There are 3 main categories of Scotch Whisky: malt, grain and blended.
Whisky is often mixed with ginger ale, soda and cola.
Malt whiskies or premium blends can be enjoyed with a little water to bring out the flavours.
Malt Whisky
exclusively from malted barley
age on the label is the age of the youngest part of the whisky
4 regions: Highland, Lowland, Campbeltown, Islay
Grain Whisky
mixture of maize or wheat with malted barley
Blended Whisky
Most Scotch whisky is a blend of malt and grain whiskies in varied proportions
Premium blends contain a higher % of older malt whiskies and the grain whisky is also older.
Whisky is produced in other countries- USA, Canada, Ireland and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK market.
Bourbon is the most famous of the American whiskies, based on malted barley and rye, it must be matrued for a least 2 years in new oak casks charred on the inside.
Generally whisky from Scotland and Canada is spelt without and "e" and that from other countries is spelt with.
