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
You may have missed the news that Colin Gordon left Ardbeg Distillery last year to return to his roots in malting on the mainland. Succeeding him in his role as Distillery Manager is Bryony McNiven, a daughter of the island with a very Ardbeg-heavy resume. Her father was a longtime stillman, and she has spent…
Ardbeg Committee releases are usually very involved whiskies showcasing unique production methods and exotic maturations paired with an elaborate backstory. For this latest limited edition, however, the iconic Islay distillery is getting back to basics, delivering a cask strength version of their classic 10-year-old single malt. And, apparently, it’s not for the first time. After…
Wolfcraig is a new blended Scotch whisky brand with an unusual backer: González Byass USA, best known for producing and distributing Spanish sherry and brandy expressions. While Byass owns Nomad, this is the operation’s first foray into ultra-premium whisky, and it’s doing so in style, with Richard Paterson (of The Dalmore fame) and Ian Macmillan (of…
Glen Scotia Distillery was a powerhouse whisky producer in Scotland’s Campbeltown region, once a booming center of whisky production for most of the 19th century with over 30 distilleries. Today, it is one of only three distilleries on that tiny, west coast peninsula to have survived the ups and downs of the Scotch industry. Under…
While Bholsa is named in tribute to the caves on the northwest coast of Islay, it is also the second Ardnahoe release to make the transatlantic journey stateside, arriving non–chill filtered, Oloroso-matured, and free of cosmetic enhancements. Ardnahoe Bholsa Review Much like when one knows they are in the presence of an Ivy League business…
Buchanan’s, hot off its Buchanan’s Pineapple release, is back with another new blended Scotch, and while it’s not a flavored expression it is described by the company as “pulsing with ritmo” and “bursting with tropical fruit and spiced notes.” The twist here is that the whisky is made with wine yeast, not slices of pineapple.…
For reasons entirely accidental, I nearly became a Dry January participant. A string of family health scares has a way of recalibrating priorities, and when paired with ice storms so aggressive they felt rude and very personal, usual routines fell into a holding pattern. Drinks were skipped, bottles gathered dust, and restraint made an unscheduled…
Bunnahabhain‘s 2025 Feis Ile release was distilled in 2008, and this one-off release is a blend of two types of casks, both made with unpeated barley. The first was matured for its full 15 years in Manzanilla sherry casks, a standby style for the distillery. The second cask type is aged for 10 years in…
Each year Aberfeldy releases a whisky (or more than one) that is finished in a specialty wine cask. For its 2025 release, that’s an especially interesting one, opting for wine casks from Tuscany’s Bolgheri, home to some of the world’s most prized wines, like Sassicaia and Ornellaia. Per the distillery: Crafted by Malt Master Stephanie…
Buckle up, Bowmore fans. Islay’s oldest licensed distillery is introducing four new expressions to the U.S. market, each from its Sherry Oak Cask Collection. These include 12, 15, 18, and 21 year-old single malts, all matured across a variety of both ex-bourbon and sherry seasoned casks. The 12 and 15 year old expressions hit stateside…