How to Start Drinking Scotch

Whisky is more popular than ever. And while bourbon and rye top the popularity charts in the United States, many people are still intimidated by scotch. And they shouldn’t be! So if you’re a whisky drinker curious about how to start drinking scotch, here’s a how to introduce yourself to the water of life.

First things first. We’re discussing single malt scotch here, not blended scotch. What’s the difference? I’m glad you asked! Single malt scotch is made at a single distillery. (Blended scotch is a blend of one or more single malts and one or more single grains from different distilleries.) And because we’re talking scotch here, it must be made in Scotland. But it’s worth noting other countries make great single malts, all with their own unique characteristics.

How to Start Drinking Scotch

What Single Malt Scotch Is

Before we can talk about how to start drinking scotch, it’s important to understand what makes scotch legally scotch. There are a bunch of requirements, but a few worth noting. Single malt scotch must be made from 100% malted barley distilled in pot stills no higher than 94.8% alcohol by volume (“ABV”). It must be aged in oak casks for at least three years. And it must be bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. And, as mentioned above, it must be made in Scotland and the single in single malt scotch means it’s made at a single distillery.

What Single Malt Scotch ISN’T

Many people assume all scotch is smoky. But that’s a complete misconception! Majority of scotch is not smoky at all. That said, don’t automatically assume you won’t like smoky whisky. While many people work their way up to it, my first scotch was Laphroaig 10, an intensely smoky, medicinal whisky. And I absolutely loved it. (Here’s where the smoky flavor comes from.)

Another point: not all scotch is super expensive. While scotch can be pricey, it doesn’t have to be. Some of my favorite bottles are $60 and there are dozens of great ones cheaper than that.

Ok, now to the fun part: how to start drinking scotch.

Start with a scotch similar to what you like.

If you’re already a whisky drinker, stick to a scotch similar to what you already like. If that’s bourbon, look for a scotch aged exclusively in ex-bourbon casks. Lucky for you, that’s majority of them! I recommend Glenmorangie 10, Clynelish 14, or Aberfeldy 12. Or if you like high proof bourbons, go for the Aberlour A’bunadh Alba, a cask strength scotch aged exclusively in ex-bourbon casks. (Read more about Aberlour distillery’s A’bunadh Alba here.)

If you like mezcal, try something smoky like Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10. Wine fans, look for a scotch aged in wine or sherry barrels. Glendronach 12 is aged in sherry casks, Tullibardine 225 is aged in Burgundy casks, and Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is aged in Port casks. Beer drinkers can try for something light and malty, like Glenkinchie 12, from one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. And if you like vodka, well, I’m happy you’re finally interested in something distilled to actually have flavor — welcome to the dark side. :)

Or don’t, and go completely opposite.

But the key to trying something new is, you know, something new. So maybe you want to go the opposite of what you already like. I started out as a bourbon drinker but, like I mentioned, tried a smoky medicinal scotch and loved it. If you’re curious to go that route, try Bruichladdich distillery’s Port Charlotte 10 (here’s the story behind it) or Ardbeg 10. Or try something peaty aged in wine casks, giving the whisky a rich meaty flavor to it. Bunnahabhain 12 comes to mind, along with Ardbeg Wee Beastie and Kilchoman Sanaig.

Don’t write off all scotch based on a few you don’t like.

Even though all single malt scotch is made with the same mashbill (you know, 100% malted barley), the range of flavors is surprisingly diverse. Geographical location of the distillery, diversity of barrels used in maturation, variations in pot still shape, even water source and barley type all provide different characteristics and flavors in scotch. And trust me, there’s a lot of variation!

So if you try one scotch and don’t like it, don’t automatically assume you won’t like all scotch. Switch distilleries, change regions, or just try it on a different day to see if your mind changes. (I’m always surprised how my taste preferences change from day to day!)

Understand the regions to explore more whiskies.

Usually scotch is organized into five categories based on the geographical region where the distilleries are located. And while that doesn’t necessarily matter (more on that here), the characteristics vary between them.

That means once you start understanding what you like, you can figure out why you like it. Enjoying the briny saltiness of Arran whiskies? That’s thanks to the island distillery’s proximity to seawater. Once you know why you like it, you can find similar whiskies based on that characteristic. You’ll find other salty, briny whiskies in other distilleries from the Island Region (like Talisker, Highland Park, Ledaig) and some Islay whiskies (Bruichladdich Classic Laddie).

Or if you’re into sherry-finished Glendronach whiskies, hunt down other sherry finishes like Aberlour, Tamdhu, and Glengoyne. (Side note: Glengoyne Distillery is beautiful!) Then start exploring individual distilleries you like and their different expressions.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

If all else fails, ask questions. If you’re at a bar, tell the bartender what whiskies you like and that you’d like to try something similar. Hopefully, if you’re at a decent bar, they will be able to give you suggestions. (Here are some great whiskey bars in Chicago.)

If you’re drinking at home, ask the salespeople at your liquor store for advice when buying a bottle. Or ask your whisky friends. If you’re don’t have any whisky friends, ask the whisky nerds on twitter or social media (there are plenty of whisky groups and whisky accounts).

Enjoy the journey and have fun.

Figuring out what scotch you like is all about exploration. As you drink through different regions, different distilleries, different finishes, and different ABVs, have fun. Take notes if you want to remember things better. But most importantly, enjoy the journey. That’s what whisky is all about anyway.

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Related :: A Guide to the Scotch Regions of Scotland, An Ode to My First Scotch :: Laphroaig 10, and Distillery Tours in Scotland