Scotch: The perfect drink

It is the era of designer drinks: bubblegum martinis, vodka essences, caffeinated schnapps.   You name it.   In spite of all their flair and fun, when you sit down to really enjoy a drink for the craftsmanship and complexity, you really only have a few good choices, and they were usually created over a decade ago. 

For years I had been a wine guy (not whinny, mind you).  I took the classes, began to dig into certain vintages and the regions and vineyards around the world, and I developed a taste for the European wines, which tended to be drier and have more varied, less fruity flavors.  Yet in the midst of all the serious study of the art of wine, it cracked me up when a sommelier remarked that a wine had a "certain pee de chat aroma" (a fancy way of saying it smells like cat pee) with a straight face. 

Try reading a review of a good wine as you walk down the isles of your favorite liquor store and you will see flavors like "tar," "tobacco," and "sulfur."  Mmmmm.(?)  While tasty and amusing, wine didn't quite do it for me.

My father was once told by his physician to have some wine or a beer in the evenings to calm himself down.  I took note, having suffered from being unable to control my stress levels at times, and began to search for a nightcap of my own to help me relax in the evenings.  Naturally, I started with wine.  It didn't quite satisfy, so I moved on to trying different cognacs.  Again, not quite what I was looking for.

Then I remembered my 100 year-old grandmother.  Her nightcap of choice was an affordable Scotch.  So I bought a bottle of Glenmorangie at my local Costco (the cashier remarked that his customers were happily surprised to find it on hand) and thoroughly enjoyed every drop.  Now I fully expect to live to be 100. 

So why is Scotch the perfect drink?  It has a complexity similar to what a good wine will have.  The vast array of flavors is always surprising.  The bite of the alcohol is wonderful.  The variety of good Scotches is enough to last a lifetime.  The history of the spirit is rich.  It does wonders for a good night's sleep.  And a flask of good Scotch seems to improve one's poker playing skills, I've found.

With any new endeavor, such as striving to become a connoisseur of Scotch Whisky, questions arise that beg to be answered:

• Why is it spelled "whisky," without the "e" and not "whiskey" like Jack Daniels? (find the answer here)
• How much did the bottle of MacCutcheon Scotch that Charles Whidmore whipped out in front of Desmond on LOST really cost? (find the answer here)
• Is a 20 year-old Scotch always better than a 10 year-old?
• Does all Scotch come from Scotland - can it be called Scotch if it comes from Japan? (partial answer here)
• What are some of the best brands of Scotch?
• What are some of the best value Scotches available in the US?
• Is Scotch on the rocks a designer drink?
• What is Scotch made of?  How is it made? (answer here)
• Can Scotch be aged like wine? (partial answer here)
• Does drinking Scotch while playing poker help your game more than drinking beer or not drinking at all? (answer here)

Stay tuned and we will cover all the above. If you stick with me for the long haul, perhaps I can answer this question as well:

• Will I really live to be 100 years-old if I drink Scotch?