Now that it's officially spring [despite the fact that I'm still wearing a sweater], I can say there was an overarching theme to my drink of choice this winter--a spicy, amber-hued theme. Considering that the winter of 2009-2010 has been more tenacious than in years past, I don't think it's too surprising that I've turned to Scotch whisky to keep warm and stay sane.
What is it about whisky that makes it so warming? All alcohol is warming--although in reality, alcohol increases bloodflow to the extremities, which lowers the core body temperature--but whisky/whiskey and bourbon in particular seem to heat the tongue and the body much faster than other spirits. Curious, I posed this question to a few whisky enthusiasts, and got some interesting theories:
"It's a perception due to the complexity of the spirit," said Robin Robinson, brand ambassador for Compass Box Whisky. "The congeners present are full of fatty lipids. Our senses interpret these as we do all fats, essential to the energy engine of the body, translating to a sense of well-being. It's why we like comfort foods. We interpret that as 'warmth.'"
Dr. Bill Lumsden of Glenmorangie attributes the warming effect to the amount of time the whisky sits in wood casks, which he believes creates a chemical reaction in the body.
And then there were the more cryptic answers from Richard "The Nose" Paterson of The Dalmore: "only whisky is distilled with warmth and love;" and Sam "Dr. Whisky" Simmons of Balvenie: "Why does butter make life better? Why does music played on records sound better than on CDs or (eek!) MP3s? Why is the heart-warming feeling you get from receiving 100 birthday emails equivalent to receiving just one letter in the mail any other day of the year? Why can Nina Simone send more shivers than a bucket of ice water? If whisky be the water of life, drink on."
Hey, I'm with you there, Dr. Whisky, but if there's any reason to have a little whisky science experiment, I'll be a happy lab rat. If anyone wants to dig deeper into this "hot" mystery, let me know.
Earlier this year, I veered from a 10-day veggie detox straight into the arms of The Macallan at "Flight Through the Decades" at SoHo House. Graeme Russell, East Coast Brand Ambassador for The Macallan Single Malt Scotch, led a room packed with discerning bloggers (tweeting all the while) through drams ranging from fresh-off-the still new make spirit to 50- and 52-year old vintages. Each dish paired with the aged Scotch beautifully, and I had the added bonus of meeting NotCot, immaculate infatuation, cool hunting, and photographer cwhateyec (check out more photos from the event here). It was definitely a luscious (or is it lush-ous?) way to ring in a new year of drinking!
Then to kick off February, I sat in on "For Peat's Sake," a roundtable discussion at Beekman Bar & Books, listening to some whisky scholars (aka fanatics) discuss the finer points of peaty Scotch. Peat - dried bricks of decayed bog vegetation, historically used as fuel in Scotland, is roasted during the distillation process, leaving a smoky, spicy essence unique to the region. John Henry of Pipeline Brands moderated the meeting of minds, and speakers included Sam "Dr. Whisky" Simmons (brand ambassador for Balvenie), Jeffery Karlovich (Whisky Life magazine, Whisky Guild social network), Robin Robinson (brand ambassador for Compass Box), Peter Silver (Malt Maniacs), and Simon Brooking (brand ambassador, Ardmore and Laphroaig). It was a treat to sit by the fire and learn about peat's earthy flavors and hear how China and India are flooding the demand for peaty Scotch. To learn more about what we drank, head over to Teleport City - Keith Allison took way better notes than I did.
And I can't believe I tasted $4,000 Scotch during the launch of Highland Park's limited edition 1968. Please show my Examiner page some love for the details on that one - let's just say it was one elegant evening that quickly took my mind off that evening's monsoon.
And just when it seemed like seasonal affective disorder might kick in, Glenmorangie came to the rescue with an "Inside the Whiskey Maker's Lab" tasting at Apotheke. Signet, Nectar D'Or, a fire show by Albert Trummer - if that doesn't take the edge off during winter in NYC, well I don't know what will. And unfortunately I missed the lovely "Women & Whisky" fundraiser earlier this month sponsored by Compass Box Whisky and LUPEC NYC at Astor Center, but I heard it was a smashing success. Check out Wine Mag for a roundup the drool-inducing whisky cocktails I missed out on - sad I couldn't make it.
So long as this cool weather lingers, I'll be reaching for that aged, amber dram... and I'm not complaining! Looking for a dram? Here's a list of some of the best whisky/whiskey bars in NYC.
