A Moment Of Clarity
I found myself in a liquor store last Friday perusing the Scotch selection. JB's birthday was fast approaching and, since what he really desired was illegal in forty nine states including Minnesota, I figured I'd go with the ol' tried and true.
A helpful and very knowledgeable staffer approached me and we were soon deep into conversation about the virtues of various distilleries and their products. I mentioned that I had received a bottle of The Macallan Cask Strength as a Christmas gift. (Brief side note: If you have a bottle of very good Scotch on hand it is necessary to have another bottle of lesser quality Scotch as well. This insures that you will not deplete the top shelf stuff too quickly. It's also a good back up if guests stop by and you wish to offer them a drink.) I explained that the Macallan Cask Strength was going fast and my need for a bottle of good, but not quite as good, Scotch to compliment it.
"Of course, you are cutting it with water aren't you?", he inquired on the particulars of my consumption of The Macallan Cask Strength.
For the briefest moment time paused. I had a clear choice in front of me as to my response:
1. Lie to save face and keep up appearances. "Why of course I'm cutting it with water. Do you take for some sort of Scotch drinking amateur? I've been cutting it with water for years."
2. Shamefully admit my ignorance and gain knowledge. "Uhh...no, I've been drinking it straight."
I chose the latter and I did indeed discover something new. Cask strength means that the whisky is bottled as is straight from the cask rather than being mixed with water. Single malt Scotch is typically between eighty and eighty six proof or forty to forty three percent alcohol content by volume. The Macallan Cask Strength is around 120 proof. It is intended that you cut it with water, although how much water you add is totally up to you. Which for many Scotch connoisseurs is the appeal of cask strength whisky.
This old dog just learned a new trick.
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