Outline of whisky

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Whisky
A still house in a whiskey distillery - Wood engraving, late 19th century - Wellcome V0019351.jpg
A late 19th century whisky distillery
Alcohol by volume  at least 40%
Ingredients Rye, Wheat, Barley, Corn, Malt, Peat, Oak, Water, Sugar maple
An old whisky still Liquor Still Frankfort 489226997.jpg
An old whisky still
Copper pot stills at Auchentoshan Distillery in Scotland Auchentoshan03.jpg
Copper pot stills at Auchentoshan Distillery in Scotland
Malted barley is an ingredient of some whiskies. WhiskyMaking Kilned BarleyMalt.jpg
Malted barley is an ingredient of some whiskies.
Empty oak barrels waiting to be filled with whisky at the White and MacKay distillery in Invergordon Whisky barrels.jpg
Empty oak barrels waiting to be filled with whisky at the White and MacKay distillery in Invergordon
Spirit still at St George's whisky distillery in Norfolk Spirit still at St George's Distillery - geograph.org.uk - 1469720.jpg
Spirit still at St George's whisky distillery in Norfolk
The Hiram Walker Distillery in Windsor, Ontario. Established in 1858, it is the oldest functioning distillery in the province. Hiram Walker distilleries 2.jpg
The Hiram Walker Distillery in Windsor, Ontario. Established in 1858, it is the oldest functioning distillery in the province.
Scotch whisky Bowmore whisky 12 years.JPG
Scotch whisky
Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel Jackdaniel.jpg
Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel
Glenfiddich Distillery stills Glenfiddich Distillery stills.jpg
Glenfiddich Distillery stills
A charred oak barrel used to age whiskey Oak Barrel.png
A charred oak barrel used to age whiskey
Inside Sullivans Cove distillery in Tasmania, Australia SULLIVANS-COVE-MAY17-natalie-mendham-photography-144.jpg
Inside Sullivans Cove distillery in Tasmania, Australia
Tennessee whiskey aging in charred new oak barrels at the Jack Daniel's distillery Whiskey barrels.jpg
Tennessee whiskey aging in charred new oak barrels at the Jack Daniel's distillery
Macallan Distillery production hall Macallan part of the production hall.jpg
Macallan Distillery production hall
Making charcoal at the Jack Daniel Distillery Making charcoal at Jack Daniels, Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg (pop. 361), Tennessee.jpg
Making charcoal at the Jack Daniel Distillery
Four Roses Distillery Destileria fourroses usa.jpg
Four Roses Distillery
Recently filled barrels of Woodford Reserve bourbon outside of the rickhouse, where they will be stacked and stored during the aging process Woodford Reserve Distillery-27527-8.jpg
Recently filled barrels of Woodford Reserve bourbon outside of the rickhouse, where they will be stacked and stored during the aging process
Jim Beam Distillery Jim Beam distillery.jpg
Jim Beam Distillery

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to whisky:

Contents

Whisky (also "whiskey") distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used in different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak.

Whisky is a strictly regulated spirit worldwide. It encompasses many national expressions and variations. The typical unifying characteristics of the different expressions and variations are the fermentation of grains, distillation, and aging in wooden barrels.

The spelling whiskey is commonly used in Ireland and the United States, while whisky is used almost exclusively in other whisky-producing countries. [1]

National varieties

Types of whisky

North American

Europe

  • Campbeltown, a small western coastal town, was once home to over 30 distilleries but now has only three in operation. [22]
  • The Islands, an unrecognised sub-region of the Highlands, includes all of the whisky-producing islands but excludes Islay. [23] [24]
  • Islay /ˈlə/ : is produced on the island of Islay, Scotland. [25]
  • The Highlands: The Highlands is by far the largest region in Scotland both in area and in whisky production. This massive area has over 30 distilleries on the mainland.
  • The Lowlands district covers much of the Central Belt and the South of Scotland including Edinburgh & The Lothians, Glasgow & The Clyde Valley, the Kingdom of Fife, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders. [26]
  • Speyside: Speyside gets its name from the River Spey, which cuts through this region and provides water to many of the distilleries.

United States

Creating Whisky

Ingredients

Chemistry

Processes

Equipment

Production

Distillers

Lists of distillers

Brands

Laws and regulations

Community

Events and tourism

Publications

Magazines

Books

Whisky Lists

See also

Notes

  1. Although only five regions are specified, any Scottish locale may be used to describe a whisky if it is distilled entirely within that place; for example a single malt whisky distilled on Orkney could be described as Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky instead of as an Island whisky.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotch whisky</span> Malt or grain whisky distilled in Scotland

Scotch whisky is malt whisky or grain whisky, made in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whisky</span> Distilled alcoholic beverage

Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor made from fermented grain mash. Various grains are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, which are typically made of charred white oak. Uncharred white oak casks previously used for the aging of port, rum or sherry are also sometimes used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single malt Scotch</span> Type of whisky made in Scotland

Single malt Scotch refers to single malt whisky made in Scotland. To qualify for this category, a whisky must have been distilled at a single distillery using a pot still distillation process and made from a mash of malted barley. Therefore, a single malt means that the whisky has not been blended elsewhere with whisky from other distilleries. As with any Scotch whisky, a single malt Scotch must be distilled in Scotland and matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years, although most single malts are matured longer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single malt whisky</span> Malt whisky from a single distillery

Single malt whisky is malt whisky from a single distillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rye whiskey</span> Distilled alcoholic beverage

Rye whiskey can refer to two different, but related, types of whiskey:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Glenlivet distillery</span> Distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland that produces single malt Scotch whisky

The Glenlivet distillery is a distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland, that produces single malt Scotch whisky. It is the oldest legal distillery in Scotland. It was founded in 1824 and has operated almost continuously since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balvenie distillery</span> Scotch whisky distillery

Balvenie distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dufftown, Scotland, owned by William Grant & Sons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grain whisky</span> Type of alcoholic beverage

Grain whisky normally refers to any whisky made, at least in part, from grains other than malted barley. Frequently used grains include maize, wheat, and rye. Grain whiskies usually contain some malted barley to provide enzymes needed for mashing and are required to include it if they are produced in Ireland or Scotland. Whisky made only from malted barley is generally called "malt whisky" rather than grain whisky. Most American and Canadian whiskies are grain whiskies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blended malt whisky</span> Blend of different single malt whiskies from different distilleries

A blended malt, formerly called a vatted malt, or pure malt, is a blend of different single malt whiskies from different distilleries. These terms are most commonly used in reference to Scotch whisky, or whisky in that style, such as Japanese whisky.

Malt whisky is whisky made from a fermented mash consisting of malted barley. If the product is made exclusively at a single distillery, it is typically called a single malt whisky. Although malt whisky can be made using other malted grains besides barley, those types are not called malt whisky without specifying the grain, such as rye malt whisky or buckwheat malt whisky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American whiskey</span> Type of distilled liquor produced in the United States

American whiskey is whiskey produced in the United States. American whiskeys made from mashes with at least 51% of their named grains include bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, and corn whiskey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small batch whiskey</span> Product label

Small batch whiskey is whiskey produced by mixing the contents of a relatively small number of selected barrels. Small batch whiskeys are commercially positioned for the upper-premium market. The term is most commonly used for American whiskey but is sometimes used for other whiskeys as well. For example, the Bowmore distillery in Islay, Scotland, has produced a single malt Scotch whisky labeled as "small batch".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German whisky</span> German beverage

German whisky is a distilled beverage produced in Germany made from grains traditionally associated with the production of whisky. The distillation of German-made whisky is a relatively recent phenomenon having only started in the last 30 years. The styles produced resemble those made in Ireland, Scotland and the United States: single malts, blends, and bourbon styles. There is no standard spelling of German whiskies with distilleries using both "whisky" and "whiskey" and one even using "Whesskey", a play on the word whisky and Hessen, the state in which it is produced. There are currently 23 distilleries in Germany producing whisky.

Nelson's Green Brier Distillery is a whiskey distillery located in downtown Nashville, Tennessee that produces different varieties of Tennessee whiskey and bourbons. The distillery offers daily public tours and tastings as well as a large mercantile shop with bottles, barware and apparel available for purchase. In July 2023, Nelson's Green Brier Distillery opened a newly renovated distillery restaurant and full-service bar at their 1414 Clinton St. Nashville, TN 37203 location. The same facility also now offers four new private event and dining spaces available to rent for corporate functions, weddings and celebrations of varying sizes.

Straight whiskey, as defined in United States law, is whiskey that is distilled from a fermented cereal grain mash to a concentration not exceeding 80% alcohol by volume (abv) and aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years at a concentration not exceeding 62.5% at the start of the aging process. Domestic sales of straight whiskey surpassed 27 million 9-liter cases in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copper Fox Distillery</span>

Copper Fox Distillery is a distillery that produces American whiskey in Sperryville, Virginia and Williamsburg, VA. The owner and operator of the distillery is Rick Wasmund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian whisky</span> Type of distilled liquor produced in Australia

Australian Whisky is whisky produced in Australia. As of December 2021, there were 333 registered distilleries in operation within Australia, of which approximately 50 have a whisky on the market. The industry has shown steady growth since the early 90s especially in the boutique craft distilling scene.

Stauning Whisky is a whisky distillery in Denmark. It is located in the western part of Jutland just south of a small village called Stauning near Skjern. The distillery was founded in May 2005 by nine Danish whisky enthusiasts and is the oldest whisky distillery in the Kingdom of Denmark. The idea was originally to create a whisky resembling the peated whisky produced on the Scottish isle of Islay. The production is done mainly by hand using local grain and water. Everything is produced following the traditional Scottish methods of whisky production. The preparations started in a building owned by one of the nine founders, formerly used as a private slaughter-house. The building was renovated and official permission obtained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASW Distillery</span> American liquor manufacturer

ASW Distillery is a manufacturer of liquor located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the second legally licensed distillery in Atlanta since the end of American Prohibition and distilled the first single malt whiskey in Atlanta history. In 2018, the distillery's Duality Double Malt Whiskey became Georgia's first-ever Double Gold Medal Whiskey, as judged by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

References

  1. Zandona, Eric; et al. (March 2013). A World Guide to Whisk(e)y Distilleries. Hayward: White Mule Press. ISBN   978-0983638940.
  2. Middleton, Chris (2011). "Australian Whisky: Whisky Phoenix Rises - a Short History of Australian Whisky Distillation". Chemistry in Australia. 78: 18–22.
  3. "The rise of the craft Australian distilleries - Part 1". www.diffordsguide.com. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. "What is Canadian Whisky?". whisky.com).
  5. "What is English whisky?". Scotchwhisky.com. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  6. "Where 'Whisky' Can Be Rum", from The Wall Street Journal, 26 August 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2012. (subscription required)
  7. Peachey, Paul (3 March 2006). "Battle for the world's largest whisky market – India". South Africa Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  8. "Scotch whisky makers threaten action against Indian blends". Business Standard . PTI. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  9. "India stretches whisky market lead", Beverage Daily, 13 January 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2007
  10. "The Difference Between Scotch and whisky". www.theirishplace.com.
  11. "5 Things You Need To Know About Japanese Whisky". Time. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  12. Staff, words: VinePair. "Japanese Whisky Guide | Learn About Japanese Whisky". VinePair. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  13. "Scotch Whisky Regulations". Government of the United Kingdom.
  14. "Facts & Figures". The Scotch Whisky Association. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  15. "How Single Malt Whisky Is Made - Whisky.com". www.whisky.com.
  16. "Scotch Whisky FAQs". Scotch Whisky Association.
  17. "How is Whisky Made?". 2 October 2019.
  18. "Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, Title 27 Code of Federal Regulations, Pt. 5.22(1)(iii)" (PDF). Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  19. Old Bushmills History (official website)
  20. Alternative Whisky Academy
  21. "Whisky Regions & Tours". Scotch Whisky Association. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  22. "Campbeltown Whisky Distilleries – Map & Tours". VisitScotland.
  23. "Scotch Whisky Regions". Scotch Whisky Association.
  24. Powell, Tom (31 July 2018). "The beginner's guide to scotch whisky". Foodism.
  25. "Islay Malt Whisky and Islay Whisky Distilleries Map". www.islayinfo.com. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  26. "Lowland Whisky – Map & Distillery Tours Near Edinburgh & Glasgow". VisitScotland.