Will Paddle For Whisky: 30 Second Scotch Guide

Scotland's Inner Hebrides are where some of the Earth's rockiest coastlines meet its smoothest single malts. The best way to sample the small-batch distilleries on these isles is by kayak, one breathtaking paddle and one wee dram at a time. In our March issue, on newsstands now, writer Andrew Todhunter kayaks Scotland's whisky coast. Here, he gives a few pointers on how to sip scotch like a Scotsman.

The Terms

Single Malt Scotch: The good stuff—made exclusively from malted barley spirits within a single distillery.

Blended Scotch: The everyday stuff—made with up to 40 or 50 spirits from different distilleries, including malt or grain whiskies.

Peat: Partially decayed vegetal matter that, in whisky production, may flavor the water or dry the barley malt when burned.

Deoch-An-Doruis: Gaelic for "the dram at the door." The Scottish equivalent of "one for the road."

The Practice

Ice or No Ice? Nothing says "I’m a sodding Colonial" like ice in a glass of single malt. Sip your best whiskies neat, with no water or ice, or ask for a few drops of springwater, which some claim brings out the nose.

The Glass: The short, broad-rimmed rocks glass used at most bars is a serious gaffe for good whiskies; the wide mouth releases the aromas too quickly. Instead, find a small, tulip-shaped tasting glass designed for the purpose.

The Taste: After swirling the whisky in the glass and observing its color, sip a small quantity. Then work it slowly around your mouth for no less than ten seconds, tasting the spirit’s every note. Then swallow.

The Goods

The King: Among the richest, peatiest single malts now made, none separates the hard core from the dilettantes like Ardbeg. Try the Ardbeg Still Young (about $70) or Very Young (about $300) for a single malt that will, in the words of one enthusiast, "blow your face off."

The Queen: If you like single malts but prefer something less combative, try the Macallan, often called the Rolls Royce of single malts. We prefer the traditional Macallan ($46), aged 12 years in Spanish sherry casks.

The Populist: Between $30 and $40 a bottle, Johnnie Walker Black is a reasonably priced and widely respected blend that suits nearly any occasion.

The Duke: While some rare bottles of Scotch go for tens of thousands of dollars—a 1926 Macallan once sold for nearly $75,000—the Glenrothes 1978 Vintage (about $600) is one of the most vaunted Scotch whiskies now available for less than a grand.

Map by Steve Stankiewicz