Scotch basics

Nice post about scotch.

it's not just about drinking apparently

Interesting article about investing in whiskey.

Cragganmore 12 year

So, for my first entry, I'm subitting Cragganmore 12 year, a speyside single malt, for review.  I decided not to review the bottle of Macallen 12 year that I just finished off, because, well...  that's been reviewed enough times by anyone and everyone else.

This Cragganmore is interesting.  Not being a professional, I'm just going to use some layman's terms.

Smell & Color:
I opened the bottle, and honestly, very little aroma. looking at the color, it was definitely a lighter scotch.  And I was afraid it would be a bit weak.  I poured it into my little glass, and felt the little burn in the sinus.  With the Macallen, the caramel came out right off the bat.  Here, a lot of the burn, maybe a little acid coming out of it.

Taste:
As soon as it hit my toungue, it felt like things just jumped around.  It litterally felt like things were jumping around on the tip of my tongue.  Things were jumping it took me a few sips before i could taste something else besides.... jumping!
To me, I taste lots of bitterness, and after i swallow, there's a layer of smoke on the tongue.


It's definitely different from any other scotch I've tried (i think it may be the first speyside I've had).  The most liveliest and jumping off my tongue.  different.  not sure if i like it yet, though I got the rest of the bottle to figure that out ;-).

-east coast.

Scotch

From the east coast....

I think more than simply its flavor, or the burn of the alcohol, it's really just the mark of what scotch is supposed to be like.  I'm not going to get all technical, but a bottle of macallen just makes me feel like I'm drinking a king's drink.  It makes me feel like i have a lot more than what i have.  It's somewhat of an escape.
I'm able to relax, if just for a few minutes, and even if i'm doing everything else, or working on things, I'm enjoying that moment.


If you're reading this, you may judge me as an alcoholic, but it's not that (unless i'm in denial :-P).  I have no dependence on it, but just have learned to enjoy it.  Enjoying the moments in life.
"I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him"

A Quasi-Scientific Approach

Many thanks to Matt for starting this blog. I'm looking forward to discussing, ruminating and savoring our most favorite of distilled spirits - the Single Malt Scotch Whiskey. Why? Who cares. How? Lots and lots. Quasi-Scientific. Methodical. Hopefully. If by comparing scotch's within a class (12 yr's, 16yr's, etc.) is a method then may it be so.

Despite this quasi-scientific/semi-methodical approach I must emphasize that no scotch is better than another - they're just different. Like children, we love them all equally but differently. Like children, each possess qualities that are inherent to them and should be appreciated accordingly. A rougher 12 yr will slap you in the morning and wake you up. An 18 year will curl up with you in your arm chair. Blended Scotches (which won't be the focus here) - well they're just bastards and will hammer you like a centurion.

So here's to a long, slow, contemplation of life in hand and Scotch in t'other. (Highland Park 12 yr)

Salud Matt!