SINGLE MALT WHISKY
A single malt whisky is a whisky from a single distillery made using 100% malted barley. Scotch malt whisky must be matured for a legal minimum of 3 years. It must also be produced and matured in oak casks in Scotland. Generally single malt whiskies are divided into five main regions as follows:
LOWLAND MALT WHISKY
The Lowland region lies south of an imaginary line drawn from the Clyde estuary, on the west coast, to the Tay estuary, on the east coast. Whiskies from Lowland distilleries tend to be much SOFTER and LIGHTER in character. They often display very MALTY, GRASSY characteristics and more SUBTLE DELICATE AROMAS than whiskies from the other regions.
HIGHLAND MALT WHISKY
The Highland region includes most of the rest of mainland Scotland, hence a wide variety of characteristics can be found in Highland Malt Whiskies. Its whiskies will range from DRY and HEATHERY to SWEET and FRUITY - some even have a touch of SMOKE due to their proximity to the west coast.
SPEYSIDE MALT WHISKY
Technically Speyside lies within the Highland region, but it is home to approximately half of Scotland's malt whisky distilleries. This small area of land located to the north west of Aberdeen produces MELLOW, SWEET, MALTY and particularly FRUITY malt whiskies.
ISLAND MALT WHISKY
The islands stretch from the Orkney Islands, located off the north coast of Scotland, all the way down the west coast, encompassing Skye, Jura, Mull, Arran and Islay. The islands, in general, produce some of the more ROBUST whiskies with coastal influences SALTY TANG, FRESH SEA AIR - however, it is more specifically Islay that produces the heavy PEATY, SMOKY tasting malts in particular the distilleries located on the south coast of Islay.
CAMPBELTOWN MALT WHISKY
Campbeltown was probably the home of the first distilleries in Scotland, but now only two remain. Whisky from this area traditionally has a SMOKY style.
GRAIN WHISKY
Grain whisky is made from wheat and/or maize, a small amount of malted barley, water and yeast. It is produced in a Coffey Still instead of a Pot Still and tends to be much lighter and milder than malt whiskies. Grain whisky is used as the major componenet of blended whiskies. See below.
BLENDED WHISKY
A whisky which contains a mixture of both malt and grain whiskies. On a bottle of blended whisky you will sometimes see an age statement. This refers to the youngest whisky within the blend's composition. Aged blends are generally known as deluxe or premium blends and will be priced on a par with some of the malts. Deluxe or premium blends will normally contain a higher percentage of malt whisky than standard blends.
BLENDED MALT WHISKY
A mixture of malt whiskies from different single malt distilleries. This may also be referred to as pure malt whisky.
WHISKY LIQUEURS
With a Scotch whisky base the majority of whisky liqueurs are made using a blend of honey and mild herbs and spices. Cream is added to produce the whisky cream liqueurs.
CASK STRENGTH WHISKY
A whisky which has been taken straight from the cask and bottled without reduction with water - usually between 50-62% alcohol by volume.