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April 27, 2018 by Alexander Meldrum
Scotch Whiskey - Trivia
The earliest whisky distilleries were usually on farms, or operated by agricultural or farm workers, and the distillery duties had to fit around farm chores.
Because of ...Scotch Whiskey - Trivia
The earliest whisky distilleries were usually on farms, or operated by agricultural or farm workers, and the distillery duties had to fit around farm chores.
Because of they were only operational for part of the year (post harvest until Spring). Today, many distilleries are still closed during August.
Due to high taxation, in the mid 18th century, there were approx fifty times more illegal whisky distilleries than there were legal ones
Scotch whisky has, by British law, to contain a minimum AVB (alcoholic strength by volume) of 40%
The age of the whisky stated on a bottle is the age of the youngest whisky in that product.
Whisky only matures while in the cask/barrel, it doesn't mature any further once bottled
The first blended whisky made for commercial use was distilled in 1853 and carried the 'Glenlevit' label
The 'Johnnie Walker' label has two of the best selling Scotch Whiskies in the world (the 'Red Label' and the 'Black Label')
Best Scotch Whisky
You can drink Scotch whiskey just as it is (aka 'neat'), or you can just add ice (ie 'on the rocks'), or water (use bottled spring water not tap water). Or perhaps ginger ale, coca-cola or whatever soft drink you prefer.
Dedicated scotch drinkers may insist that a single malt scotch should be drunk neat, with only a drop or two of water. However, blended scotch can be served over ice, or with more water and still be acceptable to 'connoisseurs'.
It's really impossible to pick the 'Best Scotch Whisky', as taste is a very individual thing, and there's such a huge variation of flavors.
However, if you want the names of a few Scotch whiskies that are 'contenders', here are a couple of lists you may be interested in....
According to British newspaper 'The Independent' these are the top ten Scotch Whiskies...
Johnnie Walker Black Label 40 per cent AVB a firm favorite with scotch drinkers the world over. Probably the best blended scotch whisky ever.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old (an Islay Malt) 43 per cent AVB a perfect all-round scotch
The Glenrothes 1985 (Speyside) 43 per cent AVB ... perfect accompaniment to a good steak or roast beef
Old Pulteney 12 Year Old (N Highland Region) 40 per cent AVB .... a good choice for a seafood/fish dinner
Clynelish 14 Year Old (N Highland Malt) 46 per cent ABV tastes especially good when it's served REALLY cold with dessert
Auchentoshan 18 Year Old (single malt from Lowland region) 43 per cent AVB good pre-dinner drink
Asyla (a blended Scotch) 40 per cent ABV .... another good pre-dinner 'tipple'
Highland Park 18 Year Old (Orkney Islands) 43 per cent ABV... good choice for dessert time
Bailie Nicol Jarvie (blended whisky from the Highlands) 40.0 per cent AVB.... named after a character in Walter Scott's novel, 'Rob Roy'
Talisker 10 Year Old (Isle of Skye) 45.8 per cent ABV .... best choice for traditional dishes such as haggis. Robert Louis Stevenson called it the 'King of drinks'
Just to show you how subjective choosing a 'best scotch whiskey' can be, here are what forbes.com consider to be ten of the best...
Bowmore 1964, Bourbon Cask (Islay)
Clynelish 20 year old, 1983 (Highland)
Caol Ila, Old Malt Cask, 24 year old (Islay)
Bruichladdich XVII (Islay)
Cragganmore 29 year old (Speyside)
Macallan 12 year old (Speyside)
Dalwhinnie 29 year old (Highland)
Glenmorangie 15 year old (Highland)
Rosebank 1991 Signatory (Lowland)
Glenkinchie 10 year old (Lowland)
Well, hopefully you're still with us, and as you now know more about Scotch whiskey than most people you'll ever meet....
all you have to do is start tasting them. We hope you enjoy yourself :o)
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