The alcohol content, characteristics and flavors of whiskey can be affected by factors such as age, humidity and weather conditions in the aging warehouse. Despite the belief that older whiskey is always better, snobbery should be avoided when choosing whiskey.
The ageing process of whiskey is dependent on factors such as humidity and temperature, with higher temperatures leading to faster ageing, while cooler and wetter conditions lead to slower ageing that takes more time to develop the patina that comes with age. The age of whiskey does not necessarily guarantee its quality, as different types of whiskey age at different rates depending on the environment they are stored in.
The American rye whiskey has stronger characteristics and flavors compared to Japanese whiskey without being too overpowering. The speaker expresses annoyance with the snobbery surrounding whiskey tasting but finds the 75 alcohol content perfect.
The Islander is a rich and powerful malt whiskey made by Ardbeg, with a 54.2% alcohol content, very smoky and perfumed.