India is a nation of whisky drinkers and we have got a fondness for that glass along with soda and a plate of chicken tikkas. But slowly, a wind of change is coming over as Indians are beginning to enjoy their dram more and more instead of using it as a measure to get tipsy. The initiation of every Indian male with whisky is probably during their college days or the last days of bachelorhood. Just like my brothers, my whisky drinking days started off without enjoying the drink focusing instead to getting tipsy. But as I matured, my taste changed and I started to enjoy my tipple. One of the whiskies that essentially helped with this transformation was Seagram’s 100 Pipers Whisky. So, here is a newbie guide to start enjoying whisky responsible the moment your age crosses 25.
What is Whisky?
Whisky is basically 3 ingredients. Malted Barley, distilled water and yeast. Born in Scotland, the land of bagpipes and men wearing kilts, it gained popularity when crops of Europe got destroyed leading to an absence of wine and rum. The liquid produced from fermentation of the mash from the malted barley is essentially clear in origin. So, all that colour and taste comes from the barrels they mature in. The origins of the 100 Pipers Whisky comes from a legend in the mid-18th century. It is said that a platoon of bagpipers led the armies of Bonnie Prince Charlie into battle.
What is maturation?
Maturation is the process of giving the whisky it’s characteristic taste and colour after spending a certain amount of time in oak barrels. Now, there are some exact specifications for a whisky to be called a Scotch. That being it should have spent at least three years of maturation in Scotland.
What is the difference between a blend and a single malt?
With a plethora of confusing names, a blended one is one where the master blender mixes whiskies across distilleries to achieve a constant taste in all the bottles. A single malt on the other hand consists of whisky from a single distillery only. This is where the 100 Pipers derives it’s legendary taste from. After the World Wars, Seagram tapped into the American market where he wanted to create a whisky which suited the taste of the masses. Combining the Rich Islay whiskies, the smooth whiskies from Falkirk and Campbel Town along with the mellow ones of Keith whisky and the fragile whisky of Speyside, Seagram’s came up a blend that combined the best of Scotland in a single bottle. It took more than 50 whiskies and nearly 530 combinations before getting the blend perfect. That perfect blend today is known as Seagram’s 100 Pipers Whisky.
How to appreciate a whisky?
There are some rules that will give you an exemplary tasting experience.
- Do not taste your whisky in a flat bottom glass. Try to use a snifter or a champagne flute to give you the perfect olfactory experience.
- Do not use a plethora of soda or ice to consume your whisky. It totally changes the taste of the whisky.
- Colour: See the liquid against the light to fall in love with the beautiful golden colour. It may vary and that is what starts off your experience.
- Sniff: Swirl the whisky around in your glass and sniff. You will get the stiff smell of the alcohol but there will be some smells that you may notice of some fruits and spices. You will find notes of honey and vanilla in the 100 Pipers.
- Sip: Sip a small amount of the dram and let the flavours hit you. You will notice some sweetness and some spice. It is full bodied along with some well-balanced notes of fruitiness and soft smokiness
- Swirl: Swirl the liquid around on your palate so that it can coat all your taste buds. You might notice some butteriness along with notes of vanilla. It is characteristic of a lot of barrels from America. Draw in some air with pursed lips to find if it can find a few more characteristics.
- Finish: You can now swallow it and understand whether the flavours stay for long or not. The 100 Pipers ends with subtle notes of oak and vanilla
- You can add a few drops of water to open it up for some new flavours. But remember, just a few drops.
Why Seagram’s 100 Pipers?
It is said that when you drink a good scotch, you will hear a Piper play. The more the smoothness of the dram, the music just increases. So when you try out the 100 Pipers, the smoothness of the whisky is something that you can already start dreaming in your heads.
Do let us know about your favourite whisky and we will review it on the blog. Do comment below to let us know about your experience with the Seagram’s 100 Pipers whisky.
We at Salt and Sandals and Seagram’s implore you to drink responsibly above the age of 25.
