Before detailing the basis of the manufacturing method, you know the difference between Whisky, whiskey a Bourbon? The first is Scottish (Scotch whisky), the Whiskey is Irish and Bourbon is American. The Scoth whisky and Irish whiskey are made from Malt, sometimes based on oats, rye, wheat, maize see.
We also found Whisky Rye based in Canada, made by Scottish and Irish immigrants. We find the United States of Whiskey (bourbon actually use) mainly maize. In Kentucky, Bourbon is made with a minimum of 51% corn, the rest of the composition from other cereals. We focus on the Scotch Whisky, the only real whisky!
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A bit of history
The manufacture and history of the Whisky back at least to the late fifteenth century. In the mid-nineteenth century that the first whiskey blend appeared. Like rum, there are vintage malt or other cereals, and mixtures. The blended whisky are mixtures, while the state of art make a good fit. The vintages of malt are increasingly popular. Given the success of whisky, the English government decided to tax the distilleries in Scotland from 1644 ... in short, a dispute that will live long in the minds ... Scotland has more than 100 distilleries today.
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Make the whisky
To make the whisky, he takes the malted barley (for malt whisky), or other grains (corn, oats, wheat, rye whisky grain), water and yeast. Another difference between the malt whisky and grain whisky, the former is distilled with an alembic, the 2nd in continuous distillation.
The manufacturing steps are as follows: malting, milling, mashing, fermentation, distillation and finally aging. Each step contributes to the originality of the final product, which also depends on the quality of raw materials but also the form of stills and conduct of distillation.
The place and therefore makes the micro-climate (temperature, humidity ..) of each distillery also influences aging. The aging of whisky is still tailored oak barrels used and what they were before as alcohol content. Generally heat and humidity contribute to aging faster and better.
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A washback or large fermenter
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The varieties of Scotch Whisky
Given the manufacture, each whiskey is unique, just like a good wine. However, there are 4 varieties whiskies.La most distilleries in the Highlands, the first region. The Lowlands and the Islands of Islay and Campbeltown complete the list.
The whisky of the Highlands is renowned light, that of the lowlands but also smoked less. Islay whiskey is heavier, more powerful, it has taste! The Campbeltown is intermediate, somehow, between the power of whisky and smoked Islay Highlands.
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