Spirits: Ultimate Cocktail Challenge---Scotch

Scotch Whisky

Rob Roy
For the Rob Roy, the judges selected a clear favorite with 92 points and the Chairman’s Trophy, the lightly-peated but full-flavored Highland Park 12 year old Single Malt from the far-northern Orkney Islands. Second, with 88 points was the considerably more mellow Macallan Fine Oak 10 year old Single Malt, aged in oloroso sherry casks, from the Speyside portion of the Highlands. Following the Macallan were the Dewar’s Blended Scotch at 83 points and The Black Grouse Blended Scotch at 82 points.



Blood & Sand
Here the Highland Park 12 year old once again took highest honors with 94 points and the Chairman’s Trophy…and once again the Macallan Fine Oak 10 year old came in a close second with 91 points. The Black Grouse changed places with the Dewar’s though, with 85 and 83 points respectively. One assumes the milder Dewar’s was more harmonious in this drink than the more robust Black Grouse.

Rusty Nail
With the Rusty Nail, the Macallan Fine Oak 10 year old stepped up to a clear first place, Chairman’s Trophy and 96 points! The Black Grouse stepped up as well, coming in at 95 points. Highland Park 12 year old held on at 88 points, and the Dewar’s Blended stepped in just behind that at 87 points.

To gain some local perspective, several Portland area bartenders and whiskey enthusiasts were asked to reflect on their preferences for these cocktails. Lance Mayhew, whiskey specialist for About.com and instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute, responded:

“While I adore Highland Park and Macallan and Black Grouse, it’s clear they were looking for something a bit bigger than most people would enjoy in these cocktails, in my opinion. For a Rob Roy, the Dewars is a good call but I'd probably opt for either Johnnie Walker Red or Black depending on how much smoke and body I was feeling like in the cocktail. Or Isle of Skye; it’s a fantastic blend at a great price point. Blood and Sand? Johnnie Walker Black: you need something big enough to show you that it’s a scotch in that drink. A Rusty Nail just isn't a Rusty Nail without Dewars & Drambuie. That’s the classic combination and the one I'll stick to. Maybe move up to Dewars 12 year old for a special Nail.”



Continue reading on Examiner.com: Ultimate Cocktail Challenge: experts pick scotch for classic scotch cocktails - Portland spirits | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/spirits-in-port ... z1KSPlLjDo

As a confirmed fuddy-duddy, for many years my own favorite cocktail based on Scotch has been the Scotch sour, especially as it was served up at New York City's Taft Hotel.

Alas, Charlie Drew who performed there, Mrs. Merriweather who was a fixture at the bar, everyone buying drinks for her, the Tap Room and the Taft Hotel have now all gone on to puppy paradise. I did, however, have honor of having passed the recipe on to Bistro 28 on Paris' Rue de la Huchette.

Best
Rogov

It is sacrilege to mix a good single malt Scotch whisky in a cocktail.

I condone the Green Dragon (Glenlivet and green Chartreuse) because I don't count Glenilvet as good single malt Scotch.

-Paul W.

Paul, I'd normally tend to agree with you about mixing a SMS in a cocktail----however, when you're living in Drinkcity USA, as I am, and exposed to some incredibly fine and talented bartenders who are pushing the art...you get your mind changed. And you never say never.

Just the other day I had a Bijou variation with Chartreuse and Caol Ila Single Malt 12---and it was pretty damned good!

And at the Acadia Bistro I had a hearty rye cocktail---with a float of Ardbeg. Since that's about the only way I can handle an Ardbeg---bit too big on the peat reek for me---it was a nice balance with the spice of the rye and the iodine-smoke of the Ardbeg.