Friday, May 14th, 2010
Since the beginnings of Scotch Whisky a long time has passed and it evolved into what could easily be named queen of beverages. It is the best selling alcoholic drink in the world and not without reason. Since the first mention of whisky in 1494 (oddly enough, found in notes of Inland Revenue), distillers had the time needed to perfect brewing procedures.
One of the things that are not common knowledge is that whisky is actually colourless in the beginning. It only gains its rich colour after either seasoning in sherry casks or adding caramel, that is supposedly not influencing the taste. While tasting of whisky, its age and the cask it’s been brewed in. You can know an aged whisky by thin trickles slowly making their way down the sides of the glass. (more…)
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Just as France has its wine regions, Scotland has its whisky regions. Each one produces whiskies of various qualities which, even to the novice, are noticeable in taste, colour and aroma. Every distillery in Scotland has its own story to tell and peculiar traditions, adding to the romance and mystique of Scotch whisky distilling.
A visit to a whisky distillery is an unforgettable and unique experience, and no matter where you are in Scotland there will be a distillery nearby. A trip round Scotland isn’t possible for everyone, so it helps to be informed about the characteristics of each region’s whisky, and tailor visiting distilleries to individual taste.
Lowlands
The lowland region covers the area from the border with England and from the Clyde estuary to the Tay estuary. The main feature of lowland whiskies is their dry, light flavour and colour, mainly due to the lighter lowland barley and smaller amount of peat used in the barley drying process. Although they are light, they have a sweet, almost fruity taste and make a great aperitif, perfect for the newcomer to Scotch whisky drinking. Notable lowland whiskies are Auchentoshan, Bladnoch, and Glen Kinchie. (more…)
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Thursday, May 28th, 2009
The very mention of Scottish cuisine brings water in the mouths of many people. Scottish cuisine is adored by food lovers all over the world because of its’ excellent flavor and delicious ingredients. Although the signature dish of Scotland is Haggis, Scotland’s kitchen has much more to offer. In addition to food of Scotland, Scottish Whisky popularly known as Scotch is certainly a world leader in the finest spirits of the world. (more…)
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Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Scotland is famous for many things, but perhaps none more so than Scotch Whisky. Many have tried to recreate this famous beverage in other parts of the world, but only in Scotland can the perfect ingredients and environment be found to produce the perfect whisky. Understanding the origins, manufacturing process, and qualities of good single malt whisky adds to the pleasure of drinking this king of drinks.
History
The man credited with creating the first Scotch Whisky is Friar John Cor. It was called “aqua vitae” (“water of life”) and was by order of the King. The written record of this dates to 1494 and, although distilling was an art practiced by the Vikings and ancient Persians, this is thought to be the first time whisky was produced in Scotland. (more…)
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Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
Unless you’re one of the few nice people around who hasn’t even savored a drop of liquor in their whole lives, chances are that you’re at least marginally familiar of the drink whiskey. Whiskey – which is also spelled by other without the letter E – is the name used for a wide variety of delicious and distilled liquors that are produced from grains and later on aged in oak casts. Due to its grain content, a lot of people believe that whiskey is a good type of liquor to drink. In fact, there are numerous couples both in the United States and Europe who prefer to feed their babies whiskey rather than milk or water. (more…)
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Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
“My desire is always to be here” sang Sir Paul McCartney in his tribute to the Mull of Kintyre, and the Western Highlands have inspired the same loyalty in many who have come to know and love this secluded coast. The Scottish landscape is a theatre where the hills themselves appear to move in the shifting light, one minute swathed in cloud, the next a misty veil of sunlight, and later against a piercing blue sky the brilliant sunshine bouncing off fresh snow on the hilltops. (more…)
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Thursday, January 29th, 2009
It would be appropriate for a people-based profile of whisky to begin by naming the first whisky maker. Sadly, no-one knows who he was. In fact, no-one knows who the first distiller was. It is clear that from AD 4 onwards, alchemists in China, India, Arabia, Egypt and Greece were using distillation to make turpentine, medicines, makeup (al-kohl, our alcohol) and perfumes, but there is no evidence that they adapted brewing techniques to make whisky. (more…)
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