Lagavulin

Admiring the bottle of Scotch that Gina brought me as a homecoming gift I am reminded of a bit of gospel from Matthew, chapter 11:18-19:

ηλθεν γαρ ιωαννης μητε εσθιων μητε πινων και λεγουσιν δαιμονιον εχει ηλθεν ο υιος του ανθρωπου εσθιων και πινων και λεγουσιν ιδου ανθρωπος φαγος και οινοποτης τελωνων φιλος και αμαρτωλων

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. (KJV)

Another translation

John came fasting and they called him crazy. I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riffraff. (The Message)

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Being an occasional sipper, a bottle of Scotch may last me years, but if I’m having a drop I like a drop of Scotch. One finger, in a clear cut crystal glass so I can enjoy the color, neat; or with one cube of ice, depending on the Scotch. Glenfiddich needs a cube. Glenmorangie needs a drop of water.

At an HNEC Supper Club gathering years ago, Ed Lockard introduced me to Islay single malt Scotch, and that has been my niche ever since! Islay is an island off the west coast of mainland Scotland, north of Ireland, with Scotch whisky distilleries that are literally washed by the sea. Islay single malts, especially those from the south of the island, are distinctive for their deep, rich, peaty, heavy smoke, briny, iodine essence. There are about ten distilleries on Islay, and my collection includes a few of them. I have a Laphraoig, which is almost sharp and needs one ice cube; an Ardbeg, which until yesterday was my favorite; a Bowmore; and now a Lagavulin. Gina brought me the Lagavulin 16 for welcome home when we returned from Cleveland. I can’t have wine, etc until April, but thinking about how the Lagavulin would taste, I uncorked the bottle and had a single tablespoon Thursday afternoon. I may have another teaspoon today for medicinal purposes. Superlative, and it is now my favorite Scotch. Doesn’t need water, just a clean glass. Well, I don’t mean to be too picky, but maybe at least a glass without lipstick.

I keep my Islay collection upstairs, they are not generally out, but if you come and ask for Scotch, I’ll share!

In Matthew’s quotation, Jesus certainly does not describe himself as a teetotaler. He says people call him a drunkard and a glutton. He sounds like a man who enjoys life and a drink and a good dinner. I like to think he would enjoy a drop of my Islay single malt. I'd give him a bit of my Lagavulin and shredded lettuce salad with crumbled Stilton. Lamb chops, baked potato, and a glass of Australian shiraz.

One more:

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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