Build An All Season Whisky Shelf With A Collection That Works Year Round
A well-stocked whisky shelf is more than just expensive whisky brands lining your home bar. It is about balance, versatility and knowing what kind of dram works when. Some of the best whisky brands are those which produce certain spirits that seem to adapt across different seasons, from summery brightness to wintry climes. The trick to building a stylish whisky shelf then lies in going for such an all seasons whisky that can be put to use throughout the year for making cocktails or even as a serve presented by itself. Choose from some top whisky brands that present different types of whiskies across smoky, sweet and light variations, that seem conducive to all kinds of weather patterns.
Light, Smooth And Approachable
One of the first whiskies to go for while curating an all seasons whisky shelf is the one that is a light and approachable blend which can be served simply, without too much pomp. Easy to work with and well-balanced in its flavour profile, such a light whisky can be used to build versatile, seasonal blends as the weather goes through several shifts throughout the year.
Look for a blended or light single malt, with straightforward flavours of honey and vanilla and soft fruity touches. Try pairing such a dram with soda, ginger ale or a splash of lime while curating a summer highball and with certain spices like cinnamon or star anise while preparing a wintertime toddy.
Peated Pick With A Presence
This is a whisky that you can prop up on your home bar as an alternative for those occasions when you want a dram with a bit of character and depth. A smoky or earthy malt whisky brings those robust flavours and a slightly dramatic touch into your whisky tasting experience especially for rainy or dark evenings well-suited to serving a spirit with a presence.
Go for a lightly or moderately peated single malt while choosing such a dram for the bar shelf complete with smoky, briny and slightly spicy hints with a touch of roasted nuts. Such a whisky is an excellent spirit for concocting simple stirred cocktails like an old fashioned. It can just as well be served by itself, or on a bed of ice while sitting by the fireside after a sumptuous dinner.
The Sherry Cask Expression
While lining your whisky shelf with top brand spirits that work throughout the year, add a sherry-finished, sweet and rich liquor to the list without fail. This will bring a lot of nuance and luxury into the whisky cabinet, making the dram well-suited as a choice especially during festive months.
Flavours of dried fruit, figs, nutmeg and chocolate will come through in a whisky matured in a sherry cask. The flavour depth of this ageing process can match sheer cocktail elegance when it is used to make drinks like the whisky manhattan. Such a whisky is then an excellent alternative to have on the shelf for slow-sipping or pairing with desserts like dark chocolate ganaches or fresh summertime fruit cakes.
Also Read: A Beginner’s Guide To Building A Scotch Collection In India – Without Going Broke!
Spicy Grain For A Cocktail Pop
And one of the finest and most essential drams to have on a bar shelf for use throughout the year is an exquisite grain whisky or rye whisky. A spiced, grain-forward whisky carries a mixable, adaptable quality and contains lots of robust, cocktail-friendly flavour notes. It can be used for blending anything from a summertime boulevardier to an autumnal whisky and fig sour with an identical grace in both recipes.
Cloves, pepper, a light spice and caramel will be among the flavours that are more pronounced in such a whisky. It works well in simple highballs and spritzers too because it can stand its own amidst different fruity and sparkly mixers. The flavours of such a whisky will come through, without being overshadowed by other ingredients. Adding fresh citruses or citrus bitters to the cocktail concoctions can better highlight the spicy nuances of a grain whisky or a rye whisky. What’s more, such a drink can be used for concocting a lot of versatile cocktails with eclectic flavour combinations, across a spectrum of seasons, making the grain whisky or a good quality rye whisky one of the most essential components of an all seasons whisky shelf.
Key Takeaways:
– When a whisky shelf is stocked well, it means that along with premium bottles, it also contains those variations of the spirit that work well across different seasons.
– One pro tip to build a stylish and trendy whisky shelf is to then go for those spirits which can be used for making cocktails, or can be served by themselves throughout the year.
– Some of these whiskies include a light and smooth blended malt, a peated whisky with much character depth, a sherry cask finished whisky and a rye whisky for cocktails.
FAQs:
– Why does a blended malt or a light single malt work across different seasons?
Light, approachable and carrying a versatile quality, a blended malt or a light single malt is an unpretentious, straightforward whisky used as much for making highballs as for making good quality hot toddies. That’s why this whisky variation works across different seasons.
– On what occasions does a peaty whisky work best, through the year?
For those occasions when you want a whisky with character and depth, a peated Scotch can be your best bet. It is robust, pronounced and deeply flavoured and can be served by itself or on a bed of ice, throughout the year on dark evenings.
– Why is a rye or grain whisky an essential addition to the all seasons whisky shelf?
A good quality rye or grain whisky is complete with a flavour profile that makes the spirit an excellent addition to versatile, year long cocktail options. So, rye or grain whisky is an essential variation to add to the all seasons whisky shelf.
All cocktails listed use 30 ml liquor measurements for single serves. Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
