THE DEEP BEAUTY OF SCOTCH

SCOTCH WHISKEY

One of the most beautiful things about Scotland is its whiskey.

I never liked Scotch whiskey until I forced myself to try it again on my first visit to Scotland. I stopped into a distillery on the Isle of Skye to sample their wares. I was only 20 years old, so I didn’t pay attention to the name -- and I don’t remember which it was, but I’m guessing it was Talisker. What I do remember is that a symphony went off in my head as a sipped this single malt from a snifter, neat. I do remember the synesthesia.

Over the years, I’ve developed my tastes, I’ve learned a lot more, and I’ve visited Scotland many times over, deepening my love for this country and one of its most prized elixirs.

In celebration of Scotland being recently voted The Most Beautiful Country in the World, today, we are touting some special single malt Scotch Whiskeys in Core and Rare expressions.

Scotland was traditionally divided into four Scotch producing regions: The Highlands, The Lowlands, The Isle of Islay, and Campbeltown. Speyside became the 5th region because there are more distilleries here than anywhere else in the country.

We’ll give you a taste of The Macallan and Glenfiddich, from Speyside, along the River Spey. We’ll sip some Highland Park and Talisker from the Highlands. And we’ll turn you on to some Bowmore, Caol Ila, and Laphroaig, from the Isle of Islay, where art of distillation was first brought by Irish monks. Check them out below.

THE MACALLAN -- MORAY, HIGHLANDS

The Macallan is a single malt Scotch crafted in Craigellachie, Moray, in the Highlands region of Scotland. Originally, The Macallan was matured only in oak sherry casks brought to the distillery from Jerez, Spain, but it has expanded to a Fine Oak series, with the whiskey mellowed in bourbon oak casks.

In one of the most extraordinary Scotch whiskey offerings ever, “The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars” was auctioned at Sotheby’s Hong Kong earlier this year for almost $1 million. The collection included 6 stunning crystal decanters containing the rarest of The Macallan single malts, aged from 50 to 65 years old -- the world’s only complete collection, official and direct from The Macallan.

The 6 limited edition releases contained in the Collection cabinet are:

• The Macallan in Lalique – Exceptional Oak Cask, 50 Years Old
• The Macallan in Lalique – Natural Color, 55 Years Old
• The Macallan in Lalique – Finest Cut, 57 Years Old
• The Macallan in Lalique – Curiously Small Stills, 60 Years Old
• The Macallan in Lalique – Spiritual Home, 62 Years Old
• The Macallan in Lalique – Peerless Spirit, 65 Years Old

The Macallan’s newest addition to its Fine & Rare Collection—the 1991 vintage is intense, with a soft sherried velvet edge. Prepare to pay 5 digits per bottle.

LAPHROAIG DISTILLERY -- ISLE OF ISLAY

Touted as the world’s richest single malt Scotch, Laphroaig has been crafted on the Isle of Islay since 1815. Its award-winning whiskies, known for their smoky peaty flavor, are made from its own acres of peat fields.

A variety of oak cask sizes are used to obtain different expressions. We prefer the small Laphroaig Quarter Cask, which exposes the whiskey to more oak surface resulting in a soft and velvety edge, like the Macallan 1991, but this time tinged with salt and peat.

Laphroaig has been the only whiskey to carry the Royal Warrant of the Prince of Wales, as the 15-year-old was reportedly the prince's favourite Scotch whiskey.

TALISKER DISTILLERY -- ISLE OF SKYE

Talisker whiskeys taste a bit like their sweet windswept Isle of Skye home. The oldest working distillery on the Isle, founded in 1830,Talisker produces a full-bodied single malt, made from Muir of Ord barley which is medium peated.

Talisker water comes from springs directly above the distillery and flows over peat, picking up more character before being distributed via a network of pipes and wells.

Talisker was the favourite whiskey of writers Robert Louis Stevenson.

ARDBEG DISTILLERY -- ISLE OF ISLAY

Ardbeg is considered by many to be the “Ultimate Islay Malt,” as it is the most phenolic malt -- the most heavily peated of all.

The water used to produce Ardbeg comes from Loch Uigeadail, 3 miles up the hill behind the Distillery. The water flows down the hill and runs into Loch Airigh Nam Beist, then it heads to Charlie’s Dam at the Distillery where it is piped into the Mash House.

Most of Ardbeg’s whiskey matures in ex-Bourbon oak near the sea, acquiring a salty, iodine character as it ages. It’s been named ‘World whiskey of the Year’ 4 times out of the last 7 years.

HIGHLAND PARK DISTILLERY -- ORKNEY

Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney, is the most northerly whiskey distillery in Scotland. It is also among the oldest, founded in 1798. It is one of the few distilleries to malt its own barley, using locally cut peat and heather from Hobbister Moor. Orkney peat, which is made entirely of sphagnum moss, is less smoky and more fragrant than mainland peat.

All 100% of Highland Park’s whiskey is aged in Sherry casks, with a mix of European and American oak. The result is a rich, lightly smoked, fragrant, and fruity Scotch whiskey.

BOWMORE DISTILLERY -- ISLE OF ISLAY

Bowmore Distillery on the isle of Islay, produces a whiskey renowned for its complex peaty smoky, yet exquisitely balanced flavor. One of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, Bowmore was established in 1779.

Bowmore is made with the purest water from the Laggan River and floor-malted barley that is smoked in its own traditional peat-fired kiln. It is aged in the finest oak casks to yield a fine whiskey with hints of dark chocolate, pears, heather and honey.

GLENFIDDICH -- SPEYSIDE

Glenfiddich is a Speyside single malt Scotch whiskey which has been produced by William Grant & Sons in Dufftown, Scotland since 1886. Currently managed by 5th generation descendants, it is the world’s best selling single-malt whiskey.

Glenfiddich, which means "Valley of the Deer" in Scottish Gaelic, makes its whiskey with water from nearby Robbie Dhu springs. It is is distilled in 32 distinctively-shaped handmade "swan neck" copper pot stills. Glenfiddich employs a dedicated team of craftsmen and coppersmiths to maintain them. The whiskey is aged in rum casks from the Caribbean, Bourbon barrels from the US, and Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. The Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, its most popular,, is a Speyside style Scotch that is fruit forward with hints of oak.

Glenfiddich whiskey appeared in the bestselling novel The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson.