UNBEATABLE DRAMS
Sixteen Intriquing Scotch Whiskies
By Robert Plotkin

When it comes to marketing Scotch, intrigue sells. A whisky with a good story line sells better than one claiming to be the best. Most people would rather be intrigued than impressed. Consumers have become jaded to marketing superlatives such as oldest, rarest and most expensive. Tempt us with some engaging insights into a particular whisky and the decision to purchase a dram or two is a foregone conclusion.

It’s all tied-up with the sense of discovery, of which intrigue is an essential element. Sharing insider information with a whisky aficionado is an irresistible hook, instilling the person with a sense of ownership in the brand that won’t soon be forgotten. In fact, there are few things more gratifying to one’s ego than passing along insider information about a whisky to friends and associates.

So discard the notion of “best” as outdated and overtly subjective. Who’s to say which whisky is the best anyway? Instead, pepper your back bar with a few genuinely intriguing whiskies. Our honor roll is an excellent start. Pass the information along to your staff. Be enthusiastic. Get them fired up, then turn ‘em loose.

• AUCHENTOSHAN THREE WOOD LOWLAND SINGLE MALT — Auchentoshan is the most famous name in Lowland whiskies. The distillery has added to their highly acclaimed portfolio Auchentoshan Three Wood Lowland Single Malt Whisky, a distinctively flavorful, triple-distilled malt finished in three different types of oak casks. The whisky is matured in used American bourbon barrels, Oloroso sherry butts and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. This diversity imbues the whisky with character and intriguing nuances.

• BALVENIE PORTWOOD 21-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MALT — In the Speyside district of the Scottish highlands, Balvenie is renowned for its mild and soft single malts. Taking a giant step toward immortality is the Balvenie PortWood 21-year-old. This phenomenal malt whisky is matured in 30-year-old, oak port pipes. The result is a complex and robust single malt. It is full-bodied and imbued with an array of rich, sweet flavors and overtones of port. In terms of exclusivity, though, our vote goes to THE BALVENIE 25-YEAR-OLD SINGLE CASK, an amazingly luxurious whisky. As the name imply, the whisky is aged a minimum of 25 years and is drawn from a single cask. It is a soft, lush and honeyed malt with a long, satiny finish.

• CADENHEAD AUTHENTIC COLLECTION — Aptly named, this renowned collection features rare and old malt whiskies from Scotland’s most famous distilleries. The Cadenhead Collection is constantly changing as it emphasizes the individuality of its bottlings, and rarely will bottle more than one cask at a time. The whiskies are marketed at cask strength, undiluted by water, and therefore unadulterated. Over 140 whiskies are featured in the collection, ranging from reserve stocks of well-known distilleries to rare casks from those long since closed.

• CHIVAS REGAL 18-YEAR-OLD — The 18-year-old Chivas Regal blend presents a veritable feast for the senses. It has a deep, golden hue and an alluring, honey- and fruit-laced bouquet. The blend is graced with a lush, full body and a complex array of lavish flavors. It is decidedly smokier and possesses more dimension and character than the 12-year-old Chivas Regal. The artistry created on the palate softly settles into a long, sublime finish.

• THE DALMORE CIGAR MALT — Located in the northern Highlands, The Dalmore distillery is one of the best kept secrets in the Speyside. The Dalmore Cigar Malt is aged in special casks used previously to mature Oloroso sherry. These casks instill the whisky with a touch more sherry than can be found in their other single malts. This additional dose of sherry adds to the whisky’s already full body. THE DALMORE STILLMAN’S DRAM is a 30-year old single Highland malt whisky. The whisky has a sweet, malty flavor, with easily perceived notes of oak, sherry and salty brine. At 45% alcohol by volume, the flavors electrify the palate.

• DEWAR’S 12-YEAR OLD SPECIAL RESERVE — Dewar’s has long the best selling Scotch whisky in the United States. Dewar’s Special Reserve is a marvelous blend of individually aged 12-year old single malt whiskies from the different regions of Scotland. After blending, the whisky is further mature in oak barrels to allow the blend to “marry.” This well-balanced whisky is available in limited quantity.

• GLENFARCLAS CASK 105 — In operation since 1836, the Glenfarclas distillery has exported its venerable Cask 105 to the US since the 1950s. Bottled at 120-proof, it is the strongest single malt issued by any Scotch distillery. This extraordinary, 10-year-old whisky has a big, wafting nose laced with floral aromas and a full, vigorous and sweet palate. A splash of spring water is all that’s necessary to fully appreciate this vital, well-rounded whisky.

• GLENFIDDICH SOLERA RESERVE SINGLE MALT — This one-of-a-kind whisky is comprised of select, 15-year old malts, some of which have been aged in sherry butts, others in bourbon barrels and the rest in new oak casks. The whisky is placed in the Glenfiddich Solera Vat, a huge, handcrafted oak vessel that serves as the permanent reservoir for the Solera Reserve. When whisky is drawn for bottling, an equivalent amount of 15-year old malt is added to the Solera Vat. In this way, the whisky remaining in the reservoir can “educate” the newly added malts. Possibly the king of drams, but certainly the oldest and most expensive Scotch is GLENFIDDICH RARE COLLECTION 1937. Taken from cask 843 that was filled and laid down in the summer of 1937, this magnificent malt is complex with a brilliant bouquet and palate. There are 61 bottles available and each carries a price of $14,000, or $542.63 per ounce.

• GLENLIVET FRENCH OAK FINISH SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT — This marvelous 12-year old whisky finishes its aging in new Limousin oak casks from France. Famous for use in aging cognacs and fine wines, Limousine oak is an extremely fast-growing tree, resulting in the widest grain pattern of the species. Its loose pores allow a spirit to extract more flavorants from the wood. While still representative of the Glenlivet style, the whisky has gained other qualities, such as a silky smooth body, a dry, spicy oaky palate and a sweet, oaky finish. Considering The Glenlivet is the best selling single malt in the United States, you’ll also want to take a look at THE GLENLIVET 18-YEAR. It is a profoundly elegant whisky, with a soft, medium body, full, spicy flavor and long, satisfying finish.

• GLENMORANGIE FIRST GROWTH CLARET WOOD FINISH — This limited edition is a 12-year old Northern Highlands single malt that has been aged for eight years in barrels previously used to mature wine from one of the four first growth châteaux of Pauillac in Bordeaux’s Haut-Médoc district. The whisky has a wine-like character in its bouquet, palate and most noticeably in the finish. GLENMORANGIE CÔTE DE NUITS WOOD FINISH is a 1975 vintage Glenmorangie Single Malt that has been finished in a cask that contained burgundy from the Cote de Nuits wine region of France. The 25+ year old malt is absolutely marvelous, possibly the most elegant whisky of their range. It has a slightly fruity bouquet, a wine-laced palate with citrus, chocolate and oaky notes, and a dry, protracted finish.

• THE GLENROTHES 1989 VINTAGE SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT — This skillfully crafted whisky was distilled and barreled in 1989 at the Glenrothes Distillery in the heart of the Speyside. The constituent malts were aged in American oak bourbon barrels and Spanish sherry casks. The American oak lends a soft, vanilla fragrance that complements the distillery’s complex and fruity style. The sherry casks imbue the spirit with spice and a resinous quality.

Good news also is that the distillery has reissued the highly sought after Glenrothes 1979 Vintage Speyside Single Malt. Popular demand can be a tremendous motivator, especially when dealing with such an extraordinary whisky.

• HIGHLAND PARK 25-YEAR ORKNEY SINGLE MALT — Highland Park is made on the island of Orkney, making it the northernmost whisky distillery in the world. The 25-year-old Highland Park is an unfiltered, cask strength (107 proof) single malt, with a rounded nose of oak and honey, a full, broad palate with sherry undertones, and a smooth, spicy finish. Several of the malts used in the whisky’s blend exceed 35-years in age, which greatly contribute to its finesse and sophistication.

• ISLE OF JURA SINGLE MALT 16-YEAR OLD — For the past 300 years, the lone Jura distillery has produced a light, almost delicate whisky using soft, mountain water and lightly peated malt. This 16-year old Jura is imbued with the character of the sea, beginning with its bouquet, which is laced with the aroma of brine, malt, and salty sea air. The whisky immediately fills the mouth with marvelously sweet malt and toffee flavors. The fairly long and warming finish offers one final splash of flavor.

• JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD LABEL — This blend is made according to a 1920 recipe created for the company’s 100th anniversary. Johnnie Walker Gold Label contains fifteen, 18-year-old single malt whiskies. It has a malty, slightly fruity nose, a medium body and is flawlessly textured and balanced. The whisky finishes long and slightly sweet. JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL is blended around a core of Cardhu single malt whiskies, some having been aged in sherry oak for up to 60-years. Its elegant palate has layers of delectable flavors, including oak, vanilla, peat, and luscious fruit that taper off seamlessly into a wholly satisfying finish.

• THE MACALLAN 1874 HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT — One of the highest rated distilleries, The Macallan single malts are aged in Spanish oloroso sherry casks which impart a marvelous quality to the whisky. The Macallan is one of the fastest growing lines of Scotch in the country. In 1996, a sealed bottle of 1874 Macallan single malt surfaced at auction. The distillery purchased it for £3,900 and painstakingly endeavored to recreate its character and essence in a replica bottling. The result—Macallan 1874—is a spectacular achievement. It is comprised of select casks of aged a minimum of 13 years and up to 27 years. The whisky has a fruity, bold nose and a dry, salty, sherried palate. It is a slice of history worth sampling.

• SPRINGBANK 15-YEAR CAMPBELTOWN SINGLE MALT — Springbank is Scotland’s oldest, family-owned distillery. The principals are fiercely independent, insisting on making their whisky in the same manner as they have for a 150 years. This handcrafted, triple-distilled gem is elegant, complex and enticing. It has a prominent bouquet of sherry and malt, and a savory array of sweet, smoky flavors. This rare single malt has a warm, enduring finish.