Awwwwwwwww…to the amber spirits! My Dad, til this day, is a Jack Daniels Man. In my late 20's, I learned how to drink liquor by delicately sipping on Brandies and Cognacs and unlike other lighter spirits, those dark libations have a remarkable aroma that can pinpoint a certain time and place in one's life. Here is how my preference for Scotch began.
Very few women seem to drink scotch, fearing that it is a more masculine spirit, but I unlike many of my peers beg to differ. So when I was approached by The HOT Report to share my knowledge of Scotch or Scotch Whisky, I was completely flattered. I know that no spirit is more indicative of refinement than Scotch.
Scotch has it's own lingo for tasting. Smooth as we know it, means that the high alcohol content is not obvious at first taste, and the initial harsh bite is missing. Smoothness can't hide the alcohol content forever, if you let even the best whisky evaporate into your sinuses, you'll know its there! The opposite of smooth is a sharp attack. I think that this is the most important single criterion for new Scotch drinkers. Some experienced tasters will forgive a sharp attack if there are other qualities of taste desired and present. Finish, which is nothing more than the aftertaste, is an important quality to experienced tasters.
As we slowly begin to approach Fall, our season of cozier cocktails, there is no better time to enjoy the flavor and luxury of Scotch or as some would say, Scotch Whisky. The name itself, Whisky, derives from a Gaelic word meaning "The Water of Life". It is also important to note a few particulars about Scotch before we delve into our list of the best of the best. Scotch is Whisky... sans the E (over here... whiskey is whiskey), genuine Scotch is made in Scotland (as opposed to Ireland) and Scotch is the world's leading drink, it outsells every other luxury spirit in world markets. And with its rise in status and popularity, comes appeal and desire.
However, the world of Scotch can be a tough road to navigate. With its high price points, subtle nuances and many varieties. How does one find their fit without becoming overwhelmingly confused? I've cut to the chase and I've done the research (not to mention the tastings) to get you past the conventional bottles of Cutty Sark, Dewar's and Glenlivet. So whether you drink it neat (my choice), on the rocks, with soda (always on the side) or water (bottled is best), the wonderful thing about Scotch is like your favorite pair of jeans... once you find that fit, you never venture far from.
Like fine wines, different bottlings (years) provide different tastes, but most do not print the bottling date because Scotch Whisky connoisseurship is not as finely honed as that of wine, and many distillers modestly do not care to admit that their product differs from year to year. Below is our LUX list of Scotch Whisky that both novices and connoisseurs will enjoy.
Here is the striking preferred top 5.
Glenfarclas - 17 year
This is your classic Scotch from Speyside, which has aromas of rich dried fruits and cherries. Remarkably, the distillery is still independently owned and operated by the Grant family, making it one of my favorite! Tastings prove Glenfarclas to be fruity with clear notes of sherry and smoke.
Glenmorangie - The Original
Recently acquired by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, and one of the the world's “top five” single-malt brands, Glenmorangie is being coined as the "Sexy Scotch". Consequently, because of it’s high regard, Glenmorangie is recognized by many expressions. We choose to agree with “The Original”.
Scapa - 14 year
Scapa offers intense aromas of toasty vanilla with citrus oils and a hint of coconut. It is both smooth and quite approachable and a great choice for beginners.
Caol Ila - 12 year
Pronounced (“kul ila”), this scotch hails from the Island of Islay. Although considered to be one of the lighter Islays, there is an interesting balance of smokiness and sweetness. An absolute must try at any tasting!
Springbank - 10 year
Last but clearly not least, this one is my personal favorite and comes highly recommended! Also available as a 15 year, this Scotch from Campbeltown, the distillery located on the southern Kintyre peninsula, is smooth and has notes of vanilla, earth and a hint of butterscotch.