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Scotch Tasting
Descriptors
The following are Scotch Single Malt Whisky
"tasting descriptors" compiled over the last few
years. I am continually looking for additional adjectives
that may help the Scotch single malt enthusiast identify the
various constituents that he/she may be sensing in this complex
spirit. A perfumery in Paris, France once identified
twenty-eight different aromas in one Scotch single malt. Many
of these individual descriptors are obviously a combination
of several of the thirty-two known basic individual aromas.
There are many other aromas that are not on this list. Please
inform me of any that you think should be added.
| Color |
| Amber, Dark |
Gold |
Gold, Greeny |
Mahogany-Like |
Wine, White |
| Amber, Light |
Gold, Bright |
Gold, Light |
Pale, Very |
Yellow, Pale |
| Amber, Medium |
Gold, Dark |
Gold, Reddish |
Pale Straw |
|
| Bronze |
Gold, Full |
Golden Brown |
Reddish-Brown |
|
| Nose |
| Almonds |
Dates |
Incense |
Peat |
Shortbread |
| Aniseed |
Deep |
Iodine |
Pepper |
Slatey |
| Apples |
Diesel Oil |
Lavender |
Pepper, Sweet |
Smoky |
| Apricots |
Dry |
Leather |
Perfumy |
Soap |
| Assertive |
Emphatic |
Linen |
Phenolic |
Solvents |
| Beeswax |
Estery |
Linseed |
Pine |
Sour |
| Bones, Ground |
Eucalyptus |
Malty |
Pineapple |
Spice |
| Brine |
Figs |
Medicinal |
Plums |
Spirity |
| Burning |
Fireworks, Spent |
Mint |
Powerful |
Sulphur |
| Candles, Scented |
Fruit |
Molasses |
Pungent |
Sweet |
| Carnations |
Fruitcake |
Mossy |
Resinous |
Tar |
| Cedar |
Fudge |
Musty |
Roses |
Thyme |
| Cereal Grain |
Ginger |
Nectarine |
Rubber |
Tropical Fruit |
| Citrus |
Grass |
Oak |
Rum |
Turpentine |
| Clean |
Grass, Cut |
Oily |
Sandalwood |
Waxy |
| Complex |
Hay |
Orange |
Scorched |
Wine |
| Cream |
Hay, New Mown |
Orange-Honey |
Sea Air |
Zesty |
| Creosote |
Heather |
Oriental |
Seaweed |
|
| Currant |
Hemp Rope |
Paraffin |
Sharp |
|
| Custard Pudding |
Honey |
Pear |
Sherry |
|
| Palate |
| Abrasive |
Cherries |
Fruit |
Nutmeg |
Seaweed |
| Alive |
Chocolate |
Full |
Nutty |
Silage |
| Aniseed |
Cinnamon |
Gentle |
Oily |
Slow-Developing |
| Assertive |
Citrus |
Grass |
Olive |
Spicy |
| Balanced |
Clean |
Hazelnut |
Orange |
Sweet |
| Bamboo Shoots |
Clinging |
Herbs |
Peaches |
Syrupy |
| Bananas |
Clover |
Incohesive |
Pear |
Tangerine |
| Barley |
Cloves |
Intense |
Peat |
Tangy |
| Barley Sugar |
Coconut |
Iron |
Peppery |
Tart |
| Berries |
Complex |
Leafy |
Powerful |
Thin |
| Biscuits |
Cookie-Like |
Licorice |
Pungent |
Toffee |
| Bitter |
Currant |
Long |
Quinine |
Unobtrusive |
| Bland |
Delicate |
Malty |
Raisins |
Vanilla |
| Brambles |
Earthy |
Marshmallows |
Raspberries |
Walnuts |
| Butterscotch |
Elder Flower |
Marzipan |
Refreshing |
Weak |
| Buttery |
Expressive |
Mean |
Rich |
Well-Balanced |
| Caramel |
Fino Sherry |
Melon |
Rooty |
Woody |
| Caressing |
Fishy |
Mint |
Round |
Zesty |
| Cedar |
Flowery |
Moody |
Salty |
|
| Cereal Grains |
Fresh |
Mustard |
Sappy |
|
| Body |
| Big |
Fleshy |
Mouth-Coating |
Silky |
Texture, Light |
| Crisp |
Full |
Oak |
Smooth |
Texture, Medium |
|
Dry
|
Light |
Oily |
Soft |
Velvet |
| Firm |
Medium |
Round |
Texture, Heavy |
Viscose |
| Finish |
Length of Finish |
| Abrupt |
Drying |
Oily |
Short |
1 minute |
| Anchovies |
Emphatic |
Olive |
Smooth |
1:15 |
| Appetizing |
Expressive |
Orange Zest |
Soft |
1:30 |
| Aromatic |
Firm |
Peaty |
Soothing |
1:45 |
| Astringent |
Fruit, Fruity |
Peppery |
Sweet |
2:00 |
| Attacking |
Ginger |
Perfumy |
Syrupy |
2:15 |
| Big |
Hefty |
Pleasant |
Tart |
2:30 |
| Biting |
Herbal |
Quick |
Tingling |
2:45 |
| Bitter |
Intense |
Rangy |
Vanilla |
3:00 |
| Cedar |
Iodine |
Relaxing |
Violets |
3:15 |
| Chewy |
Lingering |
Restrained |
Warm |
3:30 |
| Cigar-Box |
Lively |
Robust |
Well-Defined |
3:45 |
| Clean |
Long |
Rootiness |
|
4:00 |
| Cloves |
Malty |
Round |
|
4:15 |
| Crescendo-Like |
Mustard |
Salty |
|
4:30 |
| Crisp |
Oaky |
Sappy |
|
4:45 |
| Delicate |
Oatmeal |
Savory |
|
5:00 |
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