Yaa know laddies, sampling a dram is a very special thing; ya just can’t rush into it. It’s taken centuries of hard drinkin’ – oops – I mean hard workin’ to create such a fine nectar. “Acquavitae”, “The water of life”, “The life blood of Scots”, it’s of no matter what ya call it, what matters is what ya do with it!
When ya first meet a new bottle of a fine single malt – and believe me they’re all fine in their own special way, ya gotta treat it like the first meeting of a fine lassie, or for you fine lassies it’s like meeting a real man like me. The first thing ya do is check out the whole package, admire the shape, of the bottle and read the label untils ya know every word. Close your eyes and caress the bottle all the while thinking way back to the hills and streams of Scotland and the good folk who made this fine gift. When you start to feel the life this bottle has inside, it’s time to remove the cork.
The cork can tell a tale of it’s own, breathe in the aroma all the while keepin’ your eyes closed. Listen to the story it’s tellin’ ya. Pour yourself a wee dram, swirl it around in your snifter – I prefers a snifter - and keep it neat and true. As the golden nectar falls slowly down the sides of the glass check out the legs – ya know the legs should always be of sturdy stock, just like a fine lassie – as you watch the legs imagine how they will feel in your mouth. The sturdier the legs the thicker the mouth feel. Pour out a wee bit of the nectar into the cup of your palm – it’s ok, it’s not wasteful – rub your hands together and as they warm up the alcohol evaporates. When your hands are slightly warmed, cup them and draw them to your nose, breathe deeply through your nose, again keeping your eyes closed.
Can you feel it? Can you taste it?
This as near to heaven as one can get with out having to stay.
You can almost taste the oak cask; this is the first sensation you will receive. Un-cup your hands and breathe deeply, cup your hands and draw another breath. Now you will receive the peat, and the other flavours will start to emerge. Ya can do this a few more times and the flavours will change ever so slightly.
My favorite malt to perform this ritual with is Dalwhinnie; this fine malt comes from the highest distillery in Scotland. The first flavour to emerge is fresh oak, followed by honey and finishing up with Heather. The heather lingers in your palm like the magical scent of a fine lassie.
It’s now time to turn your attention back to the glass at hand. Draw it up to your nose keeping only one nostril inside of your glass and breathe deeply. Then use the whole nose. This is when you receive the full bouquet, close your eyes again and savor the history.
When you return to the world in which you live, it’s time to taste this teasing dram. Taking a wee sip let the nectar float throughout your mouth, let it reach every corner all the while swirling gently with your tongue. How’s the mouth feel? Do you feel a syrupy sensation? Let it sit for a moment as your mouthheats up and let it slowly slip down your throat, feel the warmth as it slides down to your belly. As the nectar reaches your belly, you receive your just rewards; a warm relaxing glow.
You are now one with the rich history of my historic land. You have now married your lassie – or for you lassies, you’ve nailed your lad.
Now that you’ve read my courtship you must get yourself a fine bottle of amber nectar and perform this ritual yourself in order to truly become “one with the dram”.
I have performed this act of courtship in all the corners of the world and every time it brings me back home.
Many a person prefers to add a few drops of water to enhance this fine nectar. But I prefers to keep mine virginal, unless it’s a of a cask strength. It is then that I adds just a few drops of water to smooth out the malt, and I perform this ritual again.
However you like to savor your dram, it’s OK with me, just so longs as you enjoy every last drop.
There are different styles of malted whisky, some are; smoky and peaty, some have spent their life inside a sherry oak cask and the salty sea air flavours others. A malted whisky is a very personal thing and each one is as original as the masters that have created them. It is important that we enjoy as many different malts as we can in our lifetime, if not just for our own personal gratification, but to pay homage to the centuries of creation by the forefathers of “Scotland’s gift to the world”.
Fergus McDuff
<< Article Index
| 
