One of the best ways to end a day is by enjoying a glass or two of whiskey.
Strong and relaxing, whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage created out of fermented grain mash. While different kinds of grains may be used, such as barley, corn, rye or wheat, all of them are aged to perfection in wooden oak barrels. Some of the best whiskies have been in storage for decades. Here is the basic knowledge you need to find your way around in the world of whiskies.
Scotch Whisky
The two basic types of Scotch are malt whisky from 100% malted barley and grain whisky which can be made from any grain (usually maize or wheat) but has to include a fraction of malted barley too. By law, to be allowed to be called Scotch Whisky it has to be matured in Scotland in oak casks for at least 3 years. Some very cheap whisky is just 3 years old, but most Scotch is 5 years or older. Bottled whisky may be a mixture of casks of any age over 3 years.
Scotch single malt whisky comes in a seemingly infinite variation of flavours. You will find heavily peated and smoky single malts like Laphroaig, creamy and fruity whiskies like Glenlivet and also the heavy sherry cask matured like Macallan or Glenfarclas malts. Sometimes even two whiskies from a single distillery can be totally different.
Irish Whisky
Most Irish whisky brands are distilled three times (though double-distilled variants are widely available) resulting in Irish’s reputation as an easy drinking, light whiskey. Barley is the main ingredient, and while there are numerous single malts like Connemara. Irish has long been known as the most mixable of whiskies, though the single malts can be as complex and robust as any Scotch whisky.
American Whiskey
Bourbon whiskey, the largest selling of the American whiskies, must be made with corn making up at least 51 percent of the grain ingredients (known as the mash bill). Wheat, barley and rye are the other main grains, the proportions used essential in creating any whiskey’s style. Like Irish, bourbon is sweet on the palate, and creates a deep and mellow base for cocktails.
Rye, like bourbon, can hail from anywhere (Kentucky whiskey is another story altogether, but it must be made in the state that bears its name.) In rye, like in wheated whiskies, the grain that makes up at least 51 percent of the mash bill takes the name. Many rye whiskies have a higher rye content, but a simple majority is all that’s required. Rye has been admired and employed for its spicy and even peppery kick, as opposed to the smoothness of Bourbon and lightness of Irish.
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