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National Scotch Day

Drink · July 27

A day for Scotch whisky, the malt and grain spirit of Scotland, and the many flavors it takes on, from honeyed and light to smoky and sharp.

National Scotch Day falls on Tuesday, July 27, 2027. That is 273 days away.

Scotch is whisky made in Scotland. Most of it begins as malted barley, water and yeast, and it spends at least three years resting in oak casks before anyone is allowed to call it Scotch. On the label it is spelled whisky, with no e.

The range is wider than many people expect. Some bottles taste of honey, vanilla and dried fruit, picked up from the casks they slept in. Others smell like a beach bonfire, because the malted barley was dried over burning peat. The island of Islay is well known for that smoky style. A single malt comes from one distillery using malted barley, while a blend mixes malt and grain whiskies into something steadier and often softer.

People who enjoy Scotch tend to slow down with it. They pour a small measure into a tulip shaped glass, look at the color, and smell it before tasting. A few drops of water can open up the aroma, which is why some drinkers keep a little jug or a straw nearby. Others prefer it over ice, or mixed into a highball with soda water. There is no single correct way, though you may meet people with firm opinions on the subject.

The day also suits those who would rather not drink at all. Distillery maps, the history of cask making and the strange vocabulary of tasting notes (heather, brine, old leather) are interesting on their own.

A bottle of Scotch stops aging once it leaves the cask, so a whisky bottled at twelve years old stays twelve on the shelf.

Ways to celebrate

• Try a small side by side tasting of a smoky and a non smoky Scotch.
• Add a few drops of water to a dram and notice how the aroma changes.
• Look at a map of Scotland's whisky regions and read about one.
• Share a favorite tasting note or bottle with a friend.

Dates

Categories: Drink days