Macallan would be proud!

Joined Aug 2004
2K Posts | 0+
Chicago Born/Raised. Hollywood CA Resident
Okay Macallan, YOu'd be proud of me!! I've been trying to get more knowledgeable about scotch, and learning to get the Scotch cigar pairing down right. The other night I had the opportunity to drink some Macallan 18. In fact I had so much it put me out the next day, the only thing I could do was sit in the steam room for about an hour (I* still managed to have a couple cigars that night too). I've tried Johnny Black, Green and gold and to be honest can't really tell the difference between any of them. I can only tell the difference with the ones that are heavy on peet (is that right), the real smokey ones. What is it in scotchs, and the different blends that makes one stand out over the other. When I have a cigar with scotch, I can't yet see how they compliment eachother as much as say Port or a good microbrew does for me. Maybe I'm not a scott man. I guess what I'm asking, is will the palat develop with Scotch as it does with Cigars?
 
I am still a newbie in this area as well so any info would be appreciated. My limited knowledge would suggest that the regions play the biggest part. The smokey scotches come from Islay or the island. On the island they burn peat or the earth during the process which makes it smokey. I have also found most highland malts like Macallan are a little saltier and smoother.

Please any scotch experts out there, post on this I am rookie with very little knowledge but am eager to learn here.
 
Well, don't forget, you guys might find more scotch talk over on Spiritus Fermenti. Not that talking about the pairing thing over here isn't a good idea, but if you open up a new topic over there it might help. Hollow Point is a veritable encyclopedia of scotch knowledge. I will say this cigarsmoka, in the Macallan 18 you picked one of the most highly regarded single malts that's still somewhat affordable. I've never heard a bad remark about it and most of them are superlatives.
 
cigarsmoka.

i think it has to evolve and grow as it does with cigars. two years ago, i could hardly stand a straight scotch or whisky to sip. it wasn't the harshness, but it really wasn't my flavor.

an associate of mine last spring was a serious scotch man. has probably 10 different ones at home at all times. a few months of hanging with him, smokin' & jokin', really opened my eyes and tase buds to the complexities and highlights of scotch; from single malts to the best blends.

try a couple on the rocks with a shot of water. try it with a SPLASH of club soda and a squeeze of lime. doesn't have to be straight to be great.