When it comes to the poison of choice, there are two main considerations. The first is how it tastes, and the second is how it feels. All alcohol, in theory, should have about the same effect, but the reality is that different types of liquor produce noticeably different types of feeling when you drink them. Some drinks have a much more complex and sublime effect than others- and whisky, without doubt, heads up the pack!

You can find a connoisseur for almost anything, including varieties of alcohol with no flavor anyone other than a connoisseur would claim to appreciate. Whisky, however, is actually worthy of that level of attention, and for reasons that can be both defined and analyzed.

First, the analysis. Chemically speaking, there are about 250 distinct flavors in any whisky, all of them combining to produce the overall effect. The complexity and sophistication of whisky is a result of all those layers of flavor, some of which are naturally occurring compounds derived from the fermentation of grain mash, while others are from the aging process in oak barrels or casks.

Second, there is the subjective account. Whisky has a sublime quality to it. It induces a profound thoughtfulness, an expansive feeling of serenity and contentment that no other drink can match. Of course, that's only if you don't drink too much of it, which can lead to the exact opposite effect, and to potential catastrophes. Whisky has a power for either good or evil, and must always be respected. Remember, it's for sipping!