While the genus Scotch has very specific taxonomy: It must be from Scotland, distilled from malted barley, aged at least 3 years in oak casks – by style and by region, Scotch shows great deal of individuality.
Scotch Whiskies are produced in 5 official domains: Highland, Lowland, Campeltown, Islay and Speyside. It would be an over simplification to say that the Highland whiskies have hints of heather and peat, the Lowland are likely to be triple distilled and the Isle of Islay produces only single malts. These geographical regions are along the lines of wine appellations - informing where the product came from - rather than being used to designate a particular style.
The character of an individual Scotch is determined by whether it is a blended or a single malt Scotch, more than by its birthplace. Single malt is a Whisky made at a single distillery from a single grain. A blended Whisky is made from a combination of whiskies and cereals (Usually including grains other than barley).
The standard bias states single malts are superior. Whether this is due to taste, the application of craftsmanship or some form of snobbery is debatable. 90% of all Scotch sold is the blended kind, including the powerhouse brands J&B, Dewars, Johnnie Walker and Chivas. As unrepentant Bourbon lovers, Saucyman has nary a problem with blending from different casks, combining distillate from are different years and batches or mixing whisky produced at more than one distillery to make a unified product. A blended Scotch like The (titular article) Famous Grouse is a good product, not better or worse than a single malt: A good Whisky is a good whisky.
The one area where single malt and blended Scotch Whiskies differ - is not in quality but in how they are used. It is a highly personal choice how to take one’s Whisky but for Single Malts, a sprinkle of water, an ice cube or just plain neat (sans all but a glass - drinking straight out of a bottle is called something else) will really help take in all the subtleties of a particular Scotch. Other ingredients, like soda or vermouth, could distract from the nuance of a hand-crafted Whisky.
Because Scotch varies so much in taste, it is impossible to recommend a starter brand. A better way to get an idea of what you personally like, is to find a good bar, maybe even a fancy bar, possibly located in a hotel and ask the bartender to recommend two Scotch Whiskies. Start by trying a blended next to a single malt. Your next visit you can compare a peaty variety against a less peaty Whisky. On a different night taste an 8 year old and a 12 year old made by the same company side by side. Although this might use up your allowance for a month or so at least you will be an educated when you go to buy your first bottle of good Scotch rather than feel you are buying a $40 to $80 lottery ticket – ending up with an expensive thing you might not like.
We’ll wrap up whiskey week on Friday with Bourbon. I thought I was being all clever by calling this series ‘Whisky-Pedia’, it turns out there is actually a whiskipedia and for more detailed and possibly more accurate information about brown liquor, you can link to them here.
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