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Whisky

Whisky is a spirit made from a fermented mash of grain, distilled under 190 poof and stored in oak barrels before bottling at no less than 80 proof or 40% abv. (alcohol by volume). Whisky must be made exclusively from grains, either as a single grain or a blend. Barley, corn, rye, and wheat are most commonly used in whisky production. Preparation and distilling methods change depending on the style. Scots and Canadians spell whisky without the “e,” while Americans and Irish spell whiskey with the “e.” Whiskies are often labeled with an age statement which denotes the youngest whisky used in the bottle. Origin: It is generally believed that the Celts were the first to produce whisky in Ireland in the 15th century. The present day name of “whisky” comes from the Celtic “uisgebeatha” (pronounced whis-geh-BAW), meaning water of life. The name was anglicized to “whisky” when the spirit was brought to England.

SPIRIT STYLES

American whiskey

The two most common American whiskeys are bourbon and Tennessee whiskey and can be made from a variety of grains. Corn is the dominant ingredient used and must be at least 51% of the mash to be labeled a “straight whiskey.” Straight corn whiskey is the exception – it must contain at least 80% corn. Bourbon must be produced with at least 51% corn and aged in a new charred oak barrel for a minimum of two years. Other whiskey sub-styles differ and allow used oak barrels in aging. The new oak imparts a sweet, vanilla, toasted caramel flavour. Tennessee whiskey is made in the same manner as bourbon, but must be filtered through sugar maple charcoal prior to aging.

Canadian whisky

Canadian whisky is often known as “rye” since historically the rye grain was a dominant flavouring component. Today a variety of recipes exist that include the use of corn, wheat, and barley. Canadian distillers produce and age each grain separately, then blend the aged whiskies together to create the desired flavour profile, which is typically soft and light. It is ideal for mixing or pouring over ice.

Scotch whisky

All Scotch whisky is made from malted barley and aged in Scotland for no less than three years in an oak barrel. Scotch is double-distilled and often uses peated malt to impart a smoky flavour. Two main types of barrels used are American oak and French oak, which impart different nuances into the whisky as the spirit ages. Scotch can be single malt or a blend. Single malts are produced from 100% malted barley from one single distillery. A Scotch blend is made by combining whiskies from various distilleries and can be a blend of malted barley and grain whisky.

Irish whiskey

Irish whiskey is distilled from a fermented mash of grains, including malted & unmalted barley, corn, rye, wheat, and oats. It is different than Scotch in that Irish whiskey uses unpeated malt and is triple-distilled before aging a minimum of four years in oak barrels. The whiskey that results is light and fruity, with some leathery, earthy overtones.