whisky - Types of whisky, Names and spellings, Popular types, Source

A spirit distilled from fermented grain, such as barley, rye, wheat, or (in US bourbon) corn; the main spirit produced and consumed in Ireland and Scotland. Whiskies can be single malt, a product of a single distillate, or a blend of several batches, often from several different distilleries.

Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and maize or corn.

Types of whisky

Whisky or whisky-like products are produced in most grain-growing areas. American whiskies must be aged in new barrels made of American white oak that are charred before use. Malt whisky is a whisky made from 100% malted barley; Malt whisky made in one distillery is called single malt whisky to distinguish it from vatted malts, which are malt whiskies blended from single malts from multiple distilleries, and blended whisky, which contains some grain whisky and is significantly less expensive. It is distilled in continuous distillation process stills known as Coffey stills instead of the pot still used for malt whisky. Blended whisky is a mix of different types of whiskies, usually some combination of single malt and grain whiskies. Vatted Malt When single malt whiskies from different distilleries are mixed together the term vatted or blended malt is used.

Names and spellings

Whisky comes from the Gaelic uisge/uisce beatha (IPA: [ɪʃkʲə bʲahə]) meaning "water of life", possibly modelled on the Latin phrase aqua vitae. The spelling whisky (plural whiskies) is generally used for whiskies distilled in Scotland, Wales, Canada, and Japan, while whiskey is used for the spirits distilled in Ireland. A 1968 directive of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives specifies "whisky" as the official U.S. spelling, but allows labeling as "whiskey" in deference to tradition; International law reserves the term "Scotch whisky" to those whiskies produced in Scotland. Whiskies produced in other countries may not use the terms Scots, Scotch, Scotland, or Scottish. Similar conventions exist for "Irish whiskey", "Canadian whisky", and "bourbon whiskey". In North America and parts of Continental Europe, the abbreviated term "Scotch" is usually used for "Scotch whisky". In England, Scotland, and Wales, the term "whisky" almost always refers to "Scotch whisky", and the term "Scotch" is rarely used by itself.

Popular types

Scotch whisky Bourbon whiskey Canadian whisky Corn whiskey Irish whiskey Moonshine Rye whiskey Tennessee whiskey Welsh whisky

Source

Alcohol Trivia