CSI: Scotland MARK GILLESPIE By

You’ve been given a mystery to solve, and your future hangs in the balance. Your task: find a single malt Scotch that will impress someone important (boss, potential father-in-law, etc.). However, this important person usually drinks blended Scotches, such as Johnnie Walker Black Label.

What’s the difference? Single malts are made from 100 percent malted barley at a single distillery, while blended Scotches may use malts from dozens of

JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL

distilleries as well as “grain whisky,” which can be made from corn, wheat, barley or other grains.

Blenders select malts based on a secret recipe that calls for a specific flavor profile, and their choice of distilleries can vary widely based on available blending stocks. However, almost every premium blended Scotch has a “fingerprint” malt that provides key flavors that a blender is looking for. Find the “fingerprint” in your favorite blend, and you’ve found the key to impressing that VIP.