Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Listen to this weeks Scotch Tip episode:

Or

Read this weeks Scotch Tip episode:

This is your host Dr. Scotch welcoming you to this weeks Scotch Tip.

This week we are talking about 5 Misconceptions About Scotch Whisky.

I found an interesting post about this subject on http://www.the-feedbag.com. The five misconceptions they mentioned are:

1) Blends are inferior to single-malts. Blends can be incredibly consistent year after year and have the same qualities of your favorite “purebred” single-malts. I prefer single malts to the blends but that is just my preference. Some of the blends are really good and I do enjoy tasting them.

2) Scotch is an after-dinner drink only. I am glad I never heard this because I enjoy a Scotch at any time of the day.

3) You have to love smoky, peaty flavors to appreciate Scotch. Each Scotch has its own taste. If you don't like one try another. You are bound to find a number of them to like. One taste does not fit all.

4) You don't want to dilute the flavors of the better bottles with water or ice. Adding a little water can open up the flavor of the Scotch. I usually don't add water but again that is my own preference. There is noting wrong with adding a little water to your Scotch.

5) The color can tell you a lot about the drink. 95% of all Scotch contains artificial coloring, regardless of quality. Many Scotch drinks have the same color but very different tastes. You are drinking Scotch for its taste not its color.

There are no right or wrong ways to enjoy Scotch. Find out what works for you and enjoy it.

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

This is Dr. Scotch. I would like to wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday and New Years. I have decided to take the month of December off. So I am saying good bye until next year. Please enjoy the holidays and be safe.

Until next year,

Good Bye

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

How to make Scotch. The process of making Scotch has not changed much in the past 100 years. There are 5 basic steps to producing Scotch. And three basic secrets to making Scotch – water, barley and the still shape.

1. Malting. Barley is spread on the malting floor, moistened and allowed to germinate. Once germinated it is dried with forced air or peat. This affects the final taste of the Scotch.

2. Mashing. Now the dry malt is placed into the mash tun and hot water is added. This produces a mixture called the wort. The wort is transferred to the washback made of pine to begin fermentation.

3. Fermentation. This is a mixed fermentation – yeast and bacteria. This creates a unique flavor. Each distillery will have a different mixture of bacteria and therefore different tastes. This creates the "wash".

4. Distillation. The wash is transferred to the spirit still where it is heated to remove impurities. The clear liquid that remains is transferred to casks for maturation.

5. Maturation. Each spirit must be maturation for at least 3 years. The casks also exert an influence on the final taste of the Scotch.

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

First Time Whisky Tasting Tips

So you have never tried a Scotch Whisky before? Not sure how to start and where to start? Here are some ideas that can help you.

Choose your Scotch: Each Scotch is different. Within a line of Scotches they differ by age. So start with a 12 to 15 year old single malt Scotch.

I would suggest you try Belvine or Aberlour single malt Scotch. You should probably stay away from highly peated scotch such as Laphroig to start with. The highly peated Scotches are an aquired taste.

Purchase a Scotch glass: A Scotch glass is wide at the bottom, taper to the top and then round out. This shape is used to concentrate the aroma. If you don't have the proper Scotch glass use a red wine glass, not as good but has the basic shape.

Water or not: Some people never add water to their Scotch. At a Scotch tasting you will add a small amount of water to the Scotch after tasting it full strength.

As a first time taster you might want to add water first. The water should be room temperature and be bottled or filtered to remove chlorine and other chemicals.

Now enjoy your entrance into Scotch. And remember each Scotch has a different taste. So explore and try all the different Scotch Brands and years you can find.

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

Whisky casks turn around.

Before Bourbon casks most Scotch whisky was stored in French oak. American oak Bourbon cask dominance started in 1933 with the end of prohibition and has grown to the all conquering position it holds today – 97% or so of all maturing Scotch whisky. This wholesale change of cask type – and corresponding whisky style – has been achieved because of cheap prices and ready availability.

But another major change of direction is on the cards: increased demand for Bourbon casks from the Far East, Central and South America and the Caribbean is restricting the supply. Indeed, the 'once only' US distilling law for the use of casks in bourbon maturation, the reason why these casks are so cheap, could soon be rescinded. This would have far reaching consequences for the Scotch whisky industry. Distillers would be forced into increased recycling of casks, the inadequate halfway house solution.

Yet as second-hand Bourbon cask prices increase, the gap closes with the cost of brand new American oak casks. This potential Bourbonisation would have a major implication on future whisky flavor, color and age. Premium quality French oak wine casks will once again be back on the menu as they were back in the nineteenth century.

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky is one of my favorites.  I discover a web site called The Laird's Isle of Jura.  It has a number of posts about the island and I have paraphrased some of the recent post on Getting to Know the Isle of Jura.

The Isle of Jura extends for almost 28 miles in length being with a width of between 1 and 7 miles.  The population is under 200 with the largest population living in Craighouse on the east cost.  This village contains the only shop, hotel and the Isle of Jura Scotch Whisky Distillery.  It is a rugged island mostly open moorland and peat bog.

Sounds like an interesting place to visit and I do love the Scotch.  So go to the site for a more complete description.

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch  saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

Usually when I think of limited edition Scotch, I am thinking of a Single Malt Scotch that is rare and produced only once in limited quality. But I would like to point out a limited edition bottle of Macallan Fine Oak 21 years old Scotch. The Scotch itself is wonderful but not limited edition. In this case the bottle is. Only 21 bottles have been produced by the Inner Light Crystal Studios in New York. So you can be one of the only 21 owners of this rare and beautiful bottle. Remember you can refill the bottle later as needed. For complete details of this limited edition Scotch bottle go to For Scotch Lovers.

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

Glenmorangie Company

Jim Murray's "Whisky Bible 2008".
The Glenmorangie Original was ranked the best Single Malt Scotch in the 10 to 12 year old category of Highland/Speyside Malt Whisky.
Ardbeg 10 years old was the 2008 World Whisky of the Year.

Whisky Icons Awards 2008
Glenmorangie was named "innovator of the year"

International Wine and Spirit Competition Awards
19 medals – including 5 Gold and Silver Medals for best in class
7 Silver Medals for producing remarkable whiskies.

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

A brand new Scotch – Ardbeg Blasda

Ardbeg has removed some of its peat – down from 24ppm to 8ppm – and produced its newest Scotch.

It is reported to be light, sweet and delicious.

It sounds great and I am looking forward to seeing it in stores soon (I hope).

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips. No podcast this week but some definitions that should help you appreciate Scotch.

In order to enter and enjoy the world of Scotch, you must understand the basic terms used. So I thought I would start out with some of the basic terms and their definitions.

Malt: is a cereal grain partially sprouted to prepare it to release its fermentable sugars. It is then dried in a kiln. In the making of Scotch the cereal grain used is always barley.

Whisky: is a spirit drink originating in Scotland or Ireland. Notice there is no "e" after the "k" in Scottish whisky.

Malt Whisky: whisky made from malted barley only. Typically made in batches in a copper kettle or pot.

Single Malt Whisky: is a malt whisky made in a single distillery, not vatted or blended with whisky made in another distillery.

Scotch Whisky: whisky only made in Scotland and matured for at least three years. No other nation can produce "Scotch". Other nations can produce whiskey and malt whiskey but not "Scotch".

Single Malt Scotch Whisky: is a single malt whisky mad in Scotland.

Single Cask: a bottling made from just one cask.

Vatted Malt: malt whiskies from different distilleries are combined into one malt product.

Pure Malt: used to indicate a single malt or a vatted malt. Very confusing term and going out of use.

Blended Scotch Whisky: is a use of many different Scotch Whiskies together to make one product.

Grain Whiskey: produced form corn, wheat or raw barley. They are matured in oak for at least three years. Single Grain Whiskey: not seen very often.

Peating: when the producers kilned their grain over an open fire peat is often used. The malt takes up some of the flavor of the smoke. The amount of peat flavor found in the final product varies for multiple reasons.

Double and Triple Distillation: most Scotch is double distilled but there still are a few who triple distill their products. They do this to make their product lighter and cleaner.

Bourbon Ageing: all Scotch is matured at least three years. This maturation takes place in casks. One of the favorite casks to be used is a bourbon cask. The cask was first used in the making of Bourbon and then sold to the Scotch maker. A vanilla-like flavor is imparted to the scotch especially the first fill. As the cask is used multiple times, the amount of vanilla-like flavor imparted decreases with each use.

Sherry Ageing: is when a sherry cask is used for maturation of the Scotch.

I hope you have found these definitions helpful in understanding Scotch.

Dr. Scotch