Scotch Whiskey
an ode to friendship
Tonight, in consideration of the wonderful evening ahead, I am publishing early at 530 pm CT. I knew what I would write about today long beforehand which in these still early days of a newsletter is unusual. I generally write a bit just before going to bed in the evening. I have found it puts me in a great state of mind. However, my plans this evening call for an alternate plan.
Almost three years ago, a friend of mine I will call J invited me into a circle of his friends. I only knew one of the other folks well but the rest were new to me. The mission statement of this fine group was to explore and enjoy the variations of Single-Malt Scotch. I suppose to many, Scotch is the highest form of hand-crafted spirits. I told my friend J at the time: “but I really don’t know very much about Scotch”. He quickly retorted that you are not being invited for your knowledge of Scotch, you are invited because you can tell a good story.
I was relieved and actually very happy. I really didn’t know much about Scotch but was eager to have fun exploring and learning with a new circle of acquaintances who would soon become friends. The mechanics of the club seemed straightforward. Rotate through the different members who would take occasional turns hosting. It seemed the theme of each evening would be a region of Scotland. There was a weakness in that early plan as I would come to find out that there were only six regions of Scotland differentiated for their variation on Scotch. Of course, I was a newbie so my job was to sip and learn.
I look back on that first weekend night fondly and am so glad that I was welcomed into a wonderful fellowship. While perhaps a bad pun, I hope to make the case that the group has spirit. I believe that the first time I was invited, the theme was Scotch of the Highlands. My memory may be incorrect about that first night, but remember we should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. For the uninitiated, after nearly three years of these occasional get-togethers, I know a bit more about Scotch than I did that first night. I think I may have volunteered to the group that I was unsure whether I had ever had Scotch before joining this hallowed group. They welcomed the tenderfoot nevertheless and it has been a joy to get to know each of them. The map below shows the regions of Scotland and their distinct Scotch flavor profiles.
So what, exactly, is the Highlands as I prepared for evening #1? Scotland is a smallish country and a part of the United Kingdom. It is about the size of South Carolina and supports a population similar to Colorado or Minnesota. Scotland, however, could not be more different when it comes to the matters of distilled spirits. The Highlands are the largest region in Scotland and that is enough distillation knowledge for one evening. What this experience has taught me, however, is that Scotland is quite different in many ways, especially in relation to my comparisons above:
South Carolina might have its share of moonshining but is unlikely to have the patience to age their white lightning for 12 years.
Colorado’s claim to fame is more associated with cannabis than spirits and their current tendency to even sell gummy bear flavored products excludes them from the art of Scotch creation.
Minnesota was home to the House Judiciary chairman Volstead who brought us prohibition which is quite exclusionary to this discussion.
The map provided shows the six generalized regions of Scotland, each known for specific tailoring of what the whole world now knows as Scotch. I remember before getting together, I spent a little time learning about Scotch and simply became confused. I made a trip to Total Wine and Liquor and the wide array of different single malt scotches only confused me more. I knew at that point this was going to be fun because it was going to be a new experience in almost all respects and I enjoy that. The host on that first evening, who I will call M, was a long-time friend who I knew from the days of our children learning to play tennis. Everyone else that evening would be a mystery and I was looking forward to it.
Our host that night explained that we would line up the bottles in increasing proof and make our way through the night sampling each of them as we wish. It was obvious this was going to be a lot of fun but the real enjoyment was a new and amazing group of friends. My good friend J gambled his political capital on me, and I am so thankful that he did. I look forward to these evenings regardless of theme, weather, or location. It is life-affirming that men can get together with different life experiences, different politics, and different perspectives, but if they sit down and just enjoy those differences over a nice sip of something peaty or smoky, all the problems of the world can melt away, if only for an evening.
Tonight, we will get together again at my friend J’s home which is a short walk around the corner. A brisk mid-October evening with changing leaves, the smell of backyard fires, and friends sharing the merits of Rye Whiskey which is tonight’s theme. What a wonderful life. I am so glad we Minnesotans eventually rejected the ideas of Mr. Volstead. Here’s a photo of the man who thought he was doing what he did for “our own good”. Did you know that the 18th Amendment to the Constitution is the only time in American History that politicians thought they knew better than the citizenry and crafted an Amendment to the Constitution that LIMITED our rights instead of expanding them? Food for thought. Here is the text of the 18th Amendment. We associate our Constitution with eloquent language. While Section 2 & 3 are boilerplate, Section 1 is the place for soaring language. You be the judge. Restrictions and limits are borne in the minds of small men and women. I think that is a universal principle.
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all the territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Have a great evening, thanks for reading, and hope to see you back tomorrow. For my fellow Scotch Club members, I am sure tonight will again be a wonderful evening. For my loyal and frequent readers, you know that my posts are not complete without a musical reference or two. I really enjoy this street musician who pairs with a volunteer with a wonderful voice on this song by Chris Stapleton. While not exactly Scotch-related, many roads lead to Rome and some may even pass through Tennessee. In order to cover all the bases, however, and in deference to a number of my fellow club members, here’s a song that fits the bill for the evening.
19+
This has it all: good story, good writing, good music, a photo, and ........ a map.
I had forgotten your weakness for maps 🤓