In the world of brown booze, Scotch often seems to be the most intimidating to novice drinkers. Between bourbon, rye, Irish, and the myriad other whiskies, Scotch tends to carry the most unfortunate — and reductive — stereotypes.



What Is Scotch?

First and foremost, Scotch is a whisky (not “whiskey” – we reserve that spelling for American and Irish versions), which is any spirit distilled from fermented grain mash (the cooked down mixture of water and grain). Simply speaking, the difference between the various whiskies is the type of grain used for the mash, where it is produced, and its minimum aging requirements.


What Is A Blend?

Blended scotch is a combination of whiskies from two or more distilleries. Blending can often highlight, or even create, different characteristics in the whisky, whereas a single malt is meant to showcase a sense of place, much like terroir in wine. Most of us have been taught (erroneously) to believe that single malts are superior to blends (we’ve all seen Swingers), but experts disagree. Robinson says that it’s actually wine, rather than pop culture, that has gotten us to appreciate single malts.




Where (In Scotland) Does Scotch Come From?

As if knowing the differences between a single malt and a blend weren’t enough to digest when it comes to this whisky, it’s also important to know that Scottish distilleries are grouped into five separate regions. The five regions are worth noting as they have historically produced their own styles of whisky, which is especially important when it comes to single malts. Lowland scotches, like Auchentoshan, are generally considered the lightest in body of the single malts. The whiskies of the Speyside region, a tiny area in the central-eastern part of the country, are considered the most elegant in style. Speyside has the most distilleries in the country and is home to some of the most popular brands like Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Balvenie. Whiskies of Scotland’s Highland region, like Macallan or Dalmore,  are generally a bit heavier bodied than Lowland’s, but certainly lighter and more elegant than those from Islay, which are often described as peaty, smokey and even medicinal in taste. Islay whiskies are very distinctive in style and can be more of an acquired taste. Well-known Islay-style Scotches are Lagavulin and Laphroaig. And finally, there is Campbeltown, home to only three producers, most notably Springbank – whose styles are known for being rich, smooth, and refined.



The Scottish Highlands
The Scottish Highlands

How Do You Drink Scotch?




“Scotch has incredible depth of flavor, but can also be pretty intense to someone new to this style of whisky,” Laird says. “When trying scotch for the first time, try to nose [smell] the whisky from a short distance above the glass so as not to get too much alcohol with the aroma.

After you’ve been introduced to the complexity of the whisky’s aroma, Laird suggests taking a small sip first to savor the whisky’s most prominent flavors. Then take another sip to allow the whisky to reach all the parts of your palate. And don’t be afraid to add water. It doesn’t, as your friends might say, make you a lightweight. In fact, it can actually enhance the flavor. “Water will open up the flavor and also make the high alcohol more palatable for the novice scotch drinker,” says Laird.

Which brings us to ice. A whisky on the rocks is one of the most commonly ordered drinks in bars across the world, but is adding ice a mistake? “There is nothing wrong with scotch on the rocks – especially if you prefer your whisky that way,” says Laird. “It can make the whisky very refreshing on a hot day.”

However, he warns not to add more than a cube or two — too much melted ice means too much water, which will dilute the Scotch and mask the flavors by shutting down the aromas, which account for 90 percent of the flavors one detects.

Are Scotch Cocktails A Thing?



  • The Blood and Sand: Scotch, orange juice, sweet vermouth and cherry liquor. Fruity yet sophisticated, Robinson says you can riff this different ways by the style of Scotch you use.
  • The Penicillin: Scotch, ginger, lemon and honey. Sam Ross’s modern classic made with both fruity and smoky Scotch.