Whisky –Types & brands

WHISKY – INGREDIENTS, TYPES AND BRAND NAMES.

The 1870s and 1880s was an era of great confidence in Scotland for whisky. Between 1823 and 1825 the number of licensed distilleries in Scotland rose from 125 to 329.100 of these would not last beyond ten years. Among the first to take out a license was George Smith of Glenlivet, a remote district of Speyside. Most of the new distillers were former smugglers.

From the mid-1860s the vineyards of France was devastated by the pest, Phylloxera vastratrix, and during the 1880s those in Grande Champagne,the vineyards supplying the great Cognac houses, were ruined, thus ceasing the production of cognac. Blended whisky was there to replace it. As whisky became more popular, pubs and spirit shops catering for the poorest classes bought the cheapest spirits they could lay their hands on and added sihstances to make it more palatable.

During the 1860s many malt whisky’s distilleries were rebuilt and modernized, and production doubled during that decade.

Manufacturing Process– Whisky is a spirit obtained by the distillation of the fermented mash of grain usually barley, maize or rye or a mixture of all three in different proportions. It is then aged in wooden casks. The word whisky gets its name from the Gaelic variations namely usquebaugh which means strong waters. It should be noted that the Scottish water plays an important role in giving scotch its special taste.

Two types of whiskys are mixed to produce Scotch. They are malt Whisky which gives Scotch its body and character and grain Whisky which is used for its lightness. Both are blended to give Scotch its unmistakable taste.

TYPES OF SCOTCH:-

• Malt Whisky: A Blend of whiskies from different casks and of various ages, but from the same malt distillery is called Single malt or pure malt whisky. Examples:- Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, Highland Park, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Jura, Macallan ,The Balvenie, Laphroaig, Knockando, Me Callan

• Grain Whisky: This is the product of a mixture of malted and unmalted barley which is crushed, fermented and

• Blended Whiskies: This is a blend of both malt and grain whiskies. Example:- Johnnie Walker Red, J&B Rare, Ballentine’s, Chivas Regal, Dewar’s, Grant’s Cutty Sark, Black & White, Vat 69,Teacher’s

OTHER POPULAR BRANDS OF SCOTCH WHISKIES :-

Royal Salute, White Horse, Jonny Walker (Blue .Gold, Green, Black Labels, & Red), Swing ,Dimple, Wild goose, Dewars, Teacher’s Highland Cream, Haig & Haig.

AMERICAN WHISKIES- All American Whiskies are made from cereal (generally, a mixture of various grains of cereals), distilled mostly in patent still at no more than 90% and aged in oak barrels and bottled at not less than 40 % alcohol v/v. :-

• Bourbon: It is named after the county Bourbon in Kentucky. Brands:- Jim Beam, Old Grand Dad, Makers Mark, Wild Turkey

• Tennessee Whiskies: It is a sour mash whisky produced from mixture of grain consisting minimum 51 % corn, distilled in Tennessee. Brand:- Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel

Canadian: Royal Crown, Canadian Club, Canadian mist, Seagram VO.

Irish Whiskies: Old Bush mills, Jameson, The Wild Geese, Dunville’s VR, Midleton, Dunphys Murphy’s, Paddy, JpJiamoreDew

Japanese:   Suntory, Yamazaki.

POPULAR DOMESTIC BRANDS:- Mc. dowel. Imperial blue, Royal Challenge, Blender’s Pride, Royal St.