To newcomers, whiskey, with its myriad styles, regions, and labels, can be intimidating. Why are there so many different kinds of whiskey, and how different are they, really?
We’ve all been there at one point or another. The good news is, it’s not as complicated as it seems. This post will break down, in the simplest terms possible, the major categories of whiskey out there today.
First, what is whiskey? All whiskeys are made from grain that’s fermented and then distilled. When whiskey goes in the bottle, it has to be at least 40% alcohol by volume (ABV). With some exceptions, it’s aged in wooden barrels, although exactly what kind and for how long varies around the world. Variations in mash bill (the fancy term for the types of grain that go in a whiskey), barrel type, aging time, and distillation technique are what account for the enormous breadth of this wonderful spirit.
Scotch can only be made in Scotland. It’s aged in used barrels—which may have originally held bourbon, wine, or port—for at least three years. Scotch is bottled at a minimum 40% alcohol by volume (ABV).
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Generally speaking, Scotch blenders aim for a product that’s consistent and drinkable. While there are plenty of good blended whiskies out there, Scotch snobs typically think of single malts as more interesting because each region and each distillery has a distinctive character (although that may be changing). Indeed, there’s quite a wide variation in the world of single malts, from lighter, fruit- or grain-forward drams to aggressive, peaty expressions heavy on salty and medicinal flavors. The list of most expensive whiskies in the world is always dominated by single malt Scotch.
The word whiskey comes from the Irish phrase uisce beatha, or “water of life,” and the Irish are typically credited with being the first whiskey distillers. Just like their neighbors in Scotland, the Irish distinguish malt whiskey from grain whiskey.
Scotch and Irish whiskey are different in several ways. One is that Irish malt is very rarely smoked over peat, meaning it lacks the smoky, savory components of peated scotch. Another is the existence, in Ireland, of a category called pot still whiskey, which is made from a mix of malted and unmalted barley. That “green” barley contributes an added dimension of flavor that sets pot still whiskeys apart both from scotch and other Irish whiskeys.
Irish whiskey must be made in Ireland or Northern Ireland. In terms of taste, Irish whiskeys vary widely, from grassy to grainy to bourbon-like (more on that in a minute).
American Whiskeys
Both styles have several things in common. Chief among their similarities is that they must both be aged in new, charred oak barrels, a major source of flavor and aroma in America’s native whiskeys (remember that scotch is always aged in used barrels).
Rye whiskey is bourbon’s northern counterpart, and although it’s long played second fiddle to bourbon in terms of sales, it’s been making a comeback in recent years. Rye, as you probably guessed, has to be made with at least 51% rye, with the remainder, again, being up to the distiller, but usually consisting of malted barley and corn. Rye grain imparts distinctive spice and fruit notes, making rye whiskey more assertive than its mellow southern cousin.
There are a number of other categories of American whiskey. They include Tennessee whiskey, which is essentially bourbon that’s made in Tennessee and filtered through charcoal. Wheat whiskey is, you guessed it, made with mostly wheat. And blended whiskey—well, that’s a whole different thing, one you can read about here, if you’re interested.
Canadian Whisky
Many whiskey drinkers turn up their noses at Canadian whisky, which is often viewed as inferior to Scotch or bourbon. But the fact is, our neighbors to the north have also been distilling for a long time, and that history has yielded a distinctive style.
Most Canadian whiskies contain a lot of corn, just like bourbon. However, that’s about where the similarities end. For one thing, Canadian whisky has to be aged at least three years, a requirement that doesn’t exist for bourbon. There are also no restrictions on the type of barrel that can be used—they can be new or used, charred or uncharred. In general, Canadian whisky is lighter, smoother, and less flavorful than American whiskey, which is the source of the snobbery around this spirit.
Finally, it should be noted that Canadians commonly refer to all Canadian whisky as “rye,” for historical reasons. Canadian rye is not the same as American rye—it often doesn’t contain any actual rye grain.
With North America and the British Isles covered, we’re left with one other important whiskey region: Japan. Japanese whisky is similar to Scotch in most respects, because the industry’s pioneers modeled their product on Scotch. Commercial whisky distilling in Japan started in the 1920s.
Just like with Scotch, you’ll find both blended and single malt Japanese whiskies, and although this is a relatively young category, its profile is growing internationally.
