Whats The Difference Between Whiskey And Whisky What About Scotch Bourbon And Rye
verifiedAmy McKenna
Have you ever heard the traditional folk song Whiskey in the Jar? Or is that Whisky in the Jar? Just what is the difference between whiskey and whisky? And while we are at it, how do Scotch, bourbon, and rye figure in all of this? First of all, they are all types of whiskey .
Generally speaking, whiskey can be any of a variety of distilled liquors that are made from a fermented mash of cereal grains and aged in wooden containers, which are usually constructed of oak. Commonly used grains are corn, barley malt, rye, and wheat. So what is it that sets these liquors apart? In a nutshell, the name is based on factors such as the type of cereal grain used in the distilling process as well as how and where it was produced.
So why do you see the name of the liquor spelled both as whiskey and as whisky? No, its not due to a spelling error or typo. It is generally spelled whiskeywith an ein the United States and Ireland. It is spelled whiskywithout the ein Scotland and Canada, which are both well known for their whisky, and in several other countries.
And rye whiskey? Its a whiskey that uses a rye mash or a rye and malt mash. In the United States, regulations stipulate that the mash must be at least 51% rye in order for it to be called rye whiskey. In Canada, regulations do not specify a minimum percentage of rye.
So, what IS in the jar? Given that the song in question is a traditional Irish folk song, its probably whiskey. With an e.
What Is Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee Whiskey is a type of American whiskey that is produced exclusively in the state of Tennessee. Its known for its light, smooth, and mellow flavor. Many call it a lighter version of bourbon.
Other than being made in Tennessee, it also must be:
Popular brands include the likes of Jack Daniels and George Dickel.
Can You Taste The Difference
Whiskeys flavor will vary depending on what type of whiskeyIrish, Japanese and so onso its tough to provide exact tasting notes for whiskey.
Bourbon usually has strong notes of vanilla, oak and caramel. These pleasant, often smooth notes make bourbon tasty enjoyed neat or on the rocks, as well as in cocktails.
Bourbons made with a higher amount of wheat , tend to be mellow and softer. Makers Mark is a popular example. Bourbons with a higher amount of rye will be spicier, like Bulleit bourbon.
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The Most Expensive Whiskey Ever Sold
The Macallan 1926, bottle number 5 of 12. Sold for £848,750 via Bonhams .
Whiskey is one of the most expensive spirits on the market. There are many factors that determine a bottles price tag, which include age, rarity, and uniqueness. The most expensive whiskey ever sold is the Macallan Valerio Adami 1926.
Bottled in 1986, this 60-year-old whiskey sold at Bonhams in October 2018 for a record price of £848,750. The previous record, also set by Bonhams in May 2018, was a similar whiskey that sold for £814,081. Macallan, a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Craigellachie, Moray, commissioned two prominent Pop artists, Valeron Adami and Peter Blake, to design labels for a limited edition of 24 bottles. Aside from the exclusivity, The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 is elegantly presented in a specially commissioned cabinet, which also contributes to its lofty price tag.
Whiskey is an expansive collecting category that encompasses a wide range of dark spirits with similar characteristics. While all are derived from mashes of fermented grains and are aged in wooden barrels, each variety is individually nuanced. Bourbon is one of the United States best-known whiskeys, and whiskey enthusiasts worldwide revel in its flavor. Today, decadent bottles of bourbon, packaged in stunning decanters, are sought after by seasoned whiskey collectors for their flavor, rarity, and uniqueness.
Whiskey Vs Bourbon: Which Tastes Better
This is completely subjectivethe reason there are so many different types of whiskey is because everyone has different flavor preferences.
Scotch lovers make fun of bourbon lovers because they cant handle the peaty flavor and opt for a sweeter liquor.
People from Europe will try Jack Daniels and think its disgusting.
And bourbon lovers will make fun of scotch lovers because their whiskey tastes like a soggy marsh.
But what I can tell you is that if you tend to like things on the sweet side, bourbon is for you.
If not, youll probably like a different whiskey like scotch better.
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What Makes Bourbon Different From Whiskey
Bourbon is always whiskey, but whiskey is not always bourbon. Bourbon has important distinctions that differentiate it from whiskey: it has to be made in the United States from at least 51% corn, be aged in new, charred American white oak barrels, and the finished product must be at least 80 proof.
Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky
What’s The Difference Between Bourbon And Whiskey
If you sat down at a bar and someone simply handed you a shot of brown liquor, I wouldnt blame you if you couldnt tell whether its bourbon or whiskey. The difference between bourbon and whiskey can be a little difficult to understand, since all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Either, of course, tastes great in a brunch punch or even your morning cup of coffee. But whiskey is a catchall term for distilled alcohol made from grain mash. That mash can be made of rye, corn, wheat, whatever grain that might be around. So when you talk about whiskey, you could be talking about scotch or rye whiskey or, of course, bourbon. But if youre talking about bourbon, youre talking about American booze. Bourbon is, in fact, Americas native spirit, according to a Congressional decree, dated 1964.
There are, however, plenty of whiskeys made in the United States that arent technically bourbonand a whiskeys geographic origin isnt the only thing that makes it bourbon. The mash used to make bourbon must be at least 51 percent corn, though the recipe differs between distillers. Other types of whiskey might have more barley than corn, and scotch recipes generally have more malted grain than anything else. Bourbon must also, “be distilled to a maximum strength of 160 proof, bottled at a strength of at least 80 proof, and barreled for aging at no more than 125 proof,” writes Natalie Wolchover for LiveScience.
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How Do Bourbon And Rye Differ
Bourbon can only be made in the United States, whereas rye whiskey can, and does, come from all over: Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, the U.K., and even Australia.
Nothing, other than water, can be added to bourbon, whether or not it is labeled straight. For rye whiskey, the rules are a little different. Straight rye cannot have any additives, but if the rye isnt labeled as straight, or if its a blend of straight ryes, up to 2.5% of the volume can be harmless coloring/flavoring/blending materials. Since these additives do not have to be disclosed, its impossible to tell which ryes might include them, although Templeton Rye is a well-known example.
Flavor-wise, bourbon tends to be sweeter and has a more oily mouthfeel than rye due to its high corn content. Common flavor notes in bourbon include vanilla, caramel, nuts, oak, dark fruit, chocolate, and mild spice.
Rye whiskeys flavor profile can vary considerably depending on its overall rye content. A minimum-51% rye, like those traditionally made by the big Kentucky distilleries, will taste quite similar to bourbon. But 100% ryea style that often comes from Canadatypically has rich spice and herbal notes, enhanced by flavors derived from barrel aging such as vanilla and oak.
Is It Whiskey Or Whisky
The answer to this question is purely a matter of preference. Both are technically correct. American and Irish brands will most often use the âWhiskeyâ spelling, while Scotland, Canada, and a large portion of the EU tend to use the âWhiskyâ spelling.
We prefer to use the Whisky spelling to refer to both our own and the entire spirit category unless we are speaking about specific brands that call themselves whiskey.
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What Makes A Whiskey Bourbon
Many drinkers think that bourbon and whiskey are completely distinct. “People will come into the whiskey room and say something to the effect of ‘Do you have bourbon too? Or just whiskey?’ or ‘I don’t really like whiskey, but I like bourbon,'” Gustafson says. “There’s a common confusion about what they are. They’re all whiskies.”
Because of its cultural significance in the United States, bourbon is made with very specific criteria to ensure it maintains the qualities that make it unique. “Bourbon is a younger whiskey,” says Gustafson. “It isn’t aged for as long as Scotch” which is another type of whiskey “so it gets most of its flavor from the grains used.”
To maintain standards across the industry, there is a strict legal definition of what actually constitutes a bourbon:
Note: Bourbon must be legally aged with new barrels. Because they can’t be reused, the barrels are often sold to distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, and Japan, and are even used to age other beverages like beer.
Bourbon Vs Canadian Whisky: Which Is Better
Last Updated on October 1, 2022 by Lydia Martin
The world of whiskey can be confusing because of its different requirements and classifications. In this blog post, we will discuss bourbon vs Canadian whisky.
The major difference between these two classifications is that Canadian whisky has to be made in Canada, while bourbon is made within the United States. Lets dive deeper into their differences and what makes them unique.
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Bourbon Vs Whiskey: Whats The Difference
All bourbons are whiskeys but not all whiskeys are bourbon.
David Crockett/Getty Images
Layla Khoury-Hanold is a contributor at Food Network.
Bourbon and whiskey are both popular spirits among mixologists and home bartenders alike. While these brown liquors might look the same in the bottle, they each possess unique characteristics. Whether you like to sip whiskey or bourbon, mix them into cocktails or simply want to quench your curiosity, it pays to know which spirit youre imbibing and discussing. Here, we break down the differences between bourbon and whiskey. Hint: all bourbons are whiskeys but not all whiskeys are bourbon.
What About All Those Other Bourbon Descriptions On The Label
Were glad you asked! Again, as long as the spirit follows the ABCDEFG guide we outlined above, its technically and legally bourbon. But there are a lot of other things you might see on labels that can be confusing.
Straight Bourbon Whiskey In order to be labeled as such, it has to be aged for at least two years. If its aged for less than four years, an age statement has to appear on the label.
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Same requirements as above, but it has to have been distilled in and aged for at least one year in Kentucky.
Bottled-In-Bond After rectifiers messed up the general population with additives and fake whiskey, Uncle Sam stepped in with one of the first consumer protection laws, the Bottled-in-Bond act, that mandated a minimum of four years aging at exactly 100 proof in one season by a single distiller before being aged in a government bonded warehouse.
Barrel Proof / Cask Strength / Barrel Strength Bourbon These are all interchangeable descriptions that generally refer to bourbon that has not been watered down between leaving the barrel and entering the bottle.
Single Barrel The name is pretty self-explanatory on this one. But this is also the way most Store Pick / House Pick bottles are done.
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There Are A Lot Of Traditions Techniques And Culture Shared Between Bourbon Scotch And Whisky But What Are Their Characteristic Differences
You may have heard the phrase, âAll bourbon and Scotch are whiskies but not all whiskies are bourbon or Scotch.â But what does that mean? And is it âWhiskeyâ or âWhiskyâ?
If you donât know the answers to these questions, youâre not alone. Many people struggle to understand the difference between these three distinct distilled grain spirits. And while they are related, there is a wealth of history, geography and processes that make them quite different.
Bourbon Vs Rum Vs Whiskey
Think of this as continued education in your matured spirits track.
So far, youve been learning more about distilled spirits, falling further and further down the rabbit hole. And youre learning about mash bills and how other spirits like brandy are made.
Now its time to take the next logical leap.
In this post, well walk you through three terms youre likely to see while perusing the liquor aisle Bourbon, Rum and Whiskey. Well describe each in depth and discuss what these brown liquids have to offer and help you understand the differences and similarities inside each bottle.
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What About Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee whiskey presents a unique case. By law, Tennessee whiskey must be produced within the state. No surprise there. But it must also undergo a special filtering process with sugar-maple charcoal, which is the step that makes Tennessee whiskey so smooth according to its fans. Despite the fact that Tennessee Whiskey has been legally defined as bourbon in various international trade agreements, most Tennessee whiskey manufacturers do not refer to their goods as bourbon.
Main Differences Between Bourbon And Whiskey
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Scotch Vs Bourbon In Summary
Bourbon and Scotch are both types of whisky. Bourbon is produced in the United States and is mainly made from corn mash, while Scotch is produced in Scotland and is typically made from malted grains. While theyre both produced differently, have different regulations, and a wide variety of flavor profiles, theyre both excellent options for sipping at almost any occasion. Have you heard of the woman in Britain who recently celebrated her 112th birthday? When interviewed, she attributed her good health to sipping a dram of whiskey each night before bed. So lets raise our glasses to long life, good health, and excellent whisky. Cheers.
How To Drink Tennessee Whiskey Vs Bourbon
Most people drink Tennessee Whiskey similarly to how they do bourbonstraight, on the rocks, in a cocktail, or mixed with soda.
The main difference is that most people drink Tennessee Whiskey in cola. They order a Jack and Coke, which is Jack Daniels mixed with Coca-cola because the Tennessee Whiskey mellowness usually mixes better with coke than bourbon does.
Bourbon is usually enjoyed neat or in a cocktail like an Old Fashioned because its richer and more complex profile.
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Types Of Scotch Whisky
Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories.
- Single Malt Scotch Whisky is distilled at a single distillery from water and malted barley without adding any other grains.
- Single Grain Scotch Whisky is distilled at a single distillery from water and malted barley with or without whole grains of other malted or unmalted grains.
- Blended Scotch Whisky is the product of blending different types of whiskies and sometimes also neutral grain spirits, coloring, and flavorings.
- Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is distilled at more than one distillery from a combination of two or more single malt Scotch whiskies.
- Blended Grain Scotch Whisky is made from two or more single malt scotch whiskies from different distilleries.
You can learn more about these whisky categories here.
Where Did Whiskey Originate
By 1494, whiskey distillation in Scotland was fully underway. A record in the Exchequer of 1494 indicates that King James IV of Scotland granted a large amount of malt to make aquavitae, an archaic name for the concentrated aqueous solution of ethanol. When King Henry VIII of England dissolved the monasteries in 1536, a large number of monks turned to distillation to make a living. This propelled the production of whiskey, creating enough supply to make the product available to the general public. As European colonists began arriving in America, the practice of distillation also traveled to the New World, and whiskey consumption spread widely. It was even used as a currency during the American Revolutionary War.
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Whiskey Vs Bourbon Vs Scotch Country Of Origin
Even though they are both categorized as whiskeys, theres an ocean-sized difference between whiskey and bourbon. According to the Scotch Whisky Act of 1988, an alcoholic beverage can only be termed Scotch if it has been wholly produced in Scotland. It also states that the whiskey must be matured in wooden Oak barrels for three or more years and bottled in Scotland .
Bourbon is governed by similar laws laid out in the Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, a set of rules designed to maintain the distinct taste of bourbon. Since it is considered Americas native spirit, one of the guidelines for earning the bourbon label requires the whiskey to be produced in the USA. Although 95% of the worlds bourbon supply originates from Kentucky, it can be made anywhere in America. However, the limestone content in Kentuckys water filters out metallic impurities, making it an ideal place for bourbon distilleries.