Scotch: Single Malt, Blended, FLIGHTS Flashcards
Ardbeg 10yr (Islay)
$24
Ardbeg Uigedal (Islay)
$25
Balvenie 12yr “DoubleWood” (Speyside)
$18
Balvenie 14yr “Caribbean Cask” (Speyside)
$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
Balvenie 15yr (Speyside)
$32
Balvenie 17yr “Madeira Cask” (Speyside)
$40
Balvenie 21yr “PortWood” (Speyside)
$55
Dalmore 12yr (Highlands)
$22
Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve (Highlands)
$48
Glenfiddich 12yr (Speyside)
$19
Glenfiddich 15yr (Speyside)
$21
Glenfiddich 18yr (Speyside)
$42
Gelnfiddich 21yr (Speyside)
$55
Glenlivet 12yr (Speyside)
$22
Glenlivet 18yr (Speyside)
$48
Glenlivet 21yr “Archive” (Speyside)
$65
Glenmorangie 10yr (Highlands)
$17
Glenmorangie 18yr (Highlands)
Glenmorangie “Lasanta” (Highlands)
Glenmorangie “Nectar D’Or” (Highlands)
Glenmorangie “Quinta Ruban” (Highlands)
$20
Glenmorangie “Signet” (Highlands)
$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.
Lagavulin 16yr (Islay)
$32
Laphroaig 10yr (Islay)
$18
Laphroaig TripleWood (Islay)
$30
Macallan 12yr (Highlands)
Macallan 18yr (Highlands)
$60
Macallan 25yr (Highlands)
$220
Macallan Rare Cask (Highlands)
$80
Oban 14yr (Highlands)
$30
Springbank 15yr (Campbeltown)
$37
ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
HIGHLANDS SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
CAMPBELTOWN SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
- SCOTCH FLIGHT -
Blavenie “Speyside”
1.5 ounce each of 12yr, 14yr, 17yr
$70
- SCOTCH FLIGHT -
Glenmorangie “Highlands”
1.5 ounce each of La Santa, Nectar D’Or, Quinta Ruban
$65
- SCOTCH FLIGHT -
Johnny Walker “Blended”
1.5 ounce each of Gold, Platimum, Blue
$95
Chivas 18yr
$16
Blended Scotch
Johnny Walker Blue
$75
Blended Scotch
Johnny Walker Gold
$28
Blended Scotch
Johnny Walker Platinum
$35
Blended Scotch
SINGLE MALT VS. BLENDED SCOTCH
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.
SCOTCH WHISKY
