I am a scotch drinker. I like everything….. but Dewars scotch has become, over the years to represent a rare consistency – I do not mean that it is the same every time – I mean that I know what to expect and it is easy to order – “Dewars scotch on the rocks please.” Almost everyone has it and it is very hard to screw it up. Lately and mostly on vacation, I have enjoyed trying different scotches, just to experience the different themes, tastes, and nuances. So, recently, when I found myself in Long Beach, NY with friends at a small place called “Lost at Sea” I ventured out and asked what kinds of scotches they had. This restaurant was known for their cocktails, so I was nervous – wondering if a simple scotch on the rocks would suffice for my order. The waitress sent the bartender to the table and after a brief conversation – he said…. “Let me bring a taste of the two I think you will like and you pick”…. I was intrigued.
He returned with two small tastes room temperature in small glasses – just a sip of each and placed them in front of me. My wife and friends were looking at me as if to say, “now, this should be interesting – how much of this stuff are you going to drink and what kind of B.S. will he come up with here???”
They were similar colors with slight differences in the nose – one was softer, the other with a bit of an edge. I tasted each… and liked both…. But the softer one had a richer feel on the palate with slight nuances of other flavors. The edgier one was very good, but it had a bite at the end that turned me toward the other. I said these things as I tried them multiple times back and forth – very small sips – and a couple with a drop of water to smooth them out a bit. I chose the softer and informed the waiting bartender (all took about 2 minutes).
His response: “well – you picked the one that is not a scotch!!!” I immediately realized that I had been playfully duped. But I did not care – what fun! I had chosen Akashi White Oak Whiskey from Japan over Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whiskey. It was an awesome realization, and I thoroughly enjoyed my “non-scotch” on the rocks, and believe I even had a second. I am not sure however that I will be ordering it in the future… as it might make things more complicated than a simple “scotch on the rocks, please,” nevertheless, I will be watching for Akashi – and may even add it to my collection at home – might have to add a disclaimer label to it though.
En Vino Veritas!
Alex
