Sunday Solitude with Scotch

​One of the best ways to clear the mind on a Sunday for the week ahead is a seat at the bar with a couple of glasses of Scotch and a notebook, serenaded by Billie Holiday’s “In My Solitude.”
 
I have partially abandoned my New Year’s Resolution. I will drink 33 new whiskies, but I have taken away the time restriction (of one month) since it can be hard to find things I haven’t tried. Lately, I have sent the bartender at Jake Walk climbing on counters to search through shelves of dusty bottles in pursuit of the less common titles from the Scotch list.
 
This time it was Glenfarclas 10-year and Edradour 11-year. Both bottles had charming pen and ink drawings of distilleries, so I felt all cozy just looking at them. 

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Glenfarclas
What I knew: 10 years old, single malt from the Highlands, Speyside style, 80 proof
What I discovered: It smelled of light fruit and no smoke. The whisky was smooth and lingered on my tongue.  It was soft and comforting – it made me think of lightly falling snow that fades away as it hits the ground.
 
As compared to: 

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​Edradour
What I knew: 11 years old, Highland single malt, 92 proof
What I discovered: The smell was not smoky or sweet. It was nutty and malty. It had more a bite to it than the Glenfarclas – a little spicy and more wood. This one was heavier, falling on the tongue with a dull thud. The taste softened with a little water and – like most whiskies and people – it was more approachable the more I spent time with it. If I was speed dating my whisky, I think I would be fine after one drink with this one – but the Glenfarclas pulls me back to it.

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