Whiskey, Scotch and Bourbon
A good thing to note right away is that in Scotland and in Canada, Whiskey is spelled Whisky. This is not such an important thing since Scotch Whisky is usually called Scotch anyway. Bourbon is a type of whiskey made in the U.S.A. using mostly corn and Rye is a whiskey made mostly using rye grains.
Whiskey is made by fermenting grains. If you have a malt whiskey, the grain sprouts before fermentation. Distillation usually happens in traditional pots or column stills. Whiskey is aged in casks before bottling.
Scotch whisky is the most popular kind of whiskey in the world. A good Scotch can be very complex. Single malt is made from a fermented mash of barley that has been malted and dried over peat (a type of moss) fires to introduce a smokiness. The mash, or the mixture of grain and water that is fermenting, is distilled two or three times in old-fashion pot stills. To be called Single Malt the whisky must be all from one distiller and aged at least 3 years in oak. Blended Scotch is made by blending a number of single malt Scotches with something called neutral grain whisky.
It is thought by many that medieval Irish monks began whiskey making in Ireland. Most Irish whiskey is blended whiskey and is made the same way Scotch is made but without using peat fires or smoldering peat to dry grains. Irish whiskey is smoother and more mellow and lacks the smokiness of Scotch.
Whiskey is made by fermenting grains. If you have a malt whiskey, the grain sprouts before fermentation. Distillation usually happens in traditional pots or column stills. Whiskey is aged in casks before bottling.
Scotch whisky is the most popular kind of whiskey in the world. A good Scotch can be very complex. Single malt is made from a fermented mash of barley that has been malted and dried over peat (a type of moss) fires to introduce a smokiness. The mash, or the mixture of grain and water that is fermenting, is distilled two or three times in old-fashion pot stills. To be called Single Malt the whisky must be all from one distiller and aged at least 3 years in oak. Blended Scotch is made by blending a number of single malt Scotches with something called neutral grain whisky.
It is thought by many that medieval Irish monks began whiskey making in Ireland. Most Irish whiskey is blended whiskey and is made the same way Scotch is made but without using peat fires or smoldering peat to dry grains. Irish whiskey is smoother and more mellow and lacks the smokiness of Scotch.
Whiskey in
North America
North America
Whisky & Whiskey -
Scotland & Ireland
Scotland & Ireland
Whiskey has been produced in the U.S. since the early 1700's. Most whiskey in the States are made similarly - the mash is fermented in a continuous still and then redistilled in a pot still. Charred oak casks are usually used for aging.
Bourbon received it's name from Bourbon County Kentucky where whiskey was sent downriver to Saint Louis and New Orleans. In those days they would say, here comes the whiskey from bourbon and soon it was just called bourbon. Bourbon must be made using at least 51% corn as the grain. Other grains can include malted barley, rye and wheat. Bourbon can be very complex, spicy and sweeter than other whiskey. Small-batch and Single-barrel bourbon are made by selecting the best of the best the distiller has to offer. Small-batch from a few barrels considered to be batches of the best bourbon in the aging house and Single-barrel from - you guessed it.
Tennessee whiskey is made only by George Dickel and Jack Daniel's. These distillers make a corn based whiskey similar to bourbon, however, just before the aging process the whiskey is filtered through sugar-maple charcoal from the wood of sugar-maple trees.
Rye whiskey is made with at least 51% rye grains and is aged in new oak barrels that have been charred on the inside. Rye is considered to be a little more fragrant than other whiskey and a bit spicier than most.
Bourbon received it's name from Bourbon County Kentucky where whiskey was sent downriver to Saint Louis and New Orleans. In those days they would say, here comes the whiskey from bourbon and soon it was just called bourbon. Bourbon must be made using at least 51% corn as the grain. Other grains can include malted barley, rye and wheat. Bourbon can be very complex, spicy and sweeter than other whiskey. Small-batch and Single-barrel bourbon are made by selecting the best of the best the distiller has to offer. Small-batch from a few barrels considered to be batches of the best bourbon in the aging house and Single-barrel from - you guessed it.
Tennessee whiskey is made only by George Dickel and Jack Daniel's. These distillers make a corn based whiskey similar to bourbon, however, just before the aging process the whiskey is filtered through sugar-maple charcoal from the wood of sugar-maple trees.
Rye whiskey is made with at least 51% rye grains and is aged in new oak barrels that have been charred on the inside. Rye is considered to be a little more fragrant than other whiskey and a bit spicier than most.
Canadian whisky is made much like American whiskey but there is a lot of blending and much if it is used for mixed drinks and not drank straight or neat.
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