Whiskey is a strong drink.It is made from natural cereals, yeast and water, kept in special barrels. Only three countries are engaged in the production of this drink: Scotland, the USA and Ireland. The most popular is the Scottish one. Many confuse single malt whiskey and blended whiskey, we will try to understand this problem and consider each type of Scottish elixir.
Types of Scottish beverage
There are three varieties:
- malt;
- grain;
- blended whiskey.
Production technology
Malt whiskey
Barley is used for production.Barley is carefully sorted, cleaned and dried. Then soaked in water. The water must be saturated with oxygen. The process of soaking ends when the seeds begin to germinate. Sprouted barley is dried, the temperature should be 65 degrees. Drying takes place in a special room, where the grains are smoked using peat. Thus, malt is obtained, which is then ground and mixed with hot water. Cool and add to the solution yeast. The fermentation process begins and lasts 3 days. The result is a "wash", which is subjected to double distillation (12 hours). Add water from the source to reduce the strength of the drink. Withstand malt in oak barrels. Exposure time varies, but not less than 3 years. Distinguish the following varieties: barrel (from various distilleries) and single malt (produced by a single distillery).
Grain whiskey
The raw material for the production of grain whiskey arecereals (wheat, corn). This type of whiskey is only distilled (continuously). It is much softer than malt and is, one can say, technical raw material, which goes to the production of blended.
Mixed (blend) blended whiskey
For the manufacture of mixed two types: malt and grain. Blended whiskey - the most advertised drink, which combines the tastes of different varieties. Divide it into 3 types:
- Standard (component exposure is at least three years). The most famous blends are “Johnnie Walker”, “Ballantine’s”;
- class "de luxe blend". This species is kept for about 12 years. Popular brands: Chivas Regal, William Lawson;
- premium class. Exposure blend is more than 12 years. Famous brands: “Macallan 1926”, “Dalmore 62”.
Blended whiskey is on the list of the most expensive luxury drinks in the world. Most of the sales are mixed varieties, but more and more buyers are attracted by the single malt.
So, as we can see, single malt and blended whiskey is a completely different beverage, but both varieties are exquisite.
How correctly to use?
Whiskey Scottish blended - Royaldrink. They are used from two types of glasses: tulip-shaped (to assess the color, taste and aroma of the drink) and wide with a thick bottom (to mix with water, cola, vermouth). Scots prefer to drink whiskey according to rule 5 "S": inhale, admire, savor, dilute, swallow. The temperature of the drink should be about 18-21 degrees, at this temperature a bouquet of aroma opens. If you're just going to plunge into the world of whiskey, then you should start with blended!
