Hello fellow whiskey drinkers and enthusiasts! Welcome to the Peak Beverage comprehensive beginner’s guide to the delicious world of whiskey. Whether you’re a novice consumer or a whiskey veteran, I hope you learn something today. Here at Peak beverage we love alcohol education and making this knowledge accessible to the masses, which is why we offer in-house alcohol classes on a variety of different topics. Today we are focusing on the ins and outs of whiskey, from where it came from to how it’s made.
Let’s start with the basics:
What is whiskey? Whiskey is an aged spirit that’s made from grains: primarily corn, rye, malted barley, and wheat. Whiskey by definition is a liquor distilled from fermented grain mash. The word whiskey comes from uisce beatha which is the Celtic word for water of life. There are a lot of “rules” that come with whiskey depending on the region that dictate what type of whiskey is being made. Rule examples include: how long it’s aged for, what kind of barrel it’s aged in, the % of grain used and much more. Whiskey must be 80 proof for 40% alcohol.
Where did it come from:? It is said that Irish Monks first invented whiskey back around the 15th century after learning distillation techniques from the east. However back then whiskey was consumed for medicinal purposes and not for the amazing flavor you taste today. Ireland and Scotland were the first places whisky was made in pot stills — the way we know it today. The Old Bushmills Distillery is licensed in Northern Ireland, and today holds the title of oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world.
Main Types of Whiskey:
Scotch —
Scotch is one of the most respected and sought after whiskeys of the world. The reason for this is that Scotland has some of the strictest rules for their classification and labeling. To be classified as a scotch: The whiskey must be aged in oak barrels for 3 years, must be matured in Scotland, and must have a alcohol percentage of 40%. Scotch is typically made from a recipe of water and malted barley and distilled in pot stills. Scotch is best served and enjoyed neat with a drop of water if needed.
Irish Whiskey —
Irish whiskey is another one of the top competitors in the whiskey world. It is often triple distilled in either a coffee still or a pot still, made entirely in Ireland. The biggest difference between scotch and Irish whiskey is that Irish whiskey is made with unmalted barley, giving it a very distinct taste. Irish whiskey has a distinct flavor profile that can be described as light and fruity with cereal grain notes. The aging also infuses that signature whiskey oakiness and caramel from the oak barrels.
Kentucky Bourbon —
Bourbon whiskey is a type of American whiskey that is usually derived from corn mash. One cool fact about bourbon is it MUST be aged in new oak barrels, this allows the oak to infuse with the bourbon and keeps the integrity of the flavor. Once those barrels are used, they are shipped to all different parts of the world to age other alcohols like tequila and wine! The name bourbon comes from the famous Bourbon Street, which is where they sold these barrels right on the street. Bourbon has a sweet and smooth taste deriving from the sweetness of the corn. Bourbon typically has notes of vanilla, oak and caramel. These often smooth notes make bourbon best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, as well as in cocktails.
Tennesse Whiskey —
Tennessee whiskey is a distinct whiskey style that must adhere to specific rules and regulations and be made in Tennessee. Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky bourbon are fairly similar, however one key difference sets them apart. Tennessee whiskey uses the “Lincoln County Process” to filter their whiskey. In this process, all Tennessee whiskey is filtered through charcoal giving it a very distinct flavor. The most popular example of this is Jack Daniels infamous whiskey.
Japanese Whisky —
When Japanese whiskey first came to be, there were no rules or regulations on how it had to be made. Anyone could distill whiskey in any way they wanted. Commercial production didn’t begin until 1920 with the opening of the first Japanese distillery, Yamazaki. Japanese whiskey is heavily inspired and modeled by scotch and takes on some of the similar flavor profiles. Japanese whiskey typically relies on malted barley that is mashed and then distilled twice in pot stills. One thing that sets Japanese whiskey apart is that they use fresh mountain water from the alps in their distillation process.
Rye Whiskey —
American rye whiskey is very similar to bourbon, except it must be made from 51% rye. It must be aged in charred, new oak barrels and be aged for a minimum of 2 years. Rye whiskey has a very distinct spicy and peppery taste that sets it apart from other whiskeys. Rye whiskey is a versatile drink that can be served neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail.
As you can see, there are many different types of whiskey and we’ve barely scratched the surface!Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the world of whiskey in future posts. We hope you learned something you didn’t already know! If you’re interested in learning more about whiskey and want the chance to blend your own, we offer in-house private alcohol classes including a whiskey blending class! Click here to sign up!
Ready to try a new whiskey, but not sure what to buy? Check out our buying guide below for a few recommendations! We offer a wide range of whiskeys for all price ranges and these are just a few of our favorites. Come into our RiNo location or click the link to purchase.
Peak Beverage Whiskey Buying Guide:
Scotch Rec: Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Year Old
Glenlivet 12-year is a delicious aged single malt with light fruity flavors and a smooth sip! Try it out for yourself:
Irish Whiskey Rec: Jameson
Jameson is an absolute classic when it comes to Irish whiskey! This triple-distilled whiskey has a rich and silky smooth finish. This is perfect for anyone who wants the traditional taste of Irish whiskey!
Kentucky Bourbon Rec:
Marked by a rich cascade of aromas and flavors, Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is carefully matured for exceptional quality and distilled in the heart of bourbon country in Clermont, Kentucky.
Tennessee Whiskey Rec:
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is a blend of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and honey liqueur, creating a taste that’s one-of-a-kind and unmistakably Jack. The alcohol blend of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey mixed with a unique honey liqueur delivers a rich, nutty finish.
Japanese Whiskey Rec:
Akashi White Oak is a blended whisky reserved in Japanese Shochu cask (American Oak) for 3 years, aged in ex-bourbon casks before finishing in ex-sherry casks for 2 years. Malty, citrusy aroma with scents of black cherry, toffee and oak on the nose.
Rye Whiskey Rec:
Laws rye is a delicious and perfectly spicy rye made right here in Colorado! 8,000 feet above sea level, in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, the Cody family has been cultivating this low yield, semi-wild rye grain since the 1930s. We think Laws has the best of the best when it comes to Colorado whiskey!
Sources:
https://www.eater.com/drinks/2015/6/17/8796879/the-comprehensive-beginners-guide-to-whiskey
https://bartrendr.com/whiskey/beginners-guide-to-whiskey/
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