Popular brands: Dewar's, Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal
Popular brands: Dewar’s, Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal.
Scotch is whisky produced and aged in Scotland. It may be bottled in Scotland or shipped to the United States and bottled here.
Single Malt Scotch
A single malt is the product of a single distillery from a single batch of whisky. Regions include:
- Lowland malts: generally the lightest in flavor and color.
- Islay: heaviest, most full-bodied whiskies.
- Campbeltown: also full-bodied; few distilleries remain.
- Highland: the largest group, generally the most balanced. Speyside is a premium area within the Highlands; some treat it as its own group.
Single malt production starts with selected barley soaked for sprouting, then dried in kilns fired by peat and coal—this creates a smoky flavor. The malted barley is mashed with warm water, fermented with yeast, and distilled twice in pot stills. After aging three years in barrels, it is considered whisky.
Blended Scotch
Blended Scotch accounts for about 94% of Scotch consumed worldwide. Blends combine single malts and grain whiskies (distilled in continuous stills—not neutral grain spirits) to soften harsher malt characteristics. A blend may include 20–25 single malts; typically 20–50% of the product is malt. “Vatted” Scotch is a blend of malts with no grain whisky added.
Aging & Color
Out of the still, Scotch is colorless. Barrel aging gives color. By law, Scotch must be aged three years or more; most U.S. brands are aged four years or more. If less than four years old, the label must disclose age. Scotch is often aged in used bourbon barrels, and sometimes in sherry or wine barrels for a fruity character.
When a blended Scotch is labeled “aged 10–12 years,” that refers to the age of the youngest whisky in the blend.