Spirits: Let the Scotch Arguments Begin

I just posted this article on Portland Spirits Examiner on what the best blended scotches are, and what the best selection would be for The Intrepid Home Bartender stocking the home bar.

Since Scotch lovers tend to be both opinionated and vocal, I thought I'd give participants here a shot at the debate.

Feel free to participate either through comments, or polling, or both. Whatever.

Here's the article

http://www.examiner.com/spirits-in-portland/the-intrepid-home-bartender-blended-scotch-whisky

Enjoy! :^)

I won't have the stuff in my house. Not that I have a strong opinion on this. Oh sure there are some that are drinkable, but what's the point. It's not like there aren't reasonably priced malts, malts of subtlety, malts one could mix (Jaysus wept) if needed. The part of utility malt is usually played by some lowland sort in my bothy (Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, etc.). That said when thinking whisky, I'm thinking the Islands and one island in particular.

I'll be following this one with interest. I really dislike most blended Scotch, but would like to have some around the house for guests who do like it.

I won't have the stuff in my house. Not that I have a strong opinion on this. Oh sure there are some that are drinkable, but what's the point. It's not like there aren't reasonably priced malts, malts of subtlety, malts one could mix (Jaysus wept) if needed. The part of utility malt is usually played by some lowland sort in my bothy (Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, etc.). That said when thinking whisky, I'm thinking the Islands and one island in particular.

Ach, dinna fash y'self, Kelly. There'll be a followup article on single malts that you can join in on.

I suppose I should have stipulated in the original message that the whole idea of The Intrepid Home Bartender is not necessarily what YOU (said Intrepid) would like to drink, but what would be good to stock your home bar with for your guests.

Doesn't necessarily mean that's what you would normally drink youself---although, yes, I think it would be silly to stock a bar with something you wouldn't ordinarily drink....

But the point of the column is to suggest/give ideas for putting together a bar that would give the best possible selection for pleasing the widest range of people. That's not necessarily the rule you have to play by, of course. And I totally respect someone who insists on putting together what they like to dirnk and indicating their guests can either take it or leave it. (I'm thinking of one guy in particular here. )

Soooooo, you can either vote for your fave blended (which apparently, is a lesser-grade single malt, which is fine) or you can vote for what you think the best possible all-around blended would be. And I see you've already done just that.

Again, all of this is predicated on the idea that you won't ever be able to make any scotch drinker happy unless you just happen to have his/her brand...and the specific year of aging...on hand.

PS: And I know whish isle you're thinking about.

I tend not to drink just to drink - I drink whisky to taste it. Given that, I am not a big fan of blended whisky as I simply don't enjoy it as much as I do a single malt, and if I am not going to enjoy it, I generally abstain.

If I were forced to drink a blend, it would be Islay Mist, being heavy as it is in Laphroaig, with other Speyside and Highland malts, as well as some grain spirit. Love the seaweed and smoke! Others will hate it.

[James Roscoe]

Ditto what Bill said.

I understand what you're saying, Bill...but since so much of what people call 'scotch' is actually blended scotch; since blends came about in the first place because full strength single malts were deemed too heavy and forceful for most people and it was deemed advisable to "soften them" through blending; and since there are so many hugely successful blends of scotch out there that do a commanding business and have extremely loyal followings, I think there's clearly a place for blends...well, for scotch, at least; I'm not as sanguine about blended American Whiskey, since that was in part due to necessity after the repeal of Prohibition and in part due to naked greed for selling a dumbed down product for the same high price.

There are several blended scotches that actually do deliver the right...oh, let's say pleasure quotient...and maintain the scotchosity of the experience pretty clearly. That's why I like Famous Grouse---it's got just enough of the peat smoke thing, just enough of the sherry barrel thing, and just a whiff of the sea salt and iodine thing.

But then, I'm not a rock solid lover of Islay either. It's not that I don't like it, but it's a very concentrated and intense thing, and not always pleasurable to me. And even within Islay, there's a hell of a lot of variation going on: just have a tasting of Leapfrom, Lagavulin and Ardbeg and that makes the point right there. Not to mention the Uigedaill and such, the special bottlings. That can be like having your nose ground down in a cigar ashtray that's been doused with iodine and salt, then swirled around a bit and left to dry before you lick up the wholesome goodness.

Ah well, then, if you like wimpy malts you can still be satisfied with an Islay - Bowmore would suit the non-aggressive taste (although there is quite a range). In other words you wouldn't feel like you'd been whacked in the face with a wad of burning seaweed after taking a sip.

I just tend not to drink spirits unless I really can sit and enjoy them. Similar to Cognac - I don't keep cheap brandy around, no matter how palatable, because I wouldn't drink it. I'd rather do it half as often and enjoy it twice as much.

Bill
(who is neither vocal nor opinionated)

No love for Cao Ila? Talisker? Your idea of a great scotch sounds uncannily like a Parkeresque gobstopper. Do you give points???

No love for Cao Ila? Talisker? Your idea of a great scotch sounds uncannily like a Parkeresque gobstopper. Do you give points???

Au contraire, mon frere!

I post about once a year on the single malt tastings I do and if you look them up you'll find that I like all sorts of malts and styles.

The question posed was what blend, not what malt I would drink, and for blends, I, for whatever reason, like the one that emulates the more flavourful end of the spectrum rather than the more elegant. I don't drink blends that are lighter, I haul out a bottle of Macallan or whatever.

For whatever reason the search engine fails to turn up my posts. Here are some on the web:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.food ... aa0dc3493e
https://groups.google.com/group/alt.foo ... a4338b4bb4
https://groups.google.com/group/alt.foo ... 27bca589fb
https://groups.google.com/group/alt.foo ... 0ea2ae99b0
https://groups.google.com/group/alt.foo ... 20edd3b322
https://groups.google.com/group/alt.foo ... 09c19606d1
https://groups.google.com/group/alt.foo ... 62558759ed

I opted for Teachers because we have one couple who don't care for wine and Teachers is what they like to drink with a little water back. Hoke, you've eaten here many times and you know the routine. We drink wine and everybody must suffer along.

I opted for Teachers because we have one couple who don't care for wine and Teachers is what they like to drink with a little water back. Hoke, you've eaten here many times and you know the routine. We drink wine and everybody must suffer along.

I'll consign myself to suffering along as often as I can get away with it, Lou.

I voted Famous Grouse because it's the most islandy (is that a word?) of the blends that I've found.
If I could get the kind of Bell's that they have in England, I'd go for it, but somehow the US bottles of Bell's taste watered down.
I confess to preferring single malt Scotch, and there are so many of them that I usually try one that I've never had before, once a year or so when I need a new bottle.

John

I stopped drinking blended Scotch many decades ago but voted for Bell from memory of my preference then. I found most quite lacking in interest.

Single malts are another thing. I have a preference for characterful Islay but Germaine and her friends cannot stand the "fishy" taste so I need some Speyside for them.

Interesting that there's so little love for the blend when that constitutes the vast majority of what scotch drinkers actually drink.

Even in this day of proliferating (and highly profitable) single malts and special designations and obscure finishes, that's the case.

Even factoring in the natural inclinations of board denizens with wine----to concern themselves primarily with the perceived top of the top or artisanal vs. 'mainline' or volume producers, the esoteric and the special---that's interesting and a little bit...not totally, but a little bit...surprising.

But then, perhaps it shouldn't be. And we spirit lovers are more in the minority in this room of primarily wine drinkers too, of course.

But the point of the column is to suggest/give ideas for putting together a bar that would give the best possible selection for pleasing the widest range of people. That's not necessarily the rule you have to play by, of course.

I don't have much to add to the blended scotch arguments, which is a combination of ignorance (my lack of breadth of experience with different blended scotch whiskies) and preference (single malts seem to offer more individuality and unique expressiveness I look for in additions to my paltry bar at home). That being written, as I do put together a bar, I have to type that my selection is much more guided by my preferences and desire for balance in my choices than by seeking to please the widest range of people. I suppose folks who entertain in any professional capacity (that is, host potential clients, superiors/subordinates, networking, and so on) at home do need to choose liquors that please the palates of others. I, however, rejoice in offering wines, beers, and distilled works of beauty that reflect my attempt to craft a comfortable home from a cacophony of choices. As with my music collection, nobody is going to like everything I have, but hopefully you'll like something as breadth and diversity are important considerations for me.

Not a bad philosophy atall! And with that (and your basic knowledge) I have no doubt whatsoever that I would love to be hosted at your 'bar'.

But that's the essential rub as well, innit? I mean by that the balance between catering to your own tastes only when you put together a bar (and , no, I'm not saying YOU would do that)?

Gets dicey, I think, when you come to a category where you're not that knowledgeable or haven't widely tasted...or just plain don't LIKE a certain category so avoid stocking it entirely.

Also speaks to what you want to keep on hand, how much importance you place on the position of host to a guest, how much you want to please a guest, etc. Some folks ascribe to "Here's what I got; what do you want?" philosophy...you know, you're in my home, this is what I have, take it or leave it.

If you're not interested in entertaining, or you really don't entertain very much, then that's okay (although it doesn't seem very hospitable. And on the other hand of the equation, you can't be expected to have every single thing a guest might possibly want, so you have to place some limitations somewhere.

The whole thing behind The Intrepid Home Bartender is a brief summation of the category, followed by some balanced suggestions, especially for folks who, for one reason or another, don't feel totally comfortable at their knowledge level and want some impartial advice, or folks who would like to offer a good, well rounded selection of products to guests. Or---and this category is increasing rapidly, I can assure you----people who like spirits and cocktails and have noticed a re-awakening interest in them and would like to dabble in them. And a great number of those people....are wine people too (and beer people as well, of course).

I figure if I'm going to go to the trouble to drink something, or to make a cocktail out of something, I want it to be good quality (and definitely not the cheapest). I also don't want to get ripped off (i.e., Crown Royal or Patron) when some advice might help me avoid that.

So to someone like Mike Filigenzi---who, I can assure you, is very knowledgeable about some spirits, and can make a mean cocktail himself---he might learn a little about something he's not as informed about because he doesn't drink it regularly.

Definitely OTHER, for me.

If it ain't single-malt, it ain't real Scotch.

I wouldn't disinfect my toilet with blended Scotch.

-Paul W.

Definitely OTHER, for me.

If it ain't single-malt, it ain't real Scotch.

I wouldn't disinfect my toilet with blended Scotch.

-Paul W.

That shows a lot of class. I think.

Keith -

I understand what you're saying and I think it's a legitimate approach to make your bar an expression of you and your tastes. For me, though, the fun comes in entertaining and in gaining knowledge of spirits and cocktails. So even though I don't drink blended Scotch and rarely drink single malts, I'll still want to have a bottle of each on hand for friends who enjoy them or Rob Roys. I'll even want to make myself a Rob Roy or a Laphroaig Project at least once just to see what they're all about. Of course, as Hoke said you do have to draw the line somewhere. Even the most intrepid home bartender will not want to deal with the wild variety of bitters, herbal infusions, obscure liqueurs and the rest of the crazy (and interesting) stuff the craft bartenders are coming up with. For me, though, blended Scotch is just too basic to leave out of the bar. And if I'm going to have it in the house, I'd just as soon it be a good one.

Hoke,
Like the others here, I confine myself to single malts and haven't willingly drunk a blend since my late college days (and then it was Dewar's). I think that the strong preference for single malts here is due to the fact that we're all wine-obsessed. Drinking a blended whisky is akin to drinking a wine cooler: why not go for the real thing and lose the adulterants (I hope that most of the people here realize that most blends are created by blending malt whisky with neutral grain spirits)? Most recently, I have gone one step further and been exposed to the Signatory line of single malts courtesy of the largesse of John Blackwood. I'm seriously concerned that there is no looking back now, the only consolation of which is that a bottle of single malt lasts about a decade in our home since Jean doesn't like the stuff and I only partake very occasionally. Caol Ila Signatory rocks my world, though, not that there was a thing wrong with the Auchentoshan Signatory, either!

Mark Lipton

Oh, I understand what you...and Keith, and others...are saying, Mark.

I'm not as down on blends as you guys, though, and think there are some pretty darned good ones out there. On the other hand, it's not as if I drink very many blends either. I don't.

But I do like to have, and do think they are major enough amongst whiskey drinkers to have, a good blended scotch on hand in a bar---if only because I don't see myself using a whole lot of single malts in mixed drinks or cocktails. Blended scotches are for mixing, to me; single malts are for sipping, and I won't mix with them (and yes, in that sense single malts are like wine).

If someone asks me for a scotch and water, or a scotch and soda, or a Rob Roy, or a Rusty Nail, or somesuch, I'll say heck yeah, and pull out a blend...in my case The Famous Grouse---because that, to me, is as close as I can get to an entry-level single malt expression without using single malt.

Simple as that, really. And keeps my mother-in-law happy when she comes over to my house.

I'll repeat, the idea of having a blended scotch on hand is not what I would like to drink, but what I as a caring host would be able to serve to guests. In other words, what Mike and Lou said.

Hoke,
Drinking a blended whisky is akin to drinking a wine cooler: why not go for the real thing and lose the adulterants (I hope that most of the people here realize that most blends are created by blending malt whisky with neutral grain spirits)?

Well said. I like the wine cooler comment. I don't drink those either.

Like many here, when I do partake of Scotch it is primarily of single malts, different ones for different moods and mostly rather late night as a change from Armagnac. Going along with what I preceive as the spirit of the poll, my vote went to Johnny Walker Red Label as that is the one I find most of my guests enjoy.

Best
Rogov