In addition to crafting menus and training staff, Boston Nightlife Ventures beverage director
Michael Boughton heads up the Scotch Club at Wink & Nod, alongside bar manager Brian Mäntz. Twenty dollars gets you a members-only coin and access to exclusive bottles, special events and talks with brand reps, and there’s even an overseas trip to a distillery in the works. The club’s ranks are currently full, but you can join the wait list—and Boughton gave us a taste in the meantime.
On his top-shelf stuff: “We’re featuring rare bottles in the sense that nobody else has them on the shelf…. There are some really nice Ardbegs that are currently available but not fully showcased, [and] there are some nice Highland Park scotches that are not really seen at many other places. Every single distillery has some form of limited release or special product that’s not really a day-to-day sell for them that we like to take advantage of and have fun with.”
On advice for the novice: “I would recommend something a little lighter [that’s] more approachable. Start off with blended scotches, even well-known names like Johnnie Walker or Chivas. Beyond that, single malts, which are highly coveted of the scotches, are what are used in those blends. It’s nice to take a blended scotch and appreciate that for what it is, and then taste the single malt and deconstruct it to find why it tastes that way.”
On stocking a home bar: “For a good representation of a nice Islay scotch—you know, smokier and peatier-style stuff—I would say Ardbeg. As for Highland, Macallan is always a great pour. [And] If you’re looking for a good blend, Monkey Shoulder is really smooth, really well-rounded.”
Wink & Nod, 3 Appleton St., Boston (617-482-0117) winkandnod.com
Guides to the Good Life
By Improper Staff | Photo Credit: Joe Greene | Nov. 6, 2014
Savor Some Rare Scotch
In addition to crafting menus and training staff, Boston Nightlife Ventures beverage director
Michael Boughton heads up the Scotch Club at Wink & Nod, alongside bar manager Brian Mäntz. Twenty dollars gets you a members-only coin and access to exclusive bottles, special events and talks with brand reps, and there’s even an overseas trip to a distillery in the works. The club’s ranks are currently full, but you can join the wait list—and Boughton gave us a taste in the meantime.
On his top-shelf stuff: “We’re featuring rare bottles in the sense that nobody else has them on the shelf…. There are some really nice Ardbegs that are currently available but not fully showcased, [and] there are some nice Highland Park scotches that are not really seen at many other places. Every single distillery has some form of limited release or special product that’s not really a day-to-day sell for them that we like to take advantage of and have fun with.”
On advice for the novice: “I would recommend something a little lighter [that’s] more approachable. Start off with blended scotches, even well-known names like Johnnie Walker or Chivas. Beyond that, single malts, which are highly coveted of the scotches, are what are used in those blends. It’s nice to take a blended scotch and appreciate that for what it is, and then taste the single malt and deconstruct it to find why it tastes that way.”
On stocking a home bar: “For a good representation of a nice Islay scotch—you know, smokier and peatier-style stuff—I would say Ardbeg. As for Highland, Macallan is always a great pour. [And] If you’re looking for a good blend, Monkey Shoulder is really smooth, really well-rounded.”
Wink & Nod, 3 Appleton St., Boston (617-482-0117) winkandnod.com
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