Scotch Whisky

How is Scotch Whisky made?

Scotch whisky starts with malted barley (and sometimes other grains like wheat or corn), which gets mashed with hot water to extract fermentable sugars, then fermented with yeast to create a beer-like liquid called "wash." This wash gets distilled twice in copper pot stills (or sometimes in column stills for grain whisky), concentrating the alcohol and developing flavor compounds. The clear spirit then ages in oak barrels for a minimum of three years, where it picks up color, smoothness, and complex flavors from the wood.

How do you drink Scotch Whisky?

Scotch whisky shines brightest when sipped neat or with just a splash of water to open up its complex flavors, though many people enjoy it on the rocks for a slightly mellowed experience. While shots aren't the traditional way to appreciate good Scotch, it absolutely excels in classic cocktails like the Rob Roy, Rusty Nail, and Penicillin, where its smoky or honeyed notes can play beautifully with other ingredients. The spirit's warming qualities make it perfect for cooler months and contemplative evenings, whether you're unwinding by a fireplace or sharing stories with friends over a well-crafted drink.

How do I choose a good Scotch Whisky?

Start by identifying your flavor preferences—do you enjoy smoky, peaty notes from Islay distilleries, or do you prefer the honeyed sweetness of Speyside malts? If you're mixing cocktails, opt for blended Scotches or single malts with bold characteristics that won't disappear behind other ingredients; a robust Highland malt works beautifully in a Rob Roy, while a gentler Lowland whisky might get lost. For sipping neat, trust your palate over price tags and don't be afraid to ask for tastings at better liquor stores—the best Scotch is simply the one you enjoy drinking.

Nutritional Information

Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 64-80 calories

Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 0-0.1 grams

Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 0 grams

Typically Gluten Free: Yes

While Scotch whisky is generally considered gluten-free due to the distillation process that removes gluten proteins, those with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity should check detailed product information with individual distilleries to confirm gluten-free status, as production methods can vary between brands.

Scrolled this far? Your reward? Scotch Whisky Trivia!

1. The iconic bottle shape of Glenfiddich wasn't chosen for aesthetics—it was designed to prevent bartenders from pouring too generously. The triangular bottle sits awkwardly in most speed rails, forcing bartenders to handle it more carefully and measure more precisely. William Grant's sons came up with this clever cost-saving trick in the 1960s.
2. Scotland's whisky regions produce dramatically different flavors partly because of their water sources, but here's the kicker: Islay whiskies get their smoky character not just from peat, but from seaweed. The peat on this island contains decomposed kelp and marine vegetation that's been compressed for thousands of years, giving whiskies like Laphroaig their distinctive medicinal, oceanic notes.
3. During Prohibition, Scottish distilleries kept detailed records of American bootleggers' preferences and tailored their exports accordingly. Cutty Sark was specifically created in 1923 as a lighter, more mixable whisky for the American black market. The blend became so popular with smugglers that it outsold most established brands once Prohibition ended.
4. The "angel's share"—whisky that evaporates during aging—feeds a unique ecosystem. Warehouses in Scotland develop black fungus called Baudoinia compniacensis on their exterior walls, which literally feeds on whisky vapors. This fungus only grows near distilleries and creates those distinctive dark stains you see on aging warehouses worldwide.
5. Macallan once released a whisky aged in casks made from trees that were growing when Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. The distillery tracked down 400-year-old Spanish oak trees, had them specially coopered, and used them to age whisky for their Fine and Rare Collection. Each bottle contained liquid that spent time in wood older than the United States itself.