When it comes to whisky, the country that comes to most people's minds is Scotland. Known for its lush green scenery, it's also one of the best places on earth to get top shelf Scotch Whisky from a variety of makers. You can take a tour of the many distilleries in the country, but before you go, you should learn some basic whisky tour etiquette.
By following these simple guidelines, you'll get the most out of your Scottish whisky tour experience.
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Whisky is not the same as Whiskey – At first glance you might think it's just a different way of spelling The first spelling, ending in just a “y” is used on scotch made in Scotland, the “ey” spelling refers to those made in other areas. Another interesting point - Scotland is the only place that can use the term Scotch – and the only place on earth that can produce and sell it.
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Know The Origins of Whisky and Quaich – The word “whisky is from the traditional language of Highland Scotland called Gaelic and its literal translation is 'water of life'. You may hear reference to a Quaich, which is another Gaelic term for Scotland's traditional whisky drinking vessel. It's a shallow, cup with two handles said to make it easy to share with friends, lovers or wayward travelers.
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Understand The Distillation Process – You should know that Scotch whisky is made from barley malt which gets its flavor from being smoked over peat fires prior to distillation. Most times, several different varieties are blended together with a neutral grain alcohol. Single malt whisky, however is the exception, it is not blended and is actually quite rare – making up only 2% of the market. In order to bring out all the best flavors, Scotch malt whisky is held in oak casks for a minimum of 3 years.
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Older Whisky Isn't Always The Best – Despite what you may believe about whisky, there's no reason to always go for the oldest blend on the shelf. Very often you will find that younger blends have a beautiful, full flavor that satisfies your palate. The rule of thumb should be to go with the one that makes you happy and forget about the age.
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Know What Glass To Drink From – Whisky drinking is as much about the ceremony as it is about the pleasure of the drink. It all begins with the proper choice in glass. For those that prefer their whisky “on the rocks” or with water, a tumbler is the perfect way to enjoy. For a more traditional, intimate experience, a whisky tasting glass shaped much like a cognac glass is ideal. Both types allow for the aromas and flavors to be fully enjoyed from the first sip to the last.
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Keep Yourself Under Control – Keep in mind that the average Scotch whisky is somewhere between 40% and 60% alcohol content. That's a strong drink in anyone's book, so take it easy and pace yourself. If you're going on a whisky tour, you'll want to be sure to keep your wits about you and don't over-indulge.
All in all, going on a whisky tour in Scotland is a fantastic way to spend your vacation, especially if you know a few etiquette points before-hand. The Scottish people are fiercely proud of their whisky traditions and they are more than happy to share them with travelers.