Posted on 01/05/2013 4:29:46 PM PST by nickcarraway
It smelled like bacon.
I was afraid to say it out loud, though—I doubt any real food and drink connoisseurs compare the smell of some grand old Scotch to an everyday pork product, but that’s what my nose captured.
In the heart of Edinburgh, in a room walled with brass- and bronze-colored bottles, I sniffed more and more whisky and soon captured a whole rainbow of aromas: cloves, apples, vanilla, sage and strawberries. And that smokiness I smelled as bacon? That comes from the Scottish peat they burn when heating the mix.
Not everyone loves whisky, but as alcohol goes, this bright and golden drink offers a rich taste of the land from whence it comes. Real Scotch Whisky is made with malted barley and pure Scottish water, and to qualify as Scotch, it must be aged for a minimum of three years on Scottish soil.
The range of personality in Scotch is so fascinating and explains why 90% of whisky is sold in blends as opposed to single malt (Glenfiddich is the world’s largest seller of single malt Scotch in the world).
Today, there are 107 different whisky distilleries in Scotland today and none of them make the same product. Like good wine or cheese, the individual peculiarities of Scotch bring out a thousand subjective qualities in every sip. In order to understand those differences, I spent the afternoon in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, practically bathing in whisky.
Though I am an unseasoned traveler in the world of whisky, I sought the help of a professional guide—Angela Kier, the Deputy General Manager of the Scotch Whisky Experience. Angela grew up with Scotch, surrounded by distilleries and the culture of drinking Scotch in Scotland. After showing me the world’s largest collection of Scotch Whisky (3,384 bottles), she taught me how to drink Scotch in these five easy steps:
1. LOOK See the color of the liquid—this is part of the whisky’s personality. New whisky is clear, but gains its color from the used oak barrels during maturation. Color can range from brassy yellow to golden reds or a pale sunshine. The color of Scotch hints at how it was made.
2. SWIRL With your hand on the bottom of a round tasting glass, swirl the whisky until it coats the sides. Look for the “legs”—the drips of liquid pulling back down into the glass. Watch how quickly the legs run down the side of the glass—this reveals how light the whisky is. Some whisky is very light, with lots of legs (an indication of light flavor), while others can be viscous or oily indicating an older, heavier-bodied whisky. A very thick whisky will coat the glass like the golden silhouette of Scottish mountains.
3. NOSE Tasting whisky is an olfactory experience, so in order to capture all the nuance of flavor, you must “nose” the whisky. “Smell with your mouth open,” counsels Angela, explaining how it offers a fuller nose. “At first you might just get the alcohol. Adding a splash of water releases the aromas.” Bring the glass back and forth—nose it deeply again and again. “Whisky is a sensory experience, so get your nose right up in the glass!” says Angela, who told me that anyone can learn to nose whisky. “The best way to improve your sense of smell is to smell everything.” This allows your brain to create a kind of encyclopedia of scents. (My brain smells bacon.)
4. TASTE When you’re ready to drink, let the whisky coat the palate. “Some are creamy and smooth, others light and fruity,” explains Angela. Adding water releases aromas, adding ice will lock them in. “There are a lot of ‘rules’ about adding water, but don’t pay any attention to that. Different brands react differently to water, so find out what you like. The important thing is to just enjoy your whisky.” Also, remember to say Slàinte Mhath! (Good Health)
5. FINISH “Finish” does not mean tossing back your drink like real men do in the movies. Rather, the finish is the whisky’s grand finale where you feel the flavor and tempo of the drink. “Once you’ve swallowed, see how long it stays with you. Scotch whisky can be quick and short or it can be very long and warming.”
Perhaps most important of all, Angela advised me to never drink whisky alone. “Whisky is a drink for sharing—that’s what we do in Scotland, we share one another’s whisky. It warms you up when you’re walking in the hills!”
Like all food (and travel), whisky is also very personal. “My grandparents used to heat their farm with peat,” she told me, “so it’s a fond childhood memory that I get every time I taste a good peaty whisky.” Whisky is like that—it carries a lot of personal meaning and says much about who we are as individuals. This is probably why I smelled bacon—some of my fondest memories involve bacon.
But now some of my fondest memories involve Scotland, which is what I will think of every time I see a bottle of Scotch.
Redundant use of “today” too.
Love ‘em both! Picked up my first bottle of Bowmore at Trader Joes. Wasn’t expecting much, but it was really good. Can’t get it at that price anymore. Should’ve bought cases of it.
This whole thread made me go to the liquor locker and pour a glass of Glenlivit 12. Mmmmm- mmm. Thanks everyone!
As for Scotch, we're a Balvenie / Springbank family.
Gin, the other British libation, it's Hendrick's / Oxley.
And, yes, I know, there is NO similarity within either set.
PS: Checking the local moonshiner to see if Rebeca Creek is available here in Memosa/Margarita-ville.
I’m an Oban man myself.
Try Beak & Skiff Vodka - made from apples. Nice, distinctive, from my hometown.
I’ve never tried the Macallan 18 Year Old, but I do find the 12 year old to be my favorite.
Question my freeper scotch drinking friend. I’m due to retire in about 3 months. What would make an excellent choice in a single malt to treat myself to a bottle? I do like the scotches aged wine barrels like Macallan.
For sixty bucks, you can get a Johnny Walker sampler....red....black....gold....blue. Each bottle is 200 ml I think. Its interesting to taste them side by side.
This thread has convinced me to finish off my last bottle :).
I like the blue...but its finish is loooong and bitter to me. But it is very smooth on the front end. Gold has turned out to be my favorite.
For sixty bucks, you can get a Johnny Walker sampler....red....black....gold....blue. Each bottle is 200 ml I think. Its interesting to taste them side by side.
This thread has convinced me to finish off my last bottle :).
I like the blue...but its finish is loooong and bitter to me. But it is very smooth on the front end. Gold has turned out to be my favorite.
Macallan is my favorite so far but Glenlivit is good too. I find the older stuff is worth it so the 10 and 12 yr olds just dont cut it.
That clear stuff looks like it might have a little bite :)
If you would, try Powers Irish Whisky. It’s not expensive. Not much more than normal vodka. Do a taste test comparing what you normally drink and that side by side. I find quite a bit of difference. Cheap vodka has a harsh bite to it. It is made in a continual distillation still which mixes the heads with hearts and tails and there are off flavors if you look for it. I think you would change your mind if you did did a taste test like I said. cheers!
I see that at the likker store but never could see buying it. Years ago I wasted some money on some swill called Georgia Moon which I gave away. They do sponsor “Moonshiners” on Discovery Channel which I watch for entertainment purposes only.
Regardless, the sentence is a bad one.
People of good taste abound on this thread.
Let’s see: temps in the 20s, snow coming in. The horses all snug in their stalls, the dogs are snoring and the two Maine Coons are cooning around. Just split up a fresh tub of kindling and filled the ready box with more stove-sized logs and splits. A fine moment of relative calm before the storm that’s almost upon us.
This calls for a wee dram or two of that 10 year old Laphroaig I’ve been cherishing. Let’s all make the most of these quiet times.
“May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you’re dead...”
To me most good single malts have a smokey coffee or chocolate taste...
ping
That’s why I drink Laphroaig.
Though I’ve heard on good authority that Bowmore merits a try.
I will have to see if the sampler is available in Canada. I KNOW it won’t be $60 - mega taxes on state run liquor is one of the ways we pay for our “free” health care....the gas pump is another revenue gatherer.
Thanks - it would be interesting to sample each.
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