The Single Malt Scotch Episode

The Single Malt Scotch Episode – Episode #509

July 25, 2008

WordPress creator Matt Mullenweg visits and Gary Vaynerchuk delivers the Scotch Episode he’s been saving for just this occasion.

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Comments on this episode(261) Leave a comment ›

“Lagavulin 16year! Smoke Bomb, but smooth best smokeyness.

I love …” by Weston
“We need more Scotch Library TV!…” by AT
View all 261 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

Balvenie 17yr Sherry Cask
Talisker 175th Anniversary
Laphroaig Malt 86 10yr

Links mentioned in todays episode.

261 Responses

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June 17, 2009

Weston
Lagavulin 16year! Smoke Bomb, but smooth best smokeyness.

I love Talisker made me go and grab glass (havn’t had in like a long time) really good
March 5, 2009

AT
We need more Scotch Library TV!
January 17, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
*buy a drink….. *sigh* Stupid fingers!
January 17, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Great show! Awesome guest and great interaction. Ive been interested in scotch and I think the next time Im out on the town I might but a drink….maybe a bottle somewhere down the line. Thank you for opening up new doors for us once again! QOTD: Im only going to say yes because it would be horrible for the economy to lose all those jobs. I personally hate Apple and refuse to use their products. I dont like how they run their products and I absolutely HATE their commercials. They make Macs look like trendy crap and youre an idiot if you dont buy it. That right there = no sale for me.
December 29, 2008

nnothing
Awesome a Scotch episode…. about a month ago I went to a tasting with a rep from The Glenlivet and it was really cool. I got to taste the whole line of Glenlivet single malts and spent like 2 hours talking to the guy and asking all kinds of random questions. But anyway the main point was that rocks are always a bad idea for scotch because the cold closes down the flavor profile just like with beer or wine. Distilled room temperature water is preferred with only like 10%-20% of the volume of the Scotch, which he said opened up the flavor and after trying all of the Scotches without and then with water there was definitely a big difference especially in the cask strength which is of undetermined variable higher alcohol levels because it isn’t regulated down with water like regular strength and also isn’t filtered and a splash of water makes a HUGE difference. Also the swirling was good for the sniffy sniff to get more of the scent into the air in the glass. My favorites from the tasting were the 15 y/o french oak which has 30% stored in new french oak for 3 years before being transferred back to bourbon barrels… I thought it was awesome especially at about $50. The Nadurra which is their cask strength was very good too. I also really like the balvenie portwood.

QOTD: umm they kinda sucked when he left for a while in the 90s so nope they’ll crash when he retires… btw ipod sucks creative zen rocks it for half the price
November 20, 2008

Pallavi
I would be very interested to see many more Scotch tasting episodes. There are way too many wines out there for me to stay monogamist, but with Scotch – I can say, “this is what I fancy” and not feel – I am missing out! Unlike wine, with Scotch I can be very satisfied sticking to what I like.

Try Glenmorangie [Port Wood Finish, Sherry Wood Finish and my favorite Nectar d’Or] and Macallan next time.

Lagavulin, Oban, Caol Ila are great if peat is your thing, if not, stick with the Macallan and the Dalwhinnies…
November 15, 2008

Doug
Whenever I raise a glass in someone’s honour, I raise nothing less than a glass of 30 year Glenfiddich.
August 29, 2008

Rohit
Get some Bruichladdich in the mix next time. It consistently rocks my world.
August 27, 2008

yowens
I’m bettin scotch is huge among wine lovers given the ability to analysze flavors and noses just like wine. Sweet show. I know nothing about Apple other than their stuff looks cool.
August 25, 2008

CBone
Great show! I love Highland Park, and Caul Ila (I think this is how it is spelled. Very smokey and peaty. Yum.

QOTD: I can’t get too excited about international corporations.
August 22, 2008

Marshall
Rad show. Please do more with whisky
August 15, 2008

Pardus
QOTD: I remember what happened to Apple the first time Jobs left. Anyone remember the Newton? It was revolutionary it had handwriting recognition and was a complete rethinking of the personal computer all the way back in 1993. It should have been the a huge hit, but John Sculley couldn’t make it happened. Matter of fact until Jobs agreed to come back, it did not look like there would be an Apple Computers much longer.
August 12, 2008

Sharon
Hey, good episode. No spitting from GV of the single-malt Scotch, interesting. Both yer cheeks are starting to look a bit *rosy*. I’ve enjoyed a flight of single-malt scotches up at the Scottish Lion Inn in NH. I’m also half Scottish and my name starts with MAC. My ‘clan’ started in 1039 or something. I can’t stand wrestling but Randy Savage was pretty frickin’ funny.
QOTD: I’m sure Jobs will hand-pick an acolyte when he retires so there will be no probs.
August 11, 2008

Louis Simoneau
Dried apricot is right on the money. I had the tail-end of the flavour on my palate when you said that, and you nailed it.
August 8, 2008

Jeff
Wow. This episode was seriously great! We need more Scotch episodes.. or else!
August 6, 2008

Byzandula
+1 to the bourbon show comment. I’d definitely be interested in seeing a few of the heavy hitters up against one another. Perhaps a blind tasting?
August 6, 2008

g4vinho
I think the reason Gary didn’t like the Balvenie as much with the water is that you added far too much. I usually use a pipette to add water (when it wants it) to control how much I add (a few drops is usually right). As for adding twice as much water as there is whisky…not sure WHERE your guest got that!!!

Best approach is to add a drop (from a pipette) at a time – tasting each time – until it tastes how you like it. It should taste more or less as it does with no water but just a little more open.
August 5, 2008

John
I think Matt should have rocked the FIGHT CLUB Tee via za vie the cover to Linux Journal.
August 5, 2008

Russ J
Yeah, Sherry, from Portugal….yeah. You were drinking before the show!
August 5, 2008

GR8wine
OMG!!
I was way into single malt scotch before I got seriously into wine. I could talk to you hours about it but will keep it short here. Talisker is indeed awesome and provides a fantastic balance of the honey and wine overtones of the highland scotches with the peaty/smokey flavors of the Islays. If you like the Talisker you might like Oban too. The Laphroaig is great too but if you like the peaty Islay scotches, the Lagavulin is supreme. Also, more aged versions of Laphroaig, like the 15 and 25 year olds are more refined and smoother with yet more concentration.
Enough said – I’m a fan of your single malt scotch episodes.
August 4, 2008

Harry
GV – I’m curious that your fear of the oak monster didn’t translate into your scotch preferences. I recently met with Marko Karakasevic of Charbay, who with his father has been making some really interesting spirits up on Spring Mountain in Napa. Marko loves distilling, and getting the cleanest consecrations of flavors from his base into his spirits – and he is vocal about minimalizing the oak to let the natural flavors shine through (like you push for in wine). He made this fascinating Whiskey made from Pilsner beer (real beer from a local brewhouse). It was dark, complex, and a touch of a sweet caramel on the finish that reminded me of some other great small batch producers (like Michter’s US*1). If you’re really thinking about featuring liquors more often, I hope you’ll focus on the smaller artisan producers, rather than just another review of the big name spirits out there.

QOTD: Sure, he didn’t invent the ipod or do all the marketing himself – he has a great team of innovative designers. Wall-E ran OS X, don’t forget.
August 4, 2008

*/^_^\*
qotd: who is steve jobs?

LAPHROAIG quarter cask…..srsly
August 4, 2008

ChezJim
Scotch! Outstanding. I glad you tried the water. Most master distillers recommend adding a little water to the single malt to bring out more of the flavors. I loved the show. Nice solid guest, too.

QOTD: Iâ€™m sure Jobs has picked the right management to head the company in the direction he wants it to go. It could get interesting as the years progress and he gets farther and farther away.
August 3, 2008

david h.
Interesting show. I’ve never actually had a single malt scotch and probably won’t for some time. I’m not into whiskey and single malts are a little too expensive for me. I think it would be interesting to have shows for other hard liquors. I’d be really interested in a show on Anejo Tequila (which I actually find more drinkable that whiskey).

Being from Houston myself I’m somewhat disappointed in the lack of enthusiasm that Matt had for the Astros.

QOTD: I don’t think Apple will survive after Steve retires.
August 3, 2008

garfinkel
A scotch and bourbon lover, but have within the past few years, embraced the beauty of fine rums. Would love to see a rum show. Some amazing things happening out there. Wish Wine Library had a better selection, too.