Fettercairn

[Father Bill]

Whisky is a curious comodity.

Age is seldom a reliable guide to quality, and price usually reflects the distillery's decade or two of storing casks which sees a loss of spirit in the form of the angels' share.

Apart from the single cask offerings, most single malt whiskies are something of a blend (albeit an in-house mix of good stuff) and the age given is the youngest spirit used. The distilleries have their craft down to a fine art, but they readily acknowledge that few spirits improve to any great degree after 12 or 15 years.

Distilleries' house standard (often 10 or 12 years old) is by no means anything less of a good drinking spirit than their older ones, but ecomonics in the form of speed of return on their investment, and the quantity of spirit available, is reflected in the retail price.

Whisky becomes its legal self after only three years, and is drinkable enough for blenders to use, but the desired house style takes a few more years to develop. Whilst they have great appeal, the older whiskies are seldom three or four times better than the 'standard' that the price they command suggests. A huge chunk of the price is the novelty of the age.

Blends are by no means an inferior whisky (after all, they take the spirit for blending in the form of single malts) but the blend might include grain spirits that are improved by the single malt mix while softening some of the harsher single malt characteristics. Consequently, a blend can be maintained at a consistent standard and flavour.

Fashion and drinking trends play a large part in what ends up in the bottle sold over the counter, and there seems to have been a steady move away from the peaty-smokey character that Scotch was once known for, to be more oaky and woody like, say, bourbon.

No doubt the global success of Jack Daniels and the like has influenced new-to-whisky drinkers' expectations, so, if bourbon-style is wanted, that is what is provided. Myself, I have noticed a distinct but gradual change in that direction over the past 40 or so years.

Interestingly, although surrounded by single malts of all ages, styles and qualities, the distillery men themselves are reputed to favour Johnny Walker Black Label when it comes to their whisky of choice. What do they know that we don't..?

To be bluntly honest, and despite deep respect and appreciation for your excellent explanation, I merely like what tastes good to me and has the appropriate 'blast' on my tongue and throat. I don't care how it is blended or aged or in what it is aged.
Right now, I'm enjoying Arran very much.