What is scotch?
Scotchy, Scotchy, Scotch. I love Scotch - Ron Burgundy Anchor Man.
Wither you like the movie or not, his passion for Scotch is how many people across the planet feel. The Scottish Whisky is held in the highest regard so much that anything else is inferior. Is it better? That is a matter of personal taste, but the distillers deserve our respect.
Scottish distilleries have been making whisky longer than anyone, well except maybe the Irish. Written record on the origins of Whisky is scarce. Distilled mostly by farmers who prefer not to be taxed by the government or raided by a rival clan. The first written record of Whisky in Scotland shows up in 1494: "To Friar John Cor, of Lindores Abbey being granted eight bolls of malt wherewith to make aqua vitae by order of King James IV."
The history of Scotch is a long one that requires a far more in-depth look than I am spending in the article. The goal is to give you a little understanding that Scotch has been around a long-time.
So what is scotch?
Whiskey distilled in Scotland from malted barley and other grains. Distilled to no more than 94.8 percent ABV. Aged in oak casks in Scotland for a minimum of three years. It must not be bottled less than 40 percent ABV. Caramel may be added for consistency of color.
Now let's break it down a bit further. Think of Scotch as an umbrella term (like whiskey is for bourbon, Irish, Scotch, etc.) for the five subcategories.
Single Malt Scotch
Single Grain Scotch
Blended Scotch
Blended Malt Scotch
Blended Grain Scotch
To make it more confusing. There are also five primary regions of Scotland.
Highlands
Speyside
Campbelltown
Lowlands
Islay
Historically the regions helped define the flavor profile of a particular whiskey, mostly with single malts. With technology, a distillery can produce about any profile they want. However, most still follow the roots and flavors of the region. Understanding the differences will help you determine what you like.
I am going to cover both, but I found understanding the five categories helped before recognizing what influence the regions may have.
Single Malt Scotch is 100% malted barley distilled in a single location (one distillery) aged a minimum of three years in Scotland and bottled no less than 40% ABV. Single does not mean a single barrel. It is a common misconception, but 12-year single malts blend many different barrels to get a consistent flavor profile.
Age Statements are promises that the youngest whiskey in the bottle has been aged at least that amount of time. The whiskey may contain older, but not younger than its age statement.
Single Grain Scotch uses a variety of grains in the mashbill. It is distilled in a single location (one distillery) aged a minimum of three years in Scotland and bottled no less than 40% ABV.
Blended Scotch Whisky is or at one point was the largest consumed category of Scotch. Think Johnnie Walker, Dewar's, and Chivas Regal. Blended scotch whisky is a blend of malt and grain whiskys.
Blended Malt Whisky is the blending of two or more single malts. Think Monkey Shoulder or Sheep Dip.
Blended Grain Whisky is the blending of two or more single grain whiskies. There are very few of these, but check out Compass Box Hedonism.
Art is my own, but original concept is from Lew Bryson’s book “Tasting Whiskey”
Now that we have covered the categories let's cross the countries regions. Keep in mind these are providing general information, and individual whiskies may vary.
Islay is an island off the coast of Scotland known for the big smokey Scotches. Think Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg. The smoke in the Whisky is from the peat used during the malting process. Most measure the peat level in ppm with what seems to be a race for who can create the peatiest Whisky. If you are starting out, these may taste more like bandaids or rocket fuel, but if you can get past the smoke and brine, you will get a lovely set of citrus and vanilla notes.
Peat is the accumulation over centuries and millennia of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. Peat from different areas gives different aroma profiles because of the variety of plant life from place to place. It is used to heat the barley as part of the malting process. It has become synonymous with Scotch. However, according to whiskey expert Heather Greene in her book, “Whisk(e)y Distilled: A Populist Guide to the Water of Life,” only about 10% of Scotch uses peat.
Highlands is the largest region in Scotland. It covers things on the mainland and islands such as Skye, so you will get a variety of flavors from this region. While you can get some peat in the whiskey, many will have floral fruit notes.
Speyside is located within the Highlands. It has such a large concentration of distilleries it deserves its own region. It is home to distilleries such as The Macallan, Balvenie, and Glenfiddich. There is typically has no peat or very little with lots of fruit, honey, and floral notes—an excellent region for an introductory to Scotch.
Lowlands has mostly industrial-size distilleries producing the various grain whiskey for blended scotches. However, it is home to a few brands, including Auchentoshan (one of my favorites). Since there are only a handful of distilleries, there is not a typical flavor profile. Some typically describe them as lighter, but I do not describe Auchentoshan as light.
Campbeltown is a peninsula toward the south of Scotland. Islay can be seen from its shores, so as you can imagine, they bring some peat into their whiskies. There are less than a handful of distilleries located in this region. Check out Springbank, Hazelburn, and Longrow.
In this article, we have looked into the five categories of Scotch and visited the five primary regions of Scotland. With this information, you can pick up a bottle of Scotch, read the label, and make an informed decision.
Until next time, cheers!
Jake