Whiskey is a spirit that is made by distilling grain foods and then aging them in wooden barrels. There are three main broad categories of whiskey, namely malt whiskey, grain whiskey and blended whiskey. Among them, malt whiskey Whiskey is divided into single malt whiskey and pure malt whiskey. At the same time, the main producing countries of whiskey are the United States, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan, and they also have their own characteristics.

Three categories of whiskey

Malt whiskey:

The taste is sweeter. Each distillery has a different style, usually with a copper still. It is made through twice distillation and the cost is higher. It can also be divided into the following two categories according to the different production processes:

Single Malt: It is brewed using only barley malt from the same distillery, stored in different oak barrels, and diluted with water. Whiskey, with an alcohol concentration of about 40 to 50%, is the most common and most popular type among consumers in Taiwan. Among them, there are two types of single malt whiskey: "original cask strength" and "single cask strength". The former is directly blended and bottled without dilution and has a higher concentration; the latter is whiskey taken from a single oak barrel and bottled directly before leaving the factory. Usually the wine label will indicate the barrel number and other brewing details. The quantity is small and it is quite popular among collectors.

Pure Malt: It used to be called Blended Malt, but in the past few years Scotland officially renamed it Pure Malt, which refers to the use of more than two distilleries and the use of barley malt. Blended and bottled whiskey.

Grain Whiskey (Grain Whiskey):

It is made from grains, distilled and aged using the same process. It has a spicier taste, with a rather strong aroma and aroma of grains. Taste, usually produced in large quantities in continuous stills, with lower cost; less commonly sold separately, it is usually mixed with malt whiskey to make blended whiskey and sold.

Blended Whiskey:

Made from a blend of malt whiskey and grain whiskey, accounting for more than 80% of the world’s whiskey sales. It pursues sweetness, roundness, smoothness, and smooth taste. Each brand has its own characteristics.

The five major whiskey producing countries

In addition to classifying raw materials, many people also often use the five major producing countries to distinguish whiskey. In order of total production, they are the United States, Scotland, Canada, Japan and Ireland.

American whiskey:

It is characterized by using corn as the main raw material. The most famous type is bourbon whiskey originating from Kentucky, which requires more than 51% of corn as raw material. , made by blending rye, barley malt and other grains, and then aged in new American white oak barrels for at least 2 years, with a strong flavor.

Scotch Whiskey:

The British government stipulates that it must be made entirely in Scotland, using only water and barley malt as raw materials. It is distilled twice and aged in oak barrels for more than 3 years. above, and the bottling alcohol concentration cannot be less than 40%. According to different production areas, it is divided into five major regions: highland, lowland, Islay, Speyside and Campbelltown. Because the terrain and climate are very different, the flavor is also very different, and it is most loved by Taiwanese people.

Canadian Whiskey:

Mainly brewed from a mixture of rye, corn and barley, with grain whiskey produced through continuous distillation as the main body. The flavor is usually lighter and is often used to make Bartending.

Japanese Whiskey:

Japanese raw materials and technology originate from Scotland, but different distilleries have ever-changing production processes. The flavor is varied and the taste is smooth and smooth. It is suitable for adding water. Serve with ice cubes.

Irish whiskey:

Similar to Scotch whiskey, but the main raw materials are barley and a small amount of rye, wheat and oats. It needs to be distilled three times and has a refreshing taste. Pure.