Scotch whisky is a classic, but are you a newbie to scotch drinking? Well, then you must not know very much about it. Experienced drinkers have a lot of knowledge about scotch drinking. Over time they develop a vast range of drinking tips and tricks to make their drinks more exciting and, in a way, flavorful too.
Scotch comes in various types and from different brands. There is single malt scotch and double malt scotch. Both of these possess distinct properties. If you are new to the world of scotch, let's give you some tips to enjoy your scotch.
Begin with a Non-Smoky Flavored Scotch
During the malting procedure, the majority of distilleries employ coal to heat their barley. Since the fragrance and flavour of peat might be too intense, first putting a toe into the classification, unpeated or moderately peated Scotch whiskies are best for novices. Slowly with time, as you jump from being a beginner to an expert, you may not find peated scotch as intense. However, as for a beginner, unpeated scotch is highly recommendable.
Have a good sense of smell when it comes to Scotch
One factor that makes Scotch amazing is its scent; however, if you sniff into the glass heavily, you'll end up with nostrils full of hard liquor burns. Instead of inhaling heavily, delicately inhale it while holding the glass at a finger distance from your nose. If you're having a hard time getting any scents, simply cover the entire glass aperture with your hand to focus the scents in one spot, after which releasing the hand and gently inhaling.
Try adding some water to your drink
In restaurants and bars, water and a handful of ice cubes are served with Scotch. Don't consider adding water to the glass as a bad thing; most Scottish bars have water jugs on the bar only for this reason, as it accentuates the Scotch's taste. Water adds up to the flavour and extracts the aroma of the barrel, making the Scotch linger on your taste buds on every sip.
Avoid drinking your Scotch on the rocks
For beginners, it is not recommendable to drink Scotch on the rocks. If you do not know yet, drinking on the rocks means drinking with ice cubes. While adding water to the Scotch helps open it up, ice cubes chill the drink to the point where the flavours are muted. While this is a delightful drink in Scotland, Scotch and soda with a twist of lemon, it will not acclimate newcomers to the single malt's depth of flavour.
Make sure to check the age of your scotch
Scotch whiskies become finer and mellow over time. Consequently, older Scotch whiskies may be more acceptable to beginners. Glen Scotia 25 year old whisky is ideal for its flavour. However, as very few single malt whiskies are judged suitable for ageing over age 18, older Scotch becomes considerably more expensive as it matures. For beginners, 12-15-year-old whisky is good enough.
Buy your scotch from authentic places
Make sure you buy your scotch from an authentic place. Benefits are that you will not be in doubt whether or not the scotch you bought is suitable for you or not.
Conclusion
As a beginner, you need to get a proper briefing about drinking Scotch. Consult an expert or simply just the internet to learn about what might be suitable for you as a beginner. Consider the tips before you gulp down your very first drink.
Mastered the Scotch whisky now? Move on and learn all you need to know about Korean alcoholic drinks like Soju Bomb and Somaek!
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