What is Scotch, and how to drink it?

You’ve probably heard about Scotch. It’s an alcoholic drink used for celebrations, and at parties sometimes. But, have you ever wondered what it is exactly? Or where it came from, and how to drink it? Well, if you have, then you’re in luck. This article will go through everything you need to know about Scotch, including how to drink it.

What is Scotch – What it is, and where it came from:

Scotch is an alcoholic drink like whiskey. The only difference is that it comes from Scotland. Scotch is champagne made in the region of France. Champagne made outside of the region cannot be labeled Scotch, hence if a distiller wishes to name his/her whisky Scotch, they must produce it in Scotland according to the “Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009”. 

If you’re wondering what that is, it’s the legislation under which the production, bottling, labeling, packaging, and advertising of Scotch whisky is governed based on the “Scotch Whisky Act” of 1988. So, scotch remains exclusive to Scotland, and one of the most popular Scotch Whisky brands is “The Famous Grouse”. It even made it into the “Britain’s Biggest Alcohol Brands” report of 2017.

The Famous Grouse Scotch

 What is Scotch – How it’s peated & which to start with:

Fresh green barley has to be germinated, and the process must be halted quickly. The ones who do this are called maltsters, and distillers use the kiln for this. The kiln is heated for several days using peat-inflamed fire as peat is the most abundant and accessible source of fuel in Scotland. 

Alternative fuels have come into play at times, but most producers of Scotch prefer peat and rely on peated barley in varying proportions in their mash bills. That’s how tarry, smoky flavors develop in whisky/Scotch.

If you’ve just started drinking Scotch, you’re likely to have difficulty finding the right brand for yourself. It’s often tedious, and can sometimes be a tiring process. If you’re looking for a good brand to start with, try The Famous Grouse Scotch. It’s a very popular Scottish brand as mentioned above.

Scotch Whisky Categories & Calories:

According to the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, there are five types of Scotch and they are:

  • Single malt Scotch whisky: Distilled at a single distillery.
  • Blended Scotch whisky: One or two single malt Scotch whiskies combined with one or more single grain Scotch whiskies.
  • Blended grain Scotch whisky: A blend of single-grain Scotch whiskies made at several distilleries.
  • Single grain Scotch whisky: Made from cereal grains, and distilled at a single distillery.
  • Blended malt Scotch whisky: A blend of two or more Single malt Scotch whiskies from separate distilleries. 

There are about 64 calories in 25 ml, so that makes roughly 0.39 calories per milliliter.

How to drink Scotch:

If you’ve just started drinking Scotch, you probably don’t know how to enjoy it to the fullest. There are many ways to signify the taste of Scotch, but mostly it comes down to personal preference. Whether you prefer single-malt or blended scotch, you shouldn’t always go for the older brands. More precisely, older Scotch won’t always taste better.

But it still comes down to personal preference. Younger scotch has a more fruity taste with a little hint of vanilla, while older Scotch contains a more complex flavor with hints of caramel. If you age a Scotch in an oak cask, it’ll pick up the cask’s flavor as well as the color. 

The intensity of the color and flavor depends on how long the Scotch aged in the cask and the type of cask. An ex-bourbon cask gives a light color while an ex-sherry cask gives a darker color. Color can vary if the grain has been dry-smoked. 

If you’ve previously drank Scotch through large tumblers, you may want to switch to tulip glasses. They bring out the best taste in Scotch as it captures the aroma of the drink, but if you’re not able to find one, you can always use a wine glass. 

Swirling Scotch can release the alcohol, overwhelming the taste and aroma of the Scotch, so it’s better not to swirl the Scotch. You may have tried Scotch with ice, and although adding ice does make it more enjoyable, it’s still better to keep Scotch at room temperature, and serving it with tap water may change the taste a little. 

So, Scotch is best served with spring water, but like everything else, it comes down to personal preference. So, you can add tap water little by little according to your taste. Also, instead of adding two or three ice cubes, try filling your glass with ice.

What is Scotch, and how to drink it – Conclusion: 

All the ways mentioned above come down to what a person prefers in the end. Although these ways bring out the best taste in Scotch, it still doesn’t mean that it’s for everyone. Some people may prefer chilled Scotch, while some may prefer normal. Some may prefer old Scotch, while others stick to younger Scotch. 

Again, it’s all personal preference. But, if you’re having trouble deciding how, you may use the ways listed above to bring out the best taste of Scotch. We hope that this article answered your questions, and you don’t have any further queries. Everything mentioned above is in brief detail to make it as easy as possible for you to understand how to drink whisky, and what it is.

Read More: Cocktails You Have to Try

Andrew

Andrew is a professional writer with 7+ Years of experience. His style and uniqueness inspire and educate readers throughout the world.

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