Scotch Whisky

Scotch Whisky or simply Scotch is one of the most famous traditional whisky, the other being Irish Whiskey, Canadian Whisky, American Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey, Japanese Whisky and Australian Whisky.

Just like in Ireland ( Uisce Beatha ), the Scottish word for Whisky is a derivative of the Scottish Gaelic word Uisge Beatha, meaning the Water of Life.

Scotch Whiskey is a Geographically Identified Product and there are regulations that has to be met for a Whisky to be labeled a Scotch Whisky.

Traditionally Scotch Whisky is made from malted barley, but there had been deviation and variations too. A distinctive characteristic of a Scotch Whisky is drying of the malted barley over a peat fire, that attributes a smoky aroma to the Whisky. post distillation, maturation or aging is done in oak barrels previously used for bourbon whiskey, Sherry, Wine, Fortified Wine, Rum and other Spirits. This Aging process that spans years is the largest contributing factor that impact the flavour of the Whisky.

To be labeled a Scotch, a Whisky has to be pass several guidelines and production standards designed by the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009.

• 1. Comprises a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 40% (80 US proof)
• 2. Contains no added substances, other than water and plain (E150A) caramel colouring
• 3. Is produced at a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley (to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added) all of which have been:
  • 3.1 Converted at that distillery to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems
  • 3.2 Distilled at an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 94.8% (190 US proof)
  • 3.3 Fermented at that distillery only by adding yeast
  • 3.4 Processed at that distillery into a mash
• 4. Is wholly matured in an excise warehouse in Scotland in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres (185 US gal; 154 imp gal) for at least three years
• 5. Retains the colour, aroma, and taste of the raw materials used in, and the method of, its production and maturation

Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire Sauce is a fermented liquid condiment created by the British chemists John Wheeley Lea and Henry Perrins, in the city of Worcester in Worchestershire, England, in the first half of the 19th Century.
Fermented fish sauce has ben in use in Greco-Roman cuisine, fermented anchovy sauce can be traced back to the 17th Century Europe too. However this particular concoction is tentatively attributed by the original label of the company's product as a sauce that came "from the recipe of a nobleman in the county", the company also claimed that Lord Marcus Sandys, ex-Governor of Bengal, encountered it while in India with the East India Company in the 1830s, and he commissioned a local apothecary to recreate it. The original recipe includes vinger, molasses, sugar. salt, anchovies, tamarind, shallots/onions, garlic, other spices and flavourings, and quite resemble an Indian fish curry or fish sauce recipe indeed.
In food and in cocktail, this sauce provides for a background flavour and is a source of umami, the fifth flavour or the flavour of savouriness. The spicy richness is what makes Bloody Mary, Caesar and Bull Shot cocktails the spicy, salty and overall savoury flavour.

Tomato Juice

Tomato juice is obviously the juice of ripe tomatoes, and is usually used as a beverage, either plain or in cocktails such as Bloody Mary. Tomato juice releases enzymes that breaks down alcohol faster in your liver, so if you are looking to start the next day early and fresh, opt for a cocktail with Tomato juice in it.