By Kim Jae-heun
Single-malt Scotch whiskey is a big trend in Itaewon, at places like Baron of Glam and Monkey Shoulder.
Bar captain Kim Sun-kyung, who has been working nearly eight years at Baron and Glam lounge, advises to forget the old style of heavy drinking that both ruins the health and palate for good drinks. Instead, he suggests one best-quality glass of whisky at a nice bar.
"Single Malt is one of the Scotch whiskey that only uses barley," said Kim. "They are distilled at a single distillery in Scotland, using a pot still distillation process.
"Single malts are gaining popularity for their deep and unique flavor like that of Macallan and Glenfiddich, which are two most popular whiskies at the moment," said Kim.
For men, classic Single Malt like "Bitter & Old Fashioned" is recommended. It has Bullet Bourbon's strong whisky odor with a drop of medical herb Angostura that makes the alcohol never sweet.
Drinks for women are served as a whiskey-based cocktail. Baron's best seller is Bourbon whiskey based called "Coke Tail" that is said to served in a real coke bottle with peach flavor liquor.
It is better to try several different types of cocktails than to stick to just one kind. However, like there is an appetizer, main course and the dessert, certain cocktails are recommended for each drinking levels.
Dry and neat cocktails should pull up the appetite to the utmost before trying fruity or sweet heavy alcohol.
"Cocktail is a drink for five senses," said Kim. "People tend to think they learn the taste by palate, but that is only 30 percent. The rest 70 percent of taste are perceived by the odor and the visual aspects."
Ten minutes walking distance down towards Hannam-dong, Seoul, finds more authentic Single Malt whiskey bar called Monkey Shoulder.
Four bartenders welcome customers by handing a warm-steamed towel with a warm cup of earl grey tea to get ready for a real whiskey time.
Monkey Shoulder's menu classifies whiskies according to the regions in Scotland and they represent place's distinctive flavor.
Chief Bartender Son Tae-beom recommends trying whisky from Speyside or Highland in the first place. Then, the next level is Islay's Single Malt.
"Each regions have different distilled water and they do not guarantee everyone's taste," said Son. "Producing procedures are all different according to the age of the whiskey but older alcohols taste mild.
"Try drinking straight for pure taste, but if it is too strong, drink it ‘On the Rock' style on a glass with one big ice ball. It melts slower but keeps the drink at cold temperature for best taste," said Son.
Single-malt Scotch whiskey is a big trend in Itaewon, at places like Baron of Glam and Monkey Shoulder.
Bar captain Kim Sun-kyung, who has been working nearly eight years at Baron and Glam lounge, advises to forget the old style of heavy drinking that both ruins the health and palate for good drinks. Instead, he suggests one best-quality glass of whisky at a nice bar.
"Single Malt is one of the Scotch whiskey that only uses barley," said Kim. "They are distilled at a single distillery in Scotland, using a pot still distillation process.
"Single malts are gaining popularity for their deep and unique flavor like that of Macallan and Glenfiddich, which are two most popular whiskies at the moment," said Kim.
For men, classic Single Malt like "Bitter & Old Fashioned" is recommended. It has Bullet Bourbon's strong whisky odor with a drop of medical herb Angostura that makes the alcohol never sweet.
.jpg/dims/resize/740/optimize) |
| Bitter & Old Fashioned / Courtesy of Glam Lounge |
Drinks for women are served as a whiskey-based cocktail. Baron's best seller is Bourbon whiskey based called "Coke Tail" that is said to served in a real coke bottle with peach flavor liquor.
It is better to try several different types of cocktails than to stick to just one kind. However, like there is an appetizer, main course and the dessert, certain cocktails are recommended for each drinking levels.
Dry and neat cocktails should pull up the appetite to the utmost before trying fruity or sweet heavy alcohol.
"Cocktail is a drink for five senses," said Kim. "People tend to think they learn the taste by palate, but that is only 30 percent. The rest 70 percent of taste are perceived by the odor and the visual aspects."
Ten minutes walking distance down towards Hannam-dong, Seoul, finds more authentic Single Malt whiskey bar called Monkey Shoulder.
.jpg) |
| Coke Tail |
Four bartenders welcome customers by handing a warm-steamed towel with a warm cup of earl grey tea to get ready for a real whiskey time.
Monkey Shoulder's menu classifies whiskies according to the regions in Scotland and they represent place's distinctive flavor.
Chief Bartender Son Tae-beom recommends trying whisky from Speyside or Highland in the first place. Then, the next level is Islay's Single Malt.
"Each regions have different distilled water and they do not guarantee everyone's taste," said Son. "Producing procedures are all different according to the age of the whiskey but older alcohols taste mild.
"Try drinking straight for pure taste, but if it is too strong, drink it ‘On the Rock' style on a glass with one big ice ball. It melts slower but keeps the drink at cold temperature for best taste," said Son.
![[INTERVIEW] Risk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/fb7596db1256425b9ccd448392d51be8.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[VIDEO] Bustling Chuseok: Namsan Hanok Village immerses visitors in Korea's rich traditions](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/3810ec90e75b4ce7ae8657f4cabacd6e.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] ROK-US alliance is win-win partnership: KUSAF chief](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/278f7bca54f944b9a569bd074327669b.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/5e1f02ba859b44428a31a10c6ec2a2ea.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/83a5770de8d8420da3634fb8b78266c1.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
