What is whisky?
Whisky is a distilled alcoholic beverage that is produced from fermented grain mash. For the production of whisky, grains like barley, rye, wheat and corn are used. Most whisky is matured for several years in oak casks. Depending on the origin, ingredients, production, distillery, length of the maturation, cask and type of whisky, whisky can differ strongly in colour and flavour. On this page we’e going to take a closer look at Scotch whisky, in particular.
The history of Scottish whisky
The art of distillation arrived in Scotland in the 15th century at the latest. The first documented evidence for the production of whisky can be found in 1494 in an order for 500 bottles.
When England and Scotland were unified in the Act of Union 1707, the taxes on whisky increased sharply. Subsequently, many Scottish distillery had to shut down or continue their production secretly. It took until 1823 until a legal basis for the production and the selling of whisky was established, which is why most traditional distillery have a founding date in the 19th century or later.
What types of Scottish whisky are there?
Scotch whiskies often carry terms on their label that help consumers understand more about the whisky’s origin. The most frequent terms of origin include Speyside, Highland and Islay. Additionally, some terms indicate how a whisky was produced:
• Single Malt: A single malt is always produced from maltey barley and may only originate from one distillery.
• Blended Malt: Blended malts can be created with whiskies from different distilleries. The word “malt”, however, means that the whisky was exclusively made from malt.
The spelling: Whisky or whiskey?
Again and again, there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to the spelling of whisky – although the rule is actually pretty simple. If the spirit comes from Ireland or the US, the spirit is spelled “whiskey”. If the drink comes from anywhere else, the spelling “whisky” is used. That’s why Scotch whisky is spelled without the “e”.
What popular Scottish whisky brands are there?
Today, there are hundreds of interesting whisky distilleries that are distributed in all of Scotland. That’s why it’s hard to create a fair selection. Here a small list of the most exciting and popular Scottish distilleries: Aberlour, Glenfiddich, Macallan, Talisker, Aberfeldy, Caol Ila, Glenmorangie, The Glenlivet, The Balvenie, Bowmore, Glendronach, Johnnie Walker, Laphroaig, Bruichladdich, Highland Park, Glenfarclas and Ardberg. However, many of today’s popular Scottish whisky brands belong to luxury conglomerates like Diageo, Suntory or Pernod Ricard.
Scottish whisky at Gustero
If you’re taking a look at our selection of high-quality whiskies, it’s hard to believe that Gustero does not exclusively sell whisky. Besides whiskies from the US, Canada, Ireland, Japan and Switzerland, we also offer a selection of more than 200 premium Scotch whiskies. No matter if you’re looking for a blended whisky or a single malt, we’re sure you will find something you will like! We also offer countless special editions and limited bottlings in elegant packaging that would make the perfect gift.
