The 4 Most Common Myths about Whisky
During our whisky tasting sessions, people always tell us “Oh, I like A over B, but that’s not what the rule of thumb is”. So, here, we address the 4 most common whisky myths that we heard.
1. Whisky should ALWAYS be drunk neat
Nonsense. The golden rule is that there are no rules – it is a hugely versatile and refreshing drink, to be enjoyed on its own or mixed in a variety of ways.
In fact, many people enjoy it in a highball — mixed with a fizzy drink with ice on top. This works especially well for Japanese whiskies due to its exceptional balance.
2. Whisky is a MAN’S DRINK
Not necessarily. Until the 1970s whisky was the fiery, powerful preserve of the alpha male. You only need to trawl through the outdated and embarrassingly sexist whisky advertisements depicting masculine pursuits and scantily clad women to realise just how far the spirit has come since then. Today, gender is no longer a boundary to discovering whisky, especially in emerging markets like China and Russia, where whisky is becoming hugely popular with female drinkers.
3. Blended whisky is ALWAYS INFERIOR to single malt whisky
Not necessarily. Blended whiskies are one of the most important and artisanal elements of the entire whisky business. Sure, there are cheaper, lower-budget blends (think of the blends behind your 7-Eleven counter at Clarke Quay). However, the large majority of reputable blended whiskies (think of Hibiki 17, Black Bull, or Black Bottle) are based on recipes dating back to the 19th century/early 20th century. They draw upon a palate of different-aged single malt and grain whiskies. As a result, the whisky blender’s role is one of the most respected jobs in the entire industry.
4. Older and more expensive is DEFINITELY BETTER
One part of the myth is correct: older usually means more expensive. But when it comes to age as an indicator of quality, you’re on a different playing field altogether.
In recent years, some dazzlingly good (and youthful) whiskies have set the market on fire (think of Yamazaki’s Distiller’s Reserve). The Deanston 12 YO has also just won a whole ton of awards. Also, the Deanston 12YO and BenRiach 12 YO were featured on Business Insider’s 29 best bottles of scotch in the world.
Fundamentally, it really depends on your personal preferences for whisky styles. So, it really depends.
