Different types of Whisky

You can get a few different types of whisky, with the most popular being Single malt whisky This is made with malted barley, without any additions of other grains or distilleries, and aged in oak casks - giving it the aromas and flavours we associate with whisky. Many distilleries will experiment with the casks in which whisky is aged in, using port or sherry casks isn’t uncommon and gives the whisky a different, often sweet flavour.  Single malt will be made entirely with malted barley from one distillery without any additions of other grains. Scotch whisky is the most known type of single malt, however it is starting to be produced worldwide from places like Ireland, Japan and India. 

You will find single or blended malts in cask strength, which is whisky bottled straight from the cask it was matured in without being diluted. The whisky tends to be around 60-65% alcohol by volume compared to around 40% for normal whiskies and should always be drunk with water.

Grain whisky is made using grains that aren’t malted barley. In the USA it is usually maize or corn which produces a sweeter bourbon style. In Scotland and Ireland they use unmalted cereals to produce a lighter grain whisky, these grain whiskies are often not available to purchase but mainly used in a malt whisky blend.

Blended whisky is the most commonly-produced whisky in the world. Single malt is really labour-intensive and expensive to produce so blenders found that mixing it with a grain whisky results in a cheaper, yet smoother, spirit which has a less complex flavour. Blended whisky are great to use in cocktails and mixed drinks due to the low cost and not having an overpowering flavour.

You may occasionally come across blended malt whiskies, which are made from malted barley only but contain two or more malts from different distilleries. This usually creates a more complex flavour than malt and grain blends but are still cheaper than single malts.

Finally we have single pot whiskey which usually refers to Irish whiskey from one distillery which blends malted and unmalted barley, this gives a slightly more peppery flavour compared to single malt.

Why not try each of them yourself from our range of Whiskies!

Written by Oliver Partington