Saturday, June 30, 2012

Aqua Vitae- The Water of life.

James Bond likes his Martini shaken not stirred, blistering barnacles! states Captain Haddock, endorsed by John Rain, Inspectors Dalziel and Alan Rain all whiskey drinkers like me. There is no greater pleasure than enjoying a glass of the golden liquid in the evening, when the day is done and nighttime falls as the shadows gather around the backyard- warming your throat and heart reminiscent of Donald Sutherland nursing a Cragganmore – 12 in “A Time to kill”. Millions of purists all over the world would swear by their single malts, the ultimate whiskey earlier called “Uisgebaugh in Gaelic now referred to as “Uisge Beatha” in Scotland and Ireland. Malt whiskey is produced from malted barley unlike blended or grain whiskey in which fermentable material is added or blended. The single malt whiskey which is the product of a single distillery and single cask is the ultimate Holy Grail, a limited edition of 300 bottles only come in each cask. The amazing complexity and variations is due to a large number of variables like geography, quality, weather, stills and skills of the master distiller. World over, many distilleries and brands flourish and vie for market share like the Irish, Michael Collins, Tyrconnell, American, - McCarthy’s Oregon, St James Peregrine Rock, Canadian – Glen Burton, Japanese – Yamazaki, Hakushu and the Indian – Amrut. Some of the barrels used give it the district flavor i.e. Bourbon charred barrels. It is an acquired and cultivated taste and there is a certain etiquette involved in drinking it. It is a sacrilege and cardinal sin to mix it with, soda coke or soft drinks as it ruins the structure of the malt on the palate. Purists’ drink it need but if you want to dilute use a wee bit of water. So enjoy and savor your drink the wannabe’s and new kids on the block can have their Vodka, Rum, Gin and Tequila. As any true blooded Scottish Highlander would state – “There are two things a Highlander likes naked, and one of them is malt whiskey. Since I can’t find the former I’ll settle for the Malt Whiskey. –Vinay- Concoction and ingredients courtesy (F&B Manager Kuruvilla, Master distiller Hiroshi Miyamoto, critics Vishal and Smita). Like · · Unfollow Post · June 12 at 3:55pm

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