“The Best Scotch in the World: An Ultimate Guide to Finding Your New Favourite”.
Are you looking for the best scotch in the world? The search can be daunting — with a wide variety of Scotch whiskies ranging from single malt to blended varieties, you’ll need to be well informed to find the perfect one for your taste buds. Do not worry, today we are going to provide you with an ultimate guide to understanding and appreciating the unique flavors of each type of Scotch.
Scotch whisky, or Scotch, is whisky made in Scotland and must conform to the regulations of the Scotch Whisky Act 1988. All Scotch whiskies must be at least three years old before they can be bottled and labeled as Scotch. The origin of the word ‘whisky’ dates back to ancient Celtic words meaning ‘water of life’ and Scotch whisky is one of the most iconic spirits in the world, with the industry in Scotland dating back 15 centuries. Scotch is made from three primary ingredients: grain, yeast and water, and has been produced in Scotland for centuries. The flavor of Scotch typically ranges from light and sweet to smoky and complex, depending on the type of whisky, its age and the ingredients used.
Single Malt Scotch is made from water and malted barley and is produced at one single distillery. These whiskies are hugely popular among whisky connoisseurs and offer a range of flavours due to the different barley varieties and distillation techniques used. Examples of popular single malt whiskies include Balvenie, Macallan, and Glenfiddich.
Blended whisky, on the other hand, is a combination of whiskies from up to twelve different distilleries. Blended Scotch is usually a combination of single malt whisky and quality grain whisky from at least two different distilleries. Blended Whiskey is usually milder and more approachable than single malt whisky, making it a better choice for whisky newbies. Examples of popular blended scotch whiskies are Johnny Walker, Dewar’s and Chivas Regal.
Now that you know the key differences between single malt and blended whiskies, let’s move on to the various types of Scotch whiskies.
Single Grain Scotch is made in one single distillery just like Single Malt, however, grain whisky is made from grains other than barley, typically wheat and maize. It is usually aged in barrels and often has a good amount of oak flavour that comes through in the taste.
Blended Malt Scotch is made using multiple single malt whiskies from different distilleries, but without any parts of the grain whisky. Popular examples of blended malt whiskies includes the Monkey Shoulder, Johnnie Walker Green and Johnnie Walker Gold.
Finally, there’sCask Strength Scotch. Cask strength whisky is made from the same ingredients used in standard Scotch whisky, however it is undiluted in the barrel and bottled at its original strength. This means the whisky will have a higher alcohol content than normal, usually around 55 to 80%.
Hopefully this guide has helped you to better understand the many types of Scotch whisky. With such a vast array of flavour profiles and distilling techniques, you’ll surely find a whisky to meet your needs. So whether you are a whisky newbie or a connoisseur, we are sure you will find your new favorite Scotch in no time.