An Introduction to Scotch Whisky

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 Definition of Scotch 

Scotch whisky must be distilled and matured for three years in Scotland and must be bottled at a minimum 40% alcohol. 

Scotch Whisky is divided into five distinct categories: single malt, single grain, blended malt, blended grain, and blended Scotch Whisky. 

When a bottle of Scotch Whisky bears an age statement on the label, that is the age of the youngest whisky in the blend

 Types of Scotch Whisky 

1. Single Malt Whisky. Single Malt Whisky is malt whisky from a single distillery. Under the UK's 'Scotch Whisky Regulations', a Single Malt Scotch Whisky must be made exclusively from malted barley, must be distilled using pot stills at a single distillery, and must be aged for at least three years in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres.

2. Single Grain W

3.  Blended Grain Whisky. Grain whisky is made from a  mixture of malted barley and other grains, the most  common is corn (maize). The malted barley is needed to  create the enzymes to break down the starch  compounds in the  grain. The split is usually 30% malted  barley and 70% grain.

4.  Blended Malt or Grain Whisky (formerly called  Vatted  Whisky). A Vatted whisky can be either a Vatted gra

5. Blended Whisky. A blended whisky is made from a mixture of malt and  grain  whisky. Most of the Scotch Whisky produced in Scotland is  consumed in blended form. Blended whisky is made by blending Single  Malt Whisky with Grain Whisky. The highly skilled and complex task of  creating a marriage of Single Malt and Single Grain whiskies to make a  blended whisky, is the responsibility of the Mas