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Single Malt Scotch!
- Thread starter tombowlus
- Start date
it's just because of popular terminology and typical association, and the desire to know more specifics when you care about them.
over here in the states we also have a specific kind of whiskey called "bourbon", also due to where it's made, and we typically don't say bourbon whiskey, we just say bourbon. People who like fine whiskies will also rarely just say whisky/whiskey, because these nuances matter with regard to typical flavors/characters, etc. Details matter when you care about them.
P.S. I've never heard of scotch gin, but i do like gin. can you recommend any specific good ones i might be able to find in the states?
Ever since it was determined that to be called scotch it had to be from Scotland, the rest of the world has pretty much called whisky from Scotland scotch. Simple as that.
Think that's all it is. Being a Scot i usually just say whisky but on occasion i will just say "a nice wee Malt".
I wasn't really aware that Bourbon was from an area and just thought that was the terminlogy for American style whisky so its really down to local terminology. I guess its easier to recognise Scottish Whisky as Scotch. Kinda makes sense really.
With regards the Scottish Gin i'm not a Gin drinker but my wife likes it so we have a few Edinburgh Gins, Rock Rose from Thurso in Highlands, McQueens from Callander in Perthshire area with various flavoured types like Choc Orange, Mint, Citrus. Other that i can think of but don't know how they taste are Scottish Boe Gin (again flavoured) and of course my local one called Biggar Gin. If you google Scottish Gin there are quite a few.
Hope that helps a wee bit.
Dave
I wasn't really aware that Bourbon was from an area and just thought that was the terminlogy for American style whisky so its really down to local terminology. I guess its easier to recognise Scottish Whisky as Scotch. Kinda makes sense really.
With regards the Scottish Gin i'm not a Gin drinker but my wife likes it so we have a few Edinburgh Gins, Rock Rose from Thurso in Highlands, McQueens from Callander in Perthshire area with various flavoured types like Choc Orange, Mint, Citrus. Other that i can think of but don't know how they taste are Scottish Boe Gin (again flavoured) and of course my local one called Biggar Gin. If you google Scottish Gin there are quite a few.
Hope that helps a wee bit.
Dave
yah, there are multiple kinds of whiskies in the USA, so we can't simplify like you can based on a typical assumption of being "from this region". we have tennessee whiskies, bourbons, corn whiskies (e.g. moonshine) and others. Then you add whiskies from abroad like irish and scotch, and there's just no way you can simply say whisky/whiskey and have it mean anything to the listener.
thanks! i'll check it out!
looking at what i can get locally, looks like the only option is something called Caorunn Small Batch Scottish Gin. Mixed reviews. Ever tried it? Feel free to PM me on Gin stuff. Don't want to derail here.
Afraid not tried that one. It all starts the same way anyway whether whisky or Gin. Many of the Whisky distilleries over here are producing Gin too but i'll stick to my Malt whisky's.
At the moment i'm drinking Jura Duirach's Own or Glenfiddich 12 and going between both decanters depending on how i feel that night. The Jura is my top whisky for my tastes.
Dave
On your recommendation I'll be picking up a bottle of the Jura Diurachs' Own. Not much of a Glenfiddich fan but have been keeping the 14 on hand ever since it came out.
Duirachs Own isn't really a peaty or smokey type Malt like some of the other Jura's. Its def my fav tipple and happy to pay the extra in a bar if they have it.
Few others on here have tried it based on my comments and thoroughly enjoyed it so hope you do as well or else my name will be mud on TB.
Dave
Dang....all my bottles of scotch from Scotland say Scotch Whiskey on them. Somebody ought to tell those Scottish distillerys that it's only called whiskey....
- Apr 3, 2003
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Same here. I find that a little contrast now and then allows me to appreciate different bottles all the more.
I've only had one Jura in the past, at a tasting, and it seemed I liked it but I like to buy bottles others like. I got my bottle of Lagavulin 8 on recommendation through this thread, I think Tom Bowlus, and it's enjoyable to drink something and think of where you first heard of it. So it will be for my upcoming bottle of Jura Diurachs.
Its says Scotch whisky to indicate where its made. A few yrs ago other countries were distilling and labelling their whisky as Scotch whisky until the Scottish Distilleries legalised the process so that only Scottish whisky can be labelled Scotch Whisky i think that was 2009. I believe its the actual distillation process that is legalised rather than the name. So at the end of the day the drink is actually whisky. What do you guys call Irish whiskey (i've used the Irish spelling there) like Jameson's Irish Whiskey ? The other reason it says Scotch whisky might be down to the "who made whisky first" debate between Scotland and Ireland as both appeared around the same time and both countries claim they were first. Ireland i think label all theirs as Irish Whiskey. A bit like saying an American Fender compared to a Mexican Fender. Made in different countries but still a Fender.Dang....all my bottles of scotch from Scotland say Scotch Whiskey on them. Somebody ought to tell those Scottish distillerys that it's only called whiskey....
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Thanks, I'm aware of that. But, put simply, what the label says is "scotch whiskey", so what we call it is scotch. It's the simplest explanation for the nomenclature, as it's printed right on the bottle. Just as bourbon whiskey is called bourbon. Scotch whiskey denotes not only the geographic origination, but also ingredients and process, so saying "scotch" gives the buyer a lot of information in a single word. Simply put, is not just "whiskey from Scotland" as your laws wouldn't allow a bourbon made in Scotland to be called Scotch....
An American Fender isn't labeled "American Fender". It's just labeled "Fender". Although, as you spend more time here, you'll note that most people will further define them by adding MIM, MIA, etc. So yes, even with Fender.
Back to Scotch! Welcome to TB.
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You make a good point on the Scotch thing. Being a Scot i'll stick to what i was brought up with and say Whisky. I do however say Bourbon rather than American whisky and i associate Bourbon as American. I guess we generally don't see too much foreign whisky's in bars here. We might see Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and maybe Southern Comfort (is that a bourbon ? can't remember TBH)
When selling a Fender over here they will usually be labelled in the shop as American or US Fender altho not on the front of the bass itself. The American ones are worth far more and many would say better built. Sure that will be same in US ........i hope.
I guess there are many things we associate with a specific country and we could agree / disagree on how we name them.
Like i said before i'm no Whisky expert and i've learned a lot about whisky from the guys on this thread. Just because i'm Scottish doesn't make me an expert. I probably just have access to more whisky's.
Dave
I disagree. This from wikipedia. While it's not a hard/fast rule, a region is definitely typically associated with the name, so it's not irrelevant.
"the precise inspiration for the whiskey's name is unsettled; contenders include Bourbon County in Kentucky and Bourbon Street in New Orleans.Invalid Link Removed Bourbon has been distilled since the 18th century.Invalid Link Removed The use of the term "bourbon" for the whiskey has been traced to the 1820s, and the term began to be used consistently in Kentucky in the 1870s.Invalid Link Removed While bourbon may be made anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the Invalid Link Removed, and with Kentucky in particular."
The part in bold above is the part I was referring to. Yes, not absolute, but pretty darn typical, good enough for me.
While, as a bourbon snob, I would agree that most good bourbon comes from Kentucky
, the region has nothing to to with the legal definition of bourbon. As long as it's made in the states, contains 51% corn, and is aged in new charred oak barrels, it's bourbon. The bolder portion clarifies that, legally, bourbon can be made anywhere in the states. It's a common misconception due to the concentration of bourbon in distilled in KY.
you misunderstand my point. the definition i quoted said that, yes. i'm referring to typical association, ironically, just as you say here. you said it was irrelevant, while technically true, in reality, when you say bourbon to someone, they're going to associate that name with the south, and maybe KY in particular. that's why i'm saying it's not irrelevant. we're talking about communications and perception.While, as a bourbon snob, I would agree that most good bourbon comes from Kentucky
It's a common misconception due to the concentration of bourbon in distilled in KY.
