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Whiskey – a strong aromatic alcoholic drink obtained from various types of grain using the processes of malting, fermentation, distillation and long-term aging in oak barrels.
In the manufacture of whiskey, barley, rye, wheat or corn can be used. The strength ranges from 32 to 50%, but some whiskeys reach 60%.
The color of the drink varies from light yellow to brown. The sugar content is zero or very low.
The traditional whiskey-producing regions are Scotland and Ireland.
whiskey cocktails
Whiskey history
The earliest attempts at distillation were made by the Greeks in Alexandria in the 1st century AD, but this was not done to produce alcohol.
In the 9th century, the medieval Arabs adopted the distillation method of the Alexandrian Greeks.
The distillation method then passed from the medieval Arabs to the medieval Latins. The earliest references in Latin date back to the early 12th century.
The first records of alcohol distillation appeared in Italy in the 13th century; a description of the method was given by Ramon Lull (1232-1315).
Distillation technology soon spread to medieval monasteries, where it was used mainly for medical purposes such as treating colic and smallpox.
In Ireland and Scotland, distillation technology appeared no later than the 15th century, where it was also used mainly for medicinal purposes.
The earliest mention of whiskey in Ireland is in the XNUMXth century Annals of Clonmacnoise.
In Scotland, the first evidence of whiskey production is found in a treasury roll entry from 1494, where the malt is sent “by order of the King to Friar John Cor, to make aquavites”, enough to make about 500 bottles.
In 1505, the Guild of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh received a monopoly on the production of whiskey. Whiskey began to be sold in pharmacies as a miracle drug.
Between 1536 and 1541, King Henry VIII of England dissolved the monasteries, sending the monks on their way. During this pivotal period, whiskey production moved from a monastic setting to private homes and farms as the new independent monks needed to find a way to make money for themselves.
In 1579, the Scottish Parliament banned the production of whiskey by peasants and people of humble origin. However, this led to the development of “underground” small distilleries.
single malt whiskey
Over time, whiskey production methodology has changed somewhat. Distillation and refining technologies have improved, something has changed with regard to casks: most whiskeys are aged in bourbon (American whiskey) casks, and only a few varieties are aged in sherry, port, rum or other casks.
This was explained by economic feasibility: according to production standards, bourbon should only be aged in new barrels. Accordingly, the price of already used barrels from under it is very low, in contrast to the cost of barrels from wine, and even from Europe.
Around the same time, grain whiskey appears. Its production is more technologically advanced, and accordingly, it costs an order of magnitude cheaper than the production of malt whiskey. However, the taste of the former was noticeably inferior to the latter.
To keep the price low and significantly improve the taste of grain whiskey, manufacturers decided to make so-called blends – a mixture of malt and grain types of drink. The decision turned out to be successful.
Today, 95% of whiskey sold is blends, in which up to 85% (and sometimes more) is grain whiskey, and only a small part is malt. Which, by the way, determines the taste of the drink.
Classification of whiskey
Malt
– Produced from malt spirits of one (Single Malt) or different distilleries (Blended Malt).
Grain
– produced from grain spirits of one (Single Grain) or different distilleries (Blended Grain).
Blended
– the most massive and popular category; this type of whiskey is produced by blending (blending) malt and grain spirits from different distilleries.
whiskey producing countries
Australia
As of the end of 2017, there are more than 120 distilleries in Australia, 31 of them in Tasmania.
Америка
In the United States, whiskey was “brought” by immigrants from Scotland and Ireland. At the dawn of its history, whiskey in the new world was driven from rye, later corn became the main crop.
Today, corn whiskey – bourbon – is famous and popular in many countries of the world. In addition to bourbon, Tennessee whiskey Jack Daniels is produced in the United States, which undergoes special filtration.
Also in the States there are production facilities that produce rye drink and classic single malt whiskey.
England
There are currently at least six whiskey distilleries in England.
Although England is not well known for the production of whiskey, there were distilleries in London, Liverpool and Bristol until the end of the 19th century, after which the production of English single malt whiskey ceased until 2003.
Germany
German whiskey is a relatively recent phenomenon. The drinks produced are not much different from those made in Ireland, Scotland and the United States. Here you can find single malt, blended, wheat and bourbon-like varieties.
In 2008, there were 23 whiskey distilleries in Germany.
Georgia
The first Georgian whiskey was made by the winemaker, co-founder of Askaneli Brothers Jimsher Chkhaidze. Whiskey JIMSHER is produced according to the traditional Scottish method and originates in 2016.
Georgian whiskey is sold in markets such as China, Poland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, etc.
In 2017, at the World Whiskey Masters tasting competition held in London, Georgian whiskey received a silver medal in various categories. In the same year, Georgian whiskey was awarded its first gold and silver medals at the Global Travel Retail Spirits Masters competition.
In March 2018, JIMSHER was awarded a silver medal in the Best World Whiskey category.
Denmark
Denmark began producing whiskey in early 1974. The first Danish single malt to hit the market was Lille Gadegaard from Bornholm in 2005.
Lille Gadegård is also a winery that uses its own wine barrels to age the whiskey.
The second Danish distilled single malt whiskey for sale was Edition #1 from Braunstein Brewery and Distillery. It was distilled in 2007 using water from the Greenland ice sheet and entered the market in March 2010.
You should also pay attention to Stauning Whiskey, based in Jutland.
India
Distilled spirits, referred to as “whisky” in India, are usually blends based on neutral spirits that are distilled from fermented molasses with a small amount of traditional malt whiskey (usually around 10-12 percent).
Outside of India, such a drink is likely to be called rum.
According to the Scotch Whiskey Association’s 2013 annual report: “There is no mandatory definition of whiskey in India, and the Indian voluntary standard does not require whiskey to be distilled from cereals or aged.”
Molasses-based blends make up 90 percent of the alcohol consumed in India as “whiskey”. However, whiskey that is completely distilled from malt and other grains is also produced and sold.
Amrut, the first single malt whiskey produced in India, was released on August 24, 2004.
Ireland
Irish alcohol differs from Scottish in greater softness.
The distillation is carried out three times by the Irish, and besides, they practically do not use peat for drying malt. Even the spelling of the word “whiskey” in these countries differs, although these two states are fighting for the right to be considered the birthplace of alcohol from malted barley.
In Ireland, the number of distilleries is much less than in Scotland, so the choice of Irish whiskey is much smaller.
Canada
The history of the appearance of Canadian whiskey is in many ways similar to American whiskey. The drink was brought here by immigrants, and the absence of Prohibition, which severely undermined this industry in the United States, led to the flourishing of Canadian producers.
For the most part, whiskeys from Canada are unpretentious and suitable for everyday use. But there are also very worthy specimens that are distinguished by outstanding taste.
Taiwan
Kavalan is the first and only distillery in Taiwan.
The distillery was named “Whiskey Icon of the World” by Whiskey Magazine in 2011.
In 2012, Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Cask Malt Whiskey was named “New Whiskey of the Year” in Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible guide.
Vinho Barrique Single Cask was named the world’s best single malt whiskey in the 2015 World Whiskeys Awards.
In 2016, the World Whiskey Awards named Kavalan Solist Amontillado Sherry Single Cask the best single malt whiskey in the world.
Finland
There are two distilleries in Finland. Whiskey retail sales in Finland are controlled exclusively by the state alcohol monopoly Alko, and advertising of strong alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
Scotland
It is still not known where whiskey was first obtained. But it is the Scots who have the most reason to be considered the authors of this type of alcohol.
The features of Scottish whiskey are: double distillation, the use of special “smoked” malt on peat smoke for the production of some varieties, as well as aging in barrels from other alcoholic beverages.
You can often find whiskeys aged in bourbon, sherry or fortified wine containers. However, even within the same country, whiskey differs greatly depending on the region of production. Plains whiskey is not like highland whiskey, and island scotch is strikingly different from all others.
Japan
Scottish scotch has always been wildly popular among the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun.
At the beginning of the last century, the Japanese decided to produce their favorite drink using classical technology.
Technological processes and raw materials for Japanese whiskey are almost identical to Scotch, but add to this Japanese idealism and maximum quality at all stages of whiskey production.
Other countries
Inspired by the success of the main whiskey-producing countries, many entrepreneurs from other countries are also seeking to launch their alcoholic products on the world market.
The popularity of such drinks is not yet high, but new, unusual varieties regularly appear, which allows whiskey connoisseurs to constantly experiment, getting acquainted with original drinks from different countries.
Tip: what kind of whiskey to buy in the store
Each classification has its pros and cons in terms of taste, aroma and price. To find out your preferences, it is not enough just to read the article, you must try the whiskey yourself and find your favorites.
It would be right to go to a specialized whiskey bar and taste a series of drinks of different classes at once.
Also, many niche alcohol stores have their own bars and restaurants, where you can easily order drinks from the trading floor. From time to time, large networks themselves hold promotions for tasting not only whiskey, but also other alcohol. During such promotions, alcohol prices are usually the lowest.
If for some reason the options above do not suit you, then try watching video reviews on YouTube, where real people try real alcohol. To do this, type in the name of the whiskey in the search and most likely you will find the desired review, but do not forget that this will be an extremely subjective point of view.
famous brands of whiskey
Relevance: 23.04.2019
Metki: Whiskey and bourbon