Easy Drinking

Say goodbye to single-malt snobbery. It's time to toast the arrival of more approachable — and affordable — blended whiskeys. Scotland's Jon, Mark and Robbo's Malt Scotch Whisky blends — the Smokey Peaty One, the Rich Spicy One and the Smooth Sweeter One — are already hits with the 18-to-35-year-old set in Europe.

Now American distillers like Phillips Union are hoping to crack open the U.S. market with vanilla- and cherry-flavored blends. [an error occurred while processing this directive] Connoisseurs may turn up their noses, but the new Scotches are surprisingly smooth.

Big Spenders
Good taste often...