Today’s Whisky Craze “Back in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…with a glass of whisky in one hand and a telescope in the other.” The first part of this jingle is a staple of Canadian history lessons, the latter: a tasty tidbit about a wildly popular drink. While many things have changed since the days of Christopher Columbus and his early explorer counterparts, some things remain the same. Among the few fads that never faded are the ever-popular drinks that we know today as Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Bourbon or Rye. All different types of whiskies, these liquor store selections have one thing in common and that is that they are all every bit as fashionable today as they were when they were first conceived. There wasn’t as much variety back then for ol’ Chris and his buddies – when they asked for a Whisky they didn’t have the BC Liquor Stores selection of 276 labels to choose from. But they drank it, whatever the make, because it was a stiff drink with powerful effects and because of its unwavering popularity – even as far back as ancient times. Whisky has been around for thousands of years and it has been used for such things as antiseptics, potions, religious offerings and more. And they drank it too. Historically speaking, whisky was the purest drink around – a distillate by its mere nature. To make a whisky, an alcoholic beverage similar to beer is distilled (usually two or three times) and therefore it is reduced to its most potent quality, the finished product hovering around 40% alcohol. Some of history’s most infamous people have been known to imbibe in a dram of whisky now and then; James T. Cook, Napoleon Bonaparte and Marco Polo to name but a few. In our modern times, whisky holds true to its historic popularity, turning up in some form at nearly every social gathering, from nightclubs to the Oscars and at political forums too. British Columbia hosts a vast selection of the distillate today, the most established of which are Scotch and Irish Whiskey. Always in debate as to which of the two countries first created the enticing elixir, it is indisputable that Scotland and Ireland are to thank for establishing the roots of whiskies worldwide. Scotland is most famous for its single malt whiskies, though a well-stocked bar would be incomplete without a bottle of Johnnie Walker’s famous red or black label blended Scotch on hand. Impressive displays of ‘terroir’ can be noticed when tasting the various single malts of Scotland, with Speyside known best for its elegant characteristics and Islay known for its whiskies’ intensity. Irish Whiskey generally tastes considerably less smoky and less peaty than its Scottish counterpart, due to variances in the countries’ respective production processes. Also, because Irish Whiskey is triple distilled instead of double, the resulting distillate tends to have a fuller and smoother mouthfeel. On to the more modern versions of this coveted liquor, the United States and Canada each have their own interpretations, known as Bourbon and Rye respectively. Bourbon hails from America’s southern states and is named after Kentucky’s county of the same name. In order for a liquor to be called a Bourbon, it must be a distillate of more than 50% corn mash and aged in charred oak barrels for at least two years. Its unique recipe gives this American whiskey a signature flavour reminiscent of sweet toasted coconut. On the home front, we Canadians make our own style of whisky and have been doing since before Confederation. Named for the grain that gives this spirit its unique spicy flavour, Rye is by definition to be aged in charred oak barrels for a minimum of three years prior to its release. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see whisky being enjoyed on myriad occasions. From grad nights and weddings to strolls on the beach, whisky continues to make frequent appearances throughout our culture. Nightclubs are packed full of Twenty-Somethings sipping on ever-popular “Crown & Cokes”, but Crown Royal isn’t the only whisky that is fit for blending. Enter any jazz club in North America and you will likely spot an array of Bourbon-based drinks that exemplify the jazz vibe. Classics like the Bourbon Sour (one part bourbon to three parts lime) and Bourbon Manhattan (equal parts Bourbon and red vermouth) abound amongst Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers. Fine restaurants have their firm place on the whisky bandwagon too, boasting page-long Scotch lists alongside their award-winning wine lists. And let us not forget the true tribute to this age-old elixir, which can be seen by peeking into most Canadian liquor cabinets. Rare is the occasion when one would not spot a bottle each of Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Bourbon and Rye, all ready and waiting for their next social appearance. Be they mixed, straight-up or on the rocks, these are still among the most sought-after liquors in the world – today as in ancient times.
Crown Royal $25.95 +1487 Canada Glenora Glen Breton Single Malt $91.72 +601062 Canada Red Breast 12 Year Old $48.19 +636845 Ireland Bushmills Original $29.95 +14910 Ireland Johnnie Walker Black Label $46.99 +7880 Scotland Compass Box Peat Monster $74.95 +604470 Scotland Maker's Mark Kentucky Bourbon $44.95 +103747 USA Woodford Reserve Bourbon $47.95 +480624 USA
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