What Is Irish Whiskey
Some consider Ireland the birthplace of whiskey, as far back as 6th century AD.
- Made in Ireland
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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.
What Does Bourbon Taste Like Vs Whiskey
Because bourbon is aged in new, charred-oak barrels, its typically described as having notes of caramel, vanilla and oak. Bourbon can also have tasting notes such as baking spices, black pepper, cocoa and fruit. Bourbon tends to be smoother than whiskey, with a softer mouthfeel and an overall sweet-presenting flavor, making it a good entry-level sipper for those new to whiskey. Wheated bourbons have a mash bill with a high concentration of wheat, which creates an even sweeter taste.
The taste of whiskey varies depending on the style. Whiskey tends to have a woody or oaky flavor profile with notes of spice, fruit, nuts, vanilla or caramel. Although some of whiskeys flavor notes overlap with bourbon, whiskey tends to have a grainier, sharper mouthfeel than bourbon. Rye whiskey, which has a mash that contains at least 51 percent rye, tends to have a spicier flavor profile than bourbon and some other whiskeys.
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Is Tennessee Whiskey Just Bourbon With A Different Name
Glad you asked. First and foremost, the biggest difference between these two whiskeys is location. Tennessee whiskey is made in Tennessee and bourbon was invented by a man named Shelbyville Kentucky. Just kidding. What separates the two is a method of filtering called the Lincoln County Process in which the whiskey is filtered through, or steeped, in charcoal before going into the casks. The most famous Tennessee whiskey out there is Jack Daniel’s and it — alongside other Tennessee distillers — doesnt refer to its product as bourbon.
Tennessee whiskey tastes like: Bourbon, if we’re being honestBrands you should know about: Jack Daniel’s, Collier and McKeel
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Comparing Bourbon & Scotch
One big difference between Scotch and bourbon is their raw ingredients. Bourbon uses corn of not less than 51% on its mash bill, making it cheaper, while Scotch uses malted barley or malted grains. Both use charred oak containers for maturing, but they have different aging processes.
Bourbon has no minimum aging period compared to the minimum three years of Scotch, resulting in their flavor differences. Bourbon has a sweet taste and mellow flavor, while Scotch has a peaty flavor and spicy notes.
Differences Between Scotch Whiskey And Bourbon
Karen is a wine, cocktails, and food enthusiast. She holds a California Wine Appellation Specialist certificate from the San Francisco wine school and a Bar Smarts mixology certificate and bartends for charitable events.
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When considering spirits, some people struggle to understand the difference between whiskey, bourbon, and scotch. While there are basic similarities in scotch, bourbon, and whiskey, each has characteristics and manufacturing practices that make them unique.
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Top Bourbon Recommendations For Whiskey Drinkers
This section is going to contain all of our favorite and top American whiskey recommendations varying in terms of how much alcohol content they contain and the process used in their production and fermentation.
Make sure that you read each recommendation in full so that you can be sure that youre making the right decision when it comes to the perfect bourbon or scotch whisky that fits your particular taste buds.
Read this entire section in full so that you can be sure that youre choosing the appropriate bourbon or scotch option to fulfill your taste requirements.
Diferencias Entre El Bourbon Whisky Y El Scotch Whisky
Antes de tener en mis manos una botella de Maker´s Mark, Bourbon de Kentucky, no tenia ni idea la cantidad de diferencias y tipos de Whisky y Whiskey que había. Y uno que se interesa por saber cada vez más de todo, he averiguado más curiosidades.
El whisky es un aguardiente de grano, originario de escocia . Se basa normalmente en el maíz, la cebada, y el centeno. Los tipos más comunes son: Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, canadian whisky, Corn whiskey, Bourbon whisky, Rye whiskey.
Aunque hoy quería hablaros de las diferencias de los dos grandes competidores a nivel comercial. El Scotch whisky y el Bourbon whisky. La diferencia principal es, además de su procedencia, que el escocés usa cebada en lugar de trigo y que, en el caso del bourbon, la barrica se utiliza una sola vez y luego se vende a otras marcas de Scotch.
El Scotch whisky, originario de Escocia, se somete a un proceso de ahumado con la turba de escocia lo que le confiere su sabor. En el caso del bourbon, y en especial de Maker´s Mark ese proceso no se lleva a cabo, ya que es la barrica la que confiere la personalidad al bourbon.
La mayoría de whiskis se elaboran a partir de 3 granos distintos: maíz, cebada malteada y centeno. Maker´s Mark, sin embargo, sustituye el centeno por un trigo rojizo de invierno que confiere su suave y característico sabor.
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Types Of Whiskey & Whisky
The term whiskey is an all-encompassing title that all styles of grain-based distillate fall into. Within that umbrella term, the whiskey industry is divided into multiple, distinct categories further distinguish the liquid:
- How it was produced
- What it was produced with/from
- Where it was produced
Well discuss some of these types more in-depth here, but these are all the major styles of whiskey :
How Are They Made
Whiskeys, or whiskies , have a similar distillation process throughout the genre. While whiskeys and whiskies have many regulations ensuring consistency to their name, they can see major similarities at distillation. Whiskey is distilled in stills, commonly made with numerous copper components. This allows the removal of sulfur and the bad taste those compounds bring along.
Important to the finished product, aging plays an enormous role in whisky production. It is commonly aged in oak, either American or French. These barrels, known as casks to those in the know, impart certain flavors on the whiskey through a process called extraction. The cask can play a vital role in the final taste of the whiskey product. Scotch is aged in older oak casks while bourbon and rye are found in newly charred casks.
All whiskey is bottled with a minimum ABV of 40% and a whopping maximum of 94.8%. As you can now see, most whisky lives a similar life. Still, cask, bottle, and then ending up behind a bar somewhere.
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The Flavor: What Does Scotch Taste Like Vs Bourbon
Bourbon is considered easier to drink vs Scotch, which has a very distinct flavor. The breakdown in flavors is:
- Bourbon whiskey has a sweeter, more mellow flavor than Scotch, with notes of vanilla, oak and caramel. But theres a wide variety of different flavors between bourbon brands: one expert breaks bourbons into 4 major categories: grain forward, nutmeg forward, caramel forward, and cinnamon forward.
- Scotch whisky has a sharp, distinct flavor thats more of an acquired taste than bourbon. Blended Scotch is smoother: malty and buttery, with a spicy finish. Single malt Scotch tastes oaky and woody, with signature peaty and smoky notes. The level of smokiness is due to the time the barley is exposed to peat smoke during drying .
Choose Bourbon Whiskey If:
- You want sweeter and mellow notes in your drink.
- You want to save money on a whiskey bottle.
Scotch vs whiskey vs bourbon is quite hard to differentiate at first. However, once you get right into the drinks nitty-gritty, youll be able to identify them from each other.
Let us know in the comment section which characteristic of scotch and bourbon is a dead giveaway for you.
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Barley And Sometimes Peat
Scotch whisky behaves differently, even if some of its DNA has historically found its way into bourbon production. When thinking of differences between bourbon vs Scotch whisky, consider the barley. In the case of single malts, thats all you can use. Maybe the barley has been smoked with peat moss or maybe it hasnt, which is common in Speyside. Then theres the fact that the barley is mashed and subsequently separated from the sweet liquid prior to adding yeast. This removes some of the more intense cereal notes that bourbon can take on.
Scotch whisky mashes are typically fermented a bit cooler than many bourbons which produces different types of aromatics. Its a complicated subject so lets just leave it at that. Next the fermented distillers beer is distilled in pot stills at least twice. The spirit comes out of the still averaging around 70% ABV, which is a smidge higher than that of bourbon. The higher ABV off the still as well as a higher barreling ABV favors the maturation of a more subtle and delicate spirit .
How To Drink It Properly
There are many ways to drink whiskey that you may enjoy, including the possibility to play a switch game when it comes to scotch vs whiskey as the main ingredient.
- Whiskey on the rocks mix whiskey with ice, water, and sugar or honey to taste
- Whiskey straight up pour whiskey without any additions into a small glass or tumbler filled with large cubes of ice , then add an equal amount of cold water stir well, and drink neat
- Whiskey sour mix whiskey with lemon juice, sugar, and egg white
- Whiskey old-fashioned made by adding bourbon whiskey to a sugar cube or teaspoon of superfine sugar that has been doused in bitters and stirred until dissolved then add ice cubes, stirring well before straining the drink into a whiskey glass.
- Whiskey Manhattan made by adding whiskey to sweet vermouth, which has been doused in bitters and stirred until dissolved then add ice cubes, stirring well before straining the drink into a whiskey tumbler or whisky highball.
- Whiskey scotch sour mix scotch whiskey with lemon juice, sugar, and egg white
- Whiskey nocino made by adding whiskey to the mixture of coffee beans soaked in grape brandy for a few days then stir well before straining into an old-fashioned glass or whiskey tumbler on ice.
- Whiskey Irish coffee mix whiskey with hot coffee and sugar or honey to taste, then add ice cubes.
- Whiskey ginger mix whiskey with hot water and a teaspoon of powdered ginger until dissolved pour into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice cubes.
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Whiskey Scotch Bourbon And Rye
Lots to unpack here. The basics, according to Encyclopedia Britannica:
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.
The difference between whiskey and whisky is where the stuff is made: in the United States and Ireland, its spelled whiskey in Scotland, Canada, and Japan, its whisky.
Now, for the differences between Scotch, bourbon, and rye. Back to Encyclopedia Britannica:
Scotch is a whisky that gets its distinctive smoky flavor from the process in which it is made: the grain, primarily barley, is malted and then heated over a peat fire. A whisky cannot be called Scotch unless it is entirely produced and bottled in Scotland.
Bourbon, a whiskey that was first produced in Kentucky, U.S., uses at least 51 percent mash from corn in its production. It also uses a sour mash process that is, the mash is fermented with yeast and includes a portion from a mash that has already been fermented. U.S. regulations specify that in order for a whiskey to be called bourbon, it must be made in the United States.
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 percent rye in order for it to be called rye whiskey. In Canada, regulations do not specify a minimum percentage of rye.
Related
Single Malt Vs Blended Whisky
Writing for the BBC, travel Brad Cohen explains the difference between blended and single-malt whisky:
Blended whisky, which comprises more than 80% of the market, including brands like Johnnie Walker and Dewars, is a mix oÂf malt and grain whiskies that come from multiple distilleries. Single malt, which Scottish drinkers often refer to as malt rather than whisky .
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Is Bourbon Considered Brandy
No, bourbon is not considered a brandy but a type of whiskey. Brandy is made from fermented wine , while bourbon is made from distilled fermented grain mash. It may have similarities in colors and taste you cannot consider bourbon a brandy and vice versa.
According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, an authentic bourbon must be produced in the United States, while brandy does not have a restriction on its production location.
In addition, whiskey bourbon is more expensive than brandy because it needs to be aged for at least two years.
What Does Scotch Taste Like
Its going to vary, especially depending on where in Scotland they come from . Whiskies from Islay, like Lagavulin and Laphroaig, often tend to have a strong smoky peat flavor unless they are described as un-peated, while those coming from Speyside tend to be lighter and sweeter. Lowland Scotch also tend to be relatively sweet and lighter. How long a Scotch was aged as well as what type of barrels it was aged in also heavily influence the taste.
Scotch is a beverage with strong character and even the sweeter styles dont have the same sweetness of bourbon to mellow that out. Yet as ones palate gets more experienced, the flavors being to open up and there is the discovery of flavors ranging from honey, almond, grassy, leather, nectarine, vanilla, dried fruit alongside the vary levels of smokiness ranging from barely discernible to like bonfire-esque.
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How Does Japanese Whisky Taste:
Sort of like Scotch, which isnt too surprising since that is the initial inspiration, although they have now evolved to take on their own character. They are bold and complex, but are also very well balanced. There are some, such as Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky, which share more flavor notes with bourbon than with Scotch.
Things to Consider: In 2015 Jim Murrays Whisky Bible, a prominent guide to the worlds whisky rankings, named a Japanese whisky the best whisky in the world. Continuous refinement can sum up Japanese whisky making. Always tweaking and trying to perfect the process, it is no wonder they are not staying static and are now producing some of the best whiskies in the world.
How Strong Is A Bourbon And Water
Unlike mixed drinks, the alcohol content of bourbon and water is not going to be much different from drinking it straight. In general, you can expect a splash of water to weaken your whiskey by just a couple of percentage points. If youâre pouring a 100-proof whiskey, for instance, it may only be 48 percent ABV .
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Bourbon Vs Scotch: Whats The Difference
Bourbon and Scotch are both types of whiskey: the former is produced in America and the latter in Scotland. Whisky is the correct spelling for the Canadian and Scottish versions, whereas whiskey is the correct spelling for American and Irish-made versions. Here are the technical differences in production:
- Bourbon is a specific type of American whiskey that is made from at least 51% corn and aged in oak barrels. The name bourbon comes from Bourbon Country, Kentucky: the region where the spirit was invented. Today over 95% of the bourbon produced is made in Kentucky.
- Scotch is whisky made in Scotland from either barley or a mix of grains. There are several types of Scotch. The most common are Single malt Scotch, a whisky thats from one distillery made from a mash of malted barley, and Blended Scotch, made by blending barrel-aged malt whisky and grain whisky.
Which One Is Better
This, my friend, is up to you! Everyones taste buds are different, so you must make your own decision this time. The next step is to get a bottle of each and do some taste tests!
Whether its taste, how its made, or where its made, its hard to confuse the two once youve learned a little about both. Invite some friends and family over and do a whisky tasting. Drop a little bit of knowledge on them and youll sound like a pro.
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