Pipes and Highland Park 15 Scotch
2009
With is getting cooler outside I thought this might be a good opportunity to review my favorite beverage while pipe smoking, a fine scotch. There are few things greater in this life than sitting with friends over a great pipe, and a fine dram of scotch. I believe the strong flavors of both the pipe and the scotch complement each other perfectly. Recently I picked up a bottle of Highland Park 15 and I must say it is great. It has a beautiful medium amber color that begs to be admired. And upon opening the bottle, the 15 has a wonderful carmel/toffee aroma, with a light smoky nose. The taste is a silky full-bodied toffee and spice flavors. As the glass gets older (I am having some as I type) the fruit and honey flavors begin to take shape. The 15 finishes with a long peat and a spicy fade. This bottle has an excellent complexity and a depth of flavor, so grab your favorite tobacco, some good friends (this stuff is pricey so they better be real good friends) and a few glasses and you’ll have the makings of a night to remember. What’s your favorite beverage to enjoy with a pipe? Cheers and happy smoking friends.
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Love scotch with a pipe. Current bottle is The Famous Grouse, the only blended scotch that I like. Budgetary constraints preclude any single malt for the nonce, but I like Balvenie, Strathspey and Glenlivet when I can afford ‘em. For a change of pace, Buffalo Creek and Evan Williams bourbon are 2 others I like. Also tawny port goes well with a bowl.
Bob thanks for the comments and for the recommendations.
I have to admit that I’ve never had the change to try Scotch, perhaps because of my culture I never had pause to want to try that particular libation. I do admit that I love a good strong drink with my pipe much like I did with my cigars, I prefer the taste and aroma of whiskey, Jack Daniel’s is great, but I find that Makers Mark has that great aroma of the oak without being overpowering.
At the risk of sounding overly stereotypical Tequila is also a great companion to a smoke, I prefer the dark amber of Tequilas reposadas, which are tequilas that are aged in oak barrels for anywhere from six months to several years. The age of the tequila give it a much smoother and much more complex taste as supposed to the pale yellow or clear tequilas that are often served in bars as shots.
If you’re ever willing to take the risk I recommend “Tres Generaciones Reposada.”
Also I’ve found that red wine particulary Merlot goes well with the stronger pipe tobaccos. Desert white wine and especially meed goes extraordinary well with the aromatic blends.
Hope that I didn’t ramble anyone into boredom.
Yes, aromatic tobaccos to mellow due to the marrying process as I have experienced that before as well, but it’s not the same as the aging process such as unflavored Virginia tobaccos go through. A good example would be a concoction I threw together consisting of some BAC, BLWAB and some 1-Q about a year ago. Initially, I found it unsmokable. Left it in the tobacco jar for a year and went back to it. It had finally become smokable to the point that I’ll at least finish the pound or so in the jar, but it’s not likely I’ll make that blend again.
As for Peterson blends, I avoid them all as they rain fire down upon my tongue.
Man! You need to check out The Balvenie! My wife got me the 21 for Christmas… Their 12 is comparable to the HP 15 in my opinion.
This is a new brand i never used it, i think i can try it from now.