Some Tasting Tips

Start with the right glass.

Scotch is best consumed from a tulip-shaped glass.

Pour and swirl.

Pour a small amount, and swirl it so a thin film covers the glass sides. Let it breathe.

Nose your Scotch.

Smell your Scotch. Inhale deeply. Try to identify specific smells — is it smoky, salty, fruity, sweet, woody?

Take a sip and check the finish.

Coat. your tongue. Then, after swallowing, see what flavors develop. Those flavors are called the “finish.”

Add some water and try again if you’d like.

This is personal preference. Some believe water “opens up” the flavor. Others would NEVER do it. What do you think?

Scotch Regions

2 Types of Singles

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Produced from only water and malted barley at a single distillery.

Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Distilled at a single distiller. With water and malted barley, it may also involve whole grains of other malted or unmalted cereals. It does not mean that only a single type of grain was used. “Single” refers to a single distillery.

History

Whisky has been distilled in Scotland for hundreds of years. Scotch whisky is malt whisky or grain whisky made in Scotland, and made as specified by law. It was initially made from malted barley, and wheat and rye became common in the late 18th century.

Blends

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

This is a blend of two or more single malt Scotch whiskies from different distilleries.

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky

This is a blend of two or more single grain Scotch whiskies from different distilleries.

Blended Scotch Whisky

This is a blend of one or more single malt Scotch whiskies with one or more single grain Scotch whiskies.