Day of shame for Scotland!

[Skybird]

This year, it was no Scottish single malt that got elected "best single malt of the world", like in the years before (last time it was the 18 year old Talisker from the island of Skye). In blind tests, 18 experts voted a - Japanese single malt as the best of the year. "Yoichi", that is the name of the liquid, is accompanied by a Japanese blended malt being voted as best blend in the world, Suntory Hikibi, making Scotland's defeat complete.

The "championship" is organized by the British "Whisky Magazine", which is considered to be the bible for whisky lovers.

for insiders, this is not really surprising, since the climate on Hokkaido is very much in favour of whisky-production, and Japanese destilleries stick to old, traditional methods of prodcution that even in Scotland are becoming rare these days.

The conclusion of it all? Skybird will never remember wether to write "whisky" with or without an "e".

Rest in peace, Scotty. Glad to know you did not have to see this day... I for myself, no matter Talisker or Yoichi, will stick with Dalwhinnie anyway.

[Jimbuna]

Next year sushi will probably beat haggis in the class 'most revolting dish'

[McBeck]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Next year sushi will probably beat haggis in the class 'most revolting dish'

Mmmmmm....sushiiiii

[joegrundman]

Sushi is awesome! On this matter naysayers are simply wrong, but i'll be generous and suggest you just haven't tried the good stuff.

If you are in London, the best sushi may well be at Sushi-say in Willesden Green

And I've been drinking quite a bit of Suntory whisky lately

[bradclark1]

I don't like scotch. I've been told you have to aquire a taste. Thats one of the stupidest things I've heard. Drink it till you like it??? I guess I could eat brussel sprouts till I like them too.

[DeepIron]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

I don't like scotch. I've been told you have to aquire a taste. Thats one of the stupidest things I've heard. Drink it till you like it??? I guess I could eat brussel sprouts till I like them too.

Sushi = Good
Brussel Sprouts = Evil

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

I don't like scotch. I've been told you have to aquire a taste. Thats one of the stupidest things I've heard. Drink it till you like it??? I guess I could eat brussel sprouts till I like them too.

I can understand you. I - also do not like Scotch 29 out of 30 days. but on this 30th day - for whatever the reason is, I suddenly like the taste of it for a short while, one or two glasses, and then really appreciate the slow unfolding of the many aromes that i usually do not like at all. So, I have a drink once a month, or more rarely, but when i have it on these rare occasions, I really like it. On all other opportunities, on all the 29 out of 30 days, it makes me wanting to spit it out.

That hardly makes me the usual whiskey lover, I suppose. For more regular drinking, I prefer a mild red vine (shame on me: I prefer vine to be served COLD, all of them ), and in summer occasionally an ice-cold beer, but not as often anymore as in past years. Whisky just fascinates me since it is surprisingly rich and diverse in aromes beyond the surface of hot alcohol and bitter taste - if only you let your tongue meet it with an open, unprejudiced set of nerves - and this is the case for me only every couple of weeks.

The most delicious thing to drink is cold, clear sweetwater anyway.

Sushi, on the other hand, is something that makes me run away, yelling.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

I don't like scotch. I've been told you have to aquire a taste. Thats one of the stupidest things I've heard. Drink it till you like it??? I guess I could eat brussel sprouts till I like them too.

In my case that applies to anything alcohol-based.

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by joegrundman

Sushi is awesome! On this matter naysayers are simply wrong, but i'll be generous and suggest you just haven't tried the good stuff.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by McBeck

Mmmmmm....sushiiiii

I second that! Sashimi is even better!

-S

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

I second that! Sashimi is even better!

-S

Indeed!!!

And don't like whisky. I prefer brandys and conhacs!

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Talisker or Yoichi, will stick with Dalwhinnie anyway.

Talisker for me please

As for this story, after 30 years as a manager at J&B my dad will be livid.

[bookworm_020]

No use to me as I don't drink!

[Graf Paper]

As for the Japanese whipping Scotland, you have to remember that "Scotch" can only be made in Scotland. It's the same as all the difference between Champagne and "sparkling wine". Champagne can only bear that name if it comes from the grapes and wineries of the Champagne region of France. So that contest was bogus!

Besides, over half the judges were probably limeys anyways. :p

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Graf Paper

As for the Japanese whipping Scotland, you have to remember that "Scotch" can only be made in Scotland. It's the same as all the difference between Champagne and "sparkling wine". Champagne can only bear that name if it comes from the grapes and wineries of the Champagne region of France. So that contest was bogus!

No, the yearly contest is about "single malts", and other destillations and mixtures, note they also voted a best Blend. And that both are not exclusive Scottish labels, but simple describe the number of destillation cycles. Most Irish whiskys are destilled three times, and thus most of them are said to be much milder than Scotch. I tried only a few Irish ones, but they were much milder than any Scotch I ever had indeed. Jameson 1780 I liked best, its the only one that kept on my memory.

The German article where I read about it said the Japanese man producing Yoichi came to Europe and studied here, and raised a fascination for Scotch. He went to Scotland and learned and absorbed everything he could learn about Scotch. He married a Scottish girl, I think she too was from a family associated with whisky-production. He packed together all the info he could get and his wife, went back to Japan, and started to destill himself. In other words: the Scots were beaten by their own knowledge, so to speak.

Never allow Japanese to have a look inside. First they copy it - than they improve it! It was like this with cars. With cameras. With consumer electronics...