while ai'm oan ma wee saipbox...

here arr a few warnings...and helpful hints...

1- Single Malt Scotch Whisky- can ainly come frae Scotland- an' must bae made by yin distillery ainly- an' must bae made frae 100% malted barley... an it must bae aged in wood in Scotland fur nay less than three years... (ai refer tae this as "malt")

2- Blended Scotch Whisky- can ainly come frae Scotland- an' will bae a blend o' many many different single malts alaing wi' a lot o' grain alcohol (this is like vodka- but it is aged in wood like malt whisky is)... it is no made frae 100% malted barley... it is a mix o' malted barley, unmalted barley, wheat, maize (corn), rice, an other grains... an it must bae aged in wood in Scotland fur nay less than three years... (ai refer tae this as "whisky" arr "blended whisky"")

3- check the alcohol strength afore ya taste... (it is oan the label)
most are around 40-43% alcohol... an' dinnae need watter...
if ya get a bottle o' "cask strength" malt -the alcohol will bae 50-71%... an' anything o'er 50% will burn yur taste buds richt aff... which will ruin yur tastin' ability fur the nicht...
ya need tae put a couple wee drops o' watter in it - just enough tae lower the alcohol tae 40-43%....

4- use yur nose maire than yur mooth.... yur nose is far maire sensitive than yur tongue...

5- Rinse yur glass an mooth wi' watter atween each malt whisky...a biscuit (cracker) is guid now an' then tae.... (ai usually fill my glass wi' watter- then pour it intae my mooth an' wash my mooth.. then drink the watter...)

6- NEVER add ice tae malt... it actually changes the molecular structure... an' kills the flavours...

7- malt is best a' a cool room temperature... beware o' warmin' yur glass tae much wi' yur haun... ai also frequently 'cool aff' my mooth wi' cool watter atween sips o' malt... oor mooth temp is 98.6F... which is tae warm fur malt....


hope that helps...

have fun and

Slainte mhath!