Scotch is an acquired taste, you either love it or you hate it. However, if there is one country with a strong love for this spirit, it’s the land where it was produced – Scotland! There are hundreds of distilleries throughout the country providing a delectable array of flavors and textures and producing some of the most exquisite brands in the world. Scotch whiskey is different from American whiskey such as bourbon. Also, it can only be classified as a scotch when it has been distilled in Scotland at an ABV of 94.8 percent. Whether you are a whiskey connoisseur, or you are looking for a bottle for a loved one, here are some of the best scotch brands to consider.
Ballentine’s Finest:
Created in 1910, this tantalizing bottle was created with grain and single malt. It’s a very matured whiskey which is what gives the drink it’s vanilla flavor. This bottle of whiskey has a pretty interesting story, it was created during the prohibition in America, this was a time when alcohol was banned. So, the producers made it with a square bottle so that Americans could easily conceal it in their briefcases.
The Glenlivet:
There was a period in the whiskey making history where Scottish distilleries were forced to continue production underground because the British government had started taxing them. One of the most successful underground distilleries during that time was Glenlivet, it had such a prestigious reputation that King George IV demanded that he tasted some when he went on a visit. The bottle is 15 years old, and the company has not stopped producing high quality whisky. It has a sweet almond aftertaste that lingers on the tongue long after the final drop has been consumed.
Johnnie Walker:
Scotch lovers have a fond liking for this brand, with it’s golden reserve label, the whiskey is made out of a mixture of whiskeys from the Highland and Speyside regions. The final taste is a combination of dark fruit and vanilla.
Arran Robert Burns:
This scotch brands was named after an infamous Scottish poet. The scotch was distilled on the island of Arran and made out of water sourced directly out of the Loch na Davie. It’s an aromatic and pure liquor that has notes of fruits, honey and toffee-glazed pecans. Its easy on the throat so you can drink it on the rocks or neat.
12-Year-Old Macallan:
This whiskey has been aged in seasoned oak casks and sherry on top of a plateau in the North-east of Scotland. It’s a very mature whiskey, and when poured, releases an aroma of dried fruits and wood spice.
16-Year-Old Lagavulin:
You will find this distillery on the south of Scotland on an island called Islay. Lagavulin is a very masculine malt with a smoky and deep taste that can only be attained in the environment of the distillery.
Kilchoman Sauternes Cask:
The barley and harvest used for this whiskey is grown directly on the distillery’s farm. This scotch brands has only been around since 2005; however, it has quickly gained a reputation of excellence. It is also the only distillery farm on Islay. Prior to the whiskey being bottled, it was matured for several months in ex-wine and ex-bourbon casks. Kilchoman is well loved for its floral and buttery notes.
10-Year-Old Ardbeg:
For four out of the past seven years, this whiskey has been voted the best whiskey in the world. It is distilled on the island of Islay and has been for the past 200 years. This scotch brands has a very distinctive smoky flavor, and this is because of the combination of peat, soil and water on the island. In particular; the peat which is burnt during the distilling process.
Conclusion
Now that you have a great selection of scotch brands to choose from, if you are buying them for yourself, all that we ask is that you are sensible. If you know you are going to be drinking, please make sure that you refrain from driving, you can either get a taxi or have one of your friends who is not drinking to take you home. It is also important that you drink in moderation.