Scotch: Single Malt, Blended, FLIGHTS

Question 1

Ardbeg 10yr (Islay)

Answer 1

$24

Question 2

Ardbeg Uigedal (Islay)

Answer 2

$25

Question 3

Balvenie 12yr “DoubleWood” (Speyside)

Answer 3

$18

Question 4

Balvenie 14yr “Caribbean Cask” (Speyside)

Answer 4

$25

Caribbean Cask has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, and then ‘finished’ in casks that previously held Caribbean rum.

To create the ideal finish, Malt Master David Stewart filled American oak casks with his own blend of select West Indian rums. When he judged the casks to be ready, the rum was replaced with the 14 year old spirit and the wood was put to work adding the final touches.

The result is an exceptional single malt whisky with the traditional smooth, honeyed character of The Balvenie, married with notes of toffee and a hint of fruit, with a warm, lingering finish.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE

Rich, sweet and creamy toffee on the nose combines with fresh fruit notes

TASTE

Rounded with vanilla and sweet oak notes, with a fruity character that develops with time

FINISH

Soft and lingering

Question 5

Balvenie 15yr (Speyside)

Answer 5

$32

Question 6

Balvenie 17yr “Madeira Cask” (Speyside)

Answer 6

$40

Question 7

Balvenie 21yr “PortWood” (Speyside)

Answer 7

$55

Question 8

Dalmore 12yr (Highlands)

Answer 8

$22

Question 9

Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve (Highlands)

Answer 9

$48

Question 10

Glenfiddich 12yr (Speyside)

Answer 10

$19

Question 11

Glenfiddich 15yr (Speyside)

Answer 11

$21

Question 12

Glenfiddich 18yr (Speyside)

Answer 12

$42

Question 13

Gelnfiddich 21yr (Speyside)

Answer 13

$55

Question 14

Glenlivet 12yr (Speyside)

Answer 14

$22

Question 15

Glenlivet 18yr (Speyside)

Answer 15

$48

Question 16

Glenlivet 21yr “Archive” (Speyside)

Answer 16

$65

Question 17

Glenmorangie 10yr (Highlands)

Answer 17

$17

Question 18

Glenmorangie 18yr (Highlands)

Answer 18

$35

http://youtu.be/7VsOCjaVryc

Question 19

Glenmorangie “Lasanta” (Highlands)

Answer 19

$19

http://youtu.be/nZNuq6pob-M

http://youtu.be/QlYGFxqFgyE

Question 20

Glenmorangie “Nectar D’Or” (Highlands)

Answer 20

$24

http://youtu.be/LOh_02EWbRk

Question 21

Glenmorangie “Quinta Ruban” (Highlands)

Answer 21

$20

Question 22

Glenmorangie “Signet” (Highlands)

Answer 22

$75

A fusion of unique and rare elements, and clouded in secrecy, Signet is the culmination of a lifetime’s experience. A blend of our oldest whisky - distilled over thirty years ago when malting still occurred on site – and spirit matured in a selection of the world’s finest casks, this undoubtedly is the richest whisky in our range. Of course, whilst the exact secrets of its production are known only to our whisky creators, we can tell you that Signet’s melting sweetness and explosive spiciness is, at least in part, caused by our unique roasted ‘chocolate’ barley malt and the ‘designer casks’ made bespoke for Glenmorangie from American white oak. Non chill-filtered

Tasting Notes

[Aroma]

Aroma: A strong Aruba espresso fused with a treacly plum pudding, rich with sherry, and candied orange peel.

[Taste]

Taste: A contrast of rich sweetness with an explosive crackle of sizzling spices and bitter mocha.

[Finish]

Finish: A fresh spring-like breeze of mint with a bright citrus lemony-green quality.

http://youtu.be/Ax4G23nVkL4

Question 23

Lagavulin 16yr (Islay)

Answer 23

$32

Question 24

Laphroaig 10yr (Islay)

Answer 24

$18

Question 25

Laphroaig TripleWood (Islay)

Answer 25

$30

Question 26

Macallan 12yr (Highlands)

Answer 26

$22

vimeo.com/26866594

Question 27

Macallan 18yr (Highlands)

Answer 27

$60

Question 28

Macallan 25yr (Highlands)

Answer 28

$220

Question 29

Macallan Rare Cask (Highlands)

Answer 29

$80

Question 30

Oban 14yr (Highlands)

Answer 30

$30

Question 31

Springbank 15yr (Campbeltown)

Answer 31

$37

Question 32

ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

Question 33

SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

Question 34

HIGHLANDS SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

Question 35

CAMPBELTOWN SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

Question 36

• SCOTCH FLIGHT -

Blavenie “Speyside”

1.5 ounce each of 12yr, 14yr, 17yr

Answer 36

$70

Question 37

• SCOTCH FLIGHT -

Glenmorangie “Highlands”

1.5 ounce each of La Santa, Nectar D’Or, Quinta Ruban

Answer 37

$65

Question 38

• SCOTCH FLIGHT -

Johnny Walker “Blended”

1.5 ounce each of Gold, Platimum, Blue

Answer 38

$95

Question 39

Chivas 18yr

Answer 39

$16

Blended Scotch

Question 40

Johnny Walker Blue

Answer 40

$75

Blended Scotch

Question 41

Johnny Walker Gold

Answer 41

$28

Blended Scotch

Question 42

Johnny Walker Platinum

Answer 42

$35

Blended Scotch

Question 43

SINGLE MALT VS. BLENDED SCOTCH

Answer 43

Consumers and even some bartenders have a misconception that single-malt Scotch is not a blended whisky, but this is a myth. Single-malt scotch is a blend, but it’s a very specific type of blend. In fact, nearly all whiskies on the market today are blends—bourbons, ryes, Tennessees, scotches, etc.—although in this article I’ll focus on Scotch.

The confusion arises from the misunderstanding of two words—blend and single—words whose seeming simplicity mask a more complicated reality.

What Is a Blend?

What we need to do here is to establish that there are two different ways to use the word blend—an informal way and a formal, or legal, way. Informally, a blend is a mixture—in this case, a mixture of two or more whiskies that are bottled and sold as one whisky. Formally, however, a blended whisky is a product that contains a mix of barrel-aged malt and grain whiskies.

There’s a common misconception that because a certain whisky is labeled “single malt,” it must be the product of just a single batch or barrel of whisky. This is incorrect. Most single malts, as you’ll see, are a blend, in the sense that they’re a mixture of whiskies.

What Does Single Mean, Anyway?

Not the product of a single batch or a single barrel, but a single distillery.

The root of all confusion lies in the simple word single. A single-malt scotch whisky is nothing more or less than the product of a single distillery. Not the product of a single batch or a single barrel, but a single distillery.A single-malt Lagavulin may contain whiskies from many barrels produced at the Lagavulin distillery, but it will contain only whiskies produced at Lagavulin.

A single-grain scotch whisky varies only in that it contains barley and one or more other cereal grains, usually wheat or corn. Again, single is misleading here: it refers not to a product made from a single grain, but a product made at a single distillery.

Variables, Consistency, and House Style

When whisky is aged in oak barrels, a number of variables influence the final character of the spirit. A full discussion of these variables is beyond the scope of this article, but they include climate variations, where a barrel ages within its warehouse, and even variables in the quality of the oak used to make the barrels.

Because so many variables influence the character of a barrel of whisky, nearly all whiskies on the market today are made by mixing barrels together to achieve a product that’s consistent from one release to the next. A master blender at the distillery tastes through the barrels that are ready for release and mixes them to create a product consistent with the brand’s flavor profile. Not every barrel produced at, say, Springbank or Glenmorangie will exactly fit the house style that consumers expect. To achieve that house style, then, requires a blend of whiskies from many barrels.

Single Barrel Scotch

A single-barrel scotch is the product of a single barrel of whisky, unmixed with whisky from other sources. Because the flavor, aroma, color, and other characteristics vary from barrel to barrel, each barrel release is a unique product. Single-barrel releases are therefore inconsistent from one release to the next. Not many of these exist in the scotch universe (they’re much more common in American whiskeys), but Balvenie has a couple of them available.

Other Blends

So we’ve established that single malts are usually produced by blending whiskies from different barrels produced within a single distillery. What about all these other blends we hear about? There are three types you’ll encounter:

• *Blended malt scotch whisky:** Formerly called vatted malts, these are a blend of single malts from two or more distilleries. Companies such as Compass Box purchase whiskies and blend them to create new products with certain characteristics. Peat Monster, for example, is a Compass Box whisky that emphasizes the rich, smoky flavor of peat.
• *Blended grain scotch whisky:** A blend of single grains from two or more distilleries. Single grains are usually known for being light and mild, but some distilleries produce exceptional grain whiskies. Compass Box’s Hedonism is a fine example of a blended grain scotch.
• *Blended scotch whisky:** What many consumers think of when they hear the word blend, blended scotches comprise 90% of the scotch category in sales. A blended scotch is a mix of both malt whiskies and grain whiskies, sourced from several different distilleries. Brands include Johnnie Walker, Dewar’s, Cutty Sark, J & B, and Chivas Regal.

About the author: Michael Dietsch approaches life with a hefty dash of bitters. He is a proud new father, malt fanatic, and cocktail curmudgeon. He laughs at grace and lives in Providence. You can follow him on twitter at @dietsch.

Question 44

SCOTCH WHISKY

Answer 44

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_whisky