h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have found that there is a trick to enjoying scotch. take a sip and let it coat your mouth. The alchohol shock can be quite strong, but the next sip on a good scotch allows you to really enjoy the flavor. In my part of the world it is hard to get good scotches so I am trying all the different types I can and making list of the ones I like. I would like to know wha are consired the best scothes so I can benchmark my palatte.

another trick, especially good (or actually needed) with cask strength whiskies (undiluted whiskies at 50 to 65% vol) is a splash of clean spring water, sometimes as much as 50/50 is fine, other times less is enough, so start out with a little and add more if you like.

This trick will set free a lot of aroma in the whisky and take the tip off the alcohol shock and give you a cleaner taste of the many facets that make up the individual whiskies.

(tap water often contains chlorine and other pollutants that taint the taste and smell of the whisky)

Yeah, as they say up in Bonnie Scotland (where I have had the good fortune of spending many a late night), ideally you add a touch of the very same water with which the whisky was made...

Agreed, that's a wee bit tough to come by if you're not living next door to the distillery. And judging by Roskilde Cathedral rising under a gray, heavy sky out there on the other side of the window, I'm at least not...

*sigh*

Now, to make a list of what's considered the best scotch -- or malts, if you will -- that will indeed be a fair trick to pull. I guess everybody enjoying the "stuff" has his (or indeed her) own opinion.

But I will try to come and whack you if you don't include at least Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish, Macallan and Cragganmore in your listing...

(Hmmm -- clody, wet weather may not be bad after all. Isn't that the best excuse available for a good dram? )

All the best (og resten i håret!),

SG V

Not to forget Highland Park, Glenfarclas, and the Islay Malts when the mood swings in that direction.
Indeed, the 'best' Scotch will be hard to decide on, my choice will be different from day to day, but Highland Park will (with a few other ones, as well) always be drinkable.

The best bartender I ever came across was in the NCO Club on the US Air Force Base at Sondrestrom, Greenland.
Louise (from Liverpool) soon learned that I like whisky whithout ice and would regularly pour me a good messure without asking me what I wanted. Now, that is not that uncommon for a good bartender, but one night I walked in there and only quickly passed the doorway that led into the main bar, I wanted to see if any friends were at the other bar / dancefloor.

When I walked back to the main bar, a big rectangular thing with the booze and bartenders in the middle, Louise had already placed a two-finger (and she wasn't using two adjecent fingers) Glenmorangie on the corner of the bar nearest the door. She was at the far corner of the bar and when she saw me walking in she just nodded in direction of my drink.

That is what I call a GOOD BARTENDER!

(Godt man ikke har saa meget haar!)

Aye, I'd agree to that! I've recently had a similar experience in Manila (the Philippines) -- and that was just about the only positive experience about being there, but I digress...

Same thing, really -- only, I was drinking beer (32oC is a bit too warm conditions for malt for me). But within seconds of appearing somewhere in the vicinity of the bar, this wonderful cold bottle with drops running down its sides materialised as by magic.

Good bartenders make life a bit easier... not to mention funnier !

I've heard my cousin praise Highland Park as well as Springbank. I'm thoroughly a Speyside fan m'self -- I don't fancy the too peaty malts. Just don't go with my toungue, I'm afraid...

For laughs, I once heard Lagavulin drunk by people unused to malts described this way:

"Imagine that you put your head well into a cold fireplace and take a good, deep breath -- filling your lungs with the remains of smoke. Then, quickly, you run down to the beach and bite in a newly tarred fishin net"

So there!

Skål

SG V

I am a single malt fan so I can give my 2 cents bit on what I consider the top ten single malts in the world..

MY TOP TEN SINGLE MALTS

1 Lagavulin 16 years Closest to heaven
2 Talisker 10 years This one might make your eyes water
3 Bushmills 16 years Enjoy this sophisticated malt as an aperitif or digestif.
4 Macallan 18 years Powerful smoothness in perfect balance
5 Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish More like a cognac than whisky
6 Bushmills 10 years This world classic goes best with a little water. The real charm however is in the round, rich slightly sherry taste.
7 Highland Park 12 years A true liquid poem
8 Glen Garioch, 8 years A very smooth but complex whisky with subtle hints of wood and light smoke.
9 Auchentoshan, Lowlands A rather clean, fresh style with a more floral character. Delicate citrus notes. A good introduction for the novice.
10 Glenfiddich A surprise last place, considering its fame. But I find it somewhat light and firm with a little harshness on the finish