Speyside: Speyside has the largest collection of distilleries of any Scotch region, about half of the country's total.Lowlands: Another diminished region, like Campbeltown, there are only a few distilleries remaining in the Lowlands.In total, the small island has eight distilleries, also including Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, Kilchoman and Lagavulin. Islay: Home to big, smoky, peaty, salty whiskies, such as Ardbeg and Laphroaig, both of whom are celebrating their 200th anniversary this year.Highlands: The largest geographical region, the Highlands are well represented with brands such as The Macallan, Oban, Old Pulteney, and Glenmorangie.Campbeltown: Once home to dozens of distilleries, Campbeltown is more of a past relic, with only three distilleries still operating.There are five official Scotch regions, and a sixth which deserves separate mention. This helps to control the fermentation, and maintain product consistency. Sour Mash: Sour mash is a process in which some of the spent mash from a previous round of fermenting is used to help start the next batch's fermentation. Bourbon must have a mash bill with a minimum of 51 percent corn. Single malt Scotch has a 100 percent malted barley mash bill. Mash Bill: The mash bill is the ratio of grains used in a particular whiskey. Sourcing: Sourcing whiskey refers to a company purchasing whiskey made elsewhere, and then bottling and labeling it under its own brand.įinishing: "Finishing" refers to taking whiskey which has already been aged, and aging it for a second, typically far shorter, period in a different type of cask, producing new flavors. Pot Still: Traditional pot stills are probably what one imagines when thinking about distilling, with the large pot section of the still being heated, and sending the vapor to a condenser to be separated.Ĭolumn Still: Also known as a continuous still, patent still, or Coffey still - for the man who improved on the existing design - column stills are efficient and consistent, and operate continuously without batches. Add a few drops of water into a dram to self-dilute and open up the whiskey's flavor profile. Cask strength whiskey not only packs a higher ABV punch, it's generally richer and fuller in flavor as it hasn't been diluted. That means the distiller doesn't add water to bring the whiskey down to a set predetermined proof. The vast majority of Scotch sold around the world is blended.Īge: If a whiskey lists an age, the number refers to the age of the youngest whiskey (not the average age) in the bottle.Ĭask Strength: Cask strength or cask proof whiskey is bottled straight from the barrel. Blended Scotch: A blend of one or more single malts with one or more single grains.As with single grain whisky, this too is a very small category for Scotch. Blended Grain: A blend of two or more single grain whiskies from different distilleries.Blended Malt: Blended malt whisky is a blend of two or more single malt Scotch whiskies from different distilleries.Single grain whisky is a rare commodity on its own since most is used in blends. Single Grain: Single grain whisky is made at a single distillery, but incorporates additional grains in the mash bill beyond malted barley.Single Malt: Single malt Scotch whisky refers to whisky that is made solely from malted barley, and is produced at a single distillery.Scotch is typically distilled twice and the spirit falls into several strict classifications. Today, the majority of Scotch is aged in used bourbon barrels, with sherry and other used casks also playing a role. The tenants of Scotch whisky are that it comes from Scotland and is aged there for a minimum of three years in oak barrels. Yet, Maker's Mark and Old Forester are two American brands that call themselves whisky. If it's made in the United States or Ireland, it's whiskey. The basic rule is that if the spirit is from Scotland, Japan or Canada, it's spelled whisky. To start, let's get whisky versus whiskey out of the way. What separates whiskey from whisky ? How do single malts and blends differ? Below, a guide to understanding whisk(e)y, where it comes from, and what it all means. Bourbon, Scotch, and rye whiskey, oh my! In the wide world of whiskey, there exist many classifications, styles and origins - and these labels can be hard to grasp, particularly for those who are just beginning to dabble.
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