Scotland is internationally know as the Home of Golf, but probably is more notarized for the complex and ever changing spirit millions of people relish, Scotch or in this case Single Malt Scotch Whisky. 

Single Malt Scotch is a type of single malt whisky, distilled by a single distillery in a pot still, using malted  barley  as the only grain ingredient. As with any Scotch whisky, a Single Malt Scotch must be distilled and matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years though most single malts are matured for longer.

To break it down…"Single" indicates that all the malts in the bottle come from a single distillery. Multi-distillery malts are usually called "blended malt" or "vatted malt".

"Malt" indicates that the whisky is distilled from a single "malted" grain. In the case of single malt Scotch, barley is always the grain used. 

As with wine I find that Single Malt Scotch offers similar variety of flavors, aromas and mystique, but few have learned to appreciate it. Often people will claim they’ve tried scotch, but did not like it. If you only give scotch one try then you are doing yourself a disservice. That is like saying I tried wine once and didn’t like it. Well, what kind was it, where was it from, how old was it, who was the maker? All these determine the flavors in wine and they determine the styles of scotch as well. No other spirit offers such diversity of character.

The greatest concentration of malt whisky distilleries can be found in the Speyside region of Scotland, with Highland, Lowland and Islay being the other main malt whisky producing zones. 

Speyside whiskies are considered to be the most refined and elegant in Scotland. The two best-selling single malt whiskies in the world, The Glenlivet  & Glenfiddich, come from Speyside (the northeast region on the Highlands) along with Macallan and Knockando to mention a few more popular distilleries.

By far the biggest region is the Highlands. Bigger, brawnier, and generally more rounded than Lowland malts, the whiskies from the Highlands carry a wide range of flavors and styles. They cover a wide area, and malts from this region range from the relatively light-weight Glenmorangie to the powerfully aromatic Dalmore to the almost minty Inchmurrin, with many variations in between. These whiskies are full-bodied, smoky and peaty with a dry taste.

The island of Islay produces rich, iodine-flavored, very smoky. very peaty whiskies, two examples are Laphroaig and Lagavulin. The six distilleries currently in operation on this beautiful island of Islay produce some of the most aromatic of whiskies.

Traditionally Lowland Single Malts are triple distilled (though this has not been true of all of them), often giving them a lighter taste. This likely played a role in the waning of the Lowland distilleries.

Each of these regions has its own particular distinctive style of malt whisky. The single malts are the most natural of spirits, formed more than any other by their environment. For the same reason, they are the most individualistic. One arouses the appetite before dinner, another soothes the digestion; one likes to follow a round of golf, another prefers a book at bedtime, but the only way to find which one doe what you must try a variety of them from the different regions.

Here are a couple of Scotch tips:

• Try the different styles until you find the one that best fits your palate
• The more you try the more you will learn (it’s not drinking, it’s learning, at least that’s what I tell my counselor)
• Experiment. Whisky tasting is a matter of practical wisdom and personal experience, not theory. If you like it then it’s a good Scotch
• The use of a small amount of purified water is common to open up the flavors of the spirit
• As with wine, more expensive is not necessarily better
• As with wine, older is not necessarily better
• As with wine, letting the scotch breathe before consuming allows it to open up
• UNLIKE wine, don’t get your nose all the way in the glass when appreciating the aroma. Keep your nose a few inches out of the glass and slowly make your way closer. (You’ll thank us later)
• Enjoy it with a friend and compare experiences
• Single malt whisky can be enjoyed on its own or paired with food. Some common suggestions are oysters, sushi and dark chocolate and of course a cigar pairing is always enjoyable.