With World Whisky Day approaching on Saturday the 20th of May, there’s never been a more appropriate time to celebrate the rich and adventurous history of what was originally called Uisge Beatha, or the ‘water of life’.
It’s been said that distillation was first brought to Scotland by the Irish who were taught distillation from Saint Patrick (who learned it in Europe). Whisky fast became ingrained into the Scottish lifestyle, where it was used to provide comfort against long and cold winters and became a staple in households to the point where it was offered to guests as a greeting upon their arrival. Since then, whisky has also gone on to survive wars, revolts and uprisings, as well as economic depressions and recessions to maintain its steady position as the international spirit of choice.
One Scottish gentleman and Scotch Whisky Specialist who knows a thing or two about whisky is Ross Blainey. Hailing from William Grant & Sons – Australia’s Scotch whisky experts – Ross spends his days hosting whisky tasting events and masterclasses, developing pioneering tools for bartenders and inventing new ways to consume or mix the array of scotch whiskies the distiller produces.
In celebration of World Whisky Day, Ross shares everything you always wanted to know but were too afraid to ask about enjoying whisky in a short cheeky video, which was filmed on location at Mjølner in Surry Hills, released by William Grant & Sons:
The Balvenie’s flavour profile is about vanilla, honey, dried fruits and cinnamon spice, while a drop such as the Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is about fresh apples and pears with hints of spice and fruit. When it comes to pairing your neat scotch whisky from the whisky stock, look to a solid cheese platter or some good quality dark chocolate.
Water: While there’s a myth that water dilutes the flavour of whisky, adding a few drops of water to your whisky is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and you should ignore any faux-macho comments from your friends.
While you should always be sure to try the whisky as it is in the first instance (you can even order it with a glass of water on the side, referred to as a ‘water back’), a little dilution can actually be a good thing. Water causes a chemical reaction within the whisky and breaks up some of the oils in it and in turn, both the aromas and the flavours of the whisky are released.
In adding water you’re also able to drop the alcohol content a little, so if you’re not used to high strength spirits this can be a fine way to enjoy a good whisky while becoming accustomed to the alcohol strength.
Ice: Particularly for people who are still getting used to the idea of sipping whisky, drinking whisky ‘on the rocks’ is an excellent way to temper the intensity because the warmer the whisky is, the more you’ll pick up on the dominant alcohol flavours. Ice will take the temperature of the whisky down a few pegs and in turn make it more palatable.
Having said this however, while some whisky ‘purists’ may scoff, there are still plenty of whisky aficionados who throw a few ice cubes in. And this is because ice is essentially used to create a cooler and more refreshing way of drinking whisky. I would recommend trying Monkey Shoulder with a slice of orange on a warm day for a refreshing citrus hit.
Cocktail Style: If you’re not knocking back whisky neat or with some ice or water, then you’re probably eyeing the cocktail menu. Here are a few classic – and a few not-so-classic – cocktails to get you started:
Old Fashioned – aptly named, because it is one of the very original cocktails. Initially made with American whisky, the scotch alternative offers a slightly less sweet version. Try with The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask and enjoy the notes of orange, tropical fruit and toffee. It’s the cocktail for when you don’t want to think about what cocktail to have!
Rusty nail – an absolute classic cocktail and a favourite of the rat pack that can only be made with Drambuie (whisky liqueur) and scotch.
Ginger beer – the perfect summer drink with lots of ice and a bit of spice from the ginger. Try it with Monkey Shoulder and experience flavours of fruit and spice with a bit of kick.
Scotch and green tea – a favourite in China that is becoming more popular the world over. With plenty of ice and a wedge of lemon to add a little zing, this is up there when it comes to a refreshing beverage. Whisky and green tea might sound a little unusual, but it works together perfectly. Try using Grants for this one, and enjoy in a good-sized jug shared between friends.
With 130 years of distilling experience and still family-owned, William Grant & Sons are truly Scotch whisky experts.
