Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland, usually from malt or grain or a blend of the two). All Scotch whisky was originally made from malted barley but commercial distilleries began introducing whisky made from wheat and rye in the late 18th century.
Some Scotch facts
All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years. Any age statement on a bottle of Scotch whisky, expressed in numerical form, must reflect the age of the youngest whisky used to produce that product. A whisky with an age statement is known as guaranteed-age whisky. A whisky without an age statement is known as a no age statement (NAS) whisky, the only guarantee being that all whisky contained in that bottle is at least three years old. The minimum bottling strength according to the regulation is 40% alcohol by volume.
Interesting Fact: Glenfiddich is the best-selling single malt Scotch in the world. Roughly 14 million bottles of Glenfiddich are sold annually.
The 5 categories of Scotch Whisky
There are 5 categories of Scotch Whisky:
- Single malt: must have been distilled at a single distillery using a pot still distillation process and made from a mash of malted barley.
- Single grain: distilled at a single distillery but, in addition to water and malted barley, may involve whole grains of other malted or unmalted cereals. "Single grain" does not mean that only a single type of grain was used to produce the whisky. The term "single" refers only to the use of a single distillery (and making a "single grain" requires using a mixture of grains, as barley is a type of grain and some malted barley must be used in all Scotch whisky). Malt whisky is distilled as a batch process in pot stills, whereas grain whisky can be distilled continuously in Continuous Stills or Column stills.
- Blended malt: means a blend of two or more single malt Scotch whiskies from different distilleries.
- Blended grain: means a blend of two or more single grain Scotch whiskies from different distilleries.
- Blended Scotch: means a blend of one or more single malt Scotch whiskies with one or more single grain Scotch whiskies. Blended Scotch whisky constitutes about 90% of the whisky produced in Scotland.
The five Scotch whisky definitions are structured in such a way that the categories are mutually exclusive.
What classifies a Scotch whisky
The 2009 regulations changed the formal definition of blended Scotch whisky to achieve this result, but in a way that reflected traditional and current practice: before the 2009 SWR, any combination of Scotch whiskies qualified as a blended Scotch whisky, including for example a blend of single malt Scotch whiskies.
The SWR (Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009) define "Scotch whisky" as whisky that:
- Comprises a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 40% (80 US proof)
- Contains no added substances, other than water and plain (E150A) caramel coloring
- Is produced at a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley (to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added)
- Is matured from start to finish in an excise warehouse in Scotland in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 liters (185 US gal) for at least three years
- Retains the color, aroma, and taste of the raw materials used in, and the method of, its production and maturation
Single vs Blended
A single malt Scotch whisky is one that is entirely produced from malt in one distillery. One may also encounter the term "single cask", signifying the bottling comes entirely from one cask. The term "blended malt" signifies that single malt whisky from different distilleries is blended in the bottle. The SWR prohibits bottlers from using a distillery name when the whisky was not made there. A bottler's name may also be listed, sometimes independent of the distillery. In addition to requiring that Scotch whisky be distilled in Scotland, the SWR requires that it also be bottled and labeled in Scotland.
Maturation
Whisky is aged in various types of casks, and often in used sherry or port casks, during distinct portions of the maturation process, and will take on characteristics, flavor, and aromas from such casks. Special casks are sometimes used at the end of the maturation process, and such whiskies may be labeled as "wood finished", "sherry/port finished", etc.
For beginners
If you are new to whiskey, a Scotch might not be the best option for you. Scotch whisky usually has smoky, earthy overtones. The taste of Scotch whisky usually comes from the drying of the malted barley using peat smoke. That’s why they say a Scotch tastes peaty.
If you are new to whiskey, chances are you will enjoy an Irish whiskey more than a Scotch whisky. Irish whiskey has a smoother finish than Scotch. In layman’s terms, the smoother finish of the Irish whiskey doesn’t “burn” your tongue like a Scotch. So it feels softer in your mouth compared to a Scotch.
However, a lot of people prefer the taste of a Scotch over that of Irish whiskey or bourbons. I started with Irish whiskey but after going deeper into the world of whiskey, I have a newfound appreciation for a good Scotch and actually enjoy drinking it.
If you are just starting out and want to try out some Scotch Whiskies that won’t break the bank, I recommend the following:
- Great King St. Glasgow Blend: blended whiskies containing 55% - 65% malt whisky. Aged in a combination of barrels: first-fill sherry, first-fill and refill ex-bourbon, and a small amount finished in new French oak barrels. Non-chillfiltered, naturally coloured and bottled at 43%.
- Monkey Shoulder: The ideal whisky for someone not yet deep into Scotch whisky. Light-hearted, easy drinking blended malt composed of the three single malts in the William Grant & Sons stable of distilleries: Glenfiddich, Balvenie and the lesser known Kininvie. The malts are matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, and then vatted together in small batches for up to six months. Bottled at 43%.
- Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve: Matured in a variety of traditional aged oak casks, then married together in a selection of aged oak casks and American first-fill casks. The whisky is named in honor of the distillery's founder, George Smith, and represents the classic Glenlivet style.
- Glenfiddich 12 year old: Undoubtedly the most sold single malt in the world. Matured in ex-American oak bourbon casks as well as some Spanish sherry oak casks and then married in oak marrying tuns.
Conclusion
Scotch Whisky might not be the easiest whisky to drink when just starting out, but stick through it and you will reap the rewards. It’s arguably the category of whisky with the strongest culture and heritage behind it. The flavor profiles are intense, unique and extremely rewarding.
The wide range of Scotch whiskies available on the market makes it easy to find something that suits your taste buds. Our leather whiskey carrier also makes it easy to carry that favorite bottle of Scotch with you wherever you go.
