Wednesday, December 30, 2009

     Scotch and whisky.  I never realized that they were the same thing.  It sounds more sophisticated to order Scotch.  Scotch makes me think of musty old English libraries and Sherlock Holmes.  Whisky was something the cowboys shouted to the bartenders in old west movies. Scotch is whisky, but whisky is not always Scotch. 

      The Scotch take their whisky seriously.  To be a true Scotch Whisky it must be labeled as such.  The Whisky can be capitalized, or not.  The word whiskey or Scottish on the label means that you are not buying a real Scotch Whisky.  This is a drink that many reserve for the winter, sitting by a warm fire.  Images of Scotland fit in well with winter; the cold and damp weather, the desolate landscape, and the remnants of times long past scattered throughout her hills . 

     Learning to appreciate Scotch Whisky is an art in its self.  This will not be the easiest liquor to start with, but it may provide an interesting challenge.  I was reminded in one blog that rarely will someone in their twenties drink Scotch and this is a drink that reminds you of the breath of old grandpas.  Also, there are few women who enjoy its offerings.

     The art of learning to enjoy this drink is to work up to it.  There is an eight step program on how to become a Scotch drinker in thirty days. Single malt Scotch is for professionals.  Amateurs drink a blended whisky.   The recommended starters are JB, Dewars, Famous Grouse, and Johnnie Walker.  I grabbed the Famous Grouse because of the bird label.  "An excellent choice," the man behind the counter commented.  "The drink of the English military since...forever.  The drink of the man who drafted the creation of the CIA."  It has proved to be an entertaining choice.  I will have to visit that clerk again. There seems to be a cult following on the Internet for this Scotch.  If you go on YouTube, you can watch Famous Grouse commercials.

(Sources: http://www.maxriffner.com/parlor/know-how-to-drink-scotch , wikipedia)

2 comments:

  1. Heh, I went straight from premium sakes to single malt whiskys.

    When you get to single malts, you'll often find a range of flavors within a single sip - for example, I've some Glenmorangie Lasanta that has a wood-resin bite up front, but the finish and after taste reflect the sherry casks in which is was aged. That kind of drinking is a long way from White Russians, or even Long Island Iced Teas.

    The best thing to do is to take the time to fully taste what you are drinking, from when it first hits the tongue until a good thirty seconds after you swallow. Let the fumes fill up your nasal cavity. Before you sip, inhale long and deeply the scent of the alcohol. My guess is that, with beginner's scotches, you won't notice much. But when you get to the serious stuff you'll be glad to have those skills.

    I look forward to watching you become a decadent whisky-drinking steampunk!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahh, the vision of us invading a first class bar in Seattle, dressed with a Victorian flare...

    ReplyDelete

About Me

Boomer, hippie, yuppie, none of these are me. Born in the 50's, graduated from high school in the 60's, married & had children in the 70's, graduated from college in the 80's, joined corporate America & divorced in the 90's, was an early casualty of the recession in 00's,08, still unemployed in 09.

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