The Best Single Malt Scotch iPhone App on the Market – ScotchHunter Review
The Scotch Hunter 2.0 iPhone App has been released and I couldn’t be happier with all of the improvements that they have been able to make. The team over at ScotchHunter.com has had year to pull together all of the feedback and suggestions that people have provided from the original launch of the iphone app back in 2010. With all of the improvements in this new version, you can really tell that they are listening to their users and trying to add features to their app that truly make it something special for single malt scotch enthusiasts like myself.
Let me start off by telling you a little about the company that made this app. ScotchHunter.com is a comprehensive site devoted to finding and tasting the finest single malts. They represent one of the best Single Malt sites online. Providing single malt scotch tasting notes, distillery information, nosing and tasting tips, single malt terms, as well as a detailed listing of their personal favorite single malt whiskys.
Now lets get to my favorite part…the review of their updated iPhone App! Now I’ve tried the other scotch apps on here and all of them lack what Scotch Hunter brings to the table. I just love the interface and the easy to navigate tasting notes. The app allows users to browse the Tasting Notes by ScotchHunter.com, Save your Favorite Scotches, Create a Wish List for use later on, Create your own Tasting Notes from scratch, and even Share those Notes with your friends on the most popular social networks.
Let me quickly point out some of the NEW features that makes this the Best Scotch App in the iTunes App Store:
1.) The ability to add your own pictures to the tasting notes. When creating a new note from scratch you can now take a picture with your iPhone or use an existing one from your library. You can also size and crop this image.
2.) The opportunity create and save quick audio recordings. If you are in a hurry, or just like to hear the sound of your own voice, you can now record audio notes along with your tasting note and play them back later.
3.) Now you can purchase bottles of your favorite scotch right from the app! Find a bottle that you just have to have? No problem, simply click the “Buy Now” button and you will be directed to a page where you can purchase that single malt online right inside the app.
And those points were just a small taste of all of the great new updates within the new ScotchHunter iPhone App. I haven’t even taken time to mention the improved random spinner wheels, new search features, extra large images, and all of the other additions that can be found now within the app!
The ScotchHunter iPhone App is your #1 guide to Single Malt Scotch. If you are a scotch drinker or thinking about becoming one, this app is well worth the money. I hope that you download the ScotchHunter iPhone App and enjoy your next single malt scotch with the knowledge and information that can only be found from the members of ScotchHunter.com
For more information on this iPhone App for single malt scotch, you can visit the Official Scotch Hunter iPhone press release page.
John is an avid collector of Scotch whiskey and is an Single Malt fanatic. Here he talks about his collection and his hobby, tracing the origins of the Mystery Malt.
I am not pretending to be an authority with 40 years knowledge of the whisky business but I do remember in my younger days enjoying from time to time a malt whisky. I also new by choice I’d ask for a malt, though never quite sure why.
I’ll try and provide a simplistic view of what and why a malt whisky is a fine whisky and with Scotland having in the order of 140 distilleries producing one or more whiskies then I must confess I tend to think of a malt as fine Scotch whisky.
Generally speaking people mean a single malt whisky when they refer to a malt whisky and this is because the malt whiskies are distilled in distilleries which usually only produce one whisky. It is possible to have more than one brand of whisky from a distillery and this can be attributable to a number of factors. For example a distillery may have a single malt whisky which is a mere 10 years old and then another brand name which is matured for a full 20 years. Similarly the unique flavour of a fine whisky is as much about how the whisky is matured and stored and specifically the history of the casks that are used. The Benriach distillery, for example, produces several brands and they are a mix of age and the casks that have been used. Benriach specifically refer to whisky being matured in originally American oak casks and then finished either in casks having been used for storing sherry, port or dark rum. In all these cases the actual distillation process may have been the same but how the fine whisky is stored and for how long are the key factors to the product which is eventually consumed and enjoyed.
The ingredients of a fine malt whisky.
Almost all malt whiskies and made by malting barley gain (though rye grain can be used). The barley, yeast and water are the only ingredients used in the production of single malt whisky.
In the first instance the barley used is malted, which means, it is soaked in water for a few days. This malting or soaking process is the start of the germination process which leads to the natural starch being converted to a fermentable sugar. This process is then stopped and the malted barley is dried. Eventually the dried and germinated malted barley can now be ground or milled to produce something which the industry calls a grist. From here the grist is combined with hot water to remove the sugary liquid which is called a wort. This wort will now have the yeast added. This where the first alcohol is produced and anyone familiar with brewing beer will recognise this process as both are very similar until this stage.
The next stage is where beer making (brewing) and whisky making (distilling) differ because the wort liquid is then distilled which means it is heated to boiling point such that the alcohol boils away but is captured on the cooler condensing surfaces and the alcohol is collected. This distillation initial process produces a relatively low alcohol strength liquid so the process is repeated (and sometimes a third time) until such time as a liquid is produced which is typically two thirds alcohol by volume.
These are the initial processes of making a scotch single malt whisky. Note it is not a scotch whisky for another year or two yet!
Fine Scotch Whisky or from the original translations the “Water of Life” has been enjoyed and consumed by millions over many years.
Glengoyne Distillery – 200 year old single malt whisky
Glengoyne Distillery is renowned as the most attractive distillery in Scotland. Located in close proximity to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, this beautiful distillery lies on the picturesque A81 and is a mere 15 miles north of Glasgow.
Glengoyne Distillery is well known for manufacturing an exceptional single malt scotch whisky for a period of more than 200 years. The name of the distillery has derived from Glen Guin or in other words Glen of the Wild Geese. Occupying a peaceful location, the distillery lies close to a small beautiful river that flows to Loch Lomond.
This unique and fascinating Scotch whisky manufacturing base is set amidst a wooded valley towards the southern Highlands of Scotland. The buildings that house the distillery are exceptionally smart with whitewashed walls. It is similarised to a white Jewel set beneath the beautiful Campsie Hills by the entrance to the Highlands.
This world famous distillery offers its visitors various types of factory tours that suit any type of budget. For instance, the Glengoyne Tour welcomes the visitor with a shot of the 10 year old Highland Single Malt Whisky. This informative and exciting guided tour also includes a brief video presentation and ends at the Slainte Mhath Shop.
The Wee Tasting Tour includes the Glengoyne Tour along with the chance to taste the 17 year old award winning Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky. One of the most amazing tours at the Glengoyne Distillery is the Tasting Tour that starts off with a welcome dram of the 10 year and 12 year old Highland Single Malt Whisky. It also features an informative yet brief video presentation and an interesting guided tour around the distillery.
Other exciting tours include Cask Tasting Tour, Master Blender Session where visitors will get the chance to churn out their very own blended whisky. All this and more can be enjoyed and experienced at the world renowned Glengoyne Distillery. Visitors can easily plan their stay at a nearby Glasgow Hotel such as Millennium Hotel Glasgow and further explore this fascinating world class whiskey manufacturing base.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
