ENTIRELY OT - Scotch Night
This has absolutely nothing to do with Michigan, Football or otherwise. And yet, it seemed like the right place to post it.
My uncle, knowing my love of the fine malts, sent me a bottle of Origine single malt scotch, which is his favorite. I took the opportunity to get out my bottle of Highland Park, my favorite, and I am now having a lovely scotch sampling evening.
With extra large samples.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
Nothing like a wee dram.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
On that note, Origine has a slightly darker color, a slightly fuller nose, and a slightly heavier drinking quality. It enters more softly and then builds warmth with a mild burn in the back of the throat.
Highland park is overall lighter, and enters more lightly, putting its warmth and tingle on the front of the tongue.
VERY different experiences. Both have a good heather honey taste, but produce an entirely different drink.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:44 PM ^
about scotch. It is always on topic and relevant.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
"I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly..." - Ron Burgundy
August 26th, 2009 at 9:56 PM ^
"Unique New York. OW NOW BROWN COW!"
August 26th, 2009 at 10:27 PM ^
and down the throat.
Back up over the lips...
And down the coat.
Johnny Carson
August 27th, 2009 at 2:34 AM ^
rofl applies here. No, seriously. +1
August 26th, 2009 at 9:50 PM ^
after 2008, how is drinking hard liquor off topic?? j/k
August 26th, 2009 at 9:55 PM ^
Actually, that's not a bad question at all.
Conclusion... both samples were excellent. I will need more to determine a winner.
Yes. More.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:05 PM ^
Are you sure you haven't already had more?
August 26th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
There's always room for more scotch!
August 27th, 2009 at 12:49 PM ^
only better
August 26th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
Evar sipped a wee bit o Lagavulin? Thar is me favorite!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:14 PM ^
Can't say as I've had the pleasure, but next time I've got cash, I've got a bottle of Laphraoig on my list. Smoky!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
I will take three fingers of McCallan, 18 years.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:16 PM ^
You might like Highland Park. It's McCallan's next grade up. I had a fantastic McCallan sampler on the cruise we took for our honeymoon.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
I will have to look into that. We had a scotch tasting back in college with some professors that were experts. We tasted a range of stuff from Cutty Sark all they to Spring Bank, and the McCallan was my favorite.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:26 PM ^
Again, if you're going to pimp it - learn how to spell it! Macallan!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
'Bout 2-3 times a year I run a little taste test to develop a taste for a new libation, mostly to formulate a first hand opinion and appreciate the subtleties between products. Bourbon, Cognac, whatever. For the life of me I can't get a grip of Scotch. Candidly, I think it's vastly overrated, but I also think that I just don't know what I'm doing. If I cut it with water or soda or ice or whatever I can begin to pick up on things, but I feel like I'm effing up the drink and not really learning to appreciate Scotch by doing that. So two questions:
1) Is it in-bounds or out-of-bounds to cut scotch with water?
2) what are your top three brands for someone who knows nothing about Scotch?
August 26th, 2009 at 11:03 PM ^
I think the general rule is drink blended Scotch on ice or with water but a single malt is straight up. Before you take a drink, you want to tip the glass a little and breath in similar to wine. However, you want to hold the glass farther from your nose. If you smell too close, the alcohol will overpower the aroma. As you swallow, also similar to wine, you want to breathe out through your nose to get the finish. I personally like a basic Glenlivet 12 as an affordable single malt. McCallan 12 is a little pricier, but I already said I like McCallan. Chivas regal is ok for an affordable blend. If you are feeling really brace, you can get some Laphroaig. For me though, thats pretty rough.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^
but I've always heard that water opens up the flavors, so a splash of water (very little) is more than acceptable for single malts as well... Perhaps I've been misinformed?
And back to the other question, from someone unable to appreciate the flavor... I'd recommend using ice... The colder it is, the less you're able to taste it. Baby steps... Once you get more used to the flavor, ween yourself of the ice, and learn to appreciate the more intricate flavors. Scotch is delicious.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:23 PM ^
Ahem... "Macallan".... The best. I prefer 15 year old fine oak. My pallet is not sophisticated enough to notice the differences after 18 y.o....
August 27th, 2009 at 7:22 AM ^
Introducing yourself to scotch is difficult. I'll admit that for sure. I started with Glenlivet 12 year with a bit of ice (crushed), and worked my way up. Glenlivet is an excellent starter, but probably won't satisfy you as well once you advance.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
so my favorite for the money is chivas regal
August 26th, 2009 at 11:27 PM ^
along with some ripe Stilton. Peaty, smoky, and not for the faint of heart.
The Lagavulin I mean.
Oban is good stuff too, as is 16 yr Laphroaig. But I always come back to the Lagavulin.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:02 AM ^
"...and the peat, ah the peat."
August 27th, 2009 at 12:34 AM ^
I tend to like the "sweeter" Highland and Speyside single malts as opposed to the more peaty Islay varieties such as Lagavulin or Laphraoig. My personal favorite is the Macallan 18 year, I think it is even better than the 25 for a better price. The proper way to drink single malt is not quite neat, but with about a teaspoon of water carefully applied. In a proper glass (something slightly fluted to concentrate the aroma, definitely NOT a tumbler) it will be enough to just take the sting out of sniffing the aroma, and the idea of the small amount of water (called "Angel's Tears" by the Scots) is to "open up" the scotch, kind of similar to allowing a fine wine to "breathe." The water combines with the esters and the alcohol to release the aromas. In better establishments they actually have a miniature pitcher of water so that you can do this. Sipping a fine single malt is just heaven.....!!!!
August 27th, 2009 at 1:02 AM ^
There is nothing like it.
Chicks like it too.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:11 AM ^
... listen to Pat Sazuki singing "The Victors" while reminiscing about the good old days and making observations like "Meeting Bo was like opening your first bottle of champagne; knowing him was like drinking it."
Link to Pat Sazuki -- you can download by right clicking on it for anybody who wasn't around when it was first posted by Brian.
http://mgoblog.com/content/unverified-voracity-finally-posts-it
August 27th, 2009 at 2:11 AM ^
Glenlivet 12 year FTW
August 27th, 2009 at 2:25 AM ^
The best thing to have with Scotch is...
More Scotch.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:48 AM ^
once and quite frankly, it was horrific at first. But by the end of the night, I was and am highly appreciative - nay, not quite enamoured, but close - of the beverage ever since.
I haven't seen anyone mention a snifter just yet. I had a 'wee dram' from a snifter and it just about knocked me out it was so intense. I believe it was an 18yr Talisker, but who knows... many fine scotches preceded it.
The upshot of this experience is that I drink it on rare celebratory occasions (an M win over the hated bucknuts - I hope to drink scotch more often) or whenever backpacking.
That's right, there's no better backpacking form of alcohol that I've encountered than a decent scotch. It's relatively light weight and has great character. Perfect for a blurry view of ancient galactic history.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:12 AM ^
My cousin's friend brought a canteen of scotch that he left in the freezer over night on our drifting trip down the river for my cousin's bachelor party. Seemed like a fine idea.