The best "swill"?

[ForresterModern]

Have not personally found a blended Scotch whisky that met my palate's approval, but have tried Chivas Regal, Crown Royal, Dewars, and J&B and found them not entirely atrocious, although expensive by comparison to the lower priced single malts. Speyburn 10 was the worst single malt I have ever tried and not acceptable even by comparison to the above blendeds. Best inexpensive single malts scotches IMHO are Auchentoshan and Tobermory--very light and palatable. Irish single malts are great for the price, very palatable and affordable----Clontarf, Michael Collins, Knappogue are my favorites, and Irish blendeds also are acceptable----Bushmills Black, Tyrconnell, Connemara, Jamesons. Lots of options out there, some great values and some that are only fit for thinning varnish, but unfortunately not a lot of information except in threads like this from folks who have tried several. Unfortunately, everybody has their own opinions, which may or may not match with your tastebuds. Good Luck. Nice thing about some of the more inexpensive whiskies is that they sometimes come in those airline singles that allow you to try several for not a lot of money, albeit each is expensive for the amount you get.

[tundramanq]

*** on the Speyburn. I have about half the singles you mention in my "library". You seem to prefer the lighter end of the peat bog. Think you may like the Bushmills 10 single malt - just a touch peatier than the Black. My taste varies with mood across the whole range, from the light Irish and Lowland malts to the whole peat bog Laphroig and the peppery fire of Talisker.
BTW, IMHO Glenlivet (along with too many of the Speyside singles that should never have been issued as singles , really best as feed stocks for the blenders) is highly overrated (and priced). My reference standard is Highland Park 12.

One option for cheap scotch could be some blending at home. I have tried mixing the grassy lowlands with the heavyer "ho hum" singles and found some interesting results - good and for the worse. Of course I had to drink the mistakes too - after the palate was numb.

[Dale Seago]

I find it interesting that so many people snub blends, when historically blended whiskeys were considered far better and for a much higher class than single malts. The idea of taking the best of the single malts and combining them to create a uniquely flavoured blended Scotch seems like a very natural act. . .

It appears that nomenclature and terminology have move on without me. What you describe is what I always called a vatted malt -- an all-malt whisky comprised of two or more single malts; while "blended whisky" referred to malt whisky adulterated with grain spirits.

But apparently that is no longer the case since 2009, and in fact the use of the term "vatted malt" is now prohibited by the Scotch Whisky Regulators:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_whisky

[tundramanq]

I wonder if "vatted malt"was getting confused with the once popular term "Single Grain" used for the blends. Single Grain described a blend of full bodied pot still malts blended with the much more efficient and thus almost tasteless continuous feed column still grain whiskys. Sometimes using the same wort as feed stock for both stills sometimes not.
The wikipedia entry Dale put up has the 5 (I think still) current legal definitions in the "Types of Scotch whisky" section.
As marketers get more creative, I think they too will get even more confusing.
If it isn't bottled in Scotland, all bets are off as to what it actually is.
With the exception of Talisker ( bottled off site under their control, due to shipping problems to and from Skye)and possibly others, the best bet is usually bottled at the distillery.

Back on topic: Old Fettercairn 10 yr was a good inexpensive smoky Single Malt at $25/btl US. After a time gap it is now out as Fettercairn 1824 - 12 yr in the $35 range ( got it online ) - a bit different but not sure good or bad. It's been too long since I did the side by side "test" on them. Down to a little more than a half bottle of the original. Volunteers?

[Woodsheal]

Picked up some Grant's a few days back. By itself, with a few small ice cubes, it's... okay. Used for a new batch of Atholl Brose, just fine!

[chemist93]

In the local ABC, I usually find White Horse at $17/750 ml. I've tried the malt (vatted) blends, Glen Salen & Lismore, fairly good at $20-30. If I'm looking for not so great, there's Old Smuggler $30/1.75 liter. This blend is smoky and better than Scoresby.

[Lime]

If you find a really undrinkable one you can always use it to make ice cream.

Mix a small amount with the liquid after any heating, when it is back to room temperature or lower, then add the flavouring and any inclusions and put it to freeze. It will make a smoother ice cream.

I use the brandy and rum I buy for the Christmas cake in the same way - though with the rum and raisin I soak the raisins for a day or so so they plump up.

Remember that the alcohol is still there - but it is best made with lavish ingredients and stored in small containers for indulgent suppers.

Anne the Pleater

Wise words! My wife had some success with sweet wine ice-cream and decided to try whisky ice-cream... unfortunately she used the same amount of whisky as she had used sweet wine... it was a very "memorable" dessert (and I was down about a 1/4 of a bottle of whisky!

[Lime]

You could try Lone Piper. I've never tried it but at University one of my flat mates drank it constantly so it must be good... but then again he was a total "Lone Piper"!

[tundramanq]

Anne, the ice cream thing is new and intriguing. I know there is a break point between smoothing and not being able to freeze the mix. How much 40 proof hooch would be right for a 2 quart (1.9 L) batch of ice cream?

[imrichmond]

I rather like Te Bheag. Yes it's a blend (only one on my shelf!) but I really like it, and it's relatively inexpensive. All a matter of taste! int:

Although I am primarily a single malt drinker, I used to buy Te Bheag regularly when I lived in Nova Scotia. It is a blend of island malts, unchill filtered and very good. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find it here in British Columbia. A couple of other blends I would highly recommend (in addition to The Famous Grouse) are The Black Grouse (a deluxe version of The Famous Grouse with a higher percentage of malt whisky) and Bell's Islander, an excellent, peaty blend of island malts that I have, like Te Bheag, not so far been able to find in BC. While none of these is inexpensive up here in the Great White North, they are all less expensive than single malts.