Let’s learn about Whiskey
The main way to think about whisk(e)y comes is to think about the two largest nations producing whisk(e)y.
Scotland
Scotland is the producer of Scotch. Scotch refers to whisky made from malted barley. Malting requires the process of allowing barley to sprout. The sprouts provide the complex sugars needed for fermentation. Stopping the malting process requires exposing the growing sprouts to smoke. In some areas, peat is the only way to smoke this malted barley.
American Whiskey
-
Bourbon
A uniquely American product. Bourbon is made using corn (at least 51%). Bourbon must then age in a new oak barrel. The oak, must be American in origin.
-
Rye
The original American whiskey. When the sugar tax was put into place by the British on American colonists, a new whiskey market was created. Although it was eclipsed by Bourbon, Rye is making a comeback.
-
Single Malt
Much like Scotland, America is now seeing a rise in single-malt whiskey.
Rest of the World
The fastest-growing producers of whiskey are also the largest nations for importing whiskey. Be on the lookout for more Japanese, French, and Taiwanese whisky in the future.
