Whiskey, scotch, bourbon: differences by country and examples

A few words from Zbovtay

True connoisseurs can easily distinguish whiskey from bourbon, while for ordinary consumers the difference is not so clear. Therefore, most often they choose popular brands that are on their lips, and do not really think about the differences between them.

Whiskey and bourbon have a lot in common, but also many differences that affect their characteristics, aroma and taste. Zbovtay will tell you about them.

Region of production

Whiskey is a broad concept that unites drinks produced in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Japan and other countries. Scotch whiskey is also worth mentioning, which is labeled Scotch after the name of the country - Scotland. As well as differences in the spelling of the word whiskey - in Scotland, Japan, Canada and a number of other countries, the drink is called whisky, while in Ireland and the United States the word whiskey is used.

Bourbon is a type of American whiskey, its main production area is Kentucky.

Raw materials

Barley, rye, and wheat, as well as their composite variants, are mostly used for whiskey production.

Bourbon is required by law to be made of at least 51% corn.

Taste and aroma

Whiskey has a wide stylistic spectrum, can have hints of citrus, cinnamon, spices, chocolate and even peat.

A distinctive feature of bourbon is its sweetness due to the raw materials used.

Aging

Whiskey can be aged in barrels made of different types of wood, previously used for aging various beverages. It can be, for example, barrels of sherry, sauternes, port, bourbon and even rum. In Scotland, Japan, Ireland and Canada, it is aged for at least 3 years.

For bourbon, the main type of barrels are new barrels made of American "white" oak, heavily burnt from the inside, and the minimum aging period is 2 years.

Production technology

The whiskey is most often distilled on stills, or copper alambics. This allows you to get more flavorful and rich spirits.

Bourbon is not rectified.

Coloring

To maintain a stable color in different batches of different years, whiskey is often tinted with caramel color, which can also be designated as E150a. This is a harmless additive that affects only the color without changing the taste.

It is known that it is forbidden to add dyes to bourbon, but in Scotch whiskey, coloring may be present.

Update: 18.08.2021

Category: Whiskey and Bourbon