Scotchy Scotch Scotch, aka The Only Part of Anchorman I Liked

By Jessica

I am not the kind of girl that drinks most beers, wine or champagne (hello migraine triggers), fortunately though, I still have a wide range of "hard" alcohols to choose from when imbibing.

My drink of choice happens to be Single Malt Scotch. Now, as with wine, Scotch has a learning curve and complexities but I am going to just hit the highlights here and list some of my favorites, if there are any Scotch drinkers reading, I would love to hear yours as well.

One of the main things to know when trying to select a Scotch is what particular region will supply you with a taste that you enjoy. (These are the four main regions, there are smaller regions as well)

Lowland- Not a lot of peat, light taste, dry finish.

Highland-Full bodied, can have peat or smoke notes, warm slow finish

Speyside-Complex notes, heavy aromas, finish dependent on flavorings

Islay-Very peaty, tastes of the sea due to the salt content of the water

Personally, I don't care for the peaty varieties, so I veer away from Islay altogether. My favorite Scotchs are mainly Highland or Speyside.The first Scotch I ever tasted was Glenmorangie and it's a go-to brand for me, to this day. I also quite like Dalmore, Glen Livet French Oak, The Macallen 18 yr Cask Strength and Isle of Jura. If you are new to Scotch and want to try it, I'd recommend attending a tasting or getting a flight at a pub, so you can see what area agrees with your palette before spending major coin. If you've had Scotch before but found it too strong, I suggest trying a nip in some hot chocolate (and now all the Scotch collectors are gasping in horror) it really compliments the chocolate and doesn't overwhelm you with the burny. 

{Photo Credit: The Whisky Grotto}

Comments

[Robert Beier]

I can attest to the hot chocolate and scotch tasting really good. It's a great 'warm me up'!

[Leah]

I LOVE SCOTCH! ALL CAPS! Royal Lochnagar is our household signature, but we also like St. George, mostly because it's from a local distillery (Alameda, CA; whaaa?). SCOTCH SCOTCH SCOTCH! (Is it too early to have a tiny sip?)

[HollyLynne]

My husband and I did a Scotch tasting in Edinburgh on our honeymoon. I didn't much care for it, but now he's totally in love with the stuff. ESPECIALLY the Islays. Laphroaig is his usual. I've actually grown to like the smell of it . . . once I'm done making this baby I'm going to try tasting it again.

[Jessica]

I LOVE SCOTCH! ALL CAPS! Too. I have 3 in the house right now and had one shipped home on my last visit to San Francisco. Leah, how do you prefer yours? I am a "Scotch Neat"drinker myself.

HollyLynne: I have tried to like the Islays but the peat makes me think I'm drinking dirt. I much prefer something with a smoke or aromatic base (like vanilla, port or spice). I am totally planning on heading to Scotland and doing many tastings/tours.

[Elizabeth]

I am considering becoming a Scotch connoisseur myself. I used to just drink Jack Daniels, but then lately I noticed that whenever I drink it, my hands and feet itch for two days afterwards! As soon as I am unpregnant, I'm going to experiment with Scotch and see if I have the same problem.

[Leah]

ShoeLush: Always neat. Always. No ice, no water, no nuthin.

[Jessica]

Yay! Me too! We will definitely have to have a drink together someday.