Five Things to Know about Teacher’s Origin

Five must-knows about the new premium blended Scotch whiskey.  Whether neat, or on the rocks, there’s something about a drink of premium whiskey that oozes class and decadence. Teacher’s brand ambassador and master blender Robert Hicks shares his insights on this intriguing new Scotch whiskey in the local drink scene and why you should be making Teacher’s Origin your new drink of choice.

1. 1.       Teacher’s Origin is considered the “jewel of the Teacher’s lineage”, a premium blended Scotch whiskey that boasts a much higher proportion of the finest single malt whiskies in its blend, resulting in a more traditional, fuller and richer premium blend with subtle hints of peat smoke

   “…with Origin having so much more malt than any standard or premium blended whisky, it means that it has so much more flavour than any other premium blend. We also use the malt and grain whiskies at what we consider to be their best age for being part of a blend.”

   But it’s the production process that gives Teacher’s Origin its more distinct flavour and quality.

   “We use around 35 single malts from all over the mainland of Scotland. This blended malt is then filled into quarter casks that are specially made just for Origin, which allows all the malts to marry together and produce a flavour and quality that’s greater than all the component parts. We do exactly the same for the grain whiskies, blending at least 2 to 3 different grains and then filling into quarter casks. These quarter casks are much smaller than the normal barrels used to mature most of Scotch Whiskies sold, which means that the influence of the oak wood and air become much more pronounced and, not only marry the whiskies better, but adds another dimension of flavour and quality.”

   2. Teacher’s Origin presents a medley of fruity aromas with each sip

   It’s hard to quantify the taste and scent of Teacher’s Origin (“the depth of flavour in Origin makes it hard to select just a few of the multitude of different aromas and tastes,” he says) but if Hicks had to do it, he’d describe it as such:

   At first sniff: “…there is an immediate rich, malty explosion of, sweet pear and red apple aromas on the nose that seems to mask the dryer peaty flavour.” When a drop of water is added, the fragrant, flowery sweet of numerous Speyside and Highland malts is brought out.

   “Apart from the sweet pears and apples, there is a distinct tang of citrus, similar to marmalade that blends into a chewy sultana and dried grape sweetness. There is a unique tang of greengages and just-ripe plums that harmonizes with the slightly dry tartness that comes from the larger oak casks used in its initial maturation.”

   At first taste: “… the mouth [is filled] with an immense fruity sweetness that alternates with the slightly dryer tartness from the oak and then goes back to the sweeter citrus flavours. This fluctuation from sweet to dry carries on for a long, long time but all that time it is enclosed by the unique peat smoke taste from Ardmore that leaves a dusty, liquorice root sweetness on the sides of the tongue.”

3. There isn’t a “correct” way to enjoy a glass of Teacher’s Origin

Hicks is an advocate of “enjoying whisky the way you like to drink it, and not the way someone else tells you”, but of course, he does have his preferred method.

“If you ask me how I enjoy it then it’s in a crystal glass — I’m a bit old fashioned in thinking that whisky always tastes better in a crystal glass — with a little ice and a drop of water. A little ice because I like my whiskies a little cooler than room temperature and a trace of water to bring out all the aromas and flavours.”

4. Teacher’s Origin goes well with lime and coconut for a great cocktail drink

“Jamey Merkel, who’s Beam Asia’s brand educator and mixologist, made one [cocktail recipe] up for Teacher’s Highland Cream that I feel would be great using Origin.”

The new TLC (Teacher’s, Lime and Coconut) 
Glass: Rocks glass
30ml Teacher’s Highland Cream Blended Scotch Whisky
10ml Handmade Vanilla Syrup
50ml Coconut Water
1 Lime quarter
2 Curry Leaf

Squeeze Lime into shaker. Add remaining ingredients and shake. Strain into Rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with curry leaf and lime slice.

5. Teacher’s Origin is now available in Singapore for purchase and enjoyment!

Teacher’s Origin 70cl is available at various F&B establishments around Singapore, and can also be purchased at the Beam Cellar for S$90 (Call +65 6559 1155 for enquiries).