Single Malt and the Great American Pastime

Like many women, the Scotch Chix are avid sports fans. And, while DC Scotch Chick favors football to CA Scotch Chick's preference for hockey, both will seize any opportunity to get down into the action and watch a great professional (or college) game live. So, when CA Scotch Chick received an invitation to view the Padres v. Cubs game from a player's box last evening, she pounced on it. 

CA Scotch Chick has spent many an hour loitering in boxes at ball games during her time as an attorney, and she is well aware that viewing a professional event from a box is overrated. A box experience lacks all of the sights, sounds and smells that make a professional sport so much fun; one is high above the action, so one must often resort to the television to ascertain what is going on; and finally, the emphasis is on schmoozing, when it should be on watching the game. Still, CA Scotch Chick figured she might get a chance to seize a seat and enjoy the action, and that if not, there would be Friars Franks on hand (she has a preference for Fenway Franks – but one takes what one can get). In addition, she thought she might be able to use the opportunity to do a little single malt whisky research.

It soon became apparent that the schmoozing was going to have a serious impact on the viewing, so CA Scotch Chick opted for Plan B. Petco Park does have a variety of hard liquors available by the bottle in its boxes, including Macallan 12. Unfortunately, due to historic fan misbehavior, the only vessel on hand to sample this fine single malt whisky is a plastic cup – a new twist on Scotch Chix Rule #3. CA Scotch Chick decided to forgo this little experience and instead do some exploring. More evidence that a Lady should never set out on an adventure without her Trusty Hip Flask.

She and her host wandered down the hall to the Western Metal Supply Co. building, a gorgeous 1909 structure whose corner doubles as the left field foul line, and which houses the Hall of Fame Bar and Grill. While this fourth floor establishment is ensconced on the elite terrace, it can be accessed from the more grounded part of the stadium through an elevator. A glance at the bottles behind the bar showed that again it was Macallan 12 on offer. A query to the bartender elicited the information that the price was ten dollars and fifty cents for a sampling (not shockingly high considering the setting), and yes, it was sold in plastic cups.

Back in the suite, CA Scotch Chick decided to sacrifice her palate for the sake of science and poured herself a measure of the Macallan 12. Alas, Ladies and Gentlemen, the taste of plastic is quite apparent. CA Scotch Chick again rued leaving her Trusty Hip Flask at home.

A gentleman at the party suggested that it was the brown nature of the alcohol that leached the plastic and that our heroine should try the Grey Goose Vodka. Hmmm, while a dubious proposition, it did present the opportunity to both test the hypothesis and to investigate as to whether it was acceptable to mix the grain with the potato (see Scotch Chix Rule #4). Surprisingly enough the plastic overtone did not appear to be as strong, or perhaps CA Scotch Chick was just getting used to the contaminant. 

While CA Scotch Chick thinks this experiment perhaps deserves further testing, she is unwilling to sacrifice her palate for the sake of science. As to mixing the grain and the potato, there was a slight headache this morning - but that may have come from the plastic. Loyal Scotch Chix fans are welcome to experiment on their own and email us their discoveries. We have determined, however, that when viewing the Great American Pastime, it is best to forgo the single malt whisky and focus instead on the hot dogs and the baseball.