Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

This is Dr. Scotch. I would like to wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday and New Years. I have decided to take the month of December off. So I am saying good bye until next year. Please enjoy the holidays and be safe.

Until next year,

Good Bye

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

How to make Scotch. The process of making Scotch has not changed much in the past 100 years. There are 5 basic steps to producing Scotch. And three basic secrets to making Scotch - water, barley and the still shape.

1. Malting. Barley is spread on the malting floor, moistened and allowed to germinate. Once germinated it is dried with forced air or peat. This affects the final taste of the Scotch.

2. Mashing. Now the dry malt is placed into the mash tun and hot water is added. This produces a mixture called the wort. The wort is transferred to the washback made of pine to begin fermentation.

3. Fermentation. This is a mixed fermentation - yeast and bacteria. This creates a unique flavor. Each distillery will have a different mixture of bacteria and therefore different tastes. This creates the "wash".

4. Distillation. The wash is transferred to the spirit still where it is heated to remove impurities. The clear liquid that remains is transferred to casks for maturation.

5. Maturation. Each spirit must be maturation for at least 3 years. The casks also exert an influence on the final taste of the Scotch.

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!

Welcome to this weeks edition of Scotch Tips

Show Notes:

First Time Whisky Tasting Tips

So you have never tried a Scotch Whisky before? Not sure how to start and where to start? Here are some ideas that can help you.

Choose your Scotch: Each Scotch is different. Within a line of Scotches they differ by age. So start with a 12 to 15 year old single malt Scotch.

I would suggest you try Belvine or Aberlour single malt Scotch. You should probably stay away from highly peated scotch such as Laphroig to start with. The highly peated Scotches are an aquired taste.

Purchase a Scotch glass: A Scotch glass is wide at the bottom, taper to the top and then round out. This shape is used to concentrate the aroma. If you don't have the proper Scotch glass use a red wine glass, not as good but has the basic shape.

Water or not: Some people never add water to their Scotch. At a Scotch tasting you will add a small amount of water to the Scotch after tasting it full strength.

As a first time taster you might want to add water first. The water should be room temperature and be bottled or filtered to remove chlorine and other chemicals.

Now enjoy your entrance into Scotch. And remember each Scotch has a different taste. So explore and try all the different Scotch Brands and years you can find.

Thanks for listening.
Your comments are always welcome.
And remember A Dram For Life!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Scotch saying good bye!