Discovering the joys of scotch at Fredericton's Highland Games

Who would've thought you could re-create heaven with three ingredients; water, yeast and barley.

Frank Scott says you can experience a little taste of heaven at Fredericton's gathering of the Scots, the Highland Games, at a scotch whisky tasting workshop.

Scott, the owner operator of the Lunar Rogue, is curating the workshop. He's been doing so for at least 20 years, and said his love of scotch keeps him coming back.

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"I love to educate people about, and share, my passion," said Scott.

"We have a selection of six whiskies and they're all different aromas and tastes. It's a really fun experience."

Love of scotch

Scott has long been a lover of the strong amber liquid, and almost if by providence, it was another Scottish favourite that introduced him to scotch.

"I used to play in the pipe band. We would go to Scotland to compete, and I think that I really started discovering whisky when I was in Scotland with the pipe band back in the seventiesand eighties," said Scott.

Scotch drinkers are known to be fiercely loyal to their own way of drinking it. Whether neat, on the rocks or with a splash of water. inevitably however you drink, there will be one scotch lover to warn you what you're doing wrong.

That's not Scott's philosophy.

"[It's] subjective. What you like is what you like. I recommend if you like it on the rocks, you drink it on the rocks," said Scott.

Appreciation in the smell

One of the major aspects of appreciating scotch is identifying the aromas that the whisky holds.

"My analogy would be [it's] like peeling an onion, there's different layers," said Scott.

"You can sometimes identify up to 30 different aromas in a whisky."

Like all consumers, scotch drinkers may stick to one brand of whisky. Scott doesn't have this hang up, and has at least 30 bottles of open scotch at his home.

"I have breakfast one's, lunch one's, evening one's. I tend to try peaty smokey whiskies in the evening, after dinner. Lighter ones maybe in the afternoon, or before dinner," said Scott.

Wee dram

The Highland Games are a celebration of all things Scottish, from culture, to sport to cuisine. This makes it the perfect place to partake in a wee dram.

"It's Scotland's spirit, and the spirit of Scotland," said Scott.

The tasting workshop will take place Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Old Government House. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on site.

Shift - NB11:47Whisky tasting at Highland Games

Frank Scott of the Lunar Rogue shares a few whisky tips before his popular workshop at this weekend's New Brunswick Highland Games.