Famous brands of whiskey: a brief overview of more than 15 brands

I would like to start this topic with a question that causes a lot of controversy: “Is Jack Daniels whiskey or bourbon?”.

If you look at the composition, which is 80% corn, then this is a classic bourbon. And if you look at the production process, then it adds another additional step – filtering the drink through charcoal from sugar maple wood. It is this little procedure that takes Jack Daniels from the bourbon category to the whiskey category. But not just whiskey, but Tennessee Whiskey, all bottles of the drink are marked with this inscription.

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Jack Daniels (США)

The popular and beloved American whiskey Jack Daniels began its history in the 13th century. Then the young boy Jasper Newton Daniel, who was only XNUMX years old, created this famous male drink.

Despite the fact that, at the American legislative level, the production of alcoholic beverages of this kind is allowed only in the state of Kentucky, an exception was made for Jack.

This brand of whiskey is aged in oak wine barrels, which gives it a special taste and aroma. Today, the rights to manufacture and sell the drink belong to the American company Brown-Forman Corporation.

Detailed review of Jack Daniels

Chivas Regal (Scotland)

One of the most famous brands of Scotch whiskey, which occupies a special place in the premium segment.

The company was founded in 1801 by two brothers, John and James Chivas. Although before this type of whiskey, Chivas Brothers produced other brands that were popular among the high ranks of Great Britain and even with Queen Victoria herself.

To date, there are six types of whiskey in the Chivas Regal line.

Detailed review of Chivas

Johnnie Walker (Scotland)

The best selling brand worldwide. The company was founded in 1867 by Johnny Walker’s son.

More than 130 million bottles are produced annually. Under this brand, both inexpensive whiskeys with a minimum aging period and long-aged whiskeys of the premium segment are produced.

The Johnnie Walker line starts with Red Label. This is a standard blend. It consists of 9 varieties aged 3-5 years. This whiskey first saw the light in 1906-1908 and was called Old highland Scotch Whiskey. The modern name according to the color on the bottle label appeared in 1909.

To date, the Johnny Walker brand is owned by the British company Diageo. It is the largest manufacturer of premium drinks.

In addition to the classic Johnnie Walker color line, this brand produces:

1. Exclusive line of blended whiskey John Walker & Sons

2. Johnnie Walker Limited Edition

3. Unique Johnnie Walker Explorers’Club Collection

Detailed review of Johnnie Walker

Ballantine’s (Scotland)

One of the best Scotch whiskeys, today it ranks 3rd in the world in terms of sales.

George Ballantine’s & Sons was founded by George Ballantine in 1827. And the Ballantines trademark was registered only in 1920. And in Europe, they learned about this drink only in 1960.

The composition of the blends does not change and is kept a strict secret for decades. Currently, the Ballantine’s brand is owned by the French company Pernod Ricard and the line includes 12 types of whiskey.

Detailed review of Ballantine’s

The Macallan (Scotland)

The only whiskey distiller to earn a Guinness World Record for selling a collectible Macallan Fine & Rare vintage whiskey for £250.

The Macallan distillery was founded in the 1824th century, and it received official permission to produce whiskey one of the first in Scotland – in XNUMX.

For the production of this brand of whiskey, a special variety of barley is used, characterized by low yields. Small copper stills provide a dense whiskey flavor. The drink is aged in oak barrels from sherry and bourbon.

The Macallan Collections:

1. Sherry Oak

2. Fine Oak

3. The 1824 Collection

4. Distillery Exclusives

5. Masters Of Photography

6. Fine And Rare

7. Lalique

Detailed review of Macallan

Hankey Bannister (Scotland)

The company was founded in 1757 and named after its founders Beaumont Hankey and Hugh Bannister. To date, the rights to manufacture and sell the drink of this brand belong to the corporation Inver House Distillers Ltd.

Hanky ​​Bannester blends use single malt whiskeys from distilleries owned by the aforementioned corporation: Balblair, Speyburn, Pultney, Knockdhu and Balmenach. Blenders carefully select the finest whiskeys to create a soft, light and balanced blend that harmoniously combines the lightness of Lowland grain whiskeys and the intensity of Highland malt whiskeys.

Detailed review of the Hankey Bannister

White Horse (Scotland)

The blended whiskey company was founded in 1883 by James Logan Mackey. Also, his family owned a small tavern “White Horse Inn” and it was in her honor that a strong Scottish drink was named.

It is curious that the number 1742 on the White Horse logo is not the date the whiskey recipe was created: the same tavern was built in 1742.

The composition of this drink includes 40 varieties of malt and grain whiskey. This blend creates a harmonious balanced taste. The leading role in it is played by Lagavulin, a single malt whiskey grown on the island of Islay.

Today the brand is owned by British alcohol giant Diageo.

Detailed view of White horse

The Famous Grouse (Шотландия)

This “famous partridge”, this is how the name is translated from English, has become one of the favorite brands of connoisseurs of burning drinks. Although according to the history of the brand, which dates back to 1896, this whiskey was originally called simply “Grouse” (partridge) – in honor of the favorite game of the Scots.

The Famous Grouse whiskey blend consists of single malt and grain whiskeys. Glenmorangie (Scotland)

In 1843, William Matthewson built a small distillery, where he launched the production of whiskey according to his own recipe. To date, the distillery, or as it is also called the Glenmorangie distillery, is one of the smallest in Scotland and it specializes in the production of single malt whiskey.

A special soft slightly creamy taste of the drink is obtained by aging in oak bourbon barrels for at least ten years.

Detailed review of The Famous Grouse

Grant’s (Scotland)

This is a fairly well-known blended Scotch whisky. It is produced by the family company William Grant & Sons. Today it is already the fifth generation, which is engaged in the development of the family business.

The distillery was built in 1887, and the first bottle of Grant’s whiskey was bottled 11 years later in 1898.

This brand has won numerous worldwide awards, including the World Whiskeys Awards as “Best Blended Scotch Whiskey aged at least 12 years”.

Detailed review of Grant’s

Black and White (Scotland)

This is a fairly inexpensive blended Scotch whiskey with a mild honey flavor. The drink is produced according to a unique recipe developed by James Buchanan in the 80s of the XIX century.

The whiskey distillery is currently considered the highest in Scotland. It is located at an altitude of 327 meters above sea level.

Now the rights to sell and manufacture the legendary Black and White belong to the London giant Diageo.

Detailed review of Black & White

Jameson (Ireland)

The most recognizable and best-selling Irish whiskey in the world. The company was founded by John Jameson in 1780. Shortly after its founding, the John Jameson & Son distillery became one of the largest distilleries in Ireland.

Today, whiskey is produced using the same technology as 200 years ago – malt drying in closed ovens, triple distillation, long exposure (up to 10 years) in oak barrels.

The Jameson label features John Jameson’s coat of arms and his family motto, “Sine metu” (“Without Fear”).

The taste of the mass brand is very mediocre, fakes are often found.

Detailed view of Jameson

Tullamore Dew (Ireland)

The history of the legendary Tullamore Dew began in 1829, when Michael Mallo built a distillery on a hill in the agricultural region of County Offaly.

Tullamore Dew, like almost 190 years ago, is one of the most famous drinks in Ireland. Elite Tullamore Dew 12-year-old is in special demand.

To date, this brand of alcohol is owned by Cantrell & Cochrane Corporation.

Detailed view of Tullamore Dew

Bushmills (Ireland)

This is a truly legendary Irish whiskey with a 400-year history. He appeared in 1608, and in other countries they learned about him four years later in 1612.

Today, the Old Bushmills Distillery is the oldest distillery in Europe and the only historical distillery in Ireland.

True gourmets say that the taste of this whiskey cannot be confused with anything else, it is one of a kind. This is facilitated by a unique production technology and high environmental friendliness of the region.

To date, the brand belongs to the London company Diageo.

The mass brand taste has “noble” flavor notes, but don’t expect anything out of the ordinary.

Detailed view of Bushmills

Black Velvet (Канада)

This drink is the undisputed leader among Canadian whiskey and it is sold in 50 countries around the world.

For the first time Black Velvet was born in 1951, but under a different name – Black Label. When master distiller Jack Napier and part-time creator of the drink took a sample of the first batch of whiskey, without any doubt changed the name to Black Velvet.

To date, on sale you can find Black Velvet Canadian and American counterparts. Although they are produced at the same distillery, they still vary greatly in taste. Since the American version is bottled in the USA and customized to their taste standards.

Detailed review of Black Velvet

Crown Royal (Canada)

Legendary Canadian whiskey, the creation of which was timed to coincide with the arrival of the English monarch George VI in 1939. The best craftsmen of Seagram’s worked on it. It consists of about 50 of the best varieties of whiskey of varying degrees of exposure.

On an industrial scale, Crown Royal began to be produced only in 1964, but it was an incredible success. A beautiful bottle in the form of a cut diamond, with a crowned cap in a velvet blue case, could not leave anyone indifferent.

The Crown Royal brand is currently owned by Diageo.

Detailed view of Crown Royal

Japanese Whiskey

Vzboltay has previously reviewed 10 popular whiskey brands from Japan. And in order not to repeat ourselves, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with this topic on our website.

Summing up all of the above, I would like to say that in one topic it is difficult to fit all the varieties and brands of whiskey that are worthy of your attention.

But we tried to make a brief overview of the most popular brands that will help you choose the right vector to dive irrevocably into the world of amber temptation.

Relevance: 09.02.2018

Metki: Whiskey and bourbon