[BLOG] Grasp the Taste of Whiskey

Grasp the Taste of Whiskey

Before we get to the point, let’s see what you know about whiskey. Did you watch the 2014 British movie, Kingsman: The Secret Service? Then you perhaps remember this conversation:

Waiter: Would sir care for a drink?

Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin: Martini. Gin, not vodka, obviously. Stirred for 10 seconds while glancing at an unopened bottle of vermouth. Thank you.

There are only two groups of people. The first are those who actually followed what Eggsy was saying. The second are those who pretended to. If you belong to the second group, then I will help you. Gone are the days of you looking like a deer caught in headlights when some cool British bloke on screen throws out cocktail-speak at the sexy bartender. Well, not really. After all, this is just a starter guide, and the martini that Eggsy ordered does not have any whiskey in it. But, this guide will get you started in the right direction. It is important to learn the differences between various drinks before you get to the various cocktails. So, here you go.

First Things First: Whiskey or Whisky

Frankly, there is no difference between the drinks that are called whiskey and those called whisky. The Americans and the Irish call it whiskey, with the ‘e’. In Scotland, Australia, Japan, and Canada, it is whisky, without the ‘e’. Yet, the American brands Old Forester and Maker’s Mark call their products whisky just because they feel they are special snowflakes. That’s all. You can call them whiskey or whisky as per your liking.

What Makes the Whiskeys Different From One Another?

The difference between whiskeys arise out of their distillation processes, the grain used, the location where they are distilled, type of casks used, and their age. Each whiskey’s classification is done based on a fixed set of rules. For instance, scotch is exclusive to Scotland. A spirit will not be called scotch if it is made in any other country, even by following the same process. The same is true for bourbon, which is exclusive to the US.

Classification of Whiskeys

Whiskeys are mainly classified into 6 main types:

Single Malt
Single Malt whiskeys are made exclusively out of malted barley. All the contents of a single malt whiskey bottle are obtained from the same distillery. Sometimes, whiskey from two or more casks from the same distillery may be mixed. When the age of the two casks differs, the age of the youngest is considered to be the age of the whiskey. This is the most common type of whiskey. Try different single malt whiskeys, and learn to differentiate between them before you move on to something more refined.

Single Grain
Just like single malt, single grain whiskey is also made entirely out of the same distillery. However, unlike single malt, this whiskey is prepared by making use of additional grains, apart from malted barley. Single grain whiskeys are used for creating whiskey blends, because of which they are a rare product, which means they cost a premium.

Single Cask
All the contents of a Single Cask whiskey bottle come out of a single cask. Whiskey from different casks is not mixed together to create uniformity of flavor. Thus, every cask has a unique flavor, however minute the difference. Generally, small distilleries offer single cask whiskeys. Apart from them, major brands have their own limited edition, high-end single cask whiskey lines.

Blended Malt
Blends whiskeys are made by mixing together two or more whiskeys of the same type. Blended malt, for instance, is obtained by mixing together two or more single malt whiskeys from different distilleries.

Blended Grain
Similarly, when you mix two or more single grain whiskeys, you get blended grain whiskey. Because of the rarity of the single grain whiskeys, blended grain whiskeys are also quite rare and are sold at a premium.

Blended Scotch
Blended scotch whiskeys are prepared by mixing single malt whiskeys with single grain whiskeys, which are sourced from different distilleries. If you have ever tasted a scotch, it probably was a blended scotch, because a majority of the scotches across the world are blended.

Quick Look Into International Whiskeys

The various whiskeys available in the US are Bourbon, Rye, and Tennessee Whiskey. There are also many undefined American Whiskeys. In Canada, you get Rye and Scotch. In some places, you may even get bourbon-style whiskeys. Other than these, you may come across some confusing names like Hakashu, Nikka, and Yamazaki. As much confusing they sound, these Japanese brands have left the world swooning over them with their awesomeness. Their whiskey revolution has its roots in Scotland, and are known to be great drinks.

These are some of the broad categories of whiskeys, and are by no means extensive. The whiskey scene in each country has its own history. Naturally, there are thousands of whiskey types in hundreds of countries.

Bonus

If you really want to enjoy the whiskeys and all the awesomeness they have to offer, develop your taste. You start with single malts, learn to differentiate between them, and then graduate to the next step that is single grain whiskeys. And, then you go higher up the ladder. Becoming a master of whiskey is not about rattling off brand or distillery names. It is about finding that perfect whiskey that will go straight to your heart, instead of your head.

Finally, don’t ever let anyone tell you how you should enjoy your whiskey. Whether you do it neat, with water, on the rocks, or as cocktails is entirely up to you. Because whiskey is love; whiskey is life.

Thanks!
Let me know your questions in the comments, and follow if you would like to see more unrelated to cryptos ♥

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