Whiskey is a classy yet simple alcoholic drink.
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Did you know that drinking whiskey can prolong your life and enhance your overall health?
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Drinking whisky is a healthy and pleasurable experience.
Hopefully, this will make it easier to find the best collection for your home bar.
This, in return, tells you about the grain and distillation process used.
Note that each country has a unique set of regulations that governs the process of producing whisky.
Generally, whiskey from different parts of the world can be as diverse as chalk and cheese.
Note that the sugar and alcohol content levels in a drink highly depend on the grain used.
Scotch Whiskey
Scotch liquor, aka nectar of the gods, is made in Scotland.
The taste of scotch will highly depend on which part of Scotland it came from.
The age of scotch may also play a significant role in defining its taste.
Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon is an American-style whiskey made initially fromrye.
Unlike scotch that has a 3-year aging period,bourbon has no minimum aging time.
Even so, straight bourbon must age incharred oak barrels for a minimum of 2 years.
American whiskey or bourbon will often havevanilla tones and caramel sweetness.
Tennessee Whiskey
Technically, Tennessee whiskey is bourbon (American-style whiskey).
However, it falls into a different classification mainly because of the production style.
The state laws compel distillers to take the alcohol through aunique filtering step dubbed the Lincoln County Process.
Consequently, Tennessee whisky has a slightlysweeter, somewhat mellower tonecompared to regular bourbon.
Its safe to say that this whiskey is the nicer kind of bourbon.
Hands down, one of the best-loved Tennessee whiskeys is Jack Daniels.
Irish Whiskey
Its said that whiskey originated in Ireland and was first produced in the 6th century.
Compared to other types of whiskey, Irish whiskey has asmoother flavor and is easy to sip neat.
The beverage is made using a mash of malt and distilled using caramel coloring and water.
It is then distilled andaged for 3 years or more.
Irish whiskey has unique characteristics.
For instance, it isless sweet compared to American bourbon.
Then again, itsnot as smoky or sooty as scotch.
Irish whiskey is also easy to consume, thanks to thetriple distillation process.
Canadian Whisky
To date, most people still refer to Canadian whisky as Canadian rye whiskey.
Currently, American whiskey tends to contain more rye than Canadian whiskey.
Canadian whiskies aresweet, light, spicier, and packed with flavors.
Like Irish whiskey, they are easy to drink and are ideal for makingcocktailmixes.
They are also similar to scotch in that the alcohol isaged in barrels for a minimum of 3 years.
Japanese Whisky
Japanese whiskey is made using thehighest distillation standardsto make its taste nearly similar to scotch.
This ensures the production of quite distinct Japanese whiskey tastes and flavors.
While it tastes almost like scotch, it has abold and complex yet well-balanced character.
Compared to scotch, the beverage has more flavor notes and a more interesting character.
After all, everyones sense of taste and smell is hard-wired in their brain.
On the bright side, decoding aromas and flavors is something infused in human nature.
Malt Whiskey
Malt is made by soaking, germinating then drying raw barley to stop the germination process.
The choice of barrels used may also play a significant role in enhancing the flavor profile of malt whiskey.
Malt is made from malted barley.
However, some distillers use other types of malted grain.
Thats why you may find bottles labeled buckwheat malt whiskey or rye malt whiskey.
Single Malt Whiskey
Single malt whiskeysare essentially scotch made from one distillery.
Its called single because its produced from a single location and not necessarily one batch.
This gives makes each single malt brand look, feel and taste like a masterpiece handcrafted by the locals.
Another aspect unique to single malts is that they are aged for five or more years.
The finished product has a 4065% ABV.
Straight Whiskey
Different types of whiskeys could fall under the straight classification if they are made following specific guidelines.
In short, the distiller cannot label the whiskey straight rye whiskey or straight bourbon whiskey.
Blended Whiskey
Blended whiskeyis made by blending different types of whiskey, such as grain and malt beverages.
The aroma and flavor profile of a drink may vary from one distillery to another.
Blended whiskeys have a complex character that most companies, especially wellestablished distillers, will strive to maintain.
On the contrary, blended whiskeys have complex flavors and characters that true whiskey lovers appreciate.
Light Whiskey
One of the common misconceptions is that light whiskey is a low-calorie beverage.
The truth is that the term light has more to do with color than calories.
This pop in of whiskey was introduced in the 60s and had an ABV between 80 and 95%.
Its name hinges on the fact that the beverage is has a lighter hue than standard whiskey.
Spirit Whiskey
Spirit whiskeys emerged when the world experienced a shortage of fully aged whiskeys.
They are produced by blending 5% single grain whiskey, and a maximum of 20% straight whiskey.
Essentially, the liquor ages quickly but develops a flavor profile that resembles the taste of alcohol.
A lot has changed since spirit whiskey was first introduced.
Currently, distillers use advanced distillation trends to create unique and exciting flavor options.
Grain Whiskey
Grain whiskey, as the name implies, is made from grain and not malted barley.
Distillers can use one or multiple types of grain, including corn and wheat.
Compared to malt whiskey, grain whiskey is distilled in cheaper column stills and isnt as flavorsome.
Another difference is that grain whiskey requires a shorter maturation period.
Whiskeys often develop a signature flavor profile during the aging process.
Because this step isnt lengthy when making grain whiskey, the alcohol produced has a cleaner profile.
Its easy to drink and ideal for blending with other types of whiskeys.
Rye Whiskey
As you may have guessed, rye grain is the main ingredient used in makingrye whiskey.
Other set standards that rye whiskey must meet include:
9.
Wheat Whiskey
Again, distillers must follow strict production standards when producing wheat whiskey.
These standards include:
10.
Distillers have the option of aging the beverage in charred or un-charred oak barrels.
Corn whiskey is a top choice for those looking for a drink packed with sweet flavors.
It contains notes of marshmallows and flavors like browned butter and honey.
Well, whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage.
Its among the worlds most popular drinks afterwinesandbeers.
What Is Whiskey Made Of?
Whiskey is made from grains.
The range of whiskey ingredients used often varies from one distiller to another.
How Is Whiskey Made?
Depending on the brewing traditions of the distilling company, whiskey could be made using malted or un-malted grain.
The grain is then mashed into grist and poured into hot water to naturalize sugars.
Distillers then add yeast, a compound that helps in fermentation, turning the sugary syrup into alcohol.
When producing malted whiskey, the brewers distill the alcohol to create a strong spirit.
The process of producing un-malted whiskey involves allowing the beverage to mature in wood barrels.
These barrels are often made from charred or un-charred white oak.
Note that the option used plays a role in dictating the color and flavor of the whiskey produced.
Distillers who focus on the age of the drink will indicate the age of the whiskey on the bottle.
you’ve got the option to trust both kinds of distillers to produce top-quality whiskey.
Those that concentrate on taste do an impressive job at putting the taste buds of drinkers to the test.
On the other hand, older whiskey is expensive because it has a complex blend of flavors and tastes.
Dark whiskey has a better aesthetic appeal, sure.
When Was Whiskey Invented?
The origins of alcohol brewing are traced back to ancient Mesopotamia.
But it was only in later centuries when monks inEuropean monasterieslearned to create whisky by distilling fermented grains.
This knowledge landed in Ireland and Scotland in the 11th and 13th centuries.
Now, youve heard people call whiskey moonshine, right?
At around the same time, whiskey had made its way into America.
The same trend of heavy taxation followed suit, but Americans refused to brew in the dark.
Instead, they matched the streets in a protest dubbed theWhiskey Rebellion.
By 1802, America ditched the heavy taxation.
In the mid-20th century, America and even the English government had lifted its ban on alcohol production.
Some of the well-established distillers that emerged in America in the 1960s include Jack Daniels and Jim Beam.
Whisky or Whiskey, Which Is It?
So, whisky or whiskey, which is the correct spelling?
Well, it all depends on where your favorite bottle is made.Both whiskey and whisky are correct spellings.
Generally, its whiskey if its American or Irish.
On the other hand, its whisky if made from Scotland, Canada, or Japan.
We hope that this guide has equipped you with answers to make your selection easier.
So, a little whisky or whiskey is good for the heart (no pun intended).
Got a bottle of choice?
Or, know something we didnt cover about the different types of whiskeys?
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