photo by Robert Hall

First Friday Scotch Sipping at Six at 7,600 Feet in Wyoming’s Wind River Range.

Atlantic City, Wyo., – Miner’s Delight Inn Bed and Breakfast hosted its 54th consecutive Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six in December 2012. The Saturday tastings have become so popular with Wyoming and out-of-state residents that Barbara and Bob Townsend will add another monthly event beginning the First Friday of Feburary 2013. “Many folks have told us their schedules don’t allow them to attend our Saturday tastings so we’ll add the First Friday event in an attempt to meet folks’ desire to explore single malt Scotch whisky,” Bob said.

A Wyoming Liquor Division official confirmed in December 2012 that the Townsends’ Two-bit Cowboy Saloon offers the most extensive selection of single malt Scotch whisky in the state. Their current stock includes 85 single malts from more than 50 different Scottish distilleries. About 70 percent are limited edition whiskies, and 16 expressions come from single casks, where each individual cask only produced between 186 and 576 bottles of whisky for the world market, according to Townsend.

Single malt Scotch whisky is the product of one distillery in Scotland. By Scottish law the spirit must mature for three years in oak casks to be called Scotch Whisky. Scotland’s distilleries suggest Scotch should be shared among friends so grab your friends and plan to attend First Friday and Second Saturday single malt Scotch tastings at Miner’s Delight Inn Bed & Breakfast.

Whether you’re a single malt connoisseur or a novice, here’s the chance for your palate to explore the myriad flavors found in the vast array of malted Scotch whiskies: spices, floral notes, nuttiness, dark dried fruit, fresh orchard fruit, salty sea air, pungent peat smoke. “Some folks think all Scotch whisky reeks of smoke, but that’s not so,” Townsend said. “Many of our whiskies offer light, delicate, non-smoky flavors that surprise even well-initiated single malt drinkers.”

You will get five wee drams (one half ounce each) of single malt Scotch and light, palate-cleansing hors d’oeuvres at the tastings. Maps, books, pamphlets, and distillery information will be on hand. You’ll get a “tasting notes” card to record your impressions. Your hosts, both ab initio single malt Scotch connoisseurs, will lead you on epic trips to taste uisage beatha (OOSH-ki baah), Scots Gaelic for the “water of life.”

The Townsends will also schedule tastings for your private party, company event, or fund raiser. They will provide the service in the inn or at a Wyoming venue of your choice. To contact Barbara and Bob to plan your single malt Scotch tasting visit the inn’s Web site, http://www.minersdelightinn.com.