Scottish whiskey, according to statistics, is one of the best-selling drinks. On average, about thirty bottles are sold per second in the world.
The history of the origin of the drink is a secret, it is only known that the Celts began to make it. The word "whiskey" comes from the Celtic "water of life", which already allows you to elevate it to the rank of a special drink.
Scotch whiskey is ahead of sales in Irish, Canadian, Japanese and American combined. This is a strong alcoholic drink that is highly regarded by lovers of quality alcohol.
To be called genuine Scotch whiskey, by all international standards, distilled alcohol must be made exclusively in Scotland from ground grains and water; fermented with yeast; to have the aroma of raw materials used in its production; aged in oak barrels for at least three years; and also do not contain any additives, except for caramel and water.
Scotch whiskey is also called scotch tape, which is its complete synonym. This drink is divided into five classic categories. Its main varieties are as follows:
- Single malt whiskey, 100% made from grains of the 1st distillation. Many people prefer this.
- Grain Whiskey. It is also distilled from water and grains in the same plant. But in its manufacture can be used not only barley, but also other cereals.
- Blended Scotch whiskey is a mixture of grain and single malt whiskeys from various distilleries. It is such a drink that is today the most common.
- Blended malt whiskey, created immediately from several single malt drinks from various distilleries.
- Blended grain whiskey created by mixing several distillations.
This drink can only be made in Scotland. The main raw material for its manufacture is barley. First, malt is collected, then it is dried using peat smoke, due to which the specific peat flavor is the feature that Scotch whiskey has.
The brands of this drink are extremely diverse. In total, there are more than two thousand produced at more than a hundred factories in Scotland. Some of the most famous brands are Famous Grouse Johnnie Walker Red Label, Long John, Hankey Bannister, Clan Campbell, Teacher's Highland Cream and many others. The most popular brands in Russia are Jameson, Bushmills and Paddy.
Most of the drink produced today is blended whiskey, that is, these are blends obtained by mixing malt and grain whiskey. The first blending technology was applied at Andrew Asher's distillery in 1853.
Good Scotch whiskey, the price of which is determined by its brand and aging, however, is never cheap. Prices start at twenty dollars per bottle. The most expensive bottle of scotch tape (aged over 150 years) was sold at auction for almost sixty thousand dollars.
A well-aged whiskey is considered to be a drink that has stood in barrels for 10-12 years, in extreme cases - at least three. Depending on the area of production, alcohol differs in aroma and shade.