The Whisky Guide: Robert Hicks Answers

What’s in malt?

Single malts are produced at one individual distillery in Scotland whereas double malts are either single malt matured in two different styles of oak casks or a blend of two single malts.

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What’s so manly about whisky?

I don’t and have never believed that whisky is a man’s drink. I know women who appreciate whisky as much as their husbands. The belief could have been passed on from the time when it was frowned upon for women to go into bars. It was only a certain type of women that went into bars, can I say that they were not ladies, and because of this wives were never taken into a bar so the myth started.

Do whiskies age in bottle?

Unlike wine, whisky never ages or improves its flavour in a bottle; in fact the opposite may occur sometimes depending upon the storage conditions. Whisky ages only when it’s matured in oak casks where it can react with the oak wood and the oxygen in the air, which makes it softer, sweeter and much more drinkable.

How whiskey is made?

The short explanation is that we make beer and then boil it to vaporise the alcohol, which we then condense to make whisky.

Why fuss surrounds whisky glasses?

Traditionally, whisky was always drunk from a crystal glass. Even I like it that way. Crystal allows the light to refract through the whisky allowing it to sparkle. I believe whatever you eat or drink should first please your eyes and then nose and tongue. However, in modern society you should use whichever glass you like as long as you enjoy the drink.

Does it taste better when warm?

Science tells up that the nearer any alcohol gets to blood heat the easier it will be to absorb the alcohol. They say if you drink it warm then the alcohol will be absorbed in your mouth and go directly to the brain thus making you drunk quicker which what we, in Scotland, never recommend as we promote sensible drinking. Moreover, you’d never get to taste and appreciate all the different aromas and flavours that are in whisky. I know room temperature in India can be higher than in Scotland and that’s why I normally have a piece or two of ice to bring the temperature down a little but not too cold.

Lessons for first-time buyers.

They should consider recommendations from their friends. A newbie should first try well-known blended whisky, which were originally designed in 1860 for first time buyers, and then graduate to stronger single malts.

Five-pegs down, does brand and glass matter?

Drinking whisky should take time because there are a massive number of aromas and flavours, which only a slow drinker can appreciate.

Why do they say ‘cheers’?

The English say Cheers, we never do. In Scotland, we raise a toast for good health. A famous Scotsman said, “If man should find the perfect amount of whisky to drink each day he will live forever”.

Why vodka bottle looks better than a whisky bottle?

Packaging is important to sell the first bottle, not the second and subsequent ones. Vodka needs right packaging because it doesn’t have the heritage like whisky, which has been established for over 160 years.

Cheese goes with wine, what goes with whisky?

Everything! Back in the 1980’s I was one of the very few who promoted the idea of drinking whiskies through a meal instead of wines as different whiskies complement different foods. Whisky dinners have become the norm. If you’re just sitting with a glass of whisky, smoked cheese, small pieces of spiced meat and fish with biscuits will be a good idea. Whisky pairs beautifully with spicy Indian food.

The best tip you share in your tasting session?

Take a sip of water, but don’t swallow it, then take a sip of whisky straight into the water, mix in the mouth and the swallow. This allows all the many flavours to come through without the alcohol numbing the tongue or mouth.

How 140-year-old and 12-year-old whiskey different?

A 140-year-old whisky would be the find of the millennium and be worth a prince’s fortune! Whisky as it ages in the casks loses by evaporation 2% every year to “the angels”. A 12-year-old whisky will have lost about 25 per cent of what was originally filled into the cask; from this you can work out yourself how much would have been lost from a 140-year-old cask. The older, the better.

From the January 2012 issue of FHM India.