The Art of Manliness Guide to Scotch Whisky

Unfortunately, this is a few days late for Scotch Whisky Day, which was last Friday. But now you have a whole year to prepare!

As you can guess, today's blog post is based on a article from The Art of Manliness.

No other spirit has been associated with manhood like Scotch whisky. Whether it’s the hooking punch in the mouth or just the raw and earthy process by which it is brought forth from barley and water, Scotch has held a prominent place in the lives of men from kings to authors to titans of industry. What separates Scotch from its alcoholic counterparts is not just its unique background (to be labeled Scotch, a whisky must be distilled and initially matured in Scotland), but the commonalities shared by the men who partake in its liquid mysteries.

The man who drinks Scotch is one who lives life to the hilt, savoring new challenges and discoveries on a daily basis. He doesn’t settle and he doesn’t drink something just because it’s there. Few men drink Scotch to get drunk. First off, it’s too expensive; the cheapest bottles of single malt cost around $40. But secondly, and much more importantly, each bottle of Scotch contains so much history, tradition, and attention to detail that the men who drink it are not just downing a beverage, but participating in a celebration of artisanship and the deep pleasures of life.

How is Scotch whisky made?

The production process of scotch whisky is surprisingly simple. It involves malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, and maturation.

1) Malting — the process of turning barley into malt, very similar to the early stages of making beer.

2) Mashing — the dried malt is then ground into a course flour with the consistency of oatmeal, called “grist.”
3) Fermentation — the wort is then drawn off and pumped into large wooden or steel vessels called “washbacks.”

4) Distillation — the wash is distilled twice (single malt in a pot still, grain whisky in a Coffey still).

5) Maturation — the unfinished Scotch is then placed in oak barrels, or casks, for the maturation process to begin.

There's quite a bit more to each step, so be sure to read the article to find out more.

But what makes Scotch whisky Scotch whisky?

In order to be considered “Scotch” is must be aged in Scotland for at least three years. Though each whisky reaches its maturation at different ages, most are now aged anywhere from 8-20 years. Many feel that the longer a scotch is aged the smoother and more flavorful it becomes — old whiskies are also more rare and cost a quite a bit more. For example, a quick internet search brings up a bottle of 25-Year Highland Park Single Malt Scotch for $239.

Is it possible to find Scotch at a more reasonable price?

For many of us young men, buying our first bottle of Scotch can be a tough decision. The price is a bit higher than other spirits so we worry about choosing poorly. I have no doubt that there are as many opinions regarding a good “starter Scotch” as there are bottles of whisky (please leave your suggestions below), but for those wanting a recommendation, I would point them to my first, a bottle of Glenmorangie 10yr. And apparently the experts concur.

Even us "older" men, who have only dabbled in Scotch and have never actually bought a bottle would probably do well by following this advice.

And what is the difference between whisky and whiskey?

Whisky or Whiskey

A Scotsman who spells
Whisky with a n ‘e’,
should be hand cuffed
and thrown head first in the Dee,

In the USA and Ireland,
it’s spelt with an ‘e’
but in Scotland
it’s real ‘Whisky’.

So if you see Whisky
and it has an ‘e’,
only take it,
if you get it for free!

For the name is not the same
and it never will be,
a dram is only a real dram,
from a bottle of ‘Scotch Whisky’.

For more tips on how to drink Scotch, as well as its history and more on how it's made, be sure to check out the article on AoM.

Interesting days

Today - Raspberry Cake Day, Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day and World Ranger Day

August will be Inventor’s Month, Fishing Month, Romance Awareness Month, Peach Month, Water Quality Month, Happiness Happens Month and Anti-Frizz Month

Tomorrow- Girl Friends Day, Respect For Parents Day, World Scout Scarf Day, Yorkshire Day, International Childfree Day, World Wide Web Day, Rounds Resounding Day, World Lung Cancer Day and Raspberry Cream Pie Day That's raspberry two days in a row!

Next Tuesday - Lighthouse Day, Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day and Professional Speakers Day

August 31 - Trail Mix Day, Love Litigating Lawyers Day and We Love Memoirs Day