Introduction
There are a lot of components to contemplate when buying single-malt whisky. The very first thing to do is establish what kind of single malt whisky you’re on the lookout for: Is it blended or single malt? Subsequent, you must contemplate the area the place the whisky was made. Then, you may determine whether or not it’s a mix or single malt. Lastly, take a look at the energy of the spirit and its age assertion.
Area
Single malt whisky can have a really totally different flavour relying on the area the place it was distilled. The distilleries are situated in lots of international locations, together with Scotland, Eire, Japan and the US. Single malt whiskies from different elements of the world (equivalent to France or Australia) are typically costlier than their Scottish counterparts.
Kind of Cask Used
The kind of cask used throughout maturation is likely one of the most important components figuring out the style profile of a selected single malt whisky. Oak casks are the commonest, as they permit a wide selection of flavours to be extracted from the wooden. Nonetheless, different varieties can be utilized and have distinct traits. These embody:
· Bourbon Casks – Used primarily in American whiskies, these casks impart sturdy vanilla notes
· Sherry Casks – Sherry casks aren’t simply used for sherry; they can be utilized in Scotch Whisky manufacturing to impart fruity notes like raisin and nutmeg
Age
Understanding what you’re getting before you purchase a bottle of single-malt whisky is crucial. The phrases “single” and “malt” imply that just one kind of grain was used to make the whisky, but it surely doesn’t essentially point out a pure product. Whereas there are undoubtedly many distilleries that do their finest to create refined merchandise, most blends do include some non-whisky parts. This may also help make consistency from batch to batch and scale back prices for the producer through the use of cheaper elements equivalent to fillers or flavour enhancers.
However what about age? That is one factor the place cash does purchase high quality: the older it’s, the higher it tastes! Older whiskies are smoother as a result of they’ve had extra time in oak casks (oak casks are used for ageing as a result of they communicate particular nuances of style), which permits extra advanced flavours inside every sip than youthful ones do.
Age Assertion
The age assertion is probably the most crucial piece of knowledge in figuring out the standard and worth of a whisky. The age assertion is required to state the age of the youngest whisky within the bottle; this often implies that it’s 3-4 years outdated, with some youthful whiskies having no age assertion.
Whereas an older one will virtually all the time be higher than a youthful one, many components come into play when selecting between totally different manufacturers’ choices (together with worth). A 12-year-old Scotch will be much less advanced and satisfying than a 7-year-old blended whiskey from one other area.
Alcohol Energy
The alcohol energy is the share of alcohol by quantity in a drink. The upper the content material, the stronger it is going to be.
The US has strict legal guidelines concerning alcohol content material, with drinks having to state their share of alcoholic content material on the bottle or can they arrive in.
Excessive-strength whisky can include as much as 40% ABV! Whereas this may occasionally seem to be an interesting quantity should you’re on the lookout for one thing sturdy sufficient to get drunk shortly however nonetheless need one thing fancy, needless to say consuming excessive ranges of alcohol over time can result in critical well being points.
If weight achieve considerations you most about consuming, then do not forget that energy from drinks depend similar to these from meals as a result of they include vitality derived from carbohydrates (or different macronutrients).
Conclusion
In abstract, there are numerous components to contemplate when buying single-malt whisky. Whereas it might seem to be an easy course of, there isn’t a scarcity of nuances that make every bottle distinctive. As with all product, understanding what you need earlier than buying is crucial to get probably the most out of your buy and keep away from purchaser’s regret.
