"Color Can Be Deceiving."

#GDS Rule No. 104:

"Colors can be deceiving."

A great #whisky, like great #gentlemen, are judge by their character. As any crackerjack will tell you there are several arenas in judgement of a #whiskey's character.

The Nose-

Notes of fruit, spices and smokey peat, these are just some of the complex scents that give each whisky its own personality.

The Pallet-

Vanilla, dried fruit, pepper and more, the art of crafting a unique taste for every #bottle is a true art that sets each apart.

The Color-

Created by the intense relationship between the #spirit and the wood of the #cask itself. The deep and rich pigmentation of every bottle, golds and amber's, give defined character to the whisky's appearance.

But looks can be deceiving.

While traditionally the color imbued to a whisky comes out of the aging process, time shared with the specific wood type and treatment of the cask, you may be shocked to learn that most brand name #distilleries are cheating when it comes to color.

Caramel has been used for quite some time now to give consistent color to your favorite mainstream whiskeys. Yes, that beautiful deep amber of your favorite whisky is just a result of a great marketing maneuver, meant to keep confidence in the consumers image of the product.

The truth is that the slightest of conditions in a whisky's aging process will have effect not only on its over all color, but it's flavor and scents as well. Climate change, no two seasons alike. Source of barrel, every tree unique, these factors and more will always give varied results in any single cask.

For this reason distilleries blend casks ( even single malts, see #GDS Rule No. 103) to produce the consistent and anticipated flavor, using a master blender to match taste and blend until the recipe is just right, a true art in itself. At last caramel is added, to give that color you expect to find in your favorite brand spirit. All because the majority of consumers are unenlightened in the field of whisky and may lose confidence without consistency.

But don't be discouraged. True representation can still be found. The recent boom in #MicroDistilleries and #SingleBatch productions still allow for one to behold the natural beauty imbued to a whisky during it's maturation. These distillers, hand craft each bottle, every batch giving something new for you the consumer to experience.

If you are looking to learn and discover the rich history of whisky making, these are the guys you want to visit. They are almost always true #gentlemen and you don't have to go to Scotland to find them. Most micro distilleries are right in your own backyard.

Follow us on Twitter & Facebook, and subscribe at www.thegentlemansdrinkingsociety.com to become an official member of the #GDS. Subscribers will receive info on future events, tastings and more.

So go out and educated yourselves men, don't be left imbecilic and in the dark about your favorite drinks because corporate marketers think you don't have the gall to know what they do. Become the gentleman you were meant to be. #Respect.