Whiskey - a strong alcoholic drink that is obtained from barley, wheat, corn or other grains. The basis for all his brands is the same: it is water, grain and yeast.
Where are you from
Technically, brands of whiskey, whose photos are full of online, can be divided into several types, but the main differences are determined by the origin. Nobody already knows where exactly it all began, and Ireland and Scotland are fighting for the right to call this drink "their own". They are the oldest suppliers of a noble drink, able to carry their traditions through the centuries, improve them and stay among the main ones in the 21st century.
In general, there are two large groups of supplier countries: the first (which includes Ireland, Scotland, USA, Canada, Japan) unites the largest regions in terms of production volumes. The best brands of whiskey are also “native” from these countries. States like India, France, Australia and others belong to the second group and produce mainly “for themselves”, lagging behind the first in terms of both volume and quality of products.
Scotch tape
Today, Scotland is among the leaders in the production of "water of life." However, in this country another name is used - scotch tape.
On sale there are several varieties of Scottish scotch tape:
- single malt; Single Malt;
- single malt, Cask Strength (bottled without dilution, barrel strength, i.e. 65-75%);
- a mixture of single malt varieties from different distilleries (Vatted Malt (Pure Malt));
- Grain, Single Grain;
- a mixture of grain varieties of tape from different manufacturers;
- blended, or Blended, a mixture of grain spirits and single malt whiskey.
A characteristic feature of many Scottish varieties is the smack of smoke, although in fact the world of Scottish scotch tape is a unique collection of a wide variety of flavors. It is traditionally aged in barrels of other alcoholic beverages: bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, Spanish sherry and all kinds of combinations of containers from the above and other products.
As a result, there is an adhesive tape with the taste of malt, raisins, fortified wines, honey, candies, nutshells, peat smoke, sea salt, mineral sulfur, and the like, all without artificial additives and flavorings.
However, most of all in the market for blended varieties are of “average” quality and low price, although among the brands there are also unique, self-sufficient mixtures. Many well-known brands of whiskey belong to blends.
Choice Old Cameron Brig
The only brand of cereal whiskey that can be found in retail. Grain alcohol is usually used along with malt to create blends, and Choice Old Cameron Brig brand whiskey is all that fans can find in pure form. It has no competitors - a unique variety for people with a unique taste.
Chivas regal
Elite Scotch whiskey Chivas Regal appeared in 1801, by the grace of two brothers, John and James Chivasov. In their store, expensive varieties of coffee, rum, and spices were sold, but they could not find the appropriate quality scotch tape. And in the end, they cooked it themselves. As the story goes, noble Scots quickly appreciated the new version of their favorite drink.
Now under this brand Chivas Regal is sold 40% of the fortress, aging 12, 18, 21 and 25 years. Eighteen-year-old Chivas Regal received a gold medal at an international competition in 1998, and this proves that he is one of the best brands in the global adhesive tape market.
Bushmills
Bushmills single malt Scotch whiskey is produced at one of the oldest distilleries in the world - it is more than 400 years old, and neither war nor prohibition could interrupt production. Adhesive tape Bushmills does not tolerate dilution, mixing and biting, best of all its mild and pleasant taste reveals solo.
Johnnie walker
One of the most famous brands of blended whiskey around the world. Its history begins in the sixties of the 19th century, when Alexander Walker created his brand of adhesive tape Old Highland. In 1909, the two main brands of the company that existed at that time changed their names to Johnnie Walker Black Label and Johnnie Walker Red Label.
Red Label is an inexpensive standard blend, it includes about 35 varieties of three-, five-year aging. The drink is very popular - it is good both on its own and with cola or ice.
Black Label - a variety with a complex taste, this is its main advantage. It includes about 40 varieties of Scottish scotch tape, of which 35 are malt. Whiskey from almost all regions of production, mixing in it, give rise to a unique aroma and taste. This is a deluxe blend, and it fully deserves its popularity.
In addition to the two most famous, the Johnny Walker brand offered the world several more varieties: Green Label (a mixture of exclusively malt whiskeys of fifteen years old), soft and delicate Gold Label (15 rare varieties of eighteen-year aging), Platinum Label and Blue Label - the “royal” product whose price for a bottle is up to $ 500.
The Blue Label series is made from 16 rare varieties - some of them, such as the 1923 Auchterool, are not produced anywhere else. The drink in each barrel is unique.
Ballantine's
Ballantine's whiskey is one of the most popular brands in Europe and the world. He took 10th place in the ranking of the best-selling world brands according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt. This brand was born in the sixties of the 19th century, when grocer George Ballantyne began to blend whiskey according to his own recipe.
In the Ballantine's line of varieties, there are six scotch tapes with different characteristics and exposure. Ballantine's Finest, for example, includes about 57 alcohols of various aging. Glenburgie brings a fruity note with a touch of apples and pears. Miltonduff - vanilla sweet, floral and herbal notes of a noble drink.
Glenfiddich
Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whiskey of excellent quality, minimum aging - 12 years. The Glenfiddich line includes one of the most expensive varieties in the world - the Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Rare Collection, released in just 500 bottles and signed personally by Peter Gordon, the great-great-great-grandson of the founder.
Irish Whiskey
One of the founders and the former "trendsetter" - Ireland - strongly influenced the distribution of whiskey. Triple distillation is popular here - not at all like in Scotland, where two distillations are mainly used. In Ireland, alcohols are also kept in barrels of sherry and bourbon, but unlike the Scots, the Irish produce whiskey not only from malt, but also from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley.
You can find the following varieties born in this country:
- malt, single malt whiskey - Single Malt;
- a mixture of malted and unmalted barley - Pure Pot Still;
- Grain - Single Grain;
- blended - Blended - a mixture of the previous three.
Jameson
Jameson brand Irish whiskey dates back to 1780, and today it is one of the most famous and best-selling brands. The classic "Jameson" has a soft and light taste, with a pleasant sweet, nutty finish.
In the line of brands of this brand is Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve, a product of the work of four experienced blending masters. It includes the oldest and rarest alcohols aged in sherry and port barrels, and the finished drink is full of fruit and floral tones.
Whiskey brand Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve combines notes of sherry, chocolate and vanilla, is available in limited quantities, and each bottle has its own personal number. Jameson Gold Reserve (introduced in 1996) includes spirits aged in fresh oak barrels.
Tullamore dew
Having arisen in 1887, Tullamore Dew to this day maintains its position in Ireland and abroad. Moreover, its popularity continues to grow. Tullamore Dew 10 Years Old Single Malt was awarded the title of “Best Irish Whiskey of the Year 2012” at NYISC's annual New York competition. The aroma of this ten-year-old drink consists of a combination of freshly cut grass, pineapple and roasted wood. The taste reminds primarily of fruits, with a hint of raisins and figs, and leaves an aftertaste of apricot and raisins.
In total, the brand lineup consists of five varieties. Special attention deserves connoisseurs Tullamore Dew Phoenix - a limited edition variety. Its characteristic feature is the high content of Pure Pot Still whiskey, the aging of which “ripened” in sherry barrels.
Redbreast
Redbrest Irish whiskeys were named purchase number 1 in John Hansell’s buying guide, which perfectly illustrates the brand’s current position in the world of “water of life”. Redbreast belongs to the Pure Pot Still Whiskey category and although it only appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, it has already earned a reputation as a product that is worth a try.
American bourbon
In the US, whiskey is mainly made from corn - here it is called "bourbon". Unlike Scotland and Ireland in the United States, almost all spirits, with the exception of single malt, are aged for at least two years in new barrels - that is, they have no alcoholic “precursors”. In America there are quite a few types of this drink, but most importantly, it is completely different from Scottish and Irish and was able to occupy its niche in the whiskey market.
In this country they produce:
- Blended “water of life” (blended). At least 20% consists of the following species, the rest is cereal alcohol.
- Single Malt Whiskey (Malt). Make only from malted barley.
- Tennessee whiskey (Tennessee Sour Mash). According to the recipe, at least 51% of corn is included in it. In practice, it is often made from 80% of corn and 20% from malt.
- Bourbon (bourbon) - barrel fortress, from one specific barrel.
- He, that is, bourbon, but from several specially selected barrels, most often also a barrel fortress (Barrel Select, Small Batch).
- Corn whiskey (Corn Whiskey), produced from at least 80% of the corn, the rest - other cereals.
- Rye (Straight Rye). 51% of rye, 49% - cereals of other species.
- Wheat (Straight Wheat). Again - 51% of wheat, and 49% - cereals of other species.
Jack daniel's
One of the most popular world brands, entered the TOP-100 alcoholic beverages according to Impact Databank. The main difference between Tennessee whiskey and bourbon is that the first one undergoes a “softening” process. Drop by drop alcohol is filtered through 10 feet of charcoal from sugar maple.
The secret of the mild, original taste of Jack Daniels lies precisely in this painstaking filtration, as well as in the use of delicious mountain water from Hollow. It is worth drinking separately from everything, and as part of cocktails, experts combine a “Tennessee” with lemon or apple juice.
Jim beam
A popular bourbon variety worldwide, included in the TOP-100 rating of the best-selling (by volume) alcoholic beverages, according to the authoritative Impact Databank. Unlike Jack Daniel's, the price of "Jim Beam" is quite affordable, and this plays an important role.
We can say that in this bourbon the perfect balance of price and quality was found, and it should be tried by anyone who calls himself a lover of whiskey.
Maker's mark
Another participant in ratings and TOPs, however, it is the opposite of both Jim Beam and Jack Daniels. A distillery in Kentucky spills no more than 19 barrels per batch, and the price for it ranges around 2500 rubles per bottle in domestic online stores.
Such limited production makes it possible to use manual labor, as well as strictly control the quality of the drink. American whiskey brand Maker's Mark has its own unique feature - varieties for bottling are selected not by age but by taste.
Whiskey from the Land of the Rising Sun
The Japanese are neat people, able to appreciate the high quality, whether it is equipment, martial arts or whiskey. The history of the drink in this country began in the twenties of the 20th century, moreover, they copied the Scots and did not strive for originality.
At least that's what it looks like at this time - you should not look for some uniquely Japanese varieties here. However, quality is in high esteem - it was the Japanese Yamazaki that was recognized in 2013 as the best single malt whiskey following the results of the Whiskey Bible Awards. Popular brands of Japanese whiskey relate to drinks from a higher price segment - manufacturers have high requirements, which affects the final cost of the product.
Suntory
Celebrities are not afraid of competition - they, like all the present, are unique. Suntory Hibiki 21 Years Old is a brand of malt and grain varieties aged in cherry barrels for at least 21 years. At the annual World Whiskey Awards in Glasgow, this brand received the title of best whiskey among brands several times in a row. Another variety from the Suntory line - Yamazaki - was recognized as the best in 2013.
Other brand products are also worthy of attention and love. “Santori” is the very legendary first company that started the production of whiskey in the country. In Japan itself, their products are the best seller and regular winner of contests.
In one review, it is impossible to mention all the brands that are worthy of attention. Among those that remained “behind the scenes” of the article, there are also quite a lot of interesting varieties. Here an attempt was made to suggest a good choice for people who have just begun to discover a new world.