People love their whisky, it’s ahead in the entire spirits industry. While you may think of a fancy man in a suit on a big leather chair as a whisky drinker, this isn’t the case anymore. More people, from all walks of life, are embracing whisky.
If you’re curious about the types of whisky, either as a newfound lover or seasoned connoisseur, you’ve come to the right place. Now is your chance to see all that whisky has to offer and add a few new items to your next liquor store trip.
Let’s get started!
Types of Whisky
Before mentioning the types of whisky, let’s get a good idea of what whisky is. Generally, it is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. The process of making it differs from place to place but this is the basic definition.
Here are the main kinds of whisky:
- Bourbon – USA
- Scotch – Scotland
- Irish Whiskey
- Canadian Whiskey
- Japanese Whisky
USA Bourbon
If you’re a regular whisky drinker, you’re probably familiar with Bourbon. With vanilla and sweet caramel notes, it’s a bit smoky and oh-so-delicious.
Bourbon is a distilled American whiskey. It’s made of corn and stored in oak casks. To fit the legalities, it has to contain at least 51 percent corn.
You might also be familiar with Tennessee Whiskey, which is the slightly sweeter version of bourbon. The difference here is that the Tennessee Whiskey gets filtered through sugar maple charcoal.
Scotch Whisky
Scotch whisky is made in Scotland out of malted barley. The Scottish are very serious about their whisky! There are strict regulations about how it should be made.
All the whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years and the minimum bottling strength is 40% of alcohol by volume.
The way scotch gets treated is similar to the way wine gets treated in America. Not meant for intoxication but rather, to really savor the flavor. As far as the taste, it is similar to bourbon but has a bit of a bite – making it more of an acquired taste.
Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey was once the most popular spirit in the world. This whiskey made in Ireland is known for its full, heavy taste. It’s made from malted barley and goes through a process called peating.
One of the most interesting types of Irish whiskey is the single malt whiskey. Some people are not a big fan of malt whiskey, even though it’s just a lighter body with a recognizable sweet flavor similar to the other sweet whiskeys.
Despite the division, malt whiskey is an interesting liquor to try and see where you land on the matter. In fact, giving a malt whisky gift is a great idea for the adventurous foodie in your life.
Canadian Whiskey
Canadian whiskey is made in, you guessed it, Canada. It can be made of any cereal grain and the finished product often blends several other types of whisky- such as wheat, corn, or rye. Similar to the other whiskeys, it’s aged in ‘small wood’ for at least three years.
As far as taste? Canadian whiskey is a bit spicier than it’s counterparts.
Japanese Whiskey
Japanese whiskey was actually inspired by Scotch! Like scotch, Japanese whisky relies heavily on malted barley that’s mashed and distilled twice in pot stills. There is also the element of it being wood-aged.
Japanese whiskey is silky, with a subtle, sweet, and spicy finish.
Drink Like No Other
Now that you are more aware of the types of whisky, you can make an informed decision on which you’ll purchase next. Between the smoky Bourbon or the classic Scotch, you’re sure to find a whisky perfect for you.
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