What Is Scotch Whisky?

Ah, whisky. Is there anything better than sipping on a beautiful glass filled with this hard liquor? If you ask many folks out there, there isn’t. There are several different types of whiskies that you can sip on, and you may wonder what’s the difference from one to the next. For example – what is Scotch whisky?  

While it’s really popular and can be ordered in upscale bars everywhere, not many people actually know what Scotch whisky is. It’s even misspelled quite a bit because it’s a drink mired in mystery. 

Key Takeaways

  • Scotch whisky is a genre of whisky that is only produced in Scotland. 
  • Traditional Scotch is made entirely of malted barley, but you can also find Scotches made from cereal grains like rye. 
  • You can have single malt scotch whisky, single grain scotch whisky, blended malt, blended grain scotch whisky, or blended whisky.
  • A “single” Scotch is produced by a single distillery.
  •  The youngest whisky Scotch you can have is three years old, and it will need to be aged in oak casks. 
  • Scotland’s whisky standards are regulated and require a minimum aging period of three years. 
  • The Islay region of Scotland is considered to be the true hotspot of whisky culture. 

What Is Scotch Whisky?

Scotch whisky is a whiskey that is made from yeast, water, and malted barley, and traditionally, it’s all made in Scotland. Malted barley whisky is a classic Scottish drink dating back centuries, hence the term “Scotch whisky.”

Though the traditional definition says that Scotch whisky is made from malted barley, the truth is that the definition has started to evolve in recent years. By the 18th century, companies in Scotland also started to incorporate other grains, such as rye and wheat. 

How To Understand Different Scotch Whisky Labels

Because Scotch can be made from a wide array of different cereals, you can’t just say you want Scotch. To find out what type of Scotch you’re drinking, you’re going to need to understand the definitions of the different types of Scotch whiskies out there. 

Single Grain Scotch Whisky

This is Scotch-style whisky made from cereal grains. The term ‘single’ here doesn’t allude to the number of grains that you get, but rather, how many distilleries were involved in its making. Single-grain Scotch whiskies can only be produced in one distillery throughout their lifetime. 

Single-grain Scotch whiskies are great for gifts. They are also fairly high quality and won’t leave you guessing when it comes to quality. 

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Much like with single grain Scotch, the term ‘single’ in single malt Scotch whisky refers to the number of distilleries it was made in. In this case, it was one single distillery. The term ‘malt’ means that the whisky is entirely made of malted barley. 

Single malt Scotch whiskies are as traditional as you can get. This is the old, rich, and robust flavor that Scotsmen loved for centuries. 

Want to give a gift to a connoisseur of great drinks? You can’t go wrong with a single malt Scotch whisky that’s been aged in charred oak barrels. 

Single Rye Scotch Whisky/Single Rye Whiskey

Remember how we said that certain other grains started to be incorporated into making whisky? Yep, this is a thing. Rye whisky is Scotch whisky made exclusively from rye from a single distillery. 

You may be more likely to see this spelled as “Rye Whiskey.” The “e” in “whiskey” is a spelling distinction that denotes that it’s not made in Scotland. Rather, this denotes that it’s an Irish whiskey or an American whiskey. When you see the term “whisky,” this means it’s Scotch. 

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky

Blended-grain Scotch whiskies are made when a blend of single-grain Scotch from different distilleries is blended together. These whiskies tend to have a much wider variety of flavors ranging from light to robust. 

It’s important to note that blended grain whisky can be made from multiple different grains. So, you might see some single cereal grains being blended with rye. Or, you may find rye and wheat blended together. 

The only thing that you can really know here is that it’s been produced by blending whiskies from more than one Scottish distillery using only whole grains. Everything else can be a bit of a mystery. 

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

This is the label for whisky produced by blending the single malts of two different distilleries together. Blended malt Scotch whisky has to have all of its distilled spirits come from Scotland. 

Anecdotally speaking, blended malt Scotch whiskies tend to have a very strong flavor with baked bread notes. Like single malt scotch whiskies, this can only be made with water and barley. 

Blended Scotch Whisky

If you see a whisky that’s simply labeled as “blended Scotch whisky,” this means that you’re drinking a whisky that’s part malt, part grain whiskey. You can have up to 60 different whiskies in blended Scotch whiskies! 

What Makes Scotch Different From Other Whiskies?

Believe it or not, there are actually codified laws put in place to monitor and regulate Scotch whisky production. These scotch whisky regulations are collectively known as the Scotch Whisky Act, later replaced by the Scotch Whisky Regulations  2009 Act. 

Here’s a quick run-through of what makes a whisky a proper whisky:

  • All Scotch whisky has to be produced and bottled in Scotland. Whiskies produced in other places (like Japanese whisky or Tennessee whiskey) are not allowed to be called Scotch whiskies.
  • The whisky has to be made using the traditional method of mash. The whiskey needs to be made into a mash, go through small batch distillation, and can only be fermented by the addition of yeast.
  • All Scotch production must have a minimum alcoholic strength of 40 percent. They also have to keep alcohol levels under 94.8 percent alcohol by volume. The minimum bottling strength is important for consistency.
  • They cannot be aged for less than three years. They also have to be aged in oak barrels under 700 liters.

As you can see, there is a serious culture around producing Scotch. If you go to Scotland, you will see people drinking whisky everywhere you go. It’s a source of national pride, which is why the distilling processes associated with it are so heavily guarded and regulated. 

Does Scotch Have To Come From Scotland?

Yes, but it didn’t always have to. The Scotch Whisky Act of 1988 was the first set of rules to demand that all Scotch be produced in Scotland. You can contact the Scotch Whisky Association for more information.

There are currently over 140 different distilleries in Scotland, so it seems like it’s still pretty popular. Scotland also has started to have a booming tourism industry surrounding Scotch, so it’s likely that more than one distillery will open up in the near future to join the others.

If you have a bottle of Scotch made prior to 1988, there’s a slim chance that it could have been made outside of Scotland. Even so, that was still very unusual. 

What Are The Different Scotch Whisky Regions?

If you are a huge fan of whisky, then you should know that there are different regions that create whiskey worth talking about. 

  • Speyside. Low on peat but high on fruits, Speyside Scotch has a lot more floral tones than others.
  • Scottish Highland Region. They are the highest legal regions for whisky production in Scotland. They have all sorts of flavors. 
  • Lowlands. This is the home of smooth-flavored malts with a soft touch that is medium-bodied.
  • Campbeltown. This region might be small, but it’s said that they have a whisky for every palate here. 
  • Islay. This region is almost entirely dedicated to Scotch production, with most residents working at a local distillery. If you love a fiery Scotch, this is the place to go. Tourists often go here to tour multiple distilleries and to learn about the rich history of whisky. If you love a heavily peated whisky, it comes from here. 

How Many Calories Are There In Scotch Whisky?

Whisky is actually fairly waistline-friendly, especially since it’s a Keto-friendly drink. A single ounce of whisky will set you back 74 calories. 

How To Drink Scotch Whisky

The most common way to drink Scotch is to sip it neat or add a few drops of water to the alcohol. The water actually helps even out the drink and unlocks all the different aromas and notes in it. 

If you want to shoot whisky but still want to avoid feeling too warm, then you might want to serve it on the rocks. Many people prefer this with blended whisky because the grain imparts a more bready flavor when served over ice.

Of course, you can use it in cocktails too! This drink is a cornerstone of several classic cocktails. There are plenty of diet-friendly whisky drinks you can use Scotch for, too. Just use it whenever whisky is supposed to be used. 

FAQs

What’s the difference between Scotch and whiskey?

Scotch is a whisky that is exclusively produced in Scotland according to the regulations placed in 2009. Whiskey, spelled with the e, denotes either Irish or American-made whisky. It did not originate in Scotland but uses similar distilling methods. 

What is so special about Scotch whisky?

Whisky originated in Scotland, and Scotch whisky can only come from Scotland. Scotch whisky is considered to be the most traditional (and often best) whisky you can get. It’s held up to higher regulations than other hard liquors, making it a smart buy for a drinker. 

What is the difference between whiskey, Scotch, and bourbon?

Whiskey is American-made or Irish-made hard liquor distilled from malt barley and/or unmalted cereals. Scotch is a whisky that is made in Scotland out of barley and/or other cereals that are aged in oak barrels for at least three years. This is why you might notice nutty or cereal characteristics.
Bourbon is a bit different. Bourbon is a drink very similar to whiskey but made with grains and yeast rather than mostly malt. Oak aging isn’t required for bourbon. Most people agree that bourbon is a type of whiskey, even though the aging process isn’t quite the same.
Unlike whiskey, which is a more European drink, bourbon is actually native to America. More specifically, bourbon originated in Kentucky. 

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