Macallan, my favourite scotch (I am loving on the 18 year old scotch - it’s the first scotch I’ve able to really enjoy) produced a 57 year old single malt whisky in Lalique’s Finest Cut decanter – the third in a series of six decanters that are inspired by The Macallan’s six pillars, the unique elements that combine to make the whisky so special.

Containing an exceptionally rare single malt whisky, the Finest Cut decanter is valued at $15,000 and will be available by special order beginning in October 2009, and there are only 72 bottles available. The introduction of The Macallan in LALIQUE Finest Cut decanter comes on the heels of the August 2009, record-breaking, £11,750 ($19, 080) sale of one of The Macallan’s 50^th anniversary bottles at a Glasgow, Scotland auction.

The 57 year old whisky has been vatted together from six casks made from two different  species  of oak; the first, a 1950 American oak sherry butt, and the second, a vatting of Macallan from first-fill Spanish oak sherry butts originally filled in 1949, 1951 and 1952.  The result is a softly sumptuous single malt, showing off the classic dried fruits, spice and hints of peat redolent of The Macallan house style of the early 1950’s. The age statement of 57 years old is determined by the youngest cask which was filled in 1952.

The tasting notes for the whisky are:

Colour Mahogany

Nose Ginger, raisin, orange, vanilla, oak notes in the background

Palate Rich in spices, sweet fruit, toasted oak

Finish Long and full bodied

Alcohol Strength 48.5% Alc./Vol.

Welcome to part two of the Drinks After Dark feature series, So, you want to learn how to drink… Today, we’re taking a look at Scotch, with  thanks from Tris Hussey.

Scotch is one of those classic “man” drinks.

Sipping a Scotch is one of those pleasures that also evokes images of cigar smoke, libraries with dark wood and deep leather chairs.

Although you might consider Scotch as a man’s drink, it was my mom who introduced me to Scotch and taught me how to drink it. (image source, LiquorSnob)

After nursing school, my mom and her friend got jobs in Miami for the summer and wanting to fit in and such decided that they’d learn to drink Scotch that summer.

Note “learn to drink Scotch”. Scotch is an acquired taste. If you jump in with both feet with a double of a peaty single malt neat, you’ll probably never want to try it again.

First, Scotch is a distilled spirit that comes only from Scotland. It is “Scotch Whisky” and like wine there are Scotch regions with each region having its own distinctive flavour. Getting into the regions right now is overkill, let’s just start off with a basic Scotch.

You drink Scotch a few ways:

• neat (just Scotch)
• rocks (couple cubes of ice)
• splash of water
• splash of soda

I don’t go for the soda option myself and rarely neat (it depends on the Scotch). Usually I like rocks, the ice chills the Scotch and brings out more of the flavours I like.

Which brings us to the “learning” part.

One of the easiest ways to start drinking Scotch is to ask a Scotch drinker what they drink. In the Scotch world there are single malt Scotches and blends.  Blends are mixtures of single malts to bring out different, and interesting, combinations of flavours. Generally blends are cheaper to buy than single malts.

So the drinking.

Personally, although I might get a lot of protest over this, I’d try a basic bar Scotch on the rocks for your first one. If you like that the picking up a bottle of Johnnie Walker or (my fav blend) Famous Grouse is good. Grouse is, umm, not the smoothest blend in the world, but it’s a Scotsman’s Scotch (so said my friend Bill, who is Scottish).

Start with a little in a glass with a cube or two. Let the cubes melt a bit and sip. This isn’t a slam it back kind of drink, okay? You sip Scotch, slowly. If it’s a little harsh for you, try with a splash of water instead of cubes.

When you’re feeling like you’ve got the taste and you’re liking it, try going to the liquor store and asking for their recommendations for other blends to try.

Making the leap to a single malt, that’s when you really start to start getting into amazing flavours, smoothness, and subtleties. I’d try Aberlour first or maybe Ardsmore (I’ll be reviewing that shortly). These are mellow Scotches that are just smooth and amazing. The best way to experience more single malts is to find someone who really likes them and get their opinion. I like many different Scotches and have my mental list for when I go to a bar and want a nice single to sip.

Step up to Scotch. It’s a drink to savour and to think over. Just sip, ponder, sip. Ah.