SPVAQ22021 - 30

BILLY FELLIN

S

cotch whiskey can be divided
into two main categories,
single malt and blended. Single
malts are produced in a pot still in
batches using only malted barley
and water, and this must take
place in a single distillery. Like all
scotch whiskeys, they also need
to be entirely distilled and bottled
in Scotland and then matured for
three years or more.
Blended whiskies are much
more common, making up
approximately 90% of the market.
They're produced from both malt
and grain whiskies. Blended
scotches are made from two or
more single-grain whiskies that
come from at least two distilleries.
There are many factors that add
to a whisky's taste and smell. One
of the most important is peat,
a deposit formed in wetlands
through the decomposition

30 SPIRITED VIRGINIA

of vegetable matter. Peat is
sometimes added to the fire used
to dry barley before pounding it
into a mash for distillation, and
this lends a smokey note to the
resulting spirit.
Virginia ABC carries 125
different varieties of scotch, with
46 available by special order.
Currently, scotch is becoming
much more popular throughout
the state. Here are 13 peat-forward
blends and single malts, all of
which are offered by Virginia ABC.

Ardbeg Wee Beastie $44.99

From the Ardbeg Distillery on the
south coast of Islay, Wee Beastie is
made from malted barley sourced
from Port Ellen. This is a young
single malt with all the complexity
of a more mature scotch. The
flavor profile has sweet, salty,

smoky and citrus with touches
of caramel, lychee, licorice and
roasted clove.

Laphroaig Select $49.99

The distillery was founded in 1815
on the island of Islay, near Lock
Laphroaig. This is a complex,
smooth-drinking single malt with
notes of ginger, caramel, fresh
lemons and creamy butter.

Talisker Single Malt $64.99

A premium whisky from the Isle
of Skye in the village of Carbost.
Talisker distillery was founded in
1830 at the head of Loch Harport.
Their Single Malt gets its water
from 21 underground springs
beneath Hawk Hill. The taste is
smokey, peppery and briny with
a touch of sweetness and a clean
finish.
SPVAQ22021

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