Drinking Whisky/Scotch...?

[Bellur]

Hey guys, I have always wanted to be able to appreciate a fine whisky or scotch but have never taken the plunge to try anything. I do love nice beers and I know my tastes in this field so I am comfortable tasting and describing them. I have also had a foray into red wines and I do enjoy them and am learning as I go along. Recently I took an interest and liking to Champagne. Im really only a Champagne novice but I do like trying different varieties although I still think I am very ignorant to a £20 bottle compared to a fine vintage £100's bottle. But the learning curve is fun.

So onto my question, I would like to try to get into whisky/scotch tasting and drinking. My general taste preference of anything is non sweet, I am more a savoury person and I dont like my beers or wines to be sweet either.

Also how am I best to drink a fine whisky/scotch (type of glass/with water/cold with ice??) I am a complete Noob...lol

This is also going to sound completely dumb, but is scotch simply Scottish whisky?

I am also uneducated in the realms of malts and ageing and casks....

I am a blank canvas, I look forward to the responses and advice/suggestions!

Thanks B&B

 

[Bellur]

???

 

[Luc]

Not so sure about that post...

I started with either Tonic or soda water when I drank Whiskey. I'm not a huge fan of Scotch... Bourbon is another favorite of mine.

Your favorite glass and how you like it is how you should drink it.

I moved from Soda water to ice at one stage and I am now drinking it neat, most of the time.

What can you have? Mmm, Scotch, not a fan so I will let Scotch fans answer that one. My favorite "cheap" drink is Canadian Club. Love it. I have Jack Daniels on the occasion or Wild Turkey. They are ok but don't beat CC for the price...

As always, YMMV!

 

[RF1963]

Hey guys, I have always wanted to be able to appreciate a fine whisky or scotch but have never taken the plunge to try anything ... the learning curve is fun.

So onto my question, I would like to try to get into whisky/scotch tasting and drinking. My general taste preference of anything is non sweet, I am more a savoury person and I dont like my beers or wines to be sweet either.

Also how am I best to drink a fine whisky/scotch (type of glass/with water/cold with ice??) I am a complete Noob...lol

This is also going to sound completely dumb, but is scotch simply Scottish whisky?

I am also uneducated in the realms of malts and ageing and casks....

I am a blank canvas, I look forward to the responses and advice/suggestions!

Thanks B&B

Welcome to whisky!

Scotch is a generic term for whiskies from Scotland. However that is a first step.

Let's start with Single Malt Whisky. This is made in batches in distilleries from malted barley using pot stills. The distillery has to be in Scotland for the product to be labelled as Scotch or Scottish! Once distilled, by law it has to be casked for a minimum of two years before it can be called whisky. Each distillery has it's own technique and so each distillery produces a whisky unique to itself. This technique reflects the barley used, the method of malting, the water used, the yeast, the shape of the stills, the wood of the casks, the previous contents of the cask etc. The label on a bottle of SMW will show the name of the distillery (normally in very big letters!) and an age (10 yrs, 12 yrs etc). This is the minimum age of anything in the bottle. Each distillery has a taste profile for the various age expressions and the role of the master blender in the distillery is to use the various casks in the warehouse to keep to that profile. So a bottle of 12 yr old SMW could contain some 32 yr old whisky but it won't contain any 11 yr old stuff. The label should say at minimum 40% ABV. Some are bottled at higher levels.

The range of SMWs is huge. I've yet to meet a bad one but I'm still looking!

The popular blends (Johnnie Walker Red, Teachers, Bells) are made by a different process. The base liquid is a grain alcohol distilled in a column still by a continuous process. To this liquid is added malt whiskies to meet their taste profile. The master blender in this case has a much wider range to choose from to meet the taste profile.

Single Malts are double or triple distilled. This gives a smoothness. I have noticed if I drink blends I get headaches the following day but I don't experience that with SMWs. I believe the distillation process removes some of the poisons responsible.

I'd recommend starting with your SMW in a tulip shaped glass, something that will trap and direct the vapours to your nose (a tumbler is useless for that). Nose your whisky like you would wine, then taste it neat. Add a drop or two of water and taste again, the water will change things. For this reason don't use ice, you cannot control the rate that water is added to your whisky as the cube melts.

Given your wine interests I'd suggest starting with Glenmorangie Original, the best selling SMW in Scotland. This whisky is casked in barrels made of American oak which have first been used to mature bourbon. Then try their expressions which are casked as stated but then finished in casks used for sherry, sauternes and port; respectively the Glenmorangie Lantana, Nector D'Or and Quinta Ruban. You'll be surprised at the differences between the four especially remembering they all started out the same way. I've seen gift packs with all four expressions in half bottles.

I hope this helps to start you on your way. There are loads of whiskies to enjoy. If I can help further please PM me.

Roy

 

[Bellur]

Wow! Thanks for the very informative reply Roy, much appreciated. Many things in there I wasnt aware of, particularly in the distilling process between SMW and the more opular brands as you call them. I will definately take you up on the advice! I'll have a look out for one of the gift sets and try each and report back how I like each and what differences I take a like to

I live pretty close to the Bushmills distillery but I have never visited, so this new venture could be the perfect excuse!

 

[RF1963]

Wow! Thanks for the very informative reply Roy, much appreciated. Many things in there I wasnt aware of, particularly in the distilling process between SMW and the more opular brands as you call them. I will definately take you up on the advice! I'll have a look out for one of the gift sets and try each and report back how I like each and what differences I take a like to

I live pretty close to the Bushmills distillery but I have never visited, so this new venture could be the perfect excuse!

Now Bushmills, that is a lovely whiskey. It is triple distilled and very smooth. The purpose of malting the barley is to start the germination process and then stop it. This converts non soluble starches into sugar which the yeast needs for fermentation. The germination is stopped by heat. The Irish use a closed fire. The Scots use an open fire so Scottish whisky can be smoky, Irish isn't.

Bushmill's Green Label is lovely. Very smooth and you should get a hint of caramel. If you leave an empty glass for five minutes and then nose it you'll definitely get the caramel.

Jameson 12 yr old is casked in sherry barrels and you get a definite sense of that.

Irish Single Malts are a great drink. I envy you your proximity to Bushmills!

 

[BigRich]

I used to give more directional advice on how to start out. However, over the years so many people I've lead through tastings have shown such different palates that I've changed my approach.

The best, most consistent advice I can give is to go to a non-smoking/not very smokey drinking establishment with a good variety of whiskies and try as many as you can. That way you don't have to commit to a bottle you may not like and you can follow your own path. If they have a decent bartender that can help you find similar things to try based on what you are or aren't liking that would help too.

 

[jlanger]

if you're not a big fan of sweet I'd be cautious of bourbons, they tend to be a bit sweeter because of the corn mash that's in them. Scotches will be not as sweet but have a nice "peety" taste. I'd try blended ones first i.e. Johnny Walker, and work my way up to single malts. JW black and Green are amongst my favorite whiskies, but I know there are many others. Canadian blended whiskies, i.e. Crown Royal are often over looked by connoisseurs, but IMO are pretty good too.

 

[Bellur]

Think I'm gonna try the Glenmorangie gift pack, gives me a chance to try some different whiskys for a decent price. I have been checking some of my local supermarkets but they dont seem to have any gift packs. Might have to order online. Seems reasonable for £20... I also have my eye on a nice "thistle" shaped glass

Well Roy, if you ever took a fancy for a special Bushmills item, id have no problem picking it up and mailing it to you, just drop me a PM

Thanks for the help gents.

 

[Bellur]

Ok so I had to pop out and managed to find a single malt sample pack at my local supermarket. 4x5cl bottles of single malt scotch's for £10 which I thought was fair. So I have:-

Glenkinchie 12 Year Old 43%
Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old 43%
The Singleton of Dufftown 40%
Talisker 10 Year Old 45.8%

I figured this might let me try some different tastes and let you guys know what I thought.

One question I have, what is a drink measure for scotch? Is it 2.5cl or 5cl?
Also should they be chilled, one of the whiskys from the little booklet supplied suggests drinking neat straight from the freezer?

Quite excited now!

 

[Mazeman]

My recommendations for beginners, from years of personal experience :

Whiskey (bourbon): Woodford Reserve or Makers Mark (a little sweeter), on the rocks.

Blended Scotch: the most expensive Johnnie Walker you feel like paying for, on the rocks.

Single Malt Scotch: Highland Park 12yo, with a tiny amount of water. No ice.

I'm not saying these are "the best you can get", but they're all excellent choices for beginners (and seasoned drinkers), and they are balanced, ie will not expose you to extremes of flavor that might risk turning you off (eg Laphroaig Scotch).

Enjoy the journey.

 

[baggiez]

My recommendations for beginners, from years of personal experience :

Whiskey (bourbon): Woodford Reserve or Makers Mark (a little sweeter), on the rocks.

Blended Scotch: the most expensive Johnnie Walker you feel like paying for, on the rocks.

Single Malt Scotch: Highland Park 12yo, with a tiny amount of water. No ice.

I'm not saying these are "the best you can get", but they're all excellent choices for beginners (and seasoned drinkers), and they are balanced, ie will not expose you to extremes of flavor that might risk turning you off (eg Laphroaig Scotch).

Enjoy the journey.

My single malt experience is not as broad as some here at B&B but after reading all the good press on Highland Park 12yo I have to agree. It's smooth with a little water or ice and is a long long way from the harsh scotch I could afford when I was younger.
I'm sure you will find one or two to your liking.

 

[StillShaving]

I recommend just buying some random bourbons and scotches (single malt or blends) and try them out and let your taste preferences follow. Don't go for high end to start. Can try them neat (straight up without water) or add just a little distilled water or ice. You should also try some Irish Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey, Gin, Brandy, Tequila, etc, for more contrast. Brandy is the sweetest, but not too sweet

 

[DavyRay]

Your sampler is a good start. Some people sprinkle a few drops of good water into the Scotch, to wake up the flavor. You will figure out what a wee dram is pretty soon. No need to obsess about that one.

If you need to cleanse your palette between different brands of Scotch, try a cigar.

My favorite single-malt right now is Glenfiddich.

 

[jlanger]

Your sampler is a good start. Some people sprinkle a few drops of good water into the Scotch, to wake up the flavor. You will figure out what a wee dram is pretty soon. No need to obsess about that one.

If you need to cleanse your palette between different brands of Scotch, try a cigar.

My favorite single-malt right now is Glenfiddich.

scotch + cigar, pure ecstasy!

 

[RF1963]

Ok so I had to pop out and managed to find a single malt sample pack at my local supermarket. 4x5cl bottles of single malt scotch's for £10 which I thought was fair. So I have:-

Glenkinchie 12 Year Old 43%
Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old 43%
The Singleton of Dufftown 40%
Talisker 10 Year Old 45.8%

I figured this might let me try some different tastes and let you guys know what I thought.

One question I have, what is a drink measure for scotch? Is it 2.5cl or 5cl?
Also should they be chilled, one of the whiskys from the little booklet supplied suggests drinking neat straight from the freezer?

Quite excited now!

Damn good value. Wish I could get that down here!

I'm not sure about this idea of keeping it in the freezer. I wouldn't do it myself.

As to measures I really can't help there. My home measures are distinctly unreliable!

 

[Uncle Erik]

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Given your proximity to many distilleries, I strongly suggest visiting some distilleries. You'll learn a lot and the people running them tend towards the extremely knowledgeable.

I haven't had the opportunity to visit Scotland (yet) but fully plan to make a thorough tour one of these days.

Closer to home, there are many wineries and microbreweries in California and Oregon, where I lived for about eight years. Every visit brought more knowledge and a better understanding.

 

[dwestenk]

scotch + cigar, pure ecstasy!

IMHO, with that inability to taste and smell from the smoke, you won't care what scotch you're drinking! As always, YMMV.

 

[djh]

I hope that your first steps into the world of whisk(e)y have been enjoyable. The idea of getting some samples or visiting a store which is holding a tasting is great- there are a huge variety of flavours available and as a newcomer it is difficult to imagine what you might enjoy drinking. I would also suggest a book by Jim Murray- he regularly releases guides to whiskies of the world with tasting notes which will allow you to gather some more ideas.
Just remember- there are no bad whiskies...... but perhaps there are some that you might not appreciate today!
Cheers!

 

[DE Shaver]

If you want a savory whisky, try Bowmore 12 year Islay single malt scotch. Laphroaig 10 year is also a good choice as well.