Different types of whisky

Its origin is Celtic and it was used to warm up when temperatures were low. It’s a distilled drink, made from one or more cereal grains, matured in barrels, of usually oak. Some call it “Whiskey”, mainly Americans and Irish, in Scotland and other regions it’s called “Whisky”.

It has to be noted that Whisky it’s not aged in the bottle, only in the barrel, if you have a bottle stored for a long time it’s not going to change its flavor, aroma or color.

On the bottles, the label describes what you’re drinking. The main characteristics that you can find are the type, origin, and age declaration.

Types of whiskies by elaboration

• Blended whisky: The product of mixing single malt and single grain, from different barrels and distilleries. It has a smoother profile, it was the first whisky to be marketed internationally and the drunkest in the world.
• Single malt: Made solely from malted barley, it can come from different barrels, but all of them should belong to the same distillery.
  1. Single cask: It’s made from a single barrel; in the label, it can be mentioned how old it is. The oldest this type is, generally, more expensive it’ll be.
  2. Cask strength: It’s not lowered down to reduce its alcoholic grade, that is, it has no water or any other substance added to it, it’s bottled just as it comes from the barrel.
  3. Finish Single – Double – Triple: They’re matured in different types of barrels. For example, first it has to go through casks that had rum in them, then bourbon and finishing with sherry wine.
  4. Matured in individual barrels: It uses only one type of barrel in its elaboration.
  5. Peated: Its main characteristic, it’s that peat is used to dry the malted barley before distilling it, the steam of it gives it a particular flavor
• Blended grain: It’s created from a single grain combination of different distilleries.
• Single grain whisky: At the beginning, it’s distilled with malted barley, then other grains are added to the process.
• Blended malt: The blend has at least two single malts of different distilleries.

Types of whisies according to its origin

• Scotch Malt Whisky: It’s the most renowned in the world, it’s made according to standards of the Scotch Whisky Act 1988. By law, every one of them must be distilled in Scotland, with water, malted barley, with a minimum 94% of an alcoholic grade before maturing; They have to rest for no less than three years in oak barrels with a maximum capacity of 700 liters and only colorants can be added. They cannot be bottled at less than 40% alcoholic grade.

• Irish Whiskey: The production is characterized by triple distillation, they are aged in oak barrels, which previously contained sherry wine, for a minimum of seven years.

• American Whiskey: they are distilled, matured, and bottled in the United States; By US Law, it contains between 50 and 80% of the same grain, the complements can be wheat, rye, or barley. According to its process and state, there are three types:
  • Bourbon whiskey: It’s aged in new charred oak barrels, it contains a minimum of 51% of corn grains and it has to be made in Kentucky.
  • Rye whiskey: They’re made with not least tan 51% of rye grains and have to go through the same process.
  • Corn whiskey: By the law of the state of Tennessee, which is where it is produced, it doesn’t have a fixed aging time and must contain a minimum of 80% corn kernels.

• Welsh Whisky: Producers of single malt per excellence. It’s unique in the world, because of its distillation process patented by David Faraday.

• Japanese Whisky: They have a production process identical to Scottish, they produce single malt and blended, double distilled and over the passing of the years it gains recognition in the world.

• Other regions: Whisky is distilled everywhere around the world; with excellent quality and variety. The most notable countries today are Taiwan, Australia, Sweden, Canada, South Africa, France, Germany, India, and New Zealand.

Types of whiskies by age declaration

The labels of the bottles reveal the maturation time, even if they don’t have it written, we know that it’s a young whisky, that has specific aging depending on the brand and country.

When we look at the maturation time, it means that the youngest malt used in the blend is at least that old.

The most influential factor in young whiskies is the distillation process, which is what gives them their characteristic smoothness.

On the other hand, to matured whiskies, the time in barrels greatly influences their flavor, the contact with wood gives them a lot of flavor and personality.

Is whisky’s age the most important thing?

It’s a personal opinion, but I can tell you that no; you can find really good whiskies without age declaration, and others aged, that are not so good.

Today, mixers masters have new technology and reinvent themselves from time to time to find new combinations.

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