Whiskey
Whiskey is a spirit produced from the distillation of grain. Debate still rages about whether the Irish Celts or Scots were the first to produce the “water of life,” but the first written recording of whiskey’s creation dates to 15th century Scotland. Origin isn’t the only debate concerning whiskey. Spelling is contentious, too. When distilled in Scotland, Canada, and Japan, it is spelled whisky without the e, while whiskey distilled in Ireland and the United States is most often, but not always, spelled with the e. Technically, whiskey is a distilled spirit produced from a fermented grain mash, distilled to no more than 190 proof, and bottled at no less than 80 proof. All whiskey, with the exception of corn whiskey and “white” whiskey, must be aged for some period of time in oak containers. Whiskey is classified by country of origin (i.e. Canadian whisky) and may be further defined by the type of grain used (i.e. rye whiskey) or the way it is produced (i.e. single malt).
Top Whiskey Posts:
The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2018
The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2017
All About Dusties: 1970s vs. 2018 Bourbon Tasted Side by Side
Top 10 Bourbons Under $20
What Grains are Used to Make Whiskey (And Why?)
From Barrel To Bottle: How Wood Aging Impacts Whiskey
Scottland’s windswept Isle of Harris produces more than just iconic tweed fabric. Since 2015, the Isle of Harris Distillery, the islands first and currently only legal distillery, has been making an arguably more iconic Scottish product, whisky. Like many upstart distilleries, gin helped to keep the lights on and the stills running while the whisky…
Maple syrup barrel-finished bourbon has become increasingly common over the past several years. In most instances, bourbon is transferred into used maple syrup barrels, and consumers may be told which maple producer supplied those barrels. Beyond that, there has been little movement in the category. Finding a maple-finished bourbon that offers something outside the usual…
Only two years ago Sonoma-based Graton Distillery released Redwood Empire, a blend of its own microdistilled spirit and sourced whiskey. Now the brand is back with not one, not two, but three new expressions which collectively replace the 2018 release. Here’s all the details to get you started. Purple Wine + Spirits today announced its…
Located along the main strip in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Sugarlands Distilling Company opened its flagship distillery in March 2014. Serious whiskey drinkers may know the company for the straight rye whiskey released under its Roaming Man label, but among the crowds that pass through its doors each year, Sugarlands is best known for an extensive lineup…
To mark 25 years since its resurrection, Bruichladdich is releasing a new whisky, Yellow Submarine III, a companion to its similarly honorific Bruichladdich Old Skool (which we have not seen, sadly) and a follow-up, of course, to Yellow Submarines I and II (which we also have not reviewed). Bruichladdich’s Yellow Submarine series begin in 2005…
Today, the United States marks its 250th anniversary. In the months surrounding the occasion, “America 250” became nearly impossible to avoid. Advertising campaigns, commemorative releases, and media coverage all joined the celebration, each offering its own interpretation of a quarter millennium of American history. When people around the world picture the United States, certain images…
Chances are pretty good that there is barbecue in your future this holiday weekend, and Tennessee’s Peg Leg Porker, founded by award-winning pitmaster Carey Bringle, has the whiskey to pair with it. Warning: like the barbecue you’re probably planning to eat, it’s quite the mouthful. The new Spirit of America Limited Edition Summer Series –…
Great whiskey often asks a simple question: can a collection of individual parts become something greater than any one of them alone? Dark Arts Whiskey House has built its identity around that very idea. Its philosophy of alchemy is not centered on turning lead into gold, but on transformation. Separate barrels, each with its own…
For such a humble brand, Old Overholt Rye has undergone an awfully large number of reinventions over the last decade, including a full relaunch with proof change only 2 years ago, a bonded expression, and an overproof version. Now standard-issue Old Overholt is changing once again, keeping the new 43% abv but adding a 4…
In 2026, consumers have been inundated with American whiskey releases bearing America 250 branding in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. For many producers, the formula has been fairly predictable: add an America 250 logo to the label, reference “1776-2026,” and attach a patriotic name. Numerous releases also direct…