Roaming my eyes through the shelves of different whiskeys and I almost lost it. I really love the smell of whiskey, everything about it from how it is made to how it tastes good when blended right, oh I can live here! Sitting comfortably in very soft and minimal chair with a perfect view of the displayed whiskey, I can do this all day. I am meeting one of my past clients, G1 he invited me to have a drink and without thinking twice I accepted it. I am here in one of my favorite and one of the best liquor store in New York, Brandy Library.
This is one of the perks of having a bankers life, you got to have free drinks from time to time. Aside from having the best whiskey in town, the interior of this store is lit. The whiskey bottles are arranged in such a way that it looks like a part of the structure itself and the ambiance is so good that wearing a suit would never look you out of place.G2 G3 Thinking, I choose Johnny Walker Black for my friend who just started to have an interest in whiskeys.G4 G5 G6 I remember when I first tried whiskey, I got fascinated the first time and not even a hot chic in town made me feel this.
As I have more and more opportunities to enjoy drinking in a pub. I started fond of the taste of whiskey and learn whiskey deeply. I remembered how confused G7 I was in the liquor store and totally forgotten the woman I was with and all I can think of was I am surrounded by the numerous whiskey.Soon after that, I did a lot of research by starting with its bottle label. You can never be called true gentlemen if you knew nothing about whiskey. Here I would like to share part of what I know to the beginner of whiskey.G8 What is whiskey?G9 G10 Defined by an author of The Whisky Cabinet, Bylok, “Whiskey is a general term used to describe a spirit that’s made from a distilled grain that’s been matured in oak,”. Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash.
This mash is typically aged in wooden casks, which gives it that distinct brown color and taste. Whether you’re drinking bourbon, rye, Canadian rye, American whiskey, Irish whiskey or scotch, you’re drinking whiskey.Difference between whiskey and whiskeyG11 .Whiskey, also known as whiskey, is as much a broad categorization of spirits as it is a spirit type. If you aren’t a whiskey enthusiast, you might be wondering what the difference is between whiskey and whiskeyG12 G13 . One determinant between whiskey and whiskey is where it’s produced. Whiskey from Ireland and the United States is usually spelled with an “e.
” Whisky from Scotland, Canada, Japan and elsewhere is spelled without an “e.” So regional grammar is why you’ll see Scotch whiskey but Irish whiskey on the shelves.G14 G15 How whiskey is produced.The best whiskey comes from great ingredients, hands and great time that made them. But the question would always be how to make whiskey. Whiskey is in nature a distilled beer. Distillation is the process by which the beer is heated to a temperature where alcohol evaporates but most of the water does not and the outcome of distillation is a spirit that is clear in color.
Preparing. Prepare grains and store them in silos. Then clean it to remove dust and other unwanted impurities. Take note that if its barley then it needs to be malted. Malting is the process of soaking the barley in water for sufficient time and then keep it spread open till it starts to sprout. After you get sprouts, there is a certain enzyme called ‘amylase’ that will convert the barley into sugars. The time when sprouting starts, dry the barley and then ground it. If it is not barley then proceed directly in grounding it, mix it with water and pressure cook it at high temperature.
Grains are ground, cooked and barley is melted.Mashing. Mix the cooked grain with malted barley and warm water. This time the amylase in malted barley would convert the starch in other grains to sugar. ThisG16 process would go on and by the end, G17 it would produce a sugary solution which is called mash. For scotch, there is no other grain and the end result of mashed barley which has now converted into sugar is called wort.Fermenting.
A process by which molecules such as glucose are broken down without needing oxygen. Taking a large vessel, a wood or steel, and adding the mash or worth. Also add yeast, yeast that would convert the sugar into alcohol. After three or four days, the end product of fermentation is a liquid containing about 10% alcohol known as distiller’s beer in the United States or wash in Scotland.Distilling.
After fermenting, the ‘wash’ is then heated G18 so as to vaporize the alcohol and collecting the vapors in a condenser. The product of the initial distillation—known as low wine—is distilled a second time to produce a product known as high wine or new whiskey, which contains about 70% alcohol.Aging. The same with wine, whiskey is commonly aged in wooden barrels, charred white oak because white oak adds a flavor.
In the aging process, there are three things that will happen. First is that water, alcohol and congeners, things added to remove the smell, or add some taste after distillationG19 , are mix with each other over time. Second, is their reaction with oxygen and third is about the interaction with wood. It’s obvious that this solution would absorb something from wood over time.
All these factors contribute towards ageing. Usually, it takes 3-5 years for a whiskey to mature. Blending.
The trickier and difficult part. Keep in mind that a single malt whiskey is not blended because when it is out of the cask, iG20 t is bottled directly. All other whiskeys are blended. When you want to achieve a consistent flavor you can sometimes do it by adding different batches.
Blending can also mean adding more things for flavor like neutral grain spirit. An example would be adding a Caramel which helps in getting a color or adding sherryG21 or wine that contribute in blending flavors. G22 G23 Bottling.
The final touch to achieve the perfect whiskey. It is a glass bottle, sealG24 ing it and you’reG25 done. But today most of the bottling is automated.G26 The 5-major producer of whiskey in the world.
America(Bourbon). Whiskey that is produced here is called G27 G28 American whiskey, where a fermented mash of cereal grain is distilled. Its grain receipt is composed of 51% corn and 51% of rye. Its barrel maturation takes up to 2 years minimum, usually 6-10 years. Take note that the mixture must be stored in charred oak containers and cannot contain any additives. It tastes sweeter than others and also a bit smokey due to the charred oak.
G29 G30 · What is Bourbon whiskey? A type of American whiskey that is made from mash that consists of at least 51% corn.There are also other American whiskey types aside from bourbon are rye whiskey, rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, and corn whiskey. Scotland. Whiskey that is produced here is called scotch whiskey. There are two kinds of scotch whiskey the malted whiskey and grain whiskey. G31 G32 Malt Whisky is G33 made by the Pot Still process and Grain Whisky are made by the Patent Still or Coffey Still process. Malt Whisky is made from barley mash or malted barley only, while Grain Whisky is made from malted barley together with unmalted barley and other cereals.
Scotch whiskey must be made in a manner specified by law.G34 Its barrel maturation takes up to 3 years minimum, usually 5-12 years. It is the strongest whiskey, taste like smoky and earthy flavor such as Rubber, wood, fire, dirt, and leather.
G35 G36 G37 Keep in mind that scotch is not for beginners.Canada. Whiskey that is produced here is called G38 G39 Canadian whiskey. This whiskey is based on corn, rye, and malted barleyG40 G41 . This whiskey is also blended with multi-grain liquors containing a large percentage of corn spirits and are typically lighter and smoother than other whiskey styles.G42 Its barrel maturation takes up to 3 years minimum. It is tend to lighted bodied, smoother and fruity.
G43 G44 G45 Ireland. Whiskey that is produced here is called G46 G47 Irish whiskey. A combination of 100% malted barley and blends. Its barrel maturation takes up to 3 years minimum, usually 5-12 years. One of the smoothest whiskey.
This tastes less sweet than most American bourbons and is gG48 reat for sipping.G49 G50 G51 Japan. Whiskey that is produced here is called G52 G53 Japanese whiskey.
This whiskey is strict to be produced only in Japan and either 100% malted barley or blends. The style of Japanese whiskey is more like that of Scotch whiskey than any other major style of whiskey.G54 G55 G56 Its barrel maturation takes up to 3 years minimum, usually 5-12 years.G57 G58 G59 Six different regions in Scotland.Speyside. Produces Speyside single malts, this whiskey is single malt Scotch whiskeysG60 G61 and are distilled in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey, in northeastern Scotland.
Has an over 60 number of distilleries, has Glenlivet and Glenfiddich as most famous lowlands whiskeyG62 and is known for its sweet single malts like Apple, Vanilla, Oak, Malt, Nutmeg and Dried Fruit.G63 G64 Highlands. Produces Highland single malts, whiskey that are single malt Scotch whiskeys produced in the Highland region of Scotland. This categorization includes the whiskeys produced on the islands around the perimeter of ScotlandG65 G66 . This area is the largest whiskey producing areaG67 and the taste of whiskey is quite diverse. Has an over 25 number of distilleries, has Dalmore as most famous lowlands whiskey and G68 has a typical lowland flavors such as Fruit Cake, Malt, Oak, Heather, Dried Fruit and Smoke.G69 G70 G71 Lowlands.
Produces Lowland single malts, that are single malt whiskeys distilled in Scotland’s lowlands.G72 The Lowlands produces gentle, light whiskeys, G73 sometimes very dry and free of peat. Lowland whiskeys are commonly referenced as feminine drams, ‘the Lowland Ladies’.
G74 The second biggest whiskey region in terms of the area it coversG75 in Scotland. Has 4 number of distilleries, has Auchentoshan as most famous lowlands whiskey and has a typical lowland G76 flavours such Grass, Honeysuckle, Cream, Toffee, Toast and Cinnamon that tend to be light and gentle with no peatiness.G77 G78 G79 Campbeltown. Produces Campbeltown single malts, that are single malt Scotch whiskeysG80 distilled in the town of Campbeltown in Scotland.
Was once called “whiskey capital of the world”G81 for being a major producer of whiskey with as many as 28 distilleriesG82 and is known dryness and sometimes pungency taste because of its location. Has 3 number of distilleries, has Glengyle as most famous lowlands whiskey and has a typical lowland G83 flavours such Brine, Smoke, Dried Fruit, Vanilla, and ToffeeG84 .G85 Islands. Produces Island single malts, a general term for single malt Scotch whiskeys produced on the islands around the perimeter of the Scottish mainland.
The whiskeys produced on the Islands are G86 G87 vastly varied and have few similarities. Island’s location is diverse, diverse in flavours but peat and salinity are found in all of the Islands whiskeysG88 . Usually, it canG89 be distinguished from other whiskey regions by generally having a smokier G90 flavour with peaty undertones. Has under 10 number of distilleries, has Talisker as most famous lowlands whiskey and has a typical lowland G91 flavours such Smoke, Brine, Oil, Black Pepper, and HoneyG92 .G93 G94 G95 Islay. Produces Islay whiskeyG96 , is a Scotch whiskey made on IslayG97 located in the west of the mainland and is the smallest Whisky region in terms of area in Scotland.
Has 8 number of distilleries, has Ardbeg as most famous lowlands whiskey and has a typical lowland G98 flavors such Seaweed, Brine, Carbolic Soap, Apple, Smoke, and KippersG99 .G100 Difference between single malt or blended whiskey.Single malts are the product of a single distillery, with malted barley as the only grain ingredient, while a blended scotch whiskey is a result of different single malt and grain whiskeys blended together to create an G101 G102 extraordinarily well-rounded flavor. G103 Is Single malt is better than the blended? No. The Interesting feature of single malt whiskey is the different geographical area will bring out a different flavor of one whiskey G104 by this you can taste the regional feature of one distillery like the distilling methods/ land, ingredients, water, peat, heather, type of casks used and all the other things involved.
G105 The Interesting facts of blended whiskey is that it is good or bad depending on the master blender because sometimes they will blend a poor-quality whiskey like Canadian LTD, Philadelphia and Barton.What a Master blender do.The man who tastes all the whiskeys and decides what will work and the proportions that each whiskey will be added to make the final blend.G106 G107 For example, in the Scotch whiskey industry, master blenders choose which single malts and grain whiskeys are combined to make G108 G109 a particular blended whiskey. An important objective is often to maintain consistency over time. G110 G111 G112 How to choose your whiskey?For starters, you must first have a taste of what is a whiskey. Have a taste of its different kinds to find your taste.
Know about it, get to know and be acquitted of it. The better you know about the better choices you can make. For example, youG113 G114 want to taste the history, it’s distillation process, the geography of the land, the water, the barley, then go for the single malt. You just have to find what you really want and go for it.
G115 G116 Aging of whiskey.Remember that whiskeys do not mature in the bottle, onlyG117 when it is in the cask. The age of a whiskey is only the time between distillation and bottling. G118 The number represents the lowest age in the bottle (2 indicate methods).G119 1. Showing its age directly.Example: state 10 on the bottle.
means: The alcohol in the bottle is at least 10 years old.If the bottle reconciles with 90% of the 25-years and 10% of the 10-year whiskey, it must be marked on the bottle as 10 years.2. State the “Year of distilling ” and “Year of bottling” (like the Glenrothes)means: the difference of this 2 years equal to its age. Alcohol content of whiskey.The alcohol content in a whiskey can be measured in two ways.
1. ABV (Alcohol By Volume), refers to the percentage of alcohol the liquid contains.2. Proof (British method), just doubled the ABV %,G120 example: a spirit with 40 percent alcohol means the liquor is 80 proof.G121 Above that information, the best way to learn about it is to try it. As they say, the experience is the best teacher.G122 G123 G124 Cheers your way to being the best gentleman you could ever be.
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