Give an Irishman lager for a month and he’s a dead man. An Irishman is lined with copper and the beer corrodes it. But whiskey polishes the copper and is the saving of him – Mark Twain.
The origins of whisky are somewhat obscure, lost in the mists of Ireland, much to the annoyance of Scottish distillers. The Irish, it is believed, was the first to distill a spirit from grain as distinct from grapes or any other fruit. This art was then taken from Ireland to Scotland in the early middle ages. But then, it is also believed that the Scots themselves lived in Ireland and moved to northern Britain in the 5th century AD, taking along with them the secret of `uisge beatha’ – water of life, the Gaelic term for whisky.
But if it was the Irish who invented whisky, the credit for introducing it to the rest of the world with innovative marketing should definitely go to the Scots. And so we find that while the Scotch whisky market has grown tremendously, Irish whiskey is relatively lesser-known. Yes, they even spell it differently. The Irish took their spelling with them to the USA when they moved to the New World. Note – the Irish and the Americans add the extra `e’ while the Scots and Canadians do not.
The British introduced whisky to India during the course of their occupation. They went back, leaving behind a massive following for this amber potation. When Scotch was no longer available freely, bootleggers reigned supreme. So much spurious stuff did the rounds, it was said that Indians consumed far more Scotch than Scotland could possibly produce!
If Britain has Scotch and Irish to boast about, America has Bourbon and Tennessee. Bourbon, christened after the county in which it was created, in the state of Kentucky, is probably the largest style of whisky to be exported globally after Scotch. Tennessee comes from, well, Tennessee and is definitely the most popular American whisky in the form of a singular brand – Jack Daniels.
Useful Info
Age: What does a 12YO whisky mean? A whisky aged for 12 years? A common error. Actually what it tells you is the youngest whisky in that blend is 12 years old. There may be others that are older but none can be less than 12. Meaning – the blending happens after aging & not the other way round. Once bottled, the aging process stops. So the Johnnie Walker Black Label you’ve inherited from Dad bought in 1960 is still a 12YO!
Glass: If you are tasting, as opposed to just drinking, use the simple all-purpose wine glass. A sherry copita might be better, but where the hell does one find it?
Colour: From pale golds to rich amber and dark red-amber – each gives you a hint of inherent characteristics.
Aroma: Whether it is a classic Single Malt, blended Scotch, Bourbon, or any other, don’t worry about recognizing its style. Each of us will find nuances and aromas familiar to our noses. Often I have desperately hoped and looked for the buttery, nutty, cinnamon overtones. Instead, I found smoky, vanilla, clove and honeyish, hints filtering through. The point being – does it taste good to you? Cool.
Palate: Does your tongue confirm what your nose indicated? The first taste of sweetness is followed by a sharp pungent feel with warm honeyed, spicy notes. Briny, the sea, oily, iodine, fruity, honeyed, nutty, buttery, spicy, heathery, woody, toffee, chocolate, earthy, sherry notes are some common descriptive terms.
Body: Refers to feel in the mouth. Full, medium, light, mellow, smooth, silky, firm, robust, chewy, syrupy, oily, round, soft.
Finish: What stayed in the mouth after you drank it? And for how long? Was the aftertaste sweet, hinted of oranges, toffee, or did the tongue taste clean with mellow hints of malt? Did the flavors burst and then fade away just as fast or did that scrumptious flavor linger on for a while?
Hope this helped.
And now I’m tired and need my wee dram. But before I retire, some sage advice from W.C. Fields – “Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of a snakebite. And furthermore, always carry a small snake.”
MINT JULEP COCKTAIL RECIPE
Glass: whisky tumbler/oldfashioned
Ingredients:
45 ml whisky (pref Bourbon)
6-8 fresh mint leaves
1 – 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
Garnish: a slice of orange
Method: Tear mint leaves and muddle with the sugar in the glass to release juices. Fill glass with crushed ice. Pour the whisky and stir together. Top with more crushed ice if necessary. Sit the orange slice on top.
Why should the drinkers have all the fun?
Here’s one for the Teetotalers!
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE RECIPE
Glass: tall or fancy
Ingredients:
150ml litchi nectar
6-8 fresh strawberries
2 teaspoons powdered sugar (adjust sugar to taste)
60ml coconut cream (optional)
Garnish: fresh strawberry, mint leaves
Method: Blend all ingredients together with a cup of crushed ice. Pour into glass and garnish.
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She is a Bar and Beverage Consultant to several hundred international brands and bars and also a freelance journalist.
