Questions tagged [scotch]

Scotch whisky, often simply called Scotch, is malt whisky or grain whisky made in Scotland.

Scotch whisky, often simply called Scotch, is malt whisky or grain whisky made in Scotland. Scotch whisky must be made in a manner specified by law.

All Scotch whisky was originally made from malted barley. Commercial distilleries began introducing whisky made from wheat and rye in the late 18th century. Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: single malt Scotch whisky, single grain Scotch whisky, blended malt Scotch whisky (formerly called "vatted malt" or "pure malt"), blended grain Scotch whisky, and blended Scotch whisky.

All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years. Any age statement on a bottle of Scotch whisky, expressed in numerical form, must reflect the age of the youngest whisky used to produce that product. A whisky with an age statement is known as guaranteed-age whisky.

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Can modern distilling techniques produce quality Scotch in significantly less time?

My brother-in-law is opening a distillery in Canada, which has got us discussing whisky on the regular. And by the sounds of it it looks like there are certain techniques that can be used these days that 'age' whiskies faster than has classically…
mcraenich
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Examples of high value Scotches

I've been testing out different Scotches for the last few years and usually find a pretty strong correlation between price point and quality. When I pay more the Scotch almost always offers a better drinking experience up to a point. That said,…
mcraenich
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What is the difference between Cognac, Brandy, Bourbon, Scotch and Whiskey?

All these taste and look pretty similar. What is the difference between them?
Rouse
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What are the main qualitative and quantitative differences between 18 and 12 year old Scotches?

It's established in the Scotch world that the age of a whisky pushes it's price up. A MacAllan or Glenmorangie 18 will fetch a much higher price than their respective 12 year old versions. Having tried a small number of 18 year olds, I've found them…
mcraenich
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Is peaty whiskey made in other parts of the world besides Islay?

I recently came back from a visit to Islay in Scotland, where I learned that the distilleries use peat in the process of drying barley to give the local Scotch its distinctive peaty flavor. I'm curious whether this process also happens in other…
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When did J&B Scotch switch from corks to screw-tops?

A friend of mine has come into possession of some rather old alcohol. On one bottle of J&B Scotch, the label looks like this one from 1958 and not any of their later ones, but my friend's bottle has a screw-top cap, not a cork. When did J&B start…
Monica Cellio
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A brand of scotch that routinely prints the release year on the bottle?

I enjoy drinking scotch, and I am about to have my first child. I would like to buy a bottle of scotch that has the year my child is born printed on it, and then give them the scotch as a gift when they turn 30 or so. I am well aware that the scotch…
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Are there broad stylistic differences between Scotch and Irish whiskey?

This isn't a question about typical production: I know that Scotch is often peated while Irish rarely is and that Irish is usually triple-distilled whereas Scotch is usually double-distilled. That's covered well by the question Whiskey - Irish vs.…
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How hard is it to get rare 18 year old Scotches directly in Scotland?

For the purpose of definition we'll call 'rare 18 year old Scotch' bottles that aren't really common in foreign markets like Canada. What I wonder is, if we're talking about that type of high-grade Scotch, how easy is it to find a bottle if you…
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Why have distinct styles of Scotch clustered in different regions of Scotland?

I've noticed the tendency for different regions of Scotland to produce malt whiskies that tend to be similar in character, and I wonder how this came to be. That the distilling methods from each region are different is clear enough, but the question…
mcraenich
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What's the difference between blended and single malt Scotch?

I see Scotch is often labelled as single malt or blended, but never both. What, exactly, is the distinction?
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What are some affordable brands of good Scotch?

I've just recently begun drinking Scotch, and I find it absolutely delicious. However, most brands I see in the store are quite expensive. So far the best Scotch I've tried is Aberlour single malt, and although it's not prohibitively expensive, it's…
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Maturation process in casks

I’m curious about the cleaning process of casks before a distillery transfers its whisky to mature/age. To use one of the popular names, just as an example, before Macallan transfers its whisky into a sherry [or bourbon or port or ale] cask, is the…
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How to correctly do a "Hitch Mix" - Johnnie walker and perrier water

I'm curious to experience Christopher Hitchens reported favourite drink. He described it as Johnnie Walker black, cut with perrier water, and no ice. I've had a go and it's interesting, but I'm wondering what else needs to be done to get the perfect…
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Are there any vodka cocktail recipes for someone who likes whisky/scotch?

I typically drink brown spirits, however, I have some vodka left over from a wedding party so I was wondering if there are any good vodka cocktail recipes which aren't too sweet (or have too many ingredients) and would be enjoyed by someone who has…
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