What are the differences between a Single Malt whisky, Blended Malt, and Grain Whisky? What do the terms Single cask, Cask strength, Finish or Small batch mean? What are the differences between Whisky and Whiskey ? Between Whisky and Bourbon ?
Produced and enjoyed worldwide, whisky can sometimes be complex to understand. From Scotland to Ireland via France, the United States, India, or Japan, there are several types, each with its own production method, taste, and history. In this article, we will explore the different types of whisky as well as their characteristics. As a bonus, we will also give you some essential vocabulary concepts that will greatly help you when choosing your bottle!
Summary
Whisky and Whiskey, what are the differences?
None! At least regarding the contents of a bottle.In Scotland, in Japan or in other countries such as France, it is the word whisky that is mainly used. The term whiskey is, on the other hand, only used when the famous spirit comes from Ireland or the United States.
Why? To understand this, we need to go back to the 19th century, a period during which the quality of Scottish whisky was, shall we say, quite variable, not to say mediocre. In order to differentiate themselves, the Irish therefore had the idea to slightly modify the word before shipping their bottles to the United States. A kind of trademark then, allowing them to promote their whisky/whiskey, which they considered to be of higher quality! Since then, the term has remained and is still used in these two countries.
PS: While the term whisky is commonly accepted worldwide, do not tell a Scotsman that he produces whiskey!
What are the differences between Whisky and Bourbon?
While bourbon is a type of whisky, the reverse is not true! The criteria used to differentiate the two products are the choice of cereals (or grains) as well as the place of production.
To be called bourbon, a spirit can only be produced in the United States and nowhere else.Moreover, bourbon must be primarily made from corn (at least 51%), while whiskies from the rest of the world are mainly produced using barley, wheat, or even rye. This will naturally create a difference in taste, which is why bourbon expresses more roundness and smoothness than whisky. This smoothness is further enhanced by a requirement of at least 3 years of aging in new charred oak barrels, giving bourbon a pronounced woody character as well as intense spicy notes such as vanilla, cinnamon, or pepper.
What are the differences between Single Malt, Blended Malt, Grain Whisky, Blend ?
The difference between all these terms once again lies in the choice of cereals and grains used, as well as the place or places of production. Let’s take a closer look.
1) Single Malt : considered the original whisky, it is a spirit produced in a single distillery and made exclusively from malted barley.
2) Blended Malt : this is simply a whisky resulting from the blending of several Single Malts (therefore coming from several distilleries).Malted barley remains here the only cereal used. Note that this type of whisky can also be called Vatted Malt or Pure Malt.
3) Grain Whisky : this is a whisky made from grains or cereals (corn, rye, oats, wheat, etc.) other than malted barley. A Single Grain is produced in one single distillery. Most of the Grain Whisky production is intended for making blends (see below).
4) Blend Whisky : this is the most widespread whisky on the planet, accounting for 90% of global production. As its name suggests, the blend is made from a mix of grain whisky and malt whisky.
After this description of the various categories of whisky, you might be tempted to think that one type of whisky could be better than the others. Nevertheless, although the Single Malt may enjoy a more prestigious reputation among enthusiasts, it is important to understand that there is no best kind of whisky, but simply different whiskies. In fact, some blends and grain whiskies can easily rival Single Malts in terms of aromatic richness! It will therefore mainly depend on your personal tastes and preferences.
Malted barley
Whisky-related vocabulary
Let’s now look at some key vocabulary words related to whisky!
Scotch: designation referring to Scottish whiskies. These must be distilled and then aged on site for a minimum of three years.
Single Cask or Single Barrel: Whisky from a single, unique cask. The term Single Barrel is generally used for bourbons.
Cask strength : Cask strength in French. This term means that the whisky was bottled straight from the cask without being reduced, that is, without lowering the alcohol content by mixing with water. This type of whisky is therefore stronger and more 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 : Finish in French. For a whisky, this consists of undergoing a final maturation in casks of a different nature from those used in the initial years.A Finish generally lasts only a few months and gives the produced spirit a unique character. The most well-known finishes are Sherry wood finish, Port wood finish, and Madeira wood finish.
Age: Maturation period in casks. In whisky, the age stated 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 maturation in casks.
Coffey Still: Type of Alambic
Dram : 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 certain distilleries to dry the malt. This gives a smoky and ashy character to the whisky produced.
There you go, thanks to all these concepts, you are now well-versed in the world of whisky.
Now, the time for practice has come! So don't hesitate to discover at La Cave Éclairée the dazzling Nikka Japanese whiskies, the highly precise Single Malt from Normandy by Le Breuil, the very indulgents from the Hériose house, Kilchoman and the Bellevoye house !
Now, the time for practice has come! So don't hesitate to discover at La Cave Éclairée the dazzling Nikka Japanese whiskies, the highly precise Single Malt from Normandy by Le Breuil, the very indulgents from the Hériose house, Kilchoman and the Bellevoye house !
Slàinte! 🥃
