It’s something for the classes and not for the masses. If there is anything classier and more sophisticated in liquor than Scotch, they are yet to produce it! Yes, it gives you the high like any other alcohol based drink, but the basic purpose of drinking scotch is still associated with the way it smells and tastes. Before we get to the real deal of knowing what scotch is and how to drink it, let’s quickly peep into the history behind this whisky.
History behind Scotch
The popular belief is that it originated in Scotland hundreds of years ago. The first taxes on whisky production were imposed in 1644, which suggests that scotch was there during the 1600’s, if not before. There were two major factors that made Scotch whisky immensely popular across the globe. The first one was the new production process called ‘Coffey or Patent Still’, which was introduced in 1831. It was this process that led to the less bitter and smoother taste, making it eminently drinkable. The second reason was that the Phylloxera beetle destroyed the wine and cognac production in France during 1880. This meant that there were fewer options in alcohol available during that time, hence less competition!
Whisky or Whiskey
If you aren’t really sure of what does “Scotch” means, then this is for you. Making Scotch is a science and with so many liquor options available, it is at times hard to figure out if the scotch is genuine or not. For instance, a Scotch whisky label should read “Scotch whisky”. If the word “Scotch” is missing, then the whisky is probably made somewhere else and not in Scotland. So, it’s not really a Scotch, is it? Therefore, keep these important guidelines in mind when you choose your Scotch:
o Golden Rule- Genuine Scotch is from Scotland! Everything else is something else.
o If the bottle says “Scotch Whisky” or “Scottish Whisky”, take it.
o If it says Whiskey, then it is definitely not Scotch. There is a difference between Whiskey and Whisky. The very basic one is that whisky is from Scotland, whereas whiskey is usually from Ireland.
Types of Scotch
There are a few complicated subcategories of the types of Scotch, but broadly speaking, Scotch is of two types - single and blended. Single malt whisky means that the entire whisky is from a single distillery. Whereas, blended scotch means that the product is made of whiskies from at least two or more distilleries.
Which Is Better
Single or blended - which one’s better? A debate on this issue is endless. Rationally speaking, there are quite a few who like the fine quality of blended whiskies, but most of the people prefer single malt, simply for its flavor and aroma. Both of them have their positives, but if you really want to taste the traditional Scotch, nothing beats single malted! Now that you have chosen the one you wish to try, here's how you need to go about enjoying it:
Knowing and Tasting Whisky
First thing first! You need a tulip-shaped nosing glass with a jug of water at room temperature. Tulip-shaped glasses work the best as they can trap the aromas in the bulbous bottom and release them through the small area at the top.
Color Richness Color can actually act like an effective age and wood finish signifier. Simple color rule that you should keep in mind is: the darker the scotch appears, the older it is. But it’s not all that simple; every assumption made on color shall be confirmed by the nose!
Weight Issues Another cool way of finding out the age of the Scotch is to perform this test. Try swirling the whiskey around the glass, so that the inner part of the glass is thoroughly coated with a layer of scotch. Now, wait and see the teardrops form and run down the glass. If they run quickly, that means there are probably a lot of them and the Scotch is probably old, whereas if the drops are somewhat thin and go down slowly, it signifies that the Scotch is light-bodied and not so old.
Aromatic Delight Add a little water to your whisky. The water will do two things. Firstly, it will reduce the overall alcohol content of the drink. Secondly, it will raise the temperature a little and release more of the aromas. Make sure that you nose the whisky more than once, as the first whiff will merely be a rush of alcohol, various other characteristics will follow later. A good trick is to hold you mouth a little open while nosing the glass; this will assist you in taking in more of the aroma.
Sip on It Try to pick out all the flavors that you can while sipping Scotch. Don’t forget that while you taste it, even then your nose is still doing a lot of work. At times you will pick out distinct flavors on the palate that you weren’t able to figure out while nosing, and vice versa. The idea should always be to hold the drink and feel it in your mouth. Think while you taste - is it syrupy, or silky smooth, or does it feel tingly on the tongue?
Finishing Touch After sipping and identifying yourself with all the flavors, you should check it for the finish it has. You should be asking yourself questions like: Is the flavor still there, or has it disappear fast? Is it long and warming, or small, crisp and dry? The answers to these questions would tell you a lot of the quality and finish of the Scotch you are having. By now you can probably easily guess - longer the taste and aromas remains, better the scotch is!
Scotch Combo
It is usually consumed plain, or with water, or on ice. There are other combinations too, like - with lemonade, ginger ale, and other non-alcoholic drinks. Traditionally speaking, the Scottish people love to have it before lunch or dinner, as an aperitif with some water. A valuable thing to add here is that Scotch doesn’t improve with the adding of ice, water, or anything else for that matter. In fact, if you want to enjoy the true taste and aroma of Scotch, then having it plain is the only solution. You should ideally take a small sip of Scotch followed by a sip of water and lemon. This will help you in rounding off the bitter alcohol taste as well as strengthening and prolonging both the taste and flavor of the Scotch.
Get Started
With all that information in hand, you can now start puffing on to that cigar, while pouring yourself a glass of distinguished real Scottish Whisky.
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