What is Scotch?

The 5 categories of Scotch whisky are described below.

Single malt Scotch whisky is made using water and malted barley at a distillery using pot stills.

Single grain Scotch whisky is made with water and malted barley, plus a mixture of whole grains and maybe other cereals – it is important to note that “single grain” means that it has been distilled at a single distillery, not that only one type of grain has been used.

Blended malt Scotch is a whisky is a blend of two or more single malts from different distilleries.

Blended grain Scotch is a blend of single grain whiskies.

Blended Scotch whisky is the term used for a blend of single malt and single grain whiskies.

Out of the five types of Scotch whisky, the two commonest categories found are blended Scotch whisky and single malt Scotch whisky, with most single grain Scotch being produced purely for use in blends. Blends were originally created because some people thought that single malt whisky was too harsh.

There are strict and detailed laws which apply to Scotch and help to define the whisky and its various categories. It is illegal to make whisky in Scotland that is not Scotch and you cannot use a whisky that is not Scotch in a blended Scotch whisky.

The label on a bottle of Scotch will usually tell you how many years the whisky has been aged. If the whisky is a blend, the number will reflect the age of the youngest whisky in the blend. If there is no age given on the label, all you can assume is that the whisky has had at least three years of aging, as that is the minimum required by law.

Scotch whisky is usually between 40% and 46% abv in alcoholic strength.