On our tour, we’ll be visiting a whisky distillery in Pitlochry, and to fully appreciate the tour, it may be important to acquaint ourselves with proper whisky-tasting skills.
First, however, a little history… The earliest record of the distillation of alcohol comes from 13th century Italy where it was primarily used in monasteries for medicinal purposes. The practice spread to Ireland and Scotland by the 15th century, and it was recorded that a large amount of ‘aqua vitae’ – or water of life – was ordered by the king himself. (By the way, the word whisky comes from the Gaelic for water.)
In 1725, the English imposed a tax on malt which led to Scottish distillers working at night to hide the smoke from the distillery. The practice lead to a word we still use today for illicit brews – moonshine.
Meanwhile in America, whisky was used as currency during the American Revolution… and following his presidency, George Washington operated a distillery.
Finally, during Prohibition when all alcohol sales were illegal, an exemption was made for whisky that was prescribed by doctors for medicinal purposes!
TASTING WHISKY
The approach to formally tasting whisky is similar to wine tasting – it’s important to gauge the aroma, the color, the flavor and the finish to truly appreciate a good whisky.
Begin with a glass of whisky neat - that is, straight, no ice, no water – and observe the coloring. The color and lightness/darkness may indicate the type of cask that was used and the age of the drink. Then take a moment to swirl the whisky and observe the “legs” that drip down the sides of the glass. The slower moving legs indicate an older vintage. Now it’s time to nose the drink, to take in the aroma for a moment or two. Finally, take a sip or two and enjoy the strong flavor in your mouth and as you swallow.
Do not rush, though, for another sip! You’ll want to savor the whisky and, more importantly, see what kind of ‘finish’ it offers. The finish refers to how long the flavors linger in your mouth, and it’s considered that the longer the finish, the more preferable the whisky.
It may be prudent to practice a few times before going to Scotland, just to make sure you’re familiar with the process and so can more fully enjoy the tour of the distillery!
All things whisky at ScotchWhisky.net
Call Laura Chapman at Holiday Travel Vacations to book your seat today. (906) 228-6355 or 800-562-9767.
