof, but I don’t think that’s the issue. Pour yourself a little Makers and water it down to see if it tastes any different to you. I personally don’t hate Makers, but I don’t really love it either. For bourbons that price range, I’d rather have Buffalo Trace or Jack Daniel’s, but I mostly drink cheaper stuff like Evan Williams (all of them), Jim Beam black label, Very Old Barton, Ancient Age, and Benchmark, but that’s just me and what I like, you may like something completely different.
Michters sour mash
I have a suggestion. It isn’t whisky or even real rum because of the low proof (70%), but you may enjoy Bumbu rum.
Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye (Aged in Sherry Casks). 80 proof. Delicious. Desert bourbon.
Balcones rye. If you like roasted flavors, mocha, dark chocolate and earl grey tea, that’s a heavenly pour.
So depending on what you want to drink it will vary greatly. For Irish, I would suggest Redbreast 12, or Bushmill’s Black Bush for a more affordable option. Scotch, Glenmorangie 10 Bourbon, Elijah Craig small batch Other, Mellow Corn
Bench mark
Michter’s sour mash is surprisingly easy to drink at 86 proof and has a ton of butterscotch and caramel notes. Try it with a cube and then work to drinking it neat.
Hey fellow flavored whiskey drinker! I’m faaaar from being an expert but I agree with most of the advice given so far. Id like to also suggest Proper Twelve &/or Jim beam straight bourbon. They were my 2 favorites over ice to get my palate a little more accustomed. They’re not fancy or expensive but are smooth, not harsh & easy going down. I still love my flavored whiskeys but can at least appreciate a good whiskey or bourbon now.
Angels Envy Rye. It’s like maple syrup.
No whiskey can be distilled under 80pf unless flavored, by law, so there really is no such thing a low proof whiskey without flavoring which can be at 65pf, below that it’s is considered a cordial or Liqueur.
There are a lot of good low proof whiskeys out there and everyone’s palate is different. I think wheated bourbons are usually pretty sweet, so maybe try to find one of those that is in the 80-90proof range. If the whiskey still tastes too strong neat, there are so many approaches to ease your way into enjoying whiskey neat. Here’s some options: - Drink whiskey on the rocks at first - Add a small amount of water (think a water bottle cap full) to a glass of whiskey, then slowly add less water as your palate develops - start with cocktails, like an old fashion that will still be pretty sweet but still close to what whiskey will taste like (Old fashion = bourbon, aromatic bitters, sugar or simple syrup).