This week an historic vote is taking place that will decide whether or not Scotland will become an independent country or remain in the United Kingdom.  Although a lot of the economic talk surrounding the independence
vote has centered on Scotland’s vast energy resources, perhaps the greatest export that Scotland has to offer is its world famous whisky – also known as Scotch.

Scottish whisky is a true connoisseur’s drink.  A novice can easily down an Irish, Canadian or American whiskey (and note – they are spelled differently), but a true Scotch is a flavor explosion with a smoky complexity that only the hardiest highlander or whisky aficionado could enjoy.  That smokiness that makes Scottish Whisky so flavorfully aggressive is the result of another resource that Scotland has in spades – peat.

Speaking of peat and spades, it seems appropriate to now introduce two well crafted Scottish whiskies that are named after traditional peat clearing spades – anCnoc’s Rutter and anCnoc’s Flaughter.

As my fairly standard American childhood never exposed me to peat shoveling instruments, I looked up the Rutter and Flaughter on anCnoc’s website and learned the following: the Rutter is a spade that is traditionally used to size and separate peat blocks in order to produce a turf that is slow burning and therefore emits more fragrant smokiness when lit.  The Flaughter spade, on the other hand, is used to remove the top layer of peat which is richer, more rooty and provides a heavier smokier flavor.

Long story short . . . . these two whiskies are very well named.  The Rutter was definitely the more fragrant of the two while the Flaughter was definitely a tribute to extreme smokiness (reminiscent of the whiskies found in the Islay region of Scotland).  Both were very pleasing on both the nose and the palette in a way that only somebody who loves a good Scotch could understand.  The Rutter gave off almost citrusy or green apple notes and sustained the flavor into the finish while the Flaughter flaunted its peaty pedigree from start to finish.

SO: A dinnae ken whilk wey ye kin vote, bit regardless o' th' outcome, ye shuid celebrate scootlund wi' a bawherr bit o' braw whiskey.

Sae grab a tumbler, pat oan yer kilt 'n' fire up th' bagpipes 'n' celebrate! 

Translation*: "No matter which way you vote, but regardless of the outcome, you should celebrate a great Scotch. So grab a glass, put on you kilt, fire up the bagpipes and celebrate!"

Alba gu brath!

- Cheers from the Booze Whisperer

* Translation courtesy of http://www.scotranslate.com/, visit the site for more fun Scottish translations!