WHISKY/SCOTCH

Question 1

What type of wood is Scotch usually aged?

Answer 1

Whereas many American whiskies rely on newly charred wood to contribute flavor to the spirit, Scotch whisky relies on used casks for a more subtle interaction between wood and spirit—used Bourbon and Sherry casks are generally employed to age Scotch.

Question 2

What gives Scotch its dominant character trait?

Answer 2

A more dominant character trait of Scotch derives from the process of malting barley for fermentation and the means of heat required to do so

Question 3

How does Scotch get its peatiness?

Answer 3

Scotland’s forested lands are concentrated near the center of the realm, and wood burning becomes prohibitively expensive toward the coast. Scotland’s many peat bogs provide another ready source of combustible material, but burning peat produces an oily smoke that infuses the malted barley with its scent and character. This peatiness transmits a dominant note in the finished whisky, especially in those spirits produced at coastal or island distilleries.

Question 4

What are the five legal categories of Scotch and when were these categories established?

Answer 4

2009

1. Single Malt Scotch Whisky
2. Single Grain Scotch Whisky
3. Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
4. Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
5. Blended Scotch Whisky

Question 5

Describe Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Answer 5

Single Malt Scotch Whisky is distilled from malted barley in a pot still at a single distillery. From 2012 onward, all single malt whiskies must be bottled in Scotland

Question 6

Describe Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Answer 6

Single Grain Whisky is produced at a single distillery, from unmalted barley, wheat, or corn.

Question 7

Describe Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Answer 7

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is produced from a blend of malt whiskies

Question 8

Describe Blended Grain Scotch Whisky

Answer 8

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky is produced from two or more grain whiskies

Question 9

Describe Blended Scotch Whisky

Answer 9

Blended Whisky is a mixture of malt and grain whiskies produced at a number of different distilleries

Question 10

T/F The 2009 law requires all whisky producers to provide an indication of the category on the label, and eradicates the old term pure malt, a synonym for blended malt whiskies

Answer 10

True

Question 11

All Scotch whisky must be produced where?

Answer 11

Scotland

Question 12

How many times must Scotch whisky be distilled?

Answer 12

Two or more

Question 13

How long must Scotch whisky be aged?

Answer 13

at least three years. Single Malt Scotch is generally aged for at least ten years, with some whiskies released at 25 or 30 years of age

Question 14

What is the minimum abv for Scotch whisky?

Answer 14

40%

Question 15

Why can’t Scotch Whisky be aged longer than 30 or 32 years?

Answer 15

As Scotch whisky must be at least 40% abv, most whiskies cannot be aged longer than 30 or 32 years in the barrel—evaporation (the “angels’ share”) over time would weaken the spirit too much to meet the legal minimum

Question 16

What legal category of Scotch Whisky constitutes an overwhelming majority of production?

Answer 16

Although connoisseurs generally prefer Single Malt Scotch, Blended Scotch constitutes the overwhelming majority of production, and many distilleries will sell a large amount of their whisky off for blending, retaining only a portion for Single Malt releases.

Question 17

What are the six regions of production in Scotland?

Answer 17

1. Highland
2. Lowland
3. Speyside
4. Islay
5. Campbeltown
6. the Islands.

Question 18

Which Scotch Whisky region is the largest?

Answer 18

Highland

Question 19

Name 4 well known Highland distilleries.

Answer 19

Oban, Glenmorangie, Dalwhinnie and Dalmore

Question 20

Which region often produces light and least smoky Scotch?

Answer 20

Lowland Scotch is often the lightest and least smoky, making it an ideal aperitif.

Question 21

Name 3 Lowland Scotchs.

Answer 21

Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan, and Bladnoch

Question 22

Which region is a former subzone of Highlands?

Answer 22

Speyside

Question 23

Name 3 Speyside distilleries

Answer 23

Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Macallan.

Question 24

Describe Speyside Scotch Whisky

Answer 24

Produced from water from the river Spey, and are generally milder and fruity in character.

Question 25

How many distilleries are in Campbeltown and what are they?

Answer 25

Campbeltown is a once-flourishing region that now houses only three distilleries: Glen Scotia, Glengyle, and Springbank.

Question 26

Describe the general character of the Island distilleries?

Answer 26

A pronounced peatiness and toasted seaweed character is apparent in the Island distilleries.

Question 27

What are the major Scotch-producing islands?

Answer 27

Skye, Jura, Mull, Arran, and Orkney.

Question 28

What is the famous distillery on the Isle of Orkney?

Answer 28

Highland Park

Question 29

What is the famous distillery on the Isle of Skye?

Answer 29

Talisker

Question 30

Which region produces the most peaty, smoky style of Scotch whisky?

Answer 30

Islay distilleries

Question 31

Name the 3 most famous Islay distilleries?

Answer 31

Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig

Question 32

What is a recent trend in Scotch whisky production?

Answer 32

the advent of the wood-finished style, in which a developing whisky will be transferred to a different cask for the last two or three years of its aging period. Thus, a Single Malt will be transferred from its cask to another that held Port, Sherry, Madeira, Burgundy, or Sauternes—the permutations are endless. Glenmorangie and Balvenie are pioneers of the style, crafting a softer, fruitier style of Single Malt designed to win converts to the category overall.

Question 33

What two distilleries are pioneers of the wood-finished style?

Answer 33

Glenmorangie & Balvenie

Question 34

Who distills more whiskey than any one else?

Answer 34

The Irish

Question 35

Name 3 Irish distillers

Answer 35

Old Bushmills, Cooley, New Midleton (maker of Jameson)

Question 36

A division in style between Irish whiskey and Scotch can be traced—along with many of the more important developments in whiskey’s history—to what?

Answer 36

Anger over new taxes. England’s policy of taxing distilleries’ final product was driving distillation underground, so in 1725 the English enacted a tax on malting barley—a more difficult procedure to hide. The Scottish responded by heating their barley at night—the origin of “moonshine”—and the Irish simply started using a large proportion of unmalted barley in their whiskies. Thus, Irish whiskey is typically lighter in character.

Question 37

Do the Irish rely on peat for their fires?

Answer 37

No. So the resulting whiskey is less smoky in character than Scotch. The peat-fired, Single Malt Connemara produced by Cooley provides the exception.

Question 38

How many times is Irish whiskey traditionally distilled in a pot still?

Answer 38

Irish whiskey is traditionally distilled three times in a pot still, although many are today produced in a continuous still.

Question 39

How many years must Irish Whiskey be aged prior to release?

Answer 39

a minimum three years prior to release; in practice most whiskies age for at least seven.

Question 40

Describe Canadian Rye whiskies,

Answer 40

Canadian rye whiskies are generally blended, and must be aged for three years before sale. There is no legal requirement for rye whiskey to contain a high proportion of rye, but most do. Glenora Distillers, on Cape Breton Island of Nova Scotia, distills malt whisky in the style of Scotch.

Question 41

What is Japan’s most well known distillery?

Answer 41

The Japanese, fervent admirers of Scotch, also produce whisky in similar style. Suntory is Japan’s most famous producer, offering blended and single malt whiskies.