The whiskey industry is riddled with misconceptions. Single malt scotch, for example, may get critical acclaim yet is regarded by many as a rare and important spirit. The popularity of blended scotch, on the other hand, greatly outweighs that of single malt. However, it is not always the case that a mix is less costly than a single malt, and that is something to keep in mind. Single malt whiskey is preferred by many whisky connoisseurs because it reveals the unique qualities of the distillery where it was produced.
As an overview to the
variations in these several types of style: An expression such as "single
malt" designates a whiskey that has been produced only using malted
barley. Glenfiddich 12, for example, is a mixture of several hundred barrels
from the Glenfiddich distillery, and its 12-year-old age statement refers to
the youngest whiskey in that blend. However, a blend of malt and grain whiskey
that commonly originates from a number of distilleries is known as a blended
scotch. Malt whiskies from different distilleries are mixed together to create
blended malt whiskey.
There is a plethora of
options, but these are the top few single malt scotch distilleries currently
producing whiskey.
The Balvenie
The bigger Glenfiddich
and the lesser Balvenie distilleries, both owned by William Grant & Sons,
are located close outside of Dufftown in Speyside. Although Glenfiddich is more
well known, the Balvenie has a more delicate and distinct taste. David Stewart,
the master malt blender of Balvenie, has been in the business for more than 50
years and is continually innovating.
Double Wood 12, which debuted in 1993, was
one of his finest efforts. It's completed in Oloroso sherry casks for nine
months before being moved to big "tuns" to enable the flavours to
come together. For the 14-year-old Caribbean Cask whiskey, the finishing
process involves aging it in ex-rum barrels, giving it molasses and fruit
flavours. Some of these new whiskies were developed under the guidance of
distillery apprentice Kelsey McKechnie in recent years.
The Glenlivet
As one of the most well
known and best-selling single malt scotch whiskey brands, The Glenlivet is
sometimes compared to Glenfiddich, another Speyside producer. Distilling booze
has been a part of this location since the early 1800s, and the distillery has
survived both World Wars and Prohibition. This year, long-time distiller Alan
Winchester revealed that he was stepping down from his position as brand
ambassador as well.
Lisa Glen presently
occupies the position of distillery manager, heading a staff that produces key
expressions like as the Glenlivet 12, a suitable introduction to Single
malt Irish whiskey for newbies. The Winchester Collection's
three 50-year-old vintages are the only age-statement bottles available.
The Macallan
Popular for its whiskey
matured in Spanish sherry-seasoned barrels, The Macallan is noted for its
smooth and fruity taste with only a trace of dry spice and chocolate. From
Sherry Oak to the double Barrel to Triple Cask Matured, there are many options
to choose from. Recently, the Double Cask collection gained two additional age
statements: 15-year-old and 18-year-old, both of which have been aged in
Oloroso sherry-seasoned American and European oak barrels. These outstanding
whiskies are spicy and fruity, with hints of chocolate and vanilla.
Extra-aged whiskey from
the Macallan is likewise renowned for its high price point and lengthy
maturation time. An 81-year-old bourbon dubbed The Reach was launched in the
winter of 2013 and sold for $125,000; this is the oldest bottling to date.
Bruichladdich
This distillery is a
kaleidoscope of creative paradoxes. Some of the most potent whiskey is produced
at the Islay distillery. As if that weren't enough, Octomore's range reaches
into the hundreds of parts per million (ppm), which is incredibly, really, not
messing around smokey. The Classic Laddie, on the other hand, is a delicate,
unpeated whiskey with flavors of citrus and green fruit. When it comes to
whiskey and the notion of "terroir," the distillery is striving to
persuade critics that it exists.
Bruichladdich is
determined to dispel the myth that the barrel is the most important factor in
taste, ignoring the kind of barley and even the source of the peat. There are
several intriguing experiments in the 12th Octomore series, which shows that
whisky's age isn't a reliable predictor of quality.
