Yeast and water are frequently used in the distillation of Scotch Whisky to encapsulate the overall flavors of the grain used. Although there is a large variety of Scotch whisky, most are made from It is distilled from either barley or a mix of grains.įurthermore, most Scotch whisky is Single Malt Scotch which is distilled in one distillery.īlended Scotch whisky is a product of blending several barrel-aged malt whisky and grain whisky. Scotch whisky is made, as the name indicates, in Scotland. This is due to the higher temperatures in Kentucky and other bourbon-producing areas where bourbon evaporates at a faster rate. However, to be classified as a “straight” bourbon it must be aged for a minimum of 2 years, and it cannot contain any added spirits, flavors, or colors. Bourbon typically has a very oaky vanilla taste to it that is largely derived from the barrels in which the alcohol is fermented, stored, aged, and produced.īourbon has a sweeter more mellow taste with notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel while Scotch has a more intense smokiness The charred surface of the barrels in which Bourbon is aged produces a smokey vanilla-like flavor. The oak barrels used for aging bourbon are only used for bourbon aging. The final product has to be less than 62.5% ABV during the aging process. Generally, Bourbon is distilled to no more than 80% ABV which is 160 proof. However, bourbon can also be distilled in other areas of the USA. As much as 95% of bourbon is distilled in Kentucky. government mandates a minimum of 51% corn to be used in conjunction with malted barley, rye, and wheat and it must be manufactured within the USA.īourbon is named after Bourbon Country, Kentucky where it was invented. The alcohol content of any alcoholic product is displayed as ABV (Alcohol by Volume). To be classified as a whisky the product must be distilled to at least 40% minimum alcohol content and a maximum of 94.8% alcohol content. The taste of whisky and bourbon differs as a result of the differences in grains used. Scotch and bourbon are closely related, and their alcoholic and chemical compositions are extremely similar. What’s the Difference Between Bourbon and Scotch? Other countries that produce whisky are Japan, Australia, and Europe. Our preference is to use the more widely used term of whisky for the collective category and will only use the terminology whiskey for brands that are branded as such.Īlthough whisky is made in countries other than Scotland and the USA, we will concentrate on Scottish Whisky and American Bourbon. Scotland, Canada, and a large portion of other distillers use the original term of whisky while American and Irish often refer to adding an “e” calling it whiskey. You may have noticed that the terms whisky and whiskey have been used in the preceding text.Īlthough you can use either of the terms whichever you prefer and both terms are correct, there is a history to which terms are more applicable. These distilling processes were later taken to the North American continent by settlers. Scots were likely creating spirits using crude distillation techniques about the year 1000 AD which means that whisky-making in Scotland predates the arrival of the first Europeans on the North American continent. When the monks reached the British Isles where brewing traditions were more prevalent, they found that by distilling beer, they were left with a clear liquid called “Uisge Beatha”, Scots Gaelic for ‘the water of life,’ which was the origin of the modern ‘whisky.’ It was discovered that when heating wine the vapor can be captured and cooled leaving a clear liquid with concentrated alcohol.Īlthough this process was identified by Muslim scholars, traveling monks brought it to Europe. The production of alcohol began among the caliphate societies of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Scotch is made from a single type of grain, usually, barley, while to be classified as a bourbon a minimum of 51% corn must be mixed with other grains. Scotch whisky and Bourbon whiskey are both classified as whisky but are distilled from quite a different base products and locations All whiskies are distilled and barrel-aged spirits made from fermented grain. The most generally used grains are corn, barley, rye, and wheat with each type of grain creating a unique flavor profile. One of the most popular liquors is whisky distilled using fermented grain and is barrel-aged for years before being bottled. Many people are confused by the difference when it comes to Scotch vs Bourbon. Liquor Connoisseurs will know that there is a variety of products used in the distilling process to make a variety of liquors.
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