Magazines » September/October 2008 Issue » Drinking Buddies: Scotch
Barely Legal: the Allure of 18-Year-Old Scotch
Time is the friend of great Scotch. Young barrels are often sacrificed at three to five years old to form the backbone of many blends. Those barrels lucky enough to make it to 10 or12 years proudly wear the title of an aged malt. But for many Scotch fans, the ultimate score is an 18-year-old.
In anthropological terms, 18 years represents a coming of age. In the United States, 18-year-olds can legally do almost everything (but drink, of course). For Scotch, 18-years represents not only longevity, but also the proper passage of time for the barrel's wood to marry with the liquid and the angels to take an appropriate share of the precious whisky. Certainly, there are older whiskies available that offer amazing sensory experiences, but 18-year-old Scotch makes a statement few drinks can match.
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This article originally appeared in the September/October 2008 Issue of DRAFT Magazine
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