The Befuddled Canuck Cooks

The word Whisky, originally Uisge Beathe (or Usquebaugh in the Scots English spelling). itself is from my understanding a Celtic translation of the ancient Latin acqua vitae (water of life).  So basically the word Whisky means hooch.  Also let’s be clear, all Scotch is Wkisky but not all Whisky is Scotch.  Around these parts, people generally refer to Scotch Whisky simply as Scotch, whereas outside North America Scotch Whisky is called simply Whisky.  A quick word on spelling, you will often come across regional variations such as Irish Whiskey or American Whiskey (which is really either rye or bourbon.  Regardless of how you spell it or which you drink, Slainte Mhath (Slancha Va)!

As I started this little chat on the premise of talking about a specific Whisky and got side tracked talking about the meaning and spelling of words, here is a little tidbit on my Whisky of choice.

The name of Lagavulin is an Anglicization of the Gaelic lag a’mhuilin, meaning “hollow by the mill”.

Lagavulin  16 y.o happens to be my favourite Whisky in any price range.  I will be reviewing, chatting about, waxing poetic on the topic of various libations ranging from $10 bottles to bottles in the hundreds of $’s, feel free to suggest anything you want to have reviewed on the site.  As for what I have to say about Lagavulin: It is Smoky, peaty, and full bodied in both flavour and aroma.

A bottle of 16 year old “hollow by the mill” is at the time of writing this, selling for $110.50 at the LCBO who offer the following tasting notes (I tend to agree):

Golden amber colour; intense smoky peat & iodine; full flavour, smooth, long smoky dry finish.

Simply put, this is my alone on a deserted island bottle of choice, what’s yours?

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