Whisky: Debunking the common myths

In some parts of the world, whisky is the only drink that the locals touch. While this isn’t constant in every destination, there’s no doubt that this is a beverage which has grown significantly over the last few years.

However, it would be fair to say that it’s also a beverage which has a few misconceptions attached to it. It’s not as mainstream as beer and wine and as a result, it’s not quite as familiar.

Credit: Tristan Jones.

Bearing this in mind, whether you are a seasoned Scotch whiskey drinker or someone who is completely new to the game, let’s now take a look at some of the key myths that exist when it comes to this drink.

Credit: Tristan Jones

Myth #1 – Avoid anything blended like the plague

When it comes to alcoholic beverages as a whole, it would be fair to say that we’ve all become quite against the term “blended”.

Well, in the world of whisky at least, this is something that shouldn’t always be construed quite as negatively. Sure, “single” whiskies don’t have as many question marks attached, but at the same time you shouldn’t jump to conclusions with blends. All it means is that rather than taking one product from a single barrel, the drink in question has been plucked from several and blended together. The end result is often something that tastes fantastic anyway as producers are keen to only blend the types that work together the best.

Myth #2 – Always trust local over mass-produced

It would be fair to say that over recent years, we have all bought into the local philosophy (and this doesn’t just apply to alcohol). First and foremost, let’s clarify that this is a great mentality to take – and can benefit the world as a whole.

However, in and amongst the environmental benefits, try not to focus on the notion that ocal whiskies should always be preferred over the big brands. These big brands have survived the test of time, and know what they’re doing. The latter can also apply to local producers, but at the same time they can be more likely to make mistakes. The distilling process is a complex one at best and some of the young producers will make mistakes, that seasoned brands just won’t make.

Credit: Tristan Jones

Should you ignore the local producers as a result of the above paragraph? Absolutely not. The point we’re trying to make is that it has become very easy to put a blanket statement out there about local producers when in reality, there’s no guarantee they are better than the seasoned brands.

Myth #3 – Always look to the top shelf

This is one of those historic product placement myths, but it needs debunking once and for all.

Sure, some years ago the top shelf may have housed the best brands but particularly in the modern-day era, this isn’t necessarily the case.

Usually, the big brands have a lot of clout when it comes to product placement, and will most probably be based where most eyes are trained to look. It means that the placement of a whisky on the shelf should not give anything away – and you need to base your buying decision on something completely different.