The world of whisk(e)y can be a confusing and slightly scary place if you are new, but don't worry we've got you covered! Here are the five things you should know before drinking whisk(e)y!

Whisky/whiskey

Yes there is a difference between the two and yes it does matter. Especially when you are talking to a devoted whisk(e)y drinker. So, what’s the deal? WHISKY is used when the spirit comes from Scotland, Japan, Canada, and India. WHISKEY, with the “e”, is used when the spirit is produced in America and Ireland. Here is an easy way to remember spellings, If the country has an “e” in their name then use “e” in their whiskey.

What’s the reason behind the spelling? Some have speculated that Irish distilleries began to add “e’s” as a way to differentiate themselves from their Scottish counterparts. American distilleries are reported to use “e” because of the influx of Irish immigrants. Whereas, Japan and India have been said to adopt “whisky” to have their part in the reputation of Scotch and Scottish distilleries.

image credit: The Whiskey Exchange

                                       

Single vs. blended

Single-malt Scotch whisky is the product of a single distillery. Not the product of a single batch or a single barrel. Blended Scotch whisky is a mix of malt and grain whiskies that have been sourced from different distilleries.

The purpose of a single-malt is to give the drinker a distinct taste of that specific distilleries style. Blended scotch is the brainchild of a master blender, who has worked carefully to create a tasty, smooth, and versatile whisky.  They are different products for different needs. Not one is better than the other. 

If single-malt is truly better than blended then why is more than 90% of whisky bought blended scotch? Just saying.

 

Older doesn’t mean better

While the ageing process is key to creating whisk(e)y, we shouldn’t assume that the longer it’s in the barrel, the tastier the product. Unsurprisingly, it all depends on your personal taste. The longer the liquid is the in barrel/cask, the more of the barrels flavour and aroma it will take and less of the original grain. This can be good or bad depending on what you like.

In fact, more and more whiskies are going for the No Age Statement. So we can only guess how old they are by their time, for example, all Scotch whiskies have to be aged for a minimum of 3 years.

As they say, age is just a number, so we recommend to try whiskies of all (or no) age!

 

There is no right way to drink whisky

You’ve probably heard that whisky is meant to be drunk neat or with a little water but never with ice, and don’t you even think of putting in a cocktail! But like most things, it all depends on personal preference.

Whisky drunk neat (whisky by itself) will give you a real taste of the spirits raw bold flavour, which can be overpowering to some. You can add a little water to give the spirit “room to breathe” as the water helps to lower the alcohol content, which can allow you to taste more flavours. According to scientists, this is the “best” way to drink whisky (read more here).  Whisky “on the rocks” (with ice) mellows down some of the flavours and gives your drink a slightly refreshing twist. Whisky cocktails are great for those not sure about whisky or if you are looking to explore different ways to drink it. There are lots of different cocktails to suit your taste, we recommend starting off with the classic Old Fashioned or  Blood and Sand (trust us, it tastes better than it sounds!)

Psst...or try out Scot’s Gold very own Oriental Gold or Doctor Gold  ; ) You can get the recipe here!

                                                                     

Dr Gold cocktail

Whisky is for everyone!

Forget that image of an older man with a whisky neat in one hand and cigar on the other! Whisky is a drink that should be enjoyed by all (as long as you are of the legal age and have no health problems). But we get it, it can be a little intimidating to start drinking scotch especially when you have no idea what you like. Our top tip is to visit our local whisky shop or bar and just ask the person in charge that you are new to the whisky game and are not sure what you should be trying first. We guarantee that you will get friendly help in return. If not, walk out because any true whisky lover will be more than happy to share their whisky love and knowledge. We'll cheers to that!