Whisky has shared a rather long and complicated history. From something once being banned in the United States to becoming something considered a status symbol, there’s a lot that this dark brown drink has gone through.
However, despite its highly complex history, many parts turn out to be very interesting. One perfect example would be how whisky became a staple for English royalty during the Victorian era. While many would easily think that a drink like wine would be more suitable for royalty, there was also a time when whisky shared the same status.
Because the Victorian elite loved whisky so much, this helped whisky gain more popularity. Consequently, more and more people also decided to give whisky a shot. This then prompted distillers to further work on their craft and help make those whiskies extra special. From including more fruity notes to adding a touch of sweetness, distillers began to make whiskies that were known to be characteristically Victorian.
While it’s centuries past the Victorian era, whisky has stood the test of time. Distillers continued to hone their craft and improve on their whiskies, giving people the drink they know today. However, despite the blends of today, one might still wonder what the whiskies of the olden times would taste like. Fortunately, you don’t need to travel back in time for a taste. With Victoriana Whisky at Glen Scotia available at present, you can still get a taste of what could have been the drinks of royalty from centuries ago.
Throwing It Back
You might be wondering how to get a taste of the Victorian era whisky at a time like now. Considering that that era was centuries ago, it seems impossible to get a taste of that in the 21st century. So unless, of course, you decide to travel back in time, there doesn’t seem to be another way to do it. Or is there?
While you can’t travel back in time, there’s a lot that history can teach people. For example, you can look back at historical accounts of distillers that go as far back as Victorian England. You can learn more about how they made those extra special batches of whisky.
Then, there are also the recipes passed down from generations. Remember, many distillers from the 19th century are still present today. So, it would make perfect sense that the recipes used centuries ago would still be accessible by these distillers. After all, they did improve on those same recipes.
What To Expect From It
So, with all that in mind, just what would you expect from a Victorian-esque whisky? Well, there are three factors to pay attention to. Those would be the aroma, taste, and finish.
Aroma
While it might seem relatively straightforward, there’s a lot more to the aroma than just the smell. For example, if you just take a whiff of any whisky, you might just say it smells like alcohol. However, when you focus more on aroma, you start to notice subtle characteristics and hints of what the whisky will taste like.
In terms of a Victorian-esque whisky, you’ll typically get the prominent smell of oak due to where this liquor was aged. But, aside from that, some whiskies of this era would also have some sweet notes, almost as if there was a hint of caramel, and fruity notes as well.
Taste
Now comes the next important characteristic: taste. Obviously, it will taste like whisky. However, some unique characteristics help make up that Victorian whisky taste.
In this case, it starts with some sweetness accompanied by the fruitiness of berries. After the sweet onset, you get the full flavor of the whiskey. The charred oaky taste can typically accompany this.
Finish
After the taste of the whisky comes the finish. When you talk about the finish, you talk about the taste that lingers in your mouth after swallowing your drink. Think of it as an aftertaste, but one that is nuanced and more welcome.
With a Victorian-esque wine, you get a clean finish–meaning that the taste doesn’t linger for too long. However, before the taste goes away, you can tend to get a taste of what would almost seem like chocolate. This helps sustain that sweet taste felt throughout the entire drinking process.
Conclusion
While it could be said that the history of whisky is somewhat complicated, it’s equally interesting too. Many notable and fascinating things involved whisky throughout history. For example, its rise in popularity during the Victorian era helped bring about rather interesting premium whiskies!
Fortunately, while the Victorian era has long gone, there are still ways to get a taste of what could be a rather exciting whisky blend. With distilleries still preserving these recipes and bringing them back to life, one could still experience a Victorian-esque whisky. All you need to do is look for a distillery that offers exactly this! Then, you’ll get to experience a taste of Victorian England for yourself!
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