02/07/2024
Some remarks, questions and basically nonsense, we have on our whisky tours. Not all the time, but every now and again we need stifle a laugh.
Does the colour give a clue to the age of any Whisky?
Aye well; Whisky does increase in strength as it ages, but not always does it affect the colour of whisky. The colour reflects the type of wood used to hold the whisky, and has nothing to do with its age. Whisky producers (most) don’t add colour to their product. If you see “no added colour” or “natural colour” on a whisky label, it means distillers havnee added anything artificial. The ingredient spirit caramel, which is known as E150a, is a food additive created by heating sugars without the use of any additional additives or preservatives. This is added to some drams, mostly to give colour, specially if the producer is bottling many thousands of bottles, and wishes them all to look the same. Dinnae forget, the eyes taste whisky before the mouth .
If a whisky is labelled as a 15 year old, it must be 15 years old.
This can be misleading. The age statement has to show the youngest whisky in the bottle, but any 15 year old can also have some 17 – 20 year old in its make up. And a most common question asked to us; Does whisky age in the bottle? No it does not, the amount of time I have been told “I have a 40 year old whisky at home I have not opened yet”, when what they mean is, their dad gave them a bottle of whisky when they were 18 years old, that was 22 years ago, so it is now 40 years old. Och, sorry, doesnee work like that, whisky ages in wood not glass.
Does whisky taste improve with age?
If a bottle has a stated age, it will be more expensive than a blend - maybe. Just because it’s more expensive does not guarantee it’s better. Although older bottles are more expensive, this does not imply that they are of higher quality. Spirit placed in “bad wood” can ruin it, the old saying proves this, much of the taste and colour comes fae the wood. If you leave spirit in a cask for 60 years, it doesnee mean it is fantastic, it can deteriorate, or it can be wow! For instance, I had the good fortune to taste an 80 year old (another story), it was sublime, like licking velvet! I also had a chance to taste an aged Macallan, it was boring, no much taste and a letdown.
All whiskies are the same.
If you say all whiskies taste the same, you must try more bottles and names and discover their various flavours. A person new to whisky should not try a heavy peat whisky as his/her first dram, they often then think all whisky must be like that, take care with the first dram. For example if you try let us say, a Tamnavulin dram, I would suggest this is a nice middle of the road whisky, not sharp, peaty or overly citrusy. Do not be influenced by brand or colour, for new whisky tasters, try using coloured glasses, or small teacups, you cannee see the colour, so this will not influence your judgment. Do not be influenced by the fame of any dram (Johnie Walker or Macallan for instance), what YOU like is a good whisky, you like what you like, but do try as many as you can. Whisky Is not Vodka! My advice, do not buy a full size bottle of whisky that you may be attracted to for the style of the bottle, its colour or price. Try different drams in a good whisky bar, buy wee sample miniature bottles. It’s all in the nose/mouth of the beholder, like art, every one has their own likes.
PAUL MCLEAN. MCLEAN WHISKY TOURS www.whiskytours.scot
