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
GlenDronach is hitting the market with a new full-time expression as well as four new expressions from its single cask Cask Bottlings line, denoted as Batch 18. Up first we have GlenDronach Port Wood, which ...
Glenburgie is not a name widely recognized in America. It does not carry a celebrity endorsement or acclaim from the mass market, and it only makes occasional appearances on menus of the most specialized whisky ...
In 2019, The Balvenie dropped three inaugural entries into The Balvenie Stories series, a line of whiskies that “tell the story” of various key figures at the distillery. Recently, a fourth Story has arrived, a ...
Opened on January 1, 2017, Torabhaig is the first new distillery on the Isle of Skye (where Talisker is the main offering) in nearly 200 years. The distillery is part of the Mossburn mini-empire, which ...
The second release — or book, I guess — in Laphroaig’s collectable Ian Hunter Story series has arrived. Like the 2019 Book One, it’s a 30 year old whisky, though this one is completely aged ...
Islay’s iconic Bowmore is adding a new whisky to its lineup, a 30 year old bottling which will be sold as an annual release. This 2021 bottling was distilled in 1989, aged for three decades ...
After 13 years, Ardbeg Distillery Manager Mickey Heads has retired, and in classic style the distillery is putting out this year’s Committee Release in Heads’s honor. Wholly matured in former rye whiskey casks (albeit sans ...
Every holiday season, Trader Joe’s partners up with independent bottler Alexander Murray & Company, releasing a limited run single malt that is of higher quality than their usual offerings. Recent releases included a Glen Moray, ...
Recently we covered the bold relaunch of Benriach, which ditched its complicated and seemingly ever-changing lineup now that master blender Rachel Barrie is running the show. Benriach originally relaunched with four core expressions — two ...
Located in Speyside, Dufftown carries more than its fair share of quality distilleries, including some of our favorites: Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Mortlach. The city claims to produce a more single malt than any other city ...
