Scotch is a unique type of whisky that’s only created in Scotland and features a distinctive flavor. In my personal opinion it is an acquired taste. It has a unique smoky, earthy flavor that comes from the malt being dried in kilns heated with peat.

What’s Scotch Whisky?

Under UK law, Scotch is defined by “The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009”. The rules define the way it must be made and labeled. If you are drinking Scotch you can be certain that the following conditions were met:

  1. Produced within a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley (which only whole grains of other cereals may be added)
  2.  Has been distilled at an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 94.8% so that the distillate possesses an aroma and taste derived from the raw materials
  3. Wholly matured in an excise warehouse in Scotland in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 liters for minimum of 3 years
  4. Retains the color, aroma, taste of the raw materials
  5. Is without added substances, other than water and plain caramel coloring
  6. Has a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 40% at bottling

Why is Scotch so unique?

Pile Of Peat ScotlandMost Scotch is known for a smoky flavor often referred to as peatiness. This flavor is formed when the malted barley is dried in kilns which are being heated with peat. Peat, aka turf, is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation including grasses, fungi, trees, insects and the occasional animal. The layers of material are not able to decompose fully because of the lack of oxygen and high pH. Peat is also flammable when it is wet or dry. Because of the large quantity of peat in Scotland this material was used to heat, cook and also power the kilns to dry the malted barley.

Types of Scotch Whisky

There are two types of Scotch whisky that can be bottled as is or blended. The 2 variations are:
Single malt Scotch: Single malt Scotch whisky is made of water and malted barley at a single distillery. Single grain Scotch whisky: Single grain Scotch whisky is produced from water and malted barley but can also include grains of other malted or unmalted cereals. It also needs to be distilled at a single distillery. It is necessary to note that the word ‘Single’ doesn’t refer to what goes into the Scotch but instead that it must be produced at a ‘Single’ distillery.

 

Scotch Whisky Blends

Using single malt or single grain whisky, producers can create a variety of blends. There are 3 types of blends which were defined in “The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009.”

  1. Blended malt Scotch whisky: Blend of more than one single malt Scotch whiskies from different distilleries.
  2. Blended grain Scotch whisky: Blend of more than one single grain Scotch whiskies from different distilleries.
  3. Blended Scotch whisky: means a blend of one or more single malt Scotch whiskies with one or more single grain Scotch whiskies.

To learn a lot more about Scotch Whisky, download the regulations or explore the different brands of Scotch head over to How To Make Whiskey HQ. There you’ll find more information on the whiskey making process, whisky recipes and resources.