The Macallan

The Macallan

The other night, I braved a trip to a liquor store in a semi-rough neighborhood. This was the only place around that carried The Macallan. As I pulled up in my imported car and bought a $50 bottle of scotch I realized that I was one of those latte sipping liberals that Rush Limbaugh whines about.

Anyone who knows me also knows that I am a big fan of Neil Peart, the drummer from Rush (the band, not the blow hard right-wing radio nut-job.) In addition to his music and drumming instruction videos, I have read all of the books that he has written about his biking and motorcycle adventures. In his writing, he shares that most evenings, he winds down with a glass of The Macallan.

Over the years, I have occasionally noticed a bottle of The Macallan on the shelves behind the bars at restaurants. I’d make a passing note that this was what Neil Peart drinks and tell myself that I should try this someday.

Several weeks ago, I went out for dinner with my wife at a nice restaurant in town. Our table wasn’t ready when we arrived, so we sat and chatted in the bar for a few minutes. I ordered a glass of The Macallan. The bartender asked me how I wanted it. Not knowing any better I said with ice. As I sipped for a while at the bar and later at our table, I realized that this stuff is really good. My wife, a veritable teetotaler, tried some and grimaced, “Why would anyone drink that?”

A few weeks later, I ordered The Macallan, again with ice. Again I deemed it to be good.

Hence my trip to the liquor store.

When I got home, I was proud of my purchase. I admired the bottle and found a good place to display it in my kitchen. Like any good latte sipping liberal, I went on the Internet and googled “How to drink whiskey.” This was actually very informative. I quickly learned that it is almost sacrilegious to put ice in a single malt scotch. I immediately wondered what the bartenders at the restaurants thought of my previous orders.

So tonight, having done my research, I’m having my first un-iced single malt scotch. It is very relaxing and enjoyable. The flavors are more pronounced without the ice. The flavors and aroma are very complex. There is also something cool about drinking something that sat in a barrel in Scotland for 12 years.

It is nice to add another of life’s pleasures to my repertoire.