In the world of whisky, there exists several styles, origins and categories—and if you’ve only just started to dabble into the art of appreciating said spirit, you may find it annoyingly complicated.
Worry not, because we’ve compiled a back-to-basic guide that will arm you with sufficient knowledge to better understand (and appreciate) the glorious, golden-brown nectar that is a quality whisky—a true gentleman’s poison.
We talk about the common kinds of whisky that most bars carry and how best to enjoy each specific type.
Whisky VS Whiskey
First things first, if you’ve ever wondered what the difference between the two—whiskey and whisky—is, know that there isn’t any.
The basic thing to know is that it is only spelt in a certain way based on where it originates from. If it comes from the USA (with the exception of labels such as Maker’s Mark and Old Forester) or Ireland, its called ‘whiskey’. If the spirit is from Scotland, Canada, Japan or anywhere else, it’s generally spelt as ‘whisky’.
Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon is an American style of whiskey that is made from at least 51 per cent corn, and because corn has a higher sugar content compared to wheat or rye, you’ll tend to find that bourbon tastes sweeter and more full-bodied than many other whisky varieties.
Best way to drink it: Neat, on the rocks, with ginger ale or a little water.
Rye Whiskey
In order to qualify as American standard rye whiskey, the spirit must be made with a minimum of 51% rye and similar to bourbon, has to be aged in charred, new oak barrels. The flavour profile of rye whiskey varies across different distilleries but most have spicy tones and a drier taste.
That said, the depth and complexity of it makes it a good base spirit in many whiskey-based cocktails.
Best way to drink it: As a classic cocktail such as a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, neat or on the rocks.
Scotch Whisky
Simply put, scotch is and can only be called scotch if it comes from Scotland and has been aged for at least three years in oak barrels. There are different classifications of scotch but the three common ones would be ‘Single Malt’, ‘Single Grain’ and ‘Blended Malt’.
Single malt scotch refers to whisky that is made solely from malted barley and is produced at a single distillery. Blended malt, on the other hand, is a blend of two or more single malt scotch whiskies from different distilleries. Single grain refers to whisky that’s produced using either corn or wheat.
Best way to drink it: Neat, with a little water or on the rocks.
Irish Whiskey
Like Scotch, Irish whiskey has to hail from—you guessed it—Ireland. Similarly, Irish whiskey has to age for a minimum of three years in order to qualify as the real deal. From there, the processes differ in that Irish whisky—unlike its Scottish counterpart—is often triple distilled.
Best way to drink it: Neat, on the rocks or in a classic Irish Coffee.
Japanese Whisky
Japanese whisky is generally made in the same style that scotch is made. But to assume that two and two are the same is wrong. Sure, there exists Japanese single malts as well as blended whiskies, but each of them has their own distinct style and profiles to them.
Scottish whiskies tend to have a smokier, somewhat woody accent to it whereas Japanese whisky tends to be more refined, leaning toward more delicate yet nuanced flavour.
Best way to drink it: Neat, on the rocks, a little water or in a highball.
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