It may sound unrealistic, but you can get a pretty good taste of Scotland even without visiting. Scotch whisky has to be made in Scotland in order to legally use the name and each bottle tells a story.
Single malts reflect the distilling traditions and environment of a lone distillery while blends combine malts gathered from various distilleries. As a rule, Scotch is dry and pretty smoky but each distiller has their own methods and practices which allow for quite nuanced and distinctive flavors.
If you’re thinking about getting yourself a great bottle or purchasing one as a gift for someone, you may be wondering what you should look for. Keep reading for all the advice you need.
Flavor profile
Do you or your friend enjoy bourbon? Bourbon tends to be sweeter than Scotch because of the corn content so a Scotch on the fruitier floral side may be a good transition. Try a Speyside or Highlands option. If they like hoppy beers like IPAs, they may like a Scotch from the Islay region which has a stronger profile. Of course, even distilleries within the same region will have different tastes so you will need to do a bit of experimentation in the early stages.
Some of the things you need to look out for are peat or smokiness and dry, peppery whiskey. If you really, really like smoky foods and drinks, peat may not be a problem, but it can often be too much for beginners. Similarly, bitterness is usually an acquired taste, so you don’t want to start off here.
Alcohol content
It’s best to start out with 40-43% ABV since higher cask strength can be a shock to newbies. Even at the lowest alcohol content, you may still need to add a couple drops of water or an ice cube if you plan to have a neat drink. Of course, you can also make a variety of Scotch cocktails if you prefer to tone it down.
Price range
It is recommended that you start somewhere in the mid-range – not a super cheap bottle but not a $200 bottle either. Starting at the higher end will of course ruin the drinker for other Scotches and a low-budget product may not give a very good first impression.
Recommendations
If you’re a connoisseur or you’re shopping for someone who is, you may opt for the Glenlivet 21 Archive Edition. This single malt Scotch is quite oaky and not very floral. Sherry notes help to lend some sweetness and it perfect for pairing with dark chocolate. At around $240, this is for serious Scotch drinkers.
For newbies, it’s a different story. Highland Park 12 is balanced, crisp single malt with some fruitiness and sweetness. Glenfarclas 10 is sherried and perfect for those who love their wine. Auchentoshan American Oak is quite light and it’s a good option for those coming from bourbon. Aberfeldy 12-Year-Old is another good starter choice since it is sherried but has just trace of smoke to help you get used to the flavors.
Buying Scotch can be tricky but the only way to get into it is to start somewhere and experiment. Choose a flavor profile that within your budget and see where the new journey takes you.
My husband loved Glenlivet. I am not much of a Scotch drinker and I think that Glenfarclas 10 would be he bottle for me to try.