The Great Whisk[e]y Debate - To [e] or not to [e]

I was fortunate enough to take part in an event this Monday called: "The Great Whiskey Debate".

The cocktail hour started at 6:30 PM at the Cabaret Theatre in Pittsburgh's cultural district. On the bar menu was all the whiskeys we would be tasting that night. At 7:00 PM till 8:30 PM was the debate. There was a post reception following the debate with chicken and salmon until 9:00 PM.

The concept of the event was a live debate to determine who has the best whiskey, the Scottish (with their single malt scotches) or the United States (or more particularly, Kentucky's bourbon).

Here is what was tasted:

United States Kentucky Bourbon:

Basil Hayden. A light-bodied bourbon perfectly blended to mix in cocktails, Basil Hayden's contains a higher percentage of rye and barley. The spiciness of the rye marries beautifully with the sweetness of the corn to create a truly distinctive bourbon that offers a gentle bite with a clean finish.

Knob Creek. Knob Creek is aged 9 years to take full advantage of the natural sugars in its charred white oak barrels. This extended aging gives Knob Creek a full-bodied, woody, sweet caramel flavor that finishes long and smooth on the palate.

Scotland's Scotch Single Malt Scotch:

Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Aged in smaller casks that allow the maturing spirit 30% more contact with the wood, the oak influence of Laphroaig Quarter Cask imparts a unique character to the scotch. The result is a creamy, coconut-like nose and wetness upon first taste, but the peaty smoke is still evident while finishing with a creamy, zesty orange flavor.

Ardmore Highland Single Malt. Ardmore is the only Highland malt whiskey to be 100% peated since its creation in 1898. This process enhances the full and rich flavors without overpowering them - allowing a creamy peat tang with slight hints of vanilla and sweet ripe fruit. The winner seemed to be the home team (bourbon) but the judge called it a tie because...there is no bad whiskey!