Our first scotch tasting event!

On a balmy Sunday evening, we called to order our very first Single-Malt Scotch Whisky tasting held at Mark R.’s residence in Alexandria, VA. Guests in attendance? Mark R., Scotch F., Travis B., Matthew G., Sam L., and Andrew W.

The drinks on the menu were tasted as follows:

1. Glenkinchie 12-year (Lowland)
2. Dalwhinnie 15-year (Highland)
3. Highland Park 18-year (Orkney)
4. Talisker 10-year (Skye)
5. Lagavulin 16-year (Islay)
6. Balvenie 15-year single barrel (extra credit) (Highland – Speyside)

Mark R. was also gracious enough to prepare some excellent heavy appetizers:

1. Reuben dip (get recipe here)
2. Smoked salmon paté
3. Crab dip
4. Hummos

All were excellent and paired with each of the whiskies wonderfully. The smoked salmon in particular went with the smokier Talisker and Lagavulin.

Each guest was given a bottle of filtered water (see neat/water/ice discussion) to prepare their serving to their personal taste. We started with the gentler lowlands and worked our way through the highland and Orkney selections before hitting the palate smacking Islay malts. From the selections we chose, here is a chart showing how people rated each one (click graph to enlarge):

I was extremely interested in how each person reacted to each one and how different people’s tastes can be. Everyone found something that they really enjoyed where almost everyone really enjoyed the Talisker 10-year fairly evenly in comparison to the other malts. Lagavulin 16-year is always a strikingly powerful smokey Islay malt. My wife says it smells like a campfire and I could not agree more. Delicious.

My favorite comment of the evening came from Travis B. regarding my absolute favorite scotch whisky to date, Highland Park 18-year. “So what do you think, Travis?”

“It is terrible.”

“Really??”

“Yes. It takes like crap in a glass.”

Awesome. His comment is warming. A bear hug.

Proper Scotch Whisky Drinking – Glassware Reviews

Rarely do I find myself inebriated from a single-malt whisky binge (though a few tastings have proved challenging). I would chalk this up to making each drink of scotch whisky absolutely comfortable to your palate and taking the flavor to what I like to call, “maxxed out.”

The first step is to find yourself an awesome whisky that you love.

Got that covered? Excellent.

In my opinion, the next very important step is find yourself a good whisky drinking glass. I have found three that I either own or have used rather extensively (ranked accordingly):

#3. The Crate and Barrel sipping glass

This glass is very nice and very affordable ($6.95 USD each). Though not made specifically for scotch whisky, this glass handles the job very well. The tip of the glass very nicely reaches the tip of your nose to get a nice drag sample of the bouquet of scent as you sip. The snifter shape also contains and condenses the bouquet inside of the glass so that you can really grab the full experience with your nose.

The downside of this glass is that it is just that–glass. There is something less elegant about the glass and also the glass could potentially affect the taste of the whisky. (Buy here)

#2. The Riedel Vinum Single Malt Scotch Glasses

The Riedel Vinum Single Malt Scotch Glass is a crystal piece by Riedel. Riedel is always elegant and impressive when you serve guests. The feminine curves of the glass is very pretty and very delicate. The delicacy is also somewhat a turn-off for me personally because I am a clumsy individual; I am always afraid of breaking it. The other downside of this glass is that due to the open-ended shape, the glass does not contain the bouquet quite as well as the Crate and Barrel or the Glencairn glasses. The small shape and open end, however, can also make the glass more comfortable for those of us with large snouts.

Overall, this is a very nice glass. It will serve you well as long as you do not mind paying $50 for two of them ($25 USD each). (Buy here)

#1. The Glencairn Whisky Glasses

My favorite whisky glass is The Glencairn Whisky Glass. This crystal glass is very heavy in the hand and feels very sturdy. The shape is perfect for containing the full bouquet of scents in your dram as well as giving you a small handle in the stumpy stem. Holding the glass by the stem gives you a wonder sipping experience and keeps your body heat from heating up the glass and over-warming your drink. In 2006, the glass even won The Queens Award for Innovation.

Not only does the glass provide a wonderful drinking experience, the glasses are very affordable ($10 USD each). If you feel really frisky, you can even get them personalized! (Buy here)

These are the only three that I have experienced that really caught my eye as an appropriate glass for developing the single-malt drinking experience.

Do you have a whisky glass suggestion that I have not covered? Let me know!