Famous whiskey brands: a brief overview of more than 15 brands
I would like to start this topic with a question that causes a lot of controversy: "Is Jack Daniels whiskey or bourbon?"?".
If you look at the composition, which consists of 80% corn, then this is a classic bourbon. And if you look at the production process, then one more additional stage is added to it - filtering the drink through charcoal from sugar maple wood. It is this small procedure that moves Jack Daniels from the bourbon category to the whiskey category. But not just whiskey, but Tennessee Whiskey, all bottles of the drink are labeled with this inscription.
Jack Daniels (USA)
The popular and beloved American whiskey Jack Daniels began its history in the XIX century. Then a young boy Jasper Newton Daniel, who was only 13 years old, created this famous men's drink.
Despite the fact that, at the legislative level of America, the production of alcoholic beverages of this kind is allowed only in Kentucky, an exception was made for Jack.
This brand of whiskey is aged in oak wine barrels, which gives it a special taste and aroma. Today, the rights to produce and sell the drink belong to the American company Brown-Forman Corporation.
Detailed review of Jack Daniels
Chivas Regal (Scotland)
One of the most famous brands of Scotch whisky, which occupies a special place in the premium segment.
The company was founded in 1801 by two brothers, John and James Chivas. Although prior to this type of whiskey, Chivas Brothers produced other brands that were successful among the high ranks of the UK and even Queen Victoria herself.
Today, the Chivas Regal line includes six types of whiskey.
Johnnie Walker (Scotland)
The best-selling brand in the world. The company was founded in 1867 by the son of Johnnie Walker.
Over 130 million bottles produced per year. The brand produces both inexpensive whiskeys with a minimum aging period and whiskeys with a long aging period of the premium segment.
The Johnnie Walker line starts with Red Label. This is a standard blend. It includes 9 varieties aged for 3-5 years. This whiskey was first released in 1906-1908 and was called Old Highland Scotch Whisky. The modern name according to the color on the bottle label appeared in 1909.
Today, the Johnnie Walker brand is owned by the British company Diageo. It is the largest producer of premium beverages.
In addition to the classic Johnnie Walker color line, this brand also produces the Johnnie Walker:
Exclusive line of John Walker blended whiskey&Sons
Limited edition Johnnie Walker
The unique collection of Johnnie Walker Explorers' Club Collection
Detailed review of Johnnie Walker
Ballantine’s (Scotland)
One of the best Scotch whiskeys, currently ranked 3rd in the world in terms of sales.
The company George Ballantine'ine;s & Sons was founded by George Ballantyne back in 1827. And the Ballantines trademark was registered only in 1920. And in Europe, this drink was discovered only in 1960.
The composition of blends does not change and is kept in strict confidence for decades. Currently, the Ballantine brand’s belong to the French company Pernod Ricard and the line includes 12 types of whiskey.
A detailed overview of Ballantine's
The Macallan (Scotland)
The only whiskey producer to be listed in the Guinness Book of Records for selling Macallan Fine vintage collectible whiskey & Rare for 250 0000 pounds sterling.
The Macallan distillery was founded in the XVIII century, and it was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to receive an official permit for whisky production in 1824.
For the production of this brand of whiskey, a special variety of barley is used, characterized by low yields. Small copper stills provide a dense flavor of whiskey. The drink is aged in oak sherry and bourbon barrels.
The Macallan Collection:
Sherry Oak
Fine Oak
The 1824 Collection
Distillery Exclusives
Masters Of Photography
Fine And Rare
Lalique
Hankey Bannister (Scotland)
The company was established in 1757 and named after its founders Beaumont Hankey and Hugh Bannister. Today, the rights to produce and sell this brand belong to Inver House Distillers Ltd.
Hankey Bannister blends use single malt whiskeys from distilleries owned by the above-mentioned corporation: Balblair, Speyburn, Pultney, Knockdhu and Balmenach. Blending masters carefully select the best whiskies and create a soft, light and balanced blend that harmoniously combines the lightness of Lowland grain whiskies and the intensity of Highland malt whiskies.
Detailed overview of Hankey Bannister
White Horse (Scotland)
The blended whiskey company was founded in 1883 by James Logan Mackey. Also, his family owned a small tavern "White Horse Inn", in honor of which the strong Scottish drink was named.
Interestingly, the number 1742 on the White Horse logo is not the date of the whiskey recipe creation: The very tavern was built in 1742.
The composition of this drink includes 40 varieties of malt and grain whiskey. This blend creates a harmonious balanced taste. The leading role in it is played by Lagavulin, a single malt whiskey variety that grows on the island of Islay.
Today the brand belongs to the British alcohol giant - Diageo.
Detailed review of White horse
The Famous Grouse (Scotland)
This "famous partridge", as the name is translated from English, has become one of the most favorite brands of scorching drinks connoisseurs. Although, according to the history of the brand, which dates back to 1896, this whiskey was originally called simply "Grouse" (partridge) - in honor of the Scots' favorite game.
The blend of whiskey Famous Grouse includes single malt and grain whiskeys. Glenmorangie (Scotland)
In 1843, William Matheson built a small distillery where he launched the production of whiskey according to his own recipe. Today, the distillery, or as it is also called Glenmorangie distillery, is one of the smallest in Scotland, and it specializes in the production of single malt whisky.
The special soft, slightly creamy taste of the drink is obtained due to aging in oak bourbon barrels for at least ten years.
Detailed review of The Famous Grouse
Grant’s (Scotland)
This is a rather famous blended Scotch whiskey. It is produced by the William Grant family company & Sons. Today, it is the fifth generation to develop the family business.
The distillery was built in 1887, and the first bottle of Grant whiskey’s bottled 11 years later in 1898.
This brand has been repeatedly honored with many global awards, including the World Whiskies Awards as "Best Scottish blended whiskey aged at least 12 years".
Black and White (Scotland)
This is a fairly inexpensive blended Scotch whiskey with a mild honey flavor. The drink is produced according to a unique recipe developed by James Buchanan in the 80s of the XIX century.
The distillery where the whiskey is produced is considered to be the highest in Scotland today. It is located at an altitude of 327 meters above sea level.
Now the rights to sell and produce the legendary Black and White belong to the London giant - Diageo.
Detailed review of Black & White
Jameson (Ireland)
The most recognizable and best-selling Irish whiskey in the world. The company was founded by John Jameson in 1780. Shortly after its foundation, the John Jameson distillery & Son has become one of the largest enterprises in Ireland.
Today, whiskey is produced using the same technology as 200 years ago - drying malt in closed ovens, triple distillation, long aging (up to 10 years) in oak barrels.
The Jameson label features John Jameson's coat of arms and his family's unchanging motto: "Sine metu" ("Without fear").
The taste of the mass brand is quite mediocre, fakes are often found.
Tullamore Dew (Ireland)
The history of the legendary Tallamore Dew drink began in 1829, when Michael Mallo built a distillery on a hill in the agricultural region of County Offaly.
Tullamore Dew, as well as almost 190 years ago, is one of the most famous drinks in Ireland. The elite Tullamore Dew aged for 12 years is in special demand.
Today this brand of alcohol is owned by Cantrell Corporation & Cochrane.
Detailed review of Tullamore Dew
Bushmills (Ireland)
This is a truly legendary Irish whiskey with a 400-year history. It appeared in 1608, and other countries learned about it four years later, in 1612.
Today, the Old Bushmills Distillery is the oldest distillery in Europe and the only historic one in Ireland.
True gourmets claim that the taste of this whiskey cannot be confused with anything else, it is one of a kind. This is facilitated by the unique production technology and high environmental friendliness of the region.
Today the brand is owned by the London-based company Diageo.
The taste of the mass brand has "noble" flavors, but do not expect anything unusual from it.
A detailed overview of Bushmills
Black Velvet (Canada)
This drink is the undisputed leader among Canadian whiskeys and is sold in 50 countries around the world.
Black Velvet was first released in 1951, but under a different name - Black Label. When the master distiller Jack Napier and the creator of the drink sampled the first batch of whiskey, he changed the name to Black Velvet without any doubt.
Today, you can find Black Velvet of the Canadian and American analogues on sale. Although they are produced at the same distillery, they are still very different in taste. Due to the fact that the American version is bottled in the United States and is customized to its own taste standards.
A detailed review of Black Velvet
Crown Royal (Canada)
The legendary Canadian whiskey, the creation of which was timed to coincide with the arrival of the English monarch George VI in 1939. The best masters of the Seagram company worked on it’s. It includes about 50 of the best whiskeys of varying degrees of aging.
Crown Royal began to be produced on an industrial scale only in 1964, but it was an incredible success. A beautiful bottle in the form of a faceted diamond, with a crowned lid in a velvet blue case could not leave anyone indifferent.
Today, the Crown Royal brand is owned by Diageo.
Detailed review of Crown Royal
Japanese whiskey
Previously, Zbovtaj already reviewed 10 popular whiskey brands from Japan. And in order not to repeat ourselves, we suggest you familiarize yourself with this topic on our website.
Summarizing all of the above, I would like to say that it is difficult to fit all the varieties and brands of whiskey that are worth your attention in one topic.
But we tried to make a brief overview of the most popular brands that will help you choose the right vector to plunge irrevocably into the world of amber temptation.
Update: 09.02.2018
Category: Whiskey and Bourbon