Scotch

                                                                       SCOTCH

 

BLENDED SCOTCH

BLENDED  A blended scotch whiskey  is the product of blending different types of scotch whiskeys and sometimes also neutral grain spirits, coloring, and flavorings. It is generally the product of mixing one or more higher-quality straight or single malt whiskies with less expensive spirits and other ingredients

Johnny Walker They make several different versions.  From the original Red, Black, Blue, Green and Gold.  And you cant forget their short lived Double Black.  Considering the price of their upper premiums, I still find the Johnny Walker Black to do it all.  Its rich, very full and has that strong iodine flavor that is associated with Scotch.  A long lingering aftertaste.  I prefer this one over ice only.

 

Dewars A mainstay name for years.  Probably one of the most popular and recognized blended scotch whiskeys.  Light in taste, but yet still bold on the tongue.

 

 

 

Grants  

 

Very similar in style to Dewars.   Perhaps a bit more body and richness. .  Their 12 year old is an excellent blended scotch.   Rich, full of summer ripened fruits, vanilla , honey and a slight tone of butterscotch

 

 

 

 

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

SINGLE MALT   Single malt Scotch is single malt whisky made in Scotland. To be a single malt scotch the whisky must have been distilled at a single distillery using a pot still distillation process and made from a mash of malted barley. …

HIGHLAND   Highland distilleries primarily produce single malt, which is made from 100% malted barley at a single distillery. Highland single malt is usually made on a pot still, a less complex distilling apparatus that preserves more of the flavorful congeners produced during the fermentation process. On the whole, Highland whiskies are bold, flavorful, and frequently (although not always) made with peat-kilned barley, giving them a smoky, medicinal quality.    Typical Highland flavours:  Fruit Cake, Malt, Oak, Heather, Dried Fruit and Smoke.
Most famous Highland Whiskey:  Dalmore and Glenmorangie

ISLAY  The region is known for its peaty single malts
Typical Islay flavours:  Seaweed, Brine, Carbolic Soap, Apple, and Smoke
Most famous Islay Whisky:  Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin

SPEYSIDE  Speyside is known for its sweet single malts with either very little peat or absolutely no peat present at all. Some of the World’s most famous whiskies are produced in Speyside, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glen Grant and The Macallan are world renowned scotch whiskies.

 LOWLAND Lowland whiskies, on the other hand, aren’t always made with barley (many include wheat and/or corn, making them grain whisky), and peat plays a much less prominent role. Today, many Lowland distilleries use huge continuous column stills, many of which are stories high, to produce enormous quantities of grain whisky quickly. These generally create a light, grassy style that’s used as the base of blended Scotch.    Typical Lowland flavours include:  Grass, Honeysuckle, Cream, Toffee, Toast and Cinnamon
Most famous:   Auchentoshan

ISLANDS  Although diverse in flavours, peat and salinity are found in all of          the Island whiskies, the latter because of the vicinity to the sea.
Typical Island flavours:  Smoke, Brine, Oil, Back Pepper and Honey
Most famous Islands Whiskey:  Talisker

 

Glenfiddich   Full body, rich, absence of any noticeable peat of smoke.  Lots of fruit and citrus here making this almost taste sweet with an abundance of vanilla, pear, honey and apple.

 

 

Glenmorangie  This is one of the more delicate Single Malts.  Hardly any noticeable peat or smoky flavor.   Soft on the palate with a hint of vanilla

 

 

Balvenie  They make so many different styles.  Some aged in Oak, some in Sherry casks, some in Port casts.  Overall all, the Balvenie family offers a very clean yet firm taste.  The absence of peat does not take away from the fullness and perhaps spicy feeling of these single malts.

 

 

 

 

Oban  A good amount of peat flavor here combined with the slight taste of sea salt balanced with fruit and a caramel nutty flavor.   I always notice some fresh citrus and vanilla during the taste and the finish always ends with a peaty, smoky, vanilla citrus overtone.

 

 

Talisker A peaty smoky fans delight.  Once you open the cork on this one, you can pick up the peat aroma from across the room.   The taste is just as powerful in terms of peat.  Yet, it is so balanced between body, richness, spice that with all that peat it is still a wonderful single malt.