Brian West

n the world of spirits, few are as intimidating as Scotch whisky. Its reputation precedes it, and many judge without even trying it. Some believe Scotch is a spirit that should never be mixed, which only augments its intimidation factor. Further, it seems Scotch has developed an image that is both elite and sophisticated or, more bluntly, rich and old. Alcoholmanac Magazine chose Scotch as its first featured spirit for one main reason — to shatter those ridiculous preconceptions!

By definition, Scotch is a whisky both distilled and aged in Scotland. It must be aged a minimum of 3 years in oak casks. Scotch can be either malt or grain whisky. Grain whisky is typically milder in flavor and aroma than malt whisky. Traditionally grain whisky, also aged for a minimum 3 years in an oak cask in Scotland, is used as the backbone for blended Scotch whisky. The Scotch marketplace is dominated by blends, making up 93% of consumption worldwide. The remaining 7% is made up of the prized single malt Scotches. Scotch is generally deep amber in color and has a firm, dry taste with some peatness. It is the king of whiskies, but don’t be fooled — it can be enjoyed by anyone. To prove this, we’re going to take you on a tour of Scotches through the House of Dewar’s, which is amongst the most popular Scotches in the United States. By the time we’re done, you’ll see Scotch as it was always meant to be: an approachable, glorious spirit with its own unique flavor. So, grab a glass and drink along with us. You’ll be glad you did.

Basic Blend – Dewar’s White Label

Dewar’s White Label is a great example of a basic blended Scotch whisky. Blended whiskies usually have a complex flavor stemming from all the single malt and grain whiskies used in the blend. To make a blended whisky, the master blender chooses whiskies based on individual flavor profiles and what the whisky would add to the finished product. Single malt whisky adds flavor to blends, while grain whisky adds structure to blends and has a milder flavor profile. Dewar’s White Label includes at least 30 different single malt whiskies within its blend, making for a Scotch with a complex flavor.

Basic blends can be enjoyed in any fashion, but we recommend trying it mixed with ginger beer or ginger ale. Because of its lower price point and lower complexity (as compared to aged blends), it is also good for cocktails like the Old Fashioned.

Aged Blends – Dewar’s 12

The aging process changes much about the character of a whisky. Age mellows the character of the spirit, making it sweeter and developing more complexity. As the spirit matures in the cask it breathes in the local atmosphere. Oxidation removes undesirable aromas (sulfurs, etc), helping to develop more delicate fragrant notes. Scotch whisky takes its natural color from the cask in which it was aged. Because of this, aged Scotches are generally darker in color. Dewar’s 12 is an example of an aged blended Scotch. Each component whisky in this blend is aged a minimum of 12 years. After blending, it is then returned to casks to “marry.” This technique is called “double aging” and is quite uncommon. During this second aging, the individual components of the blend mellow together and harmonize. Dewar’s 12 also has a higher than normal alcohol by volume which helps it stand up to ice better.

Aged blends are best enjoyed on the rocks or with a splash of water. They are also great with club soda.

Amongst Scotch fanatics, single malts are king. Single malts are pure, unbridled flavor. They are less complex than their blended counterparts, but their singular characteristics make them highly prized amongst purists. Each single malt has its own unique color, nose, palate, body and finish, so it is impossible to speak generally about them. For this reason, we’re going with just one — the heart of Dewar’s — Aberfeldy 12 Year Single Malt. Aberfeldy 12, as far as single malts go, is unique in that it is naturally balanced. It combines an approachability perfect for those new to Scotch with a sophistication appreciated by connoisseurs.

Single malts are best enjoyed straight up or with a splash of water so as not to compromise the flavor.

Aged Single Malts – Aberfeldy 21

“Aged single malts” is kind of a misnomer. All single malts are aged, usually in excess of 8 years; however, as with blended Scotches, single malts are mellowed and improved with age. Aberfeldy 21 takes the already balanced and mature flavor of Aberfeldy 12 and lifts it to a whole new level. Some of the subtle flavors become more prevalent and lingering.

Aged single malts are always best enjoyed straight up.

Many Scotch brands have a “special” or “signature” blend. This is Dewars’ crème de la crème, their best of the best. These signature blends come at a cost, however, as the processes is lengthy and expensive. Dewar’s Signature is a blend of approximately 20 single malts. Each component whisky is hand selected by the master blender and is chosen at the peak of its aging cycle. For this reason, Dewar’s Signature does not display an age on the bottle. These blends represent the top of the Scotch food chain and should be enjoyed on the rocks or neat.

Special or signature blends are always best enjoyed straight up.

I hope we’ve demystified Scotch and broken some ill-gotten preconceptions. Everyone experiences spirits differently, and Scotch is no exception. As with wine, the more you drink Scotch, the more you’ll come to appreciate the more complex blends. Everyone will have their favorite, and it’s not always the more expensive ones. That said, I’ll leave you with an old Scottish toast:

I drink to the health of another,
And the other I drink to is he
In the hope that he drinks to another,
And the other he drinks to is me.

Slainte!