What’s in the decanter: Yamazaki 12 yr.

What’s on the shelf: Springbank 14 yr. (Special Edition)

How To Drink Single Malts: Of course how you imbibe your liquor of choice is completely dependent upon how you enjoy it.  There are so many critics out there that will chastise you for how you take your drinks, but if you enjoy it a certain way then it is achieving its purpose, to be be enjoyable.  I personally tailor my drink one of three ways depending on my mood: neat, splash of water, or on the rocks.

- Neat:  2 oz of unadulterated whiskey joy.  Single Malt and a Glass.

- Splash of Water: A discretionary amount of H20, from a single drip to a glassful.  This comes down to your own personal preference, I like to drip in 4-5 drops which allows all of the flavors and aromas to “spread out” to something more easily recognizable.  The Scottish guys we have met insist that you only enjoy scotch with a splash of water, and the Japanese drink their wonderful drams with more water than alcohol.

- On The Rocks: Somewhat of a toss-up for me morally.  I enjoy my scotch and whiskey on the rocks from time to time.  I like the cool liquid for a warm summers night, and that it lends a more refreshing edge to my dram.  It is also quite convenient to slowly let it dilute the drink to see how the whiskey evolves.  That being said, I have heard that the cold temperatures from the ice can actually chemically lock up the and mute the flavors and aromas of the alcohol.  If you are going to drink on the rocks, please do so responsibly and use the proper equipment: a single large cube will melt slower and cool better, it also lends itself to the aesthetics of the drink.

Balvenie 12 DoubleWood:  My personal favorite dram to have as an everyday drinking whiskey.  It is easy to drink but not without complexity.  Hints of vanilla, slight fruitiness, malty… very balanced.  I love the color and the aroma, and I highly recommend this Scotch.

Lagavulin 16:  Wonderful 16 year old whiskey that is full of peaty and smoky life.  If I am looking for a change of pace away from any Speyside or Highlands malt then I look straight to Lagavulin.  This original Islay dram is the epitome of Islay flavor, but balanced and subtle enough to keep on your shlef for an everyday drinker.  A+ Rating

Macallan 12: This wonderful and straight forward dram is very approachable and reliable.  Incredible subtle flavors of fruit, vanilla, spice, and mellow malt are all very balanced in this iconic single malt.  This bottle is the perfect bottle of single malt whiskey to usher a new drinker into the world of Scotch.

Springbank 10: This is a recent purchase chosen to broaden my interactions with various single malts.  So often I end up choosing what I know I like and zipping out of the store, but from here on out I am attempting to understand the variety of single malt whiskeys.  I had previously encountered Springbank at the bar where we stock an impressive selection of their 10 yr, 15 yr, 21 yr, and special editions.  After trying their 15 and 21 yr malts and being in awe of the complex spice and malt they offered, the 10 yr immediately caught my attention as a sale item at the nearby liquor store.  After spending a few nights with the 10 yr, as well as various mediums: ice, water, neat, I have decided that this unique whiskey is interesting and drinkable, but not my favorite.  With too much viscosity and sweetness numbing out any kind of real flavor I would definitely recommend going with the 15 year over the 10.  That being said, if you are drinking the Springbank 10, I seem to prefer mine with an ice cube.

St. George Single Malt Whiskey: Received this from a friend for Christmas this year after he had heard that I was pursuing a single malt recipe for the distillery.  This is the first American single malt that I have tried, and as I drink it I only deem it necessary to call it “research.”  Right off the nose you catch strong whiffs of something akin to apple cider, and a very strong sweetness.  The palate follows similar lines revealing that strong apple cider like flavor, very much filled with strong fruity flavors.  Oak in abundance.  It is amazing to get a sense of what an American malt is like as compared to Scotch.  I can’t wait to get my hands on another stateside malt to see if any of what I notice in the St. George is at all shared among all US Malts.  More to come on domestic single malts.

Buffalo Trace: First and foremost: This is not a single malt, but a Bourbon.  I am including it on this page for a couple of reasons, first: is that is a really good inexpensive option for when funds are tight and you can’t afford a single malt, second: I make bourbon for a living and need to better understand it as a spirit, and third: it is a great bottle of booze.  Slightly spicier and with less of the cloying sweetness I often associate with bourbon, Buffalo Trace offers a beautiful amber colored pour filled with a vanilla and peppery palette I find benefits from being on the rocks.  I have been enjoying this bottle by three different variations: On the rocks.  Shaken with lemon juice and honey.  Served hot with honey, lemon, and chamomile tea.

Highland Park 12 yr: If you haven’t seen the video that introduces you to Orkney, the 3000 year old village where the distillery is, then check it out: here. Epic.  That being said this bottle of Scotch is an equally glorious thing.  For its price the Highland Park 12 may be the best single malt on the market.  With a complex palette of honey, spices, very subtle heather, and just a hint of smoke, it is a dram that is seemingly easy to drink, but will always keep you interested.  The cherry on top of this whiskey is the curious sea air that you can actually smell and taste, there is a real briny sea side complexity that is just… cool.  Pick up a bottle.

Suntory Yamazaki 12 yr: This wonderful whiskey is obviously not Scotch as it is distilled in Japan!  The Japanese have a wonderfully prices way with their whiskeys, and this wonderful bottle is no exception.  With extremely delicate notes of honey and soft fruits on the palate, hinting at slight woody notes, and then a very subtle palate balanced with the same vanilla, honey, woods, and spices.  I love how very precise and delicate this dram is!  Seems to take well to a bit of water.