A hybrid whiskey is a drink obtained by blending several types of whiskey not just from different producers or categories, but even from different countries.
Such alcohol is completely legal, but it cannot be labeled “Scotch”, even if the composition includes Scottish brands. This innovation emerged in the early 2000s and gained popularity in the second half of the 2010s as a way to get around strict regional requirements and restrictions on whiskey production, as well as a way to achieve unique flavor combinations that are impossible with a drink from just one country.
Whiskey is not the only hybrid spirit. On the market you can also find hybrid tequila, cognac, vodka and, in principle, almost any strong liquor.
Strictly speaking, any alcohol aged in barrels from another drink can already be considered hybrid. Therefore, even the best and purest single malt scotch, aged in oak sherry casks, can be classified as hybrids.
Famous brands of hybrid whiskey
Steel Bonnnets from Lakes Distillery. A mixture of Scotch and English whiskey, it is considered the first drink of its kind in the world.
Jim Beam Kentucky Dram from Beam Suntory. Bourbon with a touch of Aberdeen scotch.
The One from Lakes Distillery. A blend of Scotch, English, Irish and Welsh whiskeys. The manufacturer describes the drink as “sweet, fruity and smoky,” but keeps the exact recipe a secret.
High West Campfire from High West Distillery. A blend of scotch, bourbon and rye whiskey. The marketing campaign claims that real Scottish malt dried on peat is used in the production of the drink, but it is not known how true this is. The American components of the blend are delivered from the state of Indiana, all the whiskeys that make up the drink are aged from five to eight years. The manufacturer describes the drink as “sweet, spicy and smoky”.
Adelphi Fusion Range by Adelphi and Fusion Whiskey Ltd. Three drinks are released in this series at once: The Glover (Scotch and Japanese whiskey), The Kincardine (Scotch and Indian whiskey), The Winter Queen (Scotch and Dutch whiskey). All these brands are limited editions, and each of them is designed to perpetuate the memory of a famous historical figure.
The Glover named after Thomas Blake Glover, a famous Scottish merchant, nicknamed the “Scottish Samurai”. This whiskey is 65% Japanese malt and only 35% Scotch. Only 390 bottles were put on the market, each costing over £1000.
The Kincardine created in honor of Victor Bruce, 13th Earl of Kincardine and Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899.
Finally, The Winter Queen is named after Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of the Scottish King James VI and the Dutch Queen Anne of Denmark.
Huxley by Whiskey Unnion/Diageo. A blend of scotch, Canadian and American whiskey. The label of the drink depicts a fictional animal “mobsprey” (mobsprey), consisting of elements of the Scottish, Canadian and American fauna. The manufacturer claims that whiskey is made on the basis of both malt and unmalted grain. The cost of a bottle is about $30.
Celtic Nation by Murray McDavid, Cooley. A blend of Scotch and Irish single malts. As soon as the brand appeared on the market in 2006, it immediately drew the ire of the Scotch Whiskey Association, which said that the company had no right to use the word “Celtic” in the name. Now it is this “edition” that can only be found at auctions, but the manufacturer has released almost the same hybrid whiskey under a different name – Hybrid Malt Whiskey No 1 Edition. The new version is even better, as it has been aged in oak for 8 years longer.