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Often referred to as "liquid gold," whisky is a diverse spirit that captivates connoisseurs around the world. Whether you are just starting to explore the world of spirits or want to branch out into other whisky types, understanding the differences can enhance your experience.
In this article, delve into the many facts of whisky, including definitions, origin year and country, flavour profiles, where it’s most popular and fun facts.
General Whisky Types:
Whisky is defined by its ingredients, production methods and ageing process. The most common whisky types include single malt and blended grains, there are many subcategories within them. With that being said, let’s explore the many general types of whisky below:
Single Malt Whisky
What Single Malt Whisky Means: Whisky made at one distillery using only malted barley and distilled in pot stills
Year and Origin: 1820s, Scotland
Flavour Profile: Rich, complex, often with notes of fruit, vanilla and oak
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: Single malt whisky must be aged for at least three years in oak casks
Single Grain Whisky
What Single Grain Whisky Means: Whisky made at one distillery from a mash that includes grains other than malted barley
Year and Origin: Early 19th century, Scotland
Flavour Profile: Light, delicate, often with notes of vanilla, toffee and fruit
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: Single grain whisky can be distilled in continuous column stills, unlike single malt whisky
Blended Whisky
What Blended Whisky Means: A mix of different types of whisky, including malt and grain whiskies from various distilleries
Year and Origin: 1860, Scotland
Flavour Profile: Smooth, balanced, often with notes of fruit, spice and caramel
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: Blended whisky accounts for about 90% of all Scotch whisky sales globally
Blended Malt Whisky
What Blended Malt Whisky Means: A blend of single malt whiskies from different distilleries
Year and Origin: 19th century, Scotland
Flavour Profile: Complex, balanced, often with rich malt and fruit notes
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: Blended malt whisky used to be called "vatted malt" or "pure malt"
Blended Grain Whisky
What Blended Grain Whisky Means: A blend of grain whiskies from different distilleries
Year and Origin: Late 20th century, globally
Flavour Profile: Light, smooth, often with notes of vanilla, caramel and fruit
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: Blended grain whisky is less common than blended malt whisky, but offers a lighter alternative
Scotch Whisky
What Scotch Whisky Means: Whisky made in Scotland according to strict regulations, including ageing for at least three years in oak casks
Year and Origin: 15th century, Scotland
Flavour Profile: Diverse, ranging from light and floral to rich and smoky, depending on the region and production methods
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: Scotch whisky is divided into five regions: Campbeltown, Highlands, Islay, Lowlands and Speyside
World Whisky
What World Whisky Means: Whiskies produced outside traditional whisky-making countries, such as Scotland, Ireland and the USA
Year and Origin: 19th century, Japan (depends upon the location, however, Japan is thought to hold the oldest record of world whisky)
Flavour Profile: Diverse, influenced by local ingredients and traditions
Where It's Most Popular: Japan, India, Australia and Taiwan
Fun Fact: Japanese whisky has gained international acclaim and often rivals Scotch in quality and price
Peated Whisky
What Peated Whisky Means: Whisky made using malted barley dried over peat fires, giving it a smoky flavour
Year and Origin: Ancient practice, widespread in Scotland by the 19th century
Flavour Profile: Smoky, earthy, often with medicinal and maritime notes
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland (especially Islay)
Fun Fact: Peat is partially decayed vegetation found in bogs, used historically due to its abundance as a fuel source in Scotland
Flavoured Whisky
What Flavoured Whisky Means: Whisky that has added flavours, such as honey, apple or cinnamon
Year and Origin: Early 2000s, globally
Flavour Profile: Sweet, spicy or fruity depending on the added flavours
Where It's Most Popular: United States
Fun Fact: Flavoured whisky is popular in cocktails and as a gateway for new whisky drinkers
Organic Whisky
What Organic Whisky Means: Whisky made from organically grown grains which adheres to organic production standards
Year and Origin: 1990s, globally
Flavour Profile: Pure, clean, often with pronounced grain and natural flavours
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland, United States
Fun Fact: Organic whisky production avoids synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, promoting sustainability
Single Estate Whisky
What Single Estate Whisky Means: Whisky produced from grain grown on a single estate, distilled, aged and bottled by one distillery
Year and Origin: 21st century, globally
Flavour Profile: Similar to terroir in wine, often with unique local characteristics
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland, United States
Fun Fact: Single estate whisky is influenced by the local environment
Finished Whisky
What Finished Whisky Means: Whisky that is aged for a secondary period in different types of casks, such as sherry, port, wine or rum casks
Year and Origin: 1980s, globally
Flavour Profile: Gains additional layers of flavour from the finishing cask, often with notes of fruit, spice, chocolate or nuts
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: The secondary maturation process alters the whisky's flavour, making finished whiskies highly sought after by collectors
Small Batch Whisky
What Small Batch Whisky Means: Whisky produced in limited quantities from a select number of casks
Year and Origin: Late 20th century, United States
Flavour Profile: Balanced, high-quality, often with a focus on specific flavour profiles
Where It's Most Popular: United States
Fun Fact: Small batch whisky production allows distillers to experiment with different cask types and ageing processes
Single Cask Whisky
What Single Cask Whisky Means: Whisky bottled from an individual cask rather than being blended from multiple casks
Year and Origin: 1960s, globally
Flavour Profile: Unique to each cask, often with intense and varied flavours
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: Each bottle of single cask whisky is often labelled with the specific cask number and bottling date
Cask Strength Whisky
What Cask Strength Whisky Means: Whisky bottled directly from the cask without dilution, maintaining the original strength
Year and Origin: Late 20th century, globally
Flavour Profile: Intense, robust, often with high alcohol content and deep flavours
Where It's Most Popular: Scotland
Fun Fact: Cask strength whisky can have an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 50% to 60% (or even higher)
Diverse Whiskies at Lochs of Whisky
Understanding the various types of whisky can greatly enhance your appreciation for this storied spirit. Whether you prefer the complex flavours of cask strength whisky or the subtle sweet notes of Scotch, there's a whisky type to suit every palate.
We hope this article has swayed your decision to a specific whisky, but if you have any questions about our range, don’t hesitate to contact us.
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