What's the difference between scotch and whiskey

Read to be an expert

While savouring the smooth taste of your favourite dark spirit, have you ever wondered the difference between scotch and whiskey (also written as whisky)? Why is one expensive than the other or why does the taste differ according to the ‘age’ of the alcohol? The blends and malts used to produce these distilled alcoholic beverages create all the difference. We have scooped out the answers into four simple differences so that next time you sound like an expert!

1.The difference of grains and malts

Whiskey is made by fermenting the grain mash. Malts of various types of grains, like corn, wheat, barley and rye are used and aged in charred white oak casks to prepare the distilled alcoholic beverage. Unlike wine, whisky does not mature further once it is bottled.

Scotch, a malt whiskey, is made in Scotland from only water and malted barley. Scotch whiskey must be aged for a minimum of three years but mostly it lies in the woods for 8 to 10 years or more which smoothens the taste of this fine dark beverage.

2.The difference in production

Whiskey: The still (apparatus used to mix liquids) used for making whiskey is generally made of copper because the metal removes sulphur-based compounds from the alcohol that would otherwise make the beverage unpleasant to drink.

Scotch: A scotch must be processed strictly according to the law and only in a single distillery. It must be processed at a distillery in Scotland and should be fermented only by adding yeast. It must mature in Scotland in oak casks containing no added grains or substances.

3.The difference in maturation process

Apart from the grains used, the difference in taste between whiskey and scotch is only because of the maturation process. As it matures, the alcohol becomes smoother because the flavour of the grains mature and the colour of the beverage turns golden. Smallest changes in the maturation process can cost a difference in the taste of the alcohol. A whiskey matured in American white oak, which has a mellower, finer aroma would taste different from European oak that provides more intense aroma and tannins. And that is where the prices differ too.

4.Blends

Whiskey: Blended whiskey would mean blending types of whiskeys and spirits with different grains, colours and flavours. It is generally the mixing of high-quality spirit whiskeys with less expensive spirits.

Scotch: Single malt scotch means that it has been processed at one single distillery. There are three types of blends you would find in scotch whiskeys:
1. Blended Malt Scotch Whiskeys: This means that two or more single malt whiskeys from different distilleries are blended together.
2. Blended Grain Scotch Whiskeys: This means that two or more single grain scotch whiskeys from different distilleries are blended together.
3. Blended Scotch Whiskey: This is a blend of the above two. It means that two or more single malt scotch whiskeys are blended with one or more single grain scotch whiskeys.