If you think you know how to taste Scotch, think again. To really appreciate the intricate notes of a fine Scotch requires time, concentration and patience, says Richard Paterson, master blender at The Dalmore Distillery.
“The first sip of whiskey should be in your mouth at least 30 seconds before you swallow it,” he said. “Most people just swallow it and think that’s great, but that’s not enough. If you do that, you’re missing an awful lot.”
With the distillery’s newest Scotch, The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve, which is designed for pairing with a medium-bodied cigar and/or black coffee and/or dark chocolate, tasting becomes even more involved because you have to take the time to appreciate each element of the cigar/coffee/chocolate, as well as each element of the Scotch.
The distillery initially released a Cigar Malt Scotch aimed at pairing with a cigar in 1999 but discontinued the line in 2005 because customers were confused about whether the spirit was aged with tobacco (it isn’t) or whether it needed to be consumed with a cigar (it doesn’t; in fact, it is fantastic on its own).
However, drinking the Scotch while smoking a cigar — or enjoying coffee or chocolate — makes it difficult to rush the tasting process, while bringing out the best in both the whisky and the cigar. “You have to take the time to allow yourself to appreciate the flavors,” Paterson said.
The cigar highlights the Scotch’s almond, orange and spice notes. Those flavors come from the blend, which is 70 percent whisky aged in oloroso sherry wood, 20 percent aged in white oak bourbon barrels and 10 percent aged in old Cabernet Sauvignon barrels.
“A cigar is for smoking with friends. You take it in slowly and extract the pleasure from smoking it over time,” he said. “It’s the same thing with the whisky. The longer you keep it, the more you can extract flavors from it and enjoy it.”
Here’s how Paterson suggests
tasting The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve
Pour the Scotch into a large glass
Take a large measure of the Scotch in your mouth and put in the middle of your tongue
Hold it here for 15 to 20 seconds
Move the Scotch under your tongue for 10 to 15 seconds
Put it back in the middle of your tongue
Hold it there for several seconds and then swallow
Taste it:
Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve is amber with a honeyed nose with hints of citrus. The flavor has notes of orange, cinnamon and spices, with a finish that brings to mind pears, vanilla and mango. Among the cigars Paterson recommends pairing with the Scotch are Alec Bradley Prensado, Davidoff Grand Cru Series No. 3 and Henry Clay Breva Conserva.
