Types of WhiskeyĪs you’ve learned in this Scotch vs. Think fruit, vanilla, smoke, salt, and toffee.

CampbelltownĬampbeltown is known for full-flavored Scotches rich in character that span a wide array of flavors. Islay (eye-luh)Īnother island region, Islay is largely involved in Scotch production, particularly the smoky, peated type. This area is known for lighter-bodied Scotches in flavors of ginger, cream, honeysuckle, grass, toast, toffee, and cinnamon. If you’re into a gentle, smooth and soft malt, you’re into Lowland Scotch. There truly is something for every palate here. This flavor-diverse region offers a wide array of Scotches – everything from light and bright to salty and malted pours. However, this area is not known for its peat, which is what creates the smokiness of some Scotches. Pear, apple, vanilla, honey, and spice are common in Speyside’s Scotch which is often aged in sherry casks. This is the world’s most densely populated Scotch region and is famous for its fertile glens. That said, these geographic boundaries are much less significant today since the Scotch’s traits and characteristics are not as exclusive to each area as they used to be. Scotland is the home of Scotch and five areas that bring their own take and approach to the spirit. Single grain Scotch is made from water, malted barley, and whole grains or malted or unmalted cereals at a single distillery.Ī combination of at least one single malt Scotch with at least one single grain Scotch is known as blended Scotch.īlended malt Scotch is a combination of at least two single malt Scotches from different distilleries.Ī combination of at least two blended single grain Scotches from at least two distilleries is called blended grain Scotch. Single malt Scotch is made from water and malted barley only, with a pot still distillation batch process, at a single distillery. There are five different types of Scotch, including three blends that make up about 90% of the Scotch bottles sold each year. Then, they distill the liquor for aging in barrels. Sugars release before distillers add yeast to ferment sugar into alcohol. Whiskey is a spirit made from distilled grain, often malted barley, soaked in hot water. So, all Scotch and bourbon are whiskeys but not the reverse. Think of whiskey as the broader liquor category that Scotch (and bourbon) fit into.

Aside from production location, they cover everything to do with processing, bottling, labelling, packaging, and advertising. There’s a lot of pride in Scotch, as indicated by the 2009 Scotch Whisky Regulations that govern everything to do with the spirit and the 130+ Scottish distilleries producing it. It also must have an ABV (alcohol by volume) of at least 40%. For Scotch to be considered Scotch, it must be aged in oak barrels for three years minimum, though most sits for 12-25 years and even up to 5 decades. Scotch is a type of whiskey made in Scotland from grain, malt, or a blend of both, but it’s mostly malted barley. But, there are some key differences that we’ll break down here for you. Get the best Scotches and whiskeys at your doorstep every month.

Bourbon vs whiskey vs canadian