A cheat sheet to enjoying this refined spirit
1. Single malt vs blended
Single malt refers to a malted-barley whisky that comes from just one distillery. That means a Laphroaig 28-year-old single malt Scotch whisky was made from just one grain at their Islay distillery. A blended whisky is made from a combination of grains and distilleries.
2. The deal with age
Whisky makers list the age of the spirit on the bottle, but only according to the youngest spirit in the blend. So, when you sip a Japanese Hibiki 21-year-old, you’re likely drinking something featuring constituent whiskies that are actually older than the label lets on.
3. In the barrel
To be considered authentic, American bourbon whiskeys like Maker’s Mark must be aged in new barrels that have been charred. Once used for bourbon whiskey, American white oak barrels get sent everywhere from Ireland to Japan where they are then used to age other whiskies.
4. Global rise
While whisky originated in Scotland and Ireland, it’s now made in different countries across the globe. Places such as Japan, Taiwan and Tasmania in Australia have become recognised for their whiskies, including names such as Nikka, Kavalan and Sullivans Cove respectively.
5. Whisky vs Whiskey
The spelling “whisky” is used for the spirit produced in most countries. If it’s Irish or American, it’s “whiskey”.
SEE ALSO: 5 chic bars to visit in Manila
This article was originally published in the September 2019 issue of SilverKris magazine
