A Guide to Buying a Gift for the Scotch Enthusiast

Weather you're buying a nice bottle of scotch for a fan, or your buying a bottle for yourself there are a few things you need to know. Scotch drinkers can be pretty particular, so try to figure out a little bit about their taste before heading to the store.

The first distinction you will no doubt notice between all the bottles of scotch available at your local liquor store is that some are single malts, whereas others are blends. Single malts are largely regarded as being more pure, and having more intricacies that are noticeable to the scotch enthusiast. Blends are essentially a mix of malts. These can be delicious and are enjoyed by many, but simply do not have the snobbish factor that single malts may have.

The next major distinction will be the age. The importance of age will vary from brand to brand, but generally the older the better, just like with wine. When selecting a bottle of scotch you will notice a very stark correlation in price to the age of the scotch. The brand also plays a big role in determining how much you will spend, but the price within each brand will steadily increase depending on the age you select. Age adds depth to the scotch and allows the flavors to mingle and come out more, so the older the better. It does still vary by brand, a good twelve year old scotch can be better than a moderate eighteen year old scotch, so pay attention to brand as well.

It's important to know the taste of the person you're buying for as some people do have very specific tastes and may dislike some brands for reasons that you may not understand. Look around their liquor cabinet or listen to them talk about it for some hints. Liquor store staff, especially at a nice wine shop, can be very helpful if you have a little info to give them.

So now its time to head out. Keep a price in mind because if you're not careful you can spend an arm and a leg on a small bottle of really nice scotch. Budget is very important so choose wisely.