Blended or Single Malt?

When it comes to whiskey of any kind, this is really the big separator. It comes up most often with Scotch, but at this point it is something talked in all sorts of whisky. Bourbons are being made this way, a few Irish whiskies have, and those scattered brands around the world often grab hold of single malt as making them special.

Before we start with that, basic whisky making goes like this: distill base spirit from a grain, put up in oak barrels, then let sit for a period of time.

OK, that was really basic. We'll talk more on it later in separating Scotch from other whiskies. For now, it's enough.

Now, the difference between blended and single malt is very basic. A single malt comes from only one spirit being set up. Not necessarily a single cask, but from casks all put up at the same time. A blend comes from various casks set up at different times, often from different distilleries. The end results usually very different.

Blended properties

Blended Scotches tend to have a fairly balanced flavor. This means they aren't heavily smoky, peaty, hot, or any of the other adjectives thrown around about whisky. Folks who like single malts often label these as 'bland". That said, they tend to be far more accessible to people who may not otherwise enjoy Scotch. They can act as a gateway to the single malt world. For instance, years ago at a small gathering of friends, we blind tasted 5 different Scotches. The one most preferred turned out to be a blended Dewars.

Another advantage to a blend is their affordability. These often fall under $20, even for a 12 year old Scotch. For someone on a budget, this can be a great win! Or, for those of us who like cocktails made with whisky, why not keep one around for mixing, saving the more expensive stuff for sipping?

Single Malt Properties

Coming from a single instance of distilling, single malts tend to have more character, though what that character will be varies greatly. The fact is, some single malt Scotches are far, far worse than a decent blend, but each will tend to have more character. It is in single malts that you really experience the unique flavors for which regions and distilleries are known.

Enjoying single malts is often about exercising one's palate, seeking out the different notes and  nuances of each bottling. The 18 year bottles this year may taste different from one 5 years ago, though they will tend to be closer together than 2 bottled in different regions at the same time.

Or, for some, it's about finding the one they like and never letting it go. Go figure!

Which do you prefer?

I'll be honest, I'm a single malt fan. Blends have their place, but for me there isn't enough time to enjoy the single malts that are out there, so I pass over the blends. I have occasionally been presented with a single malt I wish I'd never encountered, but that is, fortunately, a rare thing. Meanwhile, I always keep an eye towards the ones I've never tried. What about you?