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 provide you with some essential vocabulary terms that will greatly assist you when choosing your bottle!
Whisky and Whiskey, what are the differences?
None! At least concerning the contents of a bottle.In Scotland, in Japan or in other countries like France, the word whisky is primarily used. The term whiskey is only used when the famous spirit comes from Ireland or the United States.
Why? To understand this, we must go back to the 19th century, a period during which the quality of Scottish whisky was, let's say, quite variable, if not mediocre. To differentiate themselves, the Irish had the idea to slightly modify the word before shipping their bottles to the United States.A kind of trademark therefore, 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 distinctions between Whisky and Bourbon?
While bourbon is a type of whisky, the reverse is not true! The determining criteria to differentiate the two products are the choice of grains(or cereals) as well as the place of production.
To be called bourbon, a spirit can only be produced in the United States and nowhere else. Furthermore, 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 rye. This will naturally create a difference in taste, and that's why bourbon expresses more roundness and sweetness than whisky. This sweetness is further enhanced by a requirement of aging for a minimum of 3 years in new charred oak barrels, giving bourbon a pronounced woody flavor 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 once again lies 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 exclusively from malted barley.
2) The Blended Malt : it is simply a whisky resulting from the blending of several Single Malts (therefore from several distilleries). Malted barley remains the only grain used here.Note that this type of whisky can also be called Vatted Malt or Pure Malt.
3) The Grain Whisky : it is a whisky made 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 Grain Whisky production is intended for the creation of blends (see below).
4) The Blend Whisky : it is the most widespread whisky on the planet, accounting for 90% of global production. As its name suggests, the blend is a result of a mix between 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 better type of whisky, just different whiskies. Indeed, some blends and grain whiskies easily rival Single Malts in terms of aromatic richness! It will therefore mainly depend on your personal tastes and preferences.
Malted barley
Vocabulary around whisky
Let's now look at some key vocabulary words around whisky!
Scotch: designation for 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 and unique cask. The term Single Barrel is generally used for bourbons.
Cask strength: Brut de fût in French.This is a mention indicating that the whisky has been bottled straight from the cask without being reduced, meaning without lowering the alcohol content by mixing with water. This type of whisky is therefore more alcoholic and powerful than average.
Small batch: This expression means that the whisky has been produced in small quantities, thus highlighting the artisanal nature of its production.
Finish: Finish in French. For a whisky, this involves undergoing a final refinement in casks of a different nature from what it experienced in the early years. A Finish generally lasts only a few months and allows for a unique character to be imparted to the produced spirit.The most well-known finishes are the Sherry wood finish, Port wood finish, and Madeira wood finish.
Age: Aging duration 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 refers to the proportion of whisky that evaporates each year during its aging in casks.
Coffey Still: Column still in French.
Dram: A 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 to dry the malt. This gives a smoky and ashy character to the whisky produced.
There you go, with all these notions, you are now well-versed in the world of whisky.
Now, the time for practice has come! Feel free to discover atLa Cave Éclairée the dazzling Japanese Nikka Whiskies, the very precise Single Malt from Normandy by Le Breuil, the very indulgent ones from maison Hériose or the independent bottler The Ultimate and the house Bellevoye! Non-exhaustive list 😉.
Now, the time for practice has come! Feel free to discover at
Slàinte! 🥃
