Variations in different bottles of same Scotch, or restaurant switcheroo?

[JonathanYoung]

I have been drinking Scotch for a few years now and am continuing to learn and experience the subtleties of the drink. My palate is not very developed at all, but I can usually taste differences in different drinks if I have them side by side.

Tonight I was at a "fancy" restaurant with my family so I partook in a Macallan 12. I saw the bartender pour it from a Macallan bottle and was slightly surprised that the shot was rather large. I actually didn't finish the drink. Surprisingly, I got a headache right after dinner.

I say surprisingly because I have polished off a third of a bottle on some occasions with no ill effects at all. Actually, I have had no ill effects from any quality Scotch that I've had. In retrospect, it didn't really taste like Macallan 12 so when I got home I poured myself a little and it really did not taste nor smell the same.

I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt to the restaurant, so I ask, could there really be a big difference between 2 bottles of the same Scotch? Or, perhaps it was something else? Different batches? Different storage methods? I can allow the taste variation but to get a headache after 1 drink... my pride is injured!

Looking forward to opinions from other single malt drinkers.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

They had something else in the bottle if you caught a difference in taste. Unfortunately, not all expensive restaurants are good ones.

 

[eLiu]

They had something else in the bottle if you caught a difference in taste. Unfortunately, not all expensive restaurants are good ones.

Ehhh that's still surprising. It's not like macallan 12 is particularly expensive as far as single malts go. I would be more inclined to say maybe the OP was more dehydrated than he usually is before drinking. Maybe the food was really salty or he had a lot of coffee earlier or did some vigorous exercise or whatever. But being dehydrated and drinking alcohol will bring on headaches rapidly.

That said, OP, this is what you get for drinking macallan! (I kid, of course. But man I really don't like macallan.)

 

[Colt45]

All scotch smells and tastes like burnt moss.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

All scotch smells and tastes like burnt moss.

^ Communist vodka drinker.