234 - Scotch Pursuit with Dr. Rachel Barrie

Bourbon Pursuit

New for 2020, it’s Scotch Pursuit! Ok, not really. But what better way to start the new year by trying something new and having Dr. Rachel Barrie, the master blender for The GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh of Brown-Forman, come and show us the ropes. We talk about malting, peat, Glens and Bens, rules and regulations to be considered a scotch, the temperatures and more. This is a fantastic 101 to the scotch world and even made us, not so much scotch curious, but more single malt curious. Since this recording, we’ve tried numerous single malts and found some great ones. If you have an “entry Scotch” for bourbon drinkers, drop it here in the comments.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about Al Young.
• Why all the Glens and Bens?
• Does the altitude affect the whiskey?
• Talk about growing up around scotch.
• Tell us about your doctorate.
• Tell us about the the brands.
• What is an old school malt?
• How do you keep malts consistent?
• What is malting?
• What is the process for making scotch?
• What kind of stills do you use?
• What is your favorite cask?
• How do you make a blend?
• How old does scotch have to be legally?
• Is there a lot of evaporation loss in the barrel?
• What proof does BenRiach come out of the barrel?
• How many barrels are in a typical batch?
• Do you have a team helping you blend?
• Is there a limit to the number of times you can use a barrel?
• Tell us about the special releases.