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
At 8 years old this is the youngest whisky in the 2020 Diageo Special Releases (2019’s was a 15 year old Talisker), though it does offer one unique spin: It’s aged in refill casks then ...
Glenmorangie’s core lineup includes a 10 year-old whisky aged exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels along with several varieties that start as the 10 year-old and then spend additional time finishing in other barrels. There is The ...
The Balvenie’s Tun 1509 series is finally getting its long-awaited seventh release. For those unfamiliar, the series is designed to bring to life master distiller David Stewart’s 58 years of distilling and blending experience “through ...
This is the 4th Pittyvaich release in the Diageo Special Releases series since 2015. This 30 year old marks the first time it has been finished in first fill ex-bourbon casks. As with the 2019 ...
This year’s Special Edition from Mortlach is a true rarity from the brand, finished in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks and aged 21 years in total. Compare to 2019’s all-sherry-aged expression. The nose is ...
Last year’s Diageo Special Releases bottling from The Singleton was actually from Glen Ord, not Dufftown Distillery, which is in a completely different part of Scotland, so it’s a bit of a cheat to call ...
Next up for the 2020 Diageo Special Releases is a bottling from Cragganmore, unique because a 20 year old expression has never before appeared as a distillery bottling. (It’s not nearly as unique as the ...
Last year’s Dalwhinnie (which wasn’t available in the U.S.) was also a 30 year old. This one, drawn from refill hogsheads (mix of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry refills, though predominantly ex-bourbon) filled in 1989, carries an ...
Normally Diageo’s Special Releases — its annual release of ultra-rare cask strength Scotch whiskies — don’t arrive until Christmas or beyond. But now we’re in the time of Covid, so anything goes, I suppose. To ...
Western Highlands’ Loch Lomond has quite a few brands under its care. Aside from eponymous releases, the distillery serves as home Inchmurrin, Inchfad, Glen Douglas, Craiglodge, and Croftengea, amongst others. Over a dozen stills crafted ...
