Scotch Whisky
Whisky made in Scotland, referred to as Scotch, is one of the most popular types of whisky in the world. By law, it must be distilled to no more than 189.6 proof and produced from a mixture of water, cereal grains, and malt, with the only allowed additives being water and caramel coloring. Scotch must be aged in oak casks in Scotland at a licensed warehouse for a minimum of three years, but, unlike bourbon or rye, those casks can, and almost always are, used barrels instead of new ones. Scotch is separated into five categories, one of which is required to be displayed on the label: Single Malt (100% malt barley from a single distillery), Single Grain (all grain spirit from a single distillery), Blended Grain (grain whiskies from multiple distilleries), Blended Malt (a blend of single malts), and Blended Scotch (a blend of malt and grain whiskies). The malt used to make Scotch can be dried by fire from with compacted vegetation called peat, which imparts a unique flavor on the final product. (This type of Scotch is most common on island regions, particularly Islay.) There are five whisky-producing regions in Scotland, each with its own style and character: Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside, Islay, and Campbeltown.
Top Scotch Whisky Posts:
A Tour of Scotland: Understanding Scotch Whiskies
Touring Scotch Whisky Distilleries in Speyside, Scotland
Drinking Scotch with The Dalmore’s Richard Paterson
Whiskies of Glen Grant with Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm
Diageo’s Special Releases for 2025 are here, this year dubbed “Horizons Unbound.” As always, that really just means we have some unusual finishes and barrel treatments on tap, though there’s also plenty of familiar stuff in the mix this year, too. Eight whiskies are on offer this year. As always, we tasted through them and…
The Glenlivet is kicking off a new, annual series of releases dubbed Beyond Speyside. As the name suggests, the line will focus on whiskies “inspired by destinations from around the world.” A first stop on that promised global tour is Jamaica. At least, it’s a taste of Jamaica, in this case represented by rum cask-finished…
Laphroaig bottlings have been stacking up at Drinkhacker HQ of late, a perennial problem when the end of the year approaches. Finally we had to break down, line them all up on the table, and get to work. Now that Willem Dafoe is stumping for the brand, we can feel the sense of urgency. Today’s…
Rye, but make it Scotch. That’s the impetus behind a new release from Bruichladdich, the producer behind (among other things) Port Charlotte and Octomore, in addition to its namesake line. One of nine active distilleries on the Scottish island of Islay, Bruichladdich is the only one currently distilling rye. And its first rye release is…
Over the years we’ve covered more Glenfiddich than I can possibly recount, but today we’re going back to basics, sort of — with fresh looks at two of the distillery’s most prominent releases, Glenfiddich 12 Years Old and Glenfiddich 14 Years Old. Glenfiddich 12 Years Old (2025) Review Bourbon barrel-aged and oloroso sherry-finished, in 2025 this comes…
If you binge watch Drive to Survive and wake up unusually early on Sunday mornings for car races halfway around the world, you may have noticed recently that more and more spirits brands, many of the whisky variety, are partnering with Formula One. Last year, ahead of the first ever Grand Prix in Las Vegas,…
It is almost hard to believe that boutique Scotch blender Compass Box has been with us for a quarter century. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, they recently released a commemorative edition of Flaming Heart, one of their earliest expressions and a bottle that helped put the Compass Box name on the whisky world’s radar all…
On February 3, 1940, The Glenlivet distillery accepted delivery of 15 empty hogsheads provided by longtime indie whiskey producers and partners Gordon & MacPhail, and filled them with new make spirit. No one probably expected those casks to sit in a warehouse aging for the next 85 years, but at least one of them did,…
We’re five years into Dewar’s Champions Edition releases, and for year five this 19 year old is being uniquely finished in Calvados apple brandy casks — “a nod to Pennsylvania’s historic apple brandy tradition.” (Relevant because the 125th U.S. Open was held at Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh.) That’s the upshot, so let’s dive in.…
The Glenrothes has malts at 10, 12, and 18 years old (and more) — so why not fill in the gap with a new, 15 year old expression? “The 15” is a permanent addition to the line, matured entirely in sherry casks for its decade and a half of aging. Master whisky maker (a unique…