A Beginner's Guide to Single Malt Scotch

Though the term "single malt Scotch" may conjure images of wealthy businessmen or the James Bond type-of-guy, the drink is being enjoyed by an increasing fanbase of middle-class citizens. The term "single malt Scotch" refers to the fact that the spirit consists of malted barley liquor, distilled and aged at a single distillery in Scotland. After being distilled two to three times, the whiskey is stored in oak casks for a minimum of three years. In more recent years, various used barrels have been used for aging, including those used to store Port, cognac, sherry, Madeira, Bordeaux, and bourbon.

To begin developing a palate that can distinguish many flavors within the liquor, purchase a variety of Scotch brands. For beginners, The Glenlivet 12-Year Single Malt, Glenmorangie 10-Year Single Malt, and Auchentoshan 10-Year Single Malt are commonly available Scotches that can each be found for under fifty dollars. The concept that only expensive Scotches are worthwhile is only mere myth.

After purchasing your first bottle of Scottish whiskey, you may also want to consider purchasing specially designed cognac snifters. Such snifters are not far removed in design from wine glasses, though they are smaller; the Scotch glass is fluted towards the top, concentrating the "nose" (smell) of the spirit so that the connoisseur may enjoy. Some consumers choose to serve Scotch "on the rocks" (with ice) or with a splash of water; the latter helps to release less noticeable flavors, as will swirling the glass.

When tasting a single malt Scotch, pour one to two ounces of liquid into your snifter. Swirl the glass slightly, taking note of color and clarity. This is often influenced by the time spent in the barrel, and so you may develop an eye for the maturity of spirits by gazing upon them. Now smell the spirit, first from a few inches away, then gradually moving closer to the glass. Common scents include nuts, oak, peat, and vanilla.

Finally, take a sip of the spirit. Swirl it about your mouth; feel the consistency of the spirit, and taste the various flavors, whether they are "bursting" or rather subtle; you may notice hints of butterscotch, coconut, ginger, nutmeg, passion fruit, or peat, amongst other essences. Flavors imparted from whatever was aged in the cask before Scotch are also common, adding to the spirit's complexity and taste.

Before swallowing the liquor, do not open your mouth. Instead, draw in a little air through your nasal passages, and then swallow, feeling for how the Scotch tastes on the back of your tongue. This is known as the "finish," and often displays flavors that you may not have noted at first.

Single malt Scotches pair well with a spicy cigar, and may be served as an apertif, after dinner, in the late evening, or at an evening meal. Sexy, sophisticated, and fine-tasting, single malt Scotch is a beverage that lives up to the hype. As with all alcoholic beverages, please enjoy responsibly.