Let me start by wishing you all a happy World Whisky Day.

Can we think of a world without whisky? I guess not. Whisky is the favourite spirit of the world. Whisky is not just a drink, it’s an emotion. Whisky is associated with celebrations, with literature, music and when you take a sip of whisky, you are taking a taste of history and revolutions.

So, what is whisky?

Whisky can be defined as a distilled alcoholic beverage made from a fermented grain mash and aged in wooden casks. The term ‘whisky’ is derived from the Gaelic word “usquebaugh” (pronounced Ooshky-bay), meaning ‘water of life’. This was shortened to ‘usky’ and then ‘whisky’ in English. I always found the Gaelic term difficult to pronounce, but with a little practice you can do it perfectly.

Where do whiskies come from?

Some of the leading countries producing world class whisky today are Scotland, Ireland, USA, Canada, Japan and India.

Scotch whisky is the world’s favourite whisky. The Scots have been making whisky over 500 years now through the length and breadth of Scotland and they do it by following stringent rules, and that’s what sets such high standards. Rules like the whisky has to be distilled in Scotland, it has to be aged in wooden casks for a minimum of three years, etc. Though most Scotch whisky makers age for a much longer time. Why? They wait for the whisky to reach its correct maturation to deliver the right characteristics in terms of colour, aroma, taste and finish.

There are single malt whiskies like the Singleton of Glendullan or Talisker, which are made from 100 per cent malted barley and distilled in copper pot stills for full body and full flavour. So, the word ‘single’ stands for single distillery, which means the bottle would contain whisky from one specific distillery and not blended with any other whisky from any other distillery. Similarly, single grain whiskies come from one distillery. However, ‘grain whisky’ would mean it is made from a mixture of grains like barley, corn and wheat.

A blended whisky, on the other hand, blends multiple single malt and single grain whiskies together to a particular balance as desired by the master blender for his brand expression. A blended Scotch whisky like the Johnnie Walker Black label has almost 35 single malt and single grain whiskies blended together. We also have blended malt whiskies that contain only single malts.

American whiskeys like Bourbon and Tennessee are mostly made from corn and when you see the term ‘straight Bourbon whiskey’, it must be aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years. Irish whiskies are mostly distilled three times and usually made from unpeated malt. Canadian whiskies are mostly made from rye and tend to be on the lighter side as compared to Bourbon or Scotch.

Indian whiskies have also gained immense popularity globally over the years. We are producing some of the finest whiskies like Royal Challenge blended with Scotch and blended by internationally renowned master blender Craig Wallace for smooth and exclusive taste.

Ideal pairing...

We strongly recommended that you should always have something to eat while you drink. And nothing can be better if we can pair up appropriate dishes with the whisky that we drink. For example, if you are having a lightly grilled chicken snack, you can pair it up with a Black & White 12YO. If you plan to have a barbecue at home, try a smoky whisky from Islay like a Lagavulin. Many people say whisky should not be consumed with something sweet. Well, I would say try a dram of a fruity sweet Speyside whisky with a chocolate dessert, you’ll love it.

“Whisky is a gentleman’s drink”... not quite true

Well, that saying makes me visualise a matured middle-aged man holding a glass. But whenever I visit bars these days, I am extremely happy to see the younger generation enjoying whisky. Whisky is now no more an old man’s drink. It’s part of the young drinking culture now. And it makes me happy to say that it definitely not just a man’s drink. Quite a few vodka and white rum consumers are now making an entry into whisky and Scotch. Of course, when they ask me, I suggest them to start with J&B Rare (for blended) or a Glenkinchie (for single malt), which are light and smooth and can also make great cocktails.

Soda, water or on the rocks...

Lot of people would prefer to drink whisky with water or on the rocks or with soda. In case you are wondering what’s the right way? I’d say we should drink the way we like to, there is no fixed rule on how you should enjoy a good dram. But if you want to judge the characteristics of the whisky in terms of aroma and taste, you must add just a few drops of cold water, swirl the glass, nose it and then taste the palate and the finish.

Another great way is to have a whisky cocktail. When you hit the bar, you have bartenders making some great cocktails for you. However, if you want to make something at home, one of the simplest serves to create would be a Johnnie Walker Highball. A Johnnie Ginger with Red or Black Label can make for a great serve at home. All you need to do is take a highball glass, fill it up with ice, add JW Red Label or Black Label 45 ml and top it up with ginger ale. You may garnish with a slice of orange. Cheers!

Shantanu Sengupta, is the Brand Ambassador, Diageo.

Drink Responsibly. Content only for consumers above 25 years

Shantanu Sengupta

DID YOU KNOW

⦿ Scotch whisky makers get their casks for ageing from different countries. They get ex-Bourbon casks from America, ex-Port wine casks from Portugal, ex-Sherry casks from Spain and ex-French wine casks from France. This way, the Scotch makers get variety of flavours to play with during blending.

⦿ Some amount of whisky is lost during maturation from the casks due to evaporation, we call it the ‘angel’s share’; and some amount of whisky gets absorbed by the wood and that is called the ‘devil’s cut’.

⦿ Most of the smokiness in the Scotch whiskies come from an ingredient called ‘peat’. Peat is decomposed vegetation and organic matter found on the surface of the land mostly in the Islay region of Scotland. When barley is roasted in peat fire, the whisky develops a smoky aroma.

⦿ Whisky once bottled does not mature any further.

Two city bartenders share whisky cocktail recipes

Green Fairy by bartender Sarbani Mukherjee @ Unplugged Courtyard

Ingredients:

• Rosemary-infused whisky: 45ml

• Yuzu puree: 5ml

• Orange juice: 30ml

• A dash of blue curacao

Method:

Put all the ingredients together in a shaker and shake well and single-strain into a chilled stamp martini glass. Garnish with rosemary stick and dash of angostura bitters and dry ice.

Cinnamon Maple Whisky Sour by bartender Arka Adhikari @ The Spirits

Ingredients:

• Bourbon whisky: 60ml

• Maple syrup: 15ml

• Fresh lime juice: 15ml

• Egg white: 1

• A pinch of Cinnamon powder

Method:

Take a shaker and pour all the contents together and give it a good shake. Take a strainer and strain the concoction in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick (optional).

Text: Pramita Ghosh

Pictures: Shared by Unplugged Kolkata and The Spirits