With out sounding too judgemental, there are some drinks on the market which are thought of, let’s say, “low-cost and cheerful”. They’re the kinds of tipples we used to drink as youngsters or poor college students with barely a penny to our names. Principally, they had been the kinds of drinks we used to drink to get drunk. So long as they had been alcoholic, who cared about how they tasted? Or was that simply me?
As I’ve grown older, I’m happy to say that my tastes and preferences have modified massively. Now, whisky is my beverage of alternative, and I drink to savour the complicated flavours, notes, and character of the whisky, not simply to get smashed and get up the following day with the mom of all hangovers.
After I was rising up, and to a sure extent, even at this time, whisky was thought of a mature, luxurious spirit. When you drank whisky, you had been both an outdated man, or had been posh and loved the finer issues in life. It’s a drink that oozes class and class, regardless of being for everybody.
So, why is that? Effectively, that’s what I need to discover in at this time’s weblog. Right here’s a take a look at why I imagine whisky is taken into account to be such an opulent spirit.
Whisky Making is an Artwork
Whereas I absolutely perceive how tough and complicated it’s to provide each form of beverage going, whisky making is an artform that dates again centuries.
In my youthful years, I’ve to confess that I used to be responsible of “brewing” up my very own turbo cider. Right here, I’d take a brewing bucket, dump a load of worth grocery store cartons of apple juice inside, sprinkle a sachet of turbo cider yeast on prime, and dig in 3 days later. Take it from me, no hangover will ever examine to the hangovers that stuff used to provide.
Fortunately I grew up and found extra in regards to the artwork of whisky distillation. A lot in order that it grew to become my ardour, and now my livelihood. It’s how whisky was, and is made, that I imagine is likely one of the the reason why it’s thought of to be a luxurious spirit. It takes literal years for whisky to change into whisky, with some drams getting older for many years earlier than they hit the cabinets.
Whisky distillation is an artform that may be traced again tons of of years. It requires meticulous consideration to element and heaps of care, experience, and craftsmanship. From how the grain is harvested, dried, and malted, to which casks are chosen for maturation, producing high-quality whisky is an artform that few can emulate. If you would like an concept of simply how a lot work goes into producing a high-quality whisky, simply take a look at a Grasp Blender at work. Severely, you’ll by no means see something prefer it anyplace else on the earth and I’m nonetheless awestruck at any time when I get to observe them in motion.
True whisky aficionados know and perceive how a lot effort and time goes into producing an distinctive dram of whisky, which I feel helps give it a sure diploma of status you gained’t discover with different tipples on the market.
Fame and Notion
Not solely is whisky making an artform, however the drink itself is steeped in historical past and cultural significance. It’s Scotland’s nationwide drink (sorry Irn-Bru) and for excellent motive.
Lots of the gorgeous distilleries scattered throughout Scotland’s beautiful landscapes might be traced again a number of centuries. It was a firm-favourite of the long-lasting Scottish lyricist and poet Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns, together with different outstanding figures in historical past, together with royalty.
On prime of that, while you see individuals having fun with whisky in a movie or on the TV, it’s typically poured out of an expensive-looking crystal decanter in a swanky setting like a stately residence, and is loved by rich, highly effective, prosperous characters.
Again within the day, whisky was seen as a standing image. Sure manufacturers simply oozed class and screamed luxurious, and folks had been determined to be seen having fun with them by their friends. It’s the identical motive why manufacturers of Champagne reminiscent of Bollinger, are revered all around the world. These seen consuming it had been thought of wealthy, highly effective, and cultured. Individuals who drank whisky, particularly costly manufacturers reminiscent of The Dalmore, and The Macallan, needed others to understand them as having cash, in addition to lavish tastes. Quick-forward to at this time, and never an excellent deal has modified, although fortunately individuals are inclined to take pleasure in it extra for its superb flavours and character, as a substitute of its popularity.
The Value
When you can’t put a worth on luxurious, there’s a motive why a number of bottles of whisky through the years have bought for upwards of £1 million – 2 million (you possibly can in all probability guess which model, and sure, lots of them had been Macallans).
There’s lots of exhausting work that goes into whisky making, as I do know all too effectively, and also you do discover that that is mirrored within the worth. When you can decide up a good bottle of wine on the grocery store for lower than a tenner, you’d battle to discover a half-decent bottle of whisky for that worth.
There are many drams on the market that price 1000’s of kilos and are price each penny. For some individuals, although, the considered spending 1000’s of kilos, and even tons of, on a drink is ludicrous. As a result of it may be so costly, individuals naturally assume that it’s a luxurious spirit. Which it’s.
Does this imply {that a} high-quality bottle of whisky has to set you again tons of, and even 1000’s of kilos? Completely not. Simply check out the GreatDrams on-line store. There aren’t many locations you’ll discover award-winning whisky for between £50 and £100 but with us, and lots of different unbiased breweries and distilleries, that’s precisely what you get.
Collectability
Lastly, the final motive why I personally imagine whisky has a popularity for being a luxurious, high-end spirit is as a result of it’s so collectible.
Whisky isn’t simply bought to be consumed and loved. For some, whisky is bought to be added to a prestigious assortment. As extra uncommon and distinctive bottles of whisky are added to non-public collections, they generally enhance in worth and change into more and more wanted.
Lots of the world’s most costly whiskies ever bought at public sale weren’t bought to be drank, however quite, to change into the newest addition to a non-public assortment. Now, personally, I imagine that whisky must be savoured and loved, quite than simply checked out, however that’s simply me.
Contemplating individuals at the moment are investing in whisky, in addition to beginning their very own private collections price 1000’s of kilos, you possibly can perceive why so many individuals affiliate it with wealth and luxurious.
When you’d wish to be taught extra about your favorite whiskies, or just deal with your self to a dram or two within the course of, head on over to GreatDrams.com and check out the varied number of distinctive whiskies we at present have in inventory.
With a formidable number of limited-edition, uncommon, and award-winning whisky, in addition to heaps of whisky information on our weblog, it’s the right spot for any whisky lovers on the market.
