If
you like a little earth with your toffee, possibly infused with
a dash of peat and
melted brown sugar,
then mixed with cooked bananas and melted butter and maple
syrup, mingled with a hint of smoke and possessing an aroma of
honey, cinnamon, and allspice, then blended whiskey is the drink
for you.
What—all
that in one spirit? While you may not discern all the elements
that can make up a blended whiskey, it’s this melding of
numerous flavor and aroma components that makes a spirit often
described as smooth with a perfectly balanced taste.
A blended
whiskey is a mixture of malt and grain whiskies that is commonly
made with 40 percent malt whiskies and 60 percent grain
whiskies. Some quality blends may contain more than 40 percent
malt whiskey, others may contain less. To be called blended
Scotch whisky, it must be made in Scotland, otherwise it is
“whiskey” spelled with an “e.” (Canada is the only other area to
use the “whisky” spelling.) And, if a whiskey is labeled “vatted,”
it is a blend of two or more malted whiskies produced by one
distillery without grain whiskey added.
Blends
come in an infinite variety. To create a blend, the distillery’s
master blender generally does the job by smell rather than taste
since we have dozens of aroma sensors and only four primary
flavor sensors (sweet, salt, sour, and bitter.) This painstaking
“nosing” process carefully melds proportions and flavors to the
blender’s satisfaction.
Some
whiskey drinkers prefer to sip theirs “neat,” but a touch of
water can enhance the whiskey’s aroma and flavor. It’s best to
use filtered or bottled water, as the chlorine in tap water does
not complement whiskey’s flavors. Some may feel carbonated water
may fool with the flavor, but it’s all a matter of personal
preference. And mixers such as soda, cola, or ginger ale can
also create a flavorful drink. Blended whiskies can also mix it
up in a number of your favor cocktails.
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