How To Choose The Right Whisky

While kicking back and enjoying an Oban 14 at the Capital Grill I witnessed an awkward pause in the bartender’s voice while he was repeating a young professional patron’s order. I tried not to stare but I probably noticeably shook my head with a bit of disappointment as I whispered to myself under my breath, “Dude, did you seriously just order a Fireball and soda!?!”

- Steve Scala

Hey, I guess I was young and naïve once too. Reflecting back to the days when I really wanted to make an impression on a prospective client, a senior colleague or a hot girl I’d either order a Jager with a splash of soda or, if I was feeling all cool and confident, I’d go for a Crown Royal Whisky. Why? Because the bottle was beautiful and it came all dressed in a purple felt bag with gold tasseled drawstring! But I guess I knew from the awkward pause in MY bartender’s voice when he repeated my drink order back to me that something probably was just not right; it had to be a sign.

Fortunately, my International travels have opened doors to the wonderful world of Scotch whisky, especially my beloved single malts or “Malts” as they are referred to across the pond.

For today’s young professional looking to expand his palette and to refine his social presence you just have to know how to choose the right whisky.

Bottle design, slick marketing and country songs can really be deceiving and while blended scotch whiskies like JB, Dewers, Johnnie Walker, and Chivas Regal are fine for the occasional Scotch Cocktail, e.g. a scotch Manhattan, there is no better drink to enjoy with the confidence and swagger of Jon Favreau in 1996 Swingers than a scotch on the rocks – “as long it's not a blend of course, I’ll have a Single malt, any Glen will do.”