What are the differences between A Whiskey Single Malt , Blended Malt And Grain Whiskey ? What do the terms mean? Single cask, Cask strength, Finish Or Small batch ? What are the differences between Whiskey And Whiskey ? Between Whiskey And Bourbon ?
Produced and appreciated worldwide , whisky can sometimes be complex to understand. Of Scotland has Ireland passing through the France , the United States, India or the Japan , there are several of them types, each with its own production method, taste and history. In this article, we will explore the different kinds of whiskey as well as their features . As a bonus, we will also give you some essential vocabulary concepts which will greatly help you when choosing your bottle!
Whiskey and Whiskey, what are the differences? ?
None! At least regarding the contents of a bottle. In Scotland, at Japan or in other countries like the France , that's the word whiskey which is mainly used. The term whiskey is only used where the famous brandy comes from from Ireland or from the United States .
For what ? To understand this, we must go back to the 19th century , period during which the quality of the whiskey Scottish was, shall we say, quite variable, if not mediocre. In order to differentiate ourselves , so the Irish had the idea of slightly modifying the word before shipping their bottles to the United States. A kind of trademark therefore, allowing them to enhance their whisky/whiskey, which they considered to be of higher quality! Since then, the term has remained and still is used in both countries.
PS : While the term whisky is commonly accepted around the world, don't tell a Scotsman that he produces whiskey!
What are the differences between Whiskey and Bourbon? ?
If bourbon is a type of whisky, the reverse is not true! The determining criteria for differentiating the two products are here: e choice of cereals (or grains) as well as the place of production .
To call yourself bourbon , a brandy cannot be produced only in the United States and nowhere else . In addition, the bourbon must be mostly manufactured corn based (51% minimum), while whiskies from the rest of the world are mainly produced using barley, wheat or even rye. This will of course mark a difference in taste and this is why a bourbon will express more roundness and sweetness than a whiskey.This softness will also be reinforced by a minimum 3 years of aging in new charred oak barrels , giving the bourbon a pronounced woodiness as well as intense spices like vanilla, cinnamon or pepper.
What are the differences between Single Malt, Blended Malt, Grain Whisky, Blend ?
The difference between all these terms lies once again in the choice of cereals and grains used as well as the place(s) of production. Let's take a closer look.
1) The Single Malt : considered the original whisky, it is a spirit produced in a single distillery and made only using malted barley.
2) The Blended Malt : It is simply a whisky from from the assembly of several Single Malts (therefore coming from several distilleries). The malted barley here remains the only cereal used. Note that this type of whisky can also be called Vatted Malt Or Pure Malt .
3) Grain Whiskey : It is a whisky derived from grains or cereals (corn, rye, oats, wheat etc.) other than malted barley. A Single Grain is produced in a single distillery. The majority of the production of Grain Whiskey is intended for the production of blends (see below).
4) The Blend Whiskey : It is the most widespread whisky on the planet, accounting for 90% of world production. As its name suggests, the blend is a is from a blend of grain whisky and malt whisky .
After this description of the several categories of whisky, you might be tempted to think that a type of whisky can to be better than others. Nevertheless, although THE Single Malt can benefit from a more prestigious reputation among enthusiasts, It is important to understand that there is no best type of whisky, just different whiskies. . Indeed, some blends and grain whiskies easily compete in terms of aromatic richness with Single Malts! It will therefore depend mainly on your tastes. personal and your desires.
Malted barley
Vocabulary around whisky
Now let’s look at some key vocabulary words around whisky!
Scotch: name designating the scotch whiskies . These must be distilled and then aged on site for at least three years.
Single Cask or Single Barrel: Whisky from a single cask. The term Single Barrel is generally used for bourbons.
Cask strength: Cask strength in French. This is a term meaning that the whisky was bottled straight out of the cask without being reduced, that is to say without reducing the alcohol content by mixing it with water. This type of whisky is therefore more alcoholic and powerful than average.
Small batch: This expression means that the whisky was produced in small quantities, thus highlighting the artisanal nature of its production.
Finish: Finishing in French. For a whisky, this consists to undergo a final refining in barrels of a different nature from what he experienced in the early years. A Finish usually lasts only a few months and helps to give a unique characteristic to the spirit produced. The finishes The best known are the Sherry wood finish , Port wood finish And Madeira wood finish .
Age : Length of aging in casks. In whisky, the age mentioned on the label corresponds to the age of the youngest spirit used in the blend.
The Angel's Share: This is the proportion of whisky that evaporates each year during its aging in casks.
Coffey Still: Column still in French.
Drama: Unit of measurement corresponding to a dose between 4 and 5cl.
Peat: Peat in French. It is a mixture of organic matter used as fuel by some distilleries in order to dry the malt. This gives a smoky and ashy character to the whisky produced.
There you have it, thanks to all these notions, you are now well-versed in the world of whisky.
Now it's time to practice! So don't hesitate to discover at The Illuminated Cellar the dazzling ones Nikka Japanese Whiskies , the very precise Norman Single Malts from The Breuil , those very greedy of the Hériose house or the independent bottler The Ultimate and the house Bellevoye ! Non-exhaustive list 😉 .
Now it's time to practice! So don't hesitate to discover at The Illuminated Cellar the dazzling ones Nikka Japanese Whiskies , the very precise Norman Single Malts from The Breuil , those very greedy of the Hériose house or the independent bottler The Ultimate and the house Bellevoye ! Non-exhaustive list 😉 .
Slàinte! 🥃
