Single Malt Scotch!

[CTC564]

I think the Scotch fad happened a few decades ago. Hopefully. I very much agree with the craft beer fad. It's like people just found out that microbreweries exist.

They have micro breweries????

;-) sorry....

 

[nickbass79]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbreweries

 

[Vic]

Yep, I actually have to fight the wine crowd, as in not feeling animosity toward them. I used to really love wine and enjoy trying new things, but that was 20 years ago before the more modern fad caught on. I really have to try not to let other people's comments on wine deter me from enjoying. It drives me crazy.

The craft beer thing is starting to become that way also the last 5 or so years, with everyone trying to tell you which craft beer is good or which one is bad, etc. I think people should be able to enjoy anything without having some snob telling you why the beer isn't good, and how you should drink something else instead, simply because they read it in a book somewhere. Drives me crazy. It's totally my fault, but I can't help it.

God help me if Scotch becomes that way. I've found scotch drinkers to be pretty open minded for the most part, until you just want to enjoy something simple, and they have to complain that it's not a $40 glass of something else. When it all boils down to money and what something costs, I'm usually ready to check out at that point.

Why would you do this??

IMHO, you worry too much about others' behavior at your own peril.

Why give up something you love just because of posers. Just consider them free entertainment while you know better.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I think the Scotch fad happened a few decades ago. Hopefully. I very much agree with the craft beer fad. It's like people just found out that microbreweries exist.

It's apparently on the up right now, more people going towards single malts instead of blends. But I did see a claim made that it'll die back because today's 18 year olds and folks in their early 20s aren't interested in whisky. At least not good stuff that you wouldn't throw into a soft drink/soda.

 

[gkbass13]

I bar tend at a cool little cocktail lounge in southern Vermont, and have definitely noticed a big whiskey trend over the last couple of years. Bourbon and rye whiskeys are making a huge push amongst college aged drinkers around here, and there seems to be a growing pocket of scotch drinkers as well.
I know that we definitely go through things like makers mark and bulleit rye at faster rates than big names like jack and Jim. Also poring cragenmore and oban at faster rates than dewars. Or johnie red.
It is a small population to study around here, but either way, some nice drinking trends if you ask me.

 

[nickbass79]

I have definitely seen a rise in small batch whiskey drinkers, but good single malts aren't as popular in my area.

 

[pie_man_25]

It's apparently on the up right now, more people going towards single malts instead of blends. But I did see a claim made that it'll die back because today's 18 year olds and folks in their early 20s aren't interested in whisky. At least not good stuff that you wouldn't throw into a soft drink/soda.

I'm 21 and I'm starting to get interested in whisky, I'm just not entirely sure where to start.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I'm 21 and I'm starting to get interested in whisky, I'm just not entirely sure where to start.

It was talking of trends, there will always be some to hold onto some class ;-) .

Is there a local bar that has a selection? Gift boxes and miniatures are a great way to try different malts and get a bit of a feel. Any web stores in the US with large miniature selections? The downside with miniatures is that they do cost more per volume, but it saves you from getting a big bottle that you don't like.

The bigger brands aren't a bad place either. Glenfiddich 12 is the most popular single malt and its a pretty good tipple (the 15 is also an excellent choice).

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

If you want to give the (overall) strongest single-malt Scotch whisky to a friend as a Christmas present, which one would you choose?

 

[nickbass79]

If you want to give the (overall) strongest single-malt Scotch whisky to a friend as a Christmas present, which one would you choose?

Ardbeg Uigeadail

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Ardbeg Uigeadail

+1

If by strongest you are looking at peat smoke goodness.

 

[UncleFluffy]

+1 on the Ardbeg, or a Ballechin if you can find it.

 

[nickbass79]

I'm 21 and I'm starting to get interested in whisky, I'm just not entirely sure where to start.

I cut my teeth on Blanton's Bourbon with a splash of water. That's where I really started tasting whiskey as a drink, instead of a shot. If you want to get into single malts, Dalmore is very tasty and easy on the pallette, so is Glenlivet 12 or 15. There are many different malts that are just as good, some that are less expensive, but these seem to be pretty common.

I always recommend to start with something that is good, but not expensive, then add water(a little more at first, then wane off as you get used to the characteristics of whiskey).

Also, if you chill it with ice or whiskey stones, it subdues some of the flavors. Leaving it at room temp allows the spirit to open up, much like decanting wine.

These are the techniques I used and share with friends that want to get into single malts. Others will have their own techniques. It's all subjective and open to different interpretations.

 

[Vic]

I cut my teeth...

All excellent advice.

On the chill thing, yeah, I pretty much never chill mine, and literally add only just a touch of water... not enough to water down, only enough to kinda' help "separate" the flavors... especially in a complex dram.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not an expert taster that's gonna' talk about weird stuff like "leather" and such, but I do think the experience is enhanced with just a touch of water (purified or even distilled, of course, not tap).

FWIW.

 

[tombowlus]

All excellent advice.

On the chill thing, yeah, I pretty much never chill mine, and literally add only just a touch of water... not enough to water down, only enough to kinda' help "separate" the flavors... especially in a complex dram.

+1, though I'll add that I drink most of my scotches neat. But for some, a touch of water does improve the experience, IME/IMHO. Experiment. Some scotches which I thought I'd like better neat, I prefer with some water, and vice versa.

 

[RedMoses]

Ardbeg Uigeadail

I went to an Ardbeg tasting event, WOW is it smokey!

We got to a chance to taste the Ardbef "Gallileo", apparently it was aged in a casks on a space station, hard to believe but apparently its true, they sent them up there in '99, it was suprisingly very good and very different from thier standard offerings and not as expensive as one might think considering it was in freaking outer space! i think its only $100ish a bottle.

 

[Eublet]

Why would you do this??

IMHO, you worry too much about others' behavior at your own peril.

Why give up something you love just because of posers. Just consider them free entertainment while you know better.

Oh, it's totally my fault, and really only affects me when I have to go somewhere that should be enjoyable, like a wine festival or some kind of tasting event. I know some other coworkers who bring their own wine glasses when they go out to eat, and they'll go for 20 minutes back and forth with the host at a restaurant over the wine selection, telling them they need to drop this wine and start carrying something else because it's more representative of a specific region, or something else. That kind of thing just drives me crazy. My boss at work is a Macallan 18 guy, and poo poo's everything else we try to order such that we can't just sit there and enjoy a glass of something after dinner.

I just wish people would keep their opinions to themselves sometimes.

 

[nickbass79]

Mac 18 is great but Glenmorangie is so similar and half the price. Honestly, I just like most single malts, so I like to talk about all of them.

 

[Cycho]

I'm a Lagavulin guy. I also like Laphroaig but it's a little too smokey for everyday drinking IMHO.

 

[pie_man_25]

It was talking of trends, there will always be some to hold onto some class ;-) .

Is there a local bar that has a selection? Gift boxes and miniatures are a great way to try different malts and get a bit of a feel. Any web stores in the US with large miniature selections? The downside with miniatures is that they do cost more per volume, but it saves you from getting a big bottle that you don't like.

The bigger brands aren't a bad place either. Glenfiddich 12 is the most popular single malt and its a pretty good tipple (the 15 is also an excellent choice).

sounds good to me, I'm in Ontario Canada, so I'm pretty restricted to buying through the LCBO, but I can definitely check out glenfiddich 12 or 15.

I cut my teeth on Blanton's Bourbon with a splash of water. That's where I really started tasting whiskey as a drink, instead of a shot. If you want to get into single malts, Dalmore is very tasty and easy on the pallette, so is Glenlivet 12 or 15. There are many different malts that are just as good, some that are less expensive, but these seem to be pretty common.

I always recommend to start with something that is good, but not expensive, then add water(a little more at first, then wane off as you get used to the characteristics of whiskey).

Also, if you chill it with ice or whiskey stones, it subdues some of the flavors. Leaving it at room temp allows the spirit to open up, much like decanting wine.

These are the techniques I used and share with friends that want to get into single malts. Others will have their own techniques. It's all subjective and open to different interpretations.

Yeah, when it comes to alcohol I'm a bit unique in most regards. While I do certainly enjoy having a few with friends, most of my drinking is very structured - a glass of wine, or my last batch of mead, or more usually some craft beer. It's almost always at room temperature too, why refrigerate something that has been enjoyed since long before refrigeration?

Also, has anybody tried making a whisky using a non-barley grain, but having that grain malted, and not mixed with other grains/barrels like other whiskys?