Whiskey Blog

Legally, only whisky that is made in Scotland can be called Scotch whisky. It is usually referred to as Scotch. However, if you ask for whisky in Scotland, you will usually be given Scotch. It is distilled in Scotland from malted barley which is sometimes mixes with unmalted barley or other grains.

It is distilled to a strength of at least 94.8% alcohol. Then, it is bottled at a strength of at least 40 % alcohol. Caramel color and water are the only added substances allowed to be added to Scotch whisky.

The four different categories of Scotch whisky are single malt, vatted malt,single grain, and blended. Single malt whisky is made only of malted barley that comes from one distillery. Vatted malt whisky is a mixture of malt whiskies distilled at more than one distillery. A mixture of grain whiskies from more than one distillery is called blended grain whisky. Blended Scotch whisky is made by mixing single malt whisky with grain wisky.

Malt Scotch whisky starts with malted barley. The barley is soaked in water until it germinates. It is then dried with steam. Peat is often added to the fire that is used to dry the barley. This gives an earthy flavor to the whisky. The dried barley is ground into grist. The grist is mixed with hot water in a mash tun and allowed to soak until it forms mash.

This process produces a sugary liquid called wort. The wort is mixed with yeast in a container called a “wash back.” It is then left to ferment into a liquid called wash. Wash has a strength of about 5-7% alcohol. The wash is heated to it’s boiling point in a pot still. The alcohol evaporates and travels to a separate chamber where it can condense. The strongest part of the batch s taken to oak casks to mature. Scotch whisky matures for at least three years and a day.