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
This anonymous-looking blended whisky, a minimum of 12 years old, is sourced from Highland distilleries, hence the name. The bottle may be unassuming, but you could do a lot worse than Highland Reserve for $40 ...
Starting this year our friends at Highland Park are releasing a series of four whiskys called the Valhalla Collection, inspired by the Norse gods. Coming out at a clip of one each year, the first ...
From Glasgow’s Whisky Shack Company (a private bottler, retailer, and jack of all trades in the booze biz) comes this new whisky blend. No age statement, but the motto is “Malt Whisky with a PEATY ...
Here it is, at long last, the first general release whisky from Kilchoman, which opened in 2005 as the first new distillery on Islay in 124 years. After years of quarterly “preview” releases, many of ...
Your eyes do not deceive you. That is a 12-ounce aluminum can and yes it is filled with Scotch whisky. This is a new frontier for hard spirits, the first time whisky (or any spirit) ...
A classic 12 year old Islay malt whisky, finished in Moscatel (aka Muscat) casks. As fans know (and love), Caol Ila is one of the peatier whiskys out there, and even the sweet orange character ...
Though it’s just 10 years old (making it the youngest in this series of whiskys), this Isle of Skye-born malt, finished in Amoroso sherry casks, is the most expensive in the 2012 collection. Part of ...
This 16 year old Islay, matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, doesn’t come across as terribly different than other Lagavulin expressions I’ve tried. Moderately smoky with solid peat character, it’s tempered by the sherry finish, ...
This limited edition Oban is 14 years old, a western Highlands malt that is finished in Montilla Fina sherry casks. A dry whisky, this malt is thick with barley character, washed with dry — not ...
Day two of our Classic Malts Distillers Edition 2011 coverage continues with this 15-year-old Dalwhinnie, born in the Highlands of Scotland and finished in Oloroso sherry casks. Big honey and nougat notes here, this spirit ...
