A Complete Guide to Whisky

The world of whisky can be challenging to navigate. With so many different expressions available and diverse information sources, it can be hard to find the right dram, or even know where to start. From single malt to single grain whiskies, Scotch to Irish whiskies and more, this guide aims to provide a breakdown of the diverse options at your fingertips from World of Whisky. Whether you are a novice or a connoisseur, you can buy whisky online from our website and explore the rich and varied world of whisky with us.

What is Whisky?

Whisky is a distilled alcoholic spirit, made of fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different expressions, which will impact both the taste and level of amber-colour appearance. These grains can include barley, corn, rye, wheat, or a mixture.

Whisky has a rich history. Introduced over 1000 years ago, it is believed to have first been distilled by Babylonians, before being adopted by Scotland and Ireland, where distillation moved beyond simple ingredients of water, barley and yeast. These grains are mixed with sugars and fermented in barrels, made from varying materials, including woods and infusions. Each bottle contains over 40% alcohol, and will feature different notes, aromas and smoothness levels based on the blending and ageing process.

Whisky is synonymous with sophistication and was known for being a favourite among kings and nobleman, such as King James IV of Scotland and King Henry VIII of England. Over time, whisky production commenced in larger distilleries, and made its way into the homes and hearts of the community and has famously gained its reference as “water of life.”

Whisky distillation has evolved since the 15th century, where the taste was raw and unrefined due to reduced ageing processes. As whisky consumption spread internationally, each country has implemented their own processes, distillation methods and ingredient use, creating taste differentiation based off each distillery.

How is Whisky Made?

Whiskies are made of 3 main ingredients, grain, water and yeast. It is produced through six key steps, which will vary according to the grain, mixing and ageing process. Each step contributes to the unique flavour and quality of the final product.

1. Malting: The malting process involves steeping the grain in water and spreading it across the malting floor allowing it to germinate, this will start the starch conversion to sugar. It will then be combined with yeast and result in alcohol.
2. Mashing: Once the sugars within the grain have been extracted, the grain is then mixed with hot water and agitated to continue the process of mashing. In some whisky productions, more grains are added to this process, to promote the conversion of sugars. These sugars will then be collected, resulting in the residual product being called mash.
3. Fermentation: After the mashing process, the residual mash will then be mixed with yeast and the fermentation process begins. Adding the yeast helps to convert the remaining sugars within the mash to turning it into alcohol. As this process is normally done in large vast, the remaining liquid is considered “Distiller Beer”.
4. Distillation: When the fermentation process is done, the liquid is then placed into distillation stills. These stills come in 2 types, Pot and Column Stills. These stills work to increase the alcohol content while removing unwanted flavours and aromas.
5. Maturation: Following the distillation process, the maturation process beings. Different whisky productions involve different barrels, ranging from bourbon to sherry casks. This maturation process involves placing the distillation product into wooden barrels and letting it soak up the aromas and flavours from the wood. These barrels are then stored in a warehouse for years to come.
6. Bottling: Coming towards the end of this process, as the barrels had time to aged, the whiskies are then bottled and ready to be sold. The term “chill-filtered” is commonly used to describe a filtration process that prevents cloudy whisky by using cold water or ice.

What are the different types of Whisky?

Whiskies are distinguished by different ingredients, processes, and production regions, creating different types of whiskies to enjoy based on our taste preferences. Here are 6 of the most common whisky types.

1. Single Malt Whisky: Just like its name, single malt whiskies only use 1 type of grain in their production and come from a single distillery. Single malt whisky generally uses bourbon barrels resulting in whisky flavour notes such as caramel, vanilla and many more.
2. Blended Whisky: Unlike single malt, blended whiskies are a combination of various whiskies that have previously been aged through different distilleries. This is one of the most common whisky types we find today.
3. Rye Whisky: A whisky is considered Rye, if the whisky consists of a minimum of 51% rye in the mash. Rye contents normally can be found in grains such as barley or corn. Rye whiskies are also commonly matured in oak wood barrels.
4. Bourbon: For a whisky to be considered a classic such as bourbon, it needs to have a minimum of 51% corn mash during the production process. They are also commonly matured in sherry oak barrels which enhances the nutty flavour with a caramel hint. 
5. Single Grain: Single-grain whiskies are mostly used for blending whiskies. They are distilled in a single distillery from malted barley, with or without cereal grains. They tend to be lighter in body and produced in column stills. 

Does it matter where whisky is produced?

Yes. Different regions of the world affect the creation process of each whisky, giving each country a distinctive type of whisky.

1. Scotch Whisky: The first definition of Scotch in UK law was secured by 1933, with a dedicated Scotch Whisky Act in 1988 and the new Scotch Whisky Regulations in 2009. Noted as a malty flavour, Scotch whisky’s main ingredient consists of malted barley. This results in a sweet and smoky taste. Depending on the types of malt, aging time and production place, the flavour may slightly vary.
2. Irish Whiskey: Some people might consider Ireland to be the birthplace of whiskey noted from its long-standing tradition. These regulations were set out in the Whiskey Act of 1980 by the Irish Whiskey Association that determines an Irish Whiskey must be distilled in Ireland from a mash of malted or unmalted grains of cereal. They must also be fermented with yeast and contain 40% alcohol per bottle. This results in a caramel-looking colour and can be added with water.
3. American Whisky: A unique blend on its own, American whisky encompasses a few different types produced in multiple American distilleries. Each region has its own style, hence creating different whisky flavours and notes. A common theme throughout all American whisky is a sweeter dried fruit and dark chocolate finish from the usage of corn as a base.
4. Japanese Whisky: Made in a variety of locations across Japan, Japanese whisky has a smooth and delicate flavour. The Japanese whisky process is modelled from scotch, using double distilling malt or peated barley and ageing them in wooden barrels. Bold and complex yet very balanced are characteristics that Japanese Whiskies are known for.
5. Australian Whisky: Locally made and sourced, Australian whiskies are very new to the market. However, a handful of esteemed single distilleries have emerged in the Australian whisky market and quickly gained respect and recognition. Indigenous ingredients are commonly found in Australian Whiskies and are a key factor in creating its unique whisky flavour resulting in notes such as tropical fruits and eucalyptus.
6. Canadian Whisky: Two key things that create Canadian whisky’s distinct flavours are prohibition and rye. Rye is used as it can survive Canada’s cold winters. A significant ingredient, Canadian whiskies can also be categorised as Rye Whiskies. The most dominating note in Canadian whisky is caramel.
7. New Zealand Whisky: Similar to Australia, New Zealand whiskies are respected as they are coming from single distilleries. However, one notable distinction between New Zealand and Australian whisky is the maritime surroundings that New Zealand has, resulting in more floral and fruity notes in the whisky.
8. Indian Whisky: Indian whiskies are known for their pure malt usage, also being in a humid country, influences the maturation process significantly. Also having different spices creates a vibrant and aromatic flavour in Indian whiskies. 

A Beginner's Guide to Whisky

If you are a whisky connoisseur, have been drinking whisky for decades or just looking to try something new here is a quick guide on how you could develop your palette, whisky tasting and tips on curating your very own whisky collection.

Develop your Palette

There is never a right or wrong way to enjoy whisky, it is completely dependent on your personal preference. Developing your palette is best done through trying different whiskies. Tastings are a great opportunity to try up to six expressions and be guided through their distinctive features.

World of Whisky offers regular in-store tasting events and is available to run private events. Details of upcoming events can be found here.

Some core things to consider include:

• Rich vs light:
  Depending on how long the whisky ages, this will result in different depths of flavour. Rich whiskies have a stronger flavour, due to the longer aging process, it carries spiced notes more in comparison to lighter whiskies that carry fresh and fruity notes.
• Delicate vs Bold:
  The difference between delicate and boldness in whiskies lies in the ground taste. Bolder whiskies tend to have a robust smoky taste; however, delicate whiskies are considered to taste more like barley or the original grain that was used to produce it.
• Tasting Notes:
  Always remember to use your senses, memorising what each whisky smells and tasted li as this will help you to enhance your palette, especially when tasting a variety of different types.

Guide to Whisky Tasting

When it comes to tasting whisky, there are so many myths, opinions, and stories that it makes it quite confusing and sometimes intimidating. Check out our ultimate whisky-tasting guide and let's chat about whisky tasting - for both novices and seasoned veterans.

Curating Your Whisky Collection 

The most important thing to remember is curating your own collection is totally up to you! It's based on your preferences and the flavours and the notes that you enjoy.  

Final Whisky Notes

On a final note, the complexity it takes to create a bottle of whisky is a testament to the years of craftsmanship and creativity. This complex process explains the exclusivity and prestige a bottle of whisky has. However, sourcingdifferent types of whiskies can be difficult, especially coming from different parts of the world. Once you've discovered your favourite types, you can easily buy whisky online from our wide selection of whiskies from around the world. Whether you're looking for Scotch, Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky, or other varieties, you'll find plenty of options to choose from the World of Whisky.