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Scotch whisky

Scotch whisky
TypeDistilled beverage
Country of origin Scotland
Introduced15th century
(active: 524 years)
Alcohol by volume 40–94.8%
ColourPale gold to dark amber
FlavourSmooth, sharp, (often) hint of vanilla
IngredientsMalt, water
VariantsSingle malt, Single grain, Blended malt, Blended grain, Blended
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Scotch whisky (Scottish Gaelic: uisge-beatha na h-Alba; Scots: whisky/whiskie [ˈʍɪski] or whusk(e)y [ˈʍʌski]),[1] often simply called whisky or Scotch, is malt whisky or grain whisky (or a blend of the two) made in Scotland.

The first known written mention of Scotch whisky is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland of 1494.[2] All Scotch whisky was originally made from malted barley. Commercial distilleries began introducing whisky made from wheat and rye in the late 18th century.[3] As of May 2024, there were 151 whisky distilleries operating in Scotland,[4] making Scotch whisky one of the most renowned geographical indications worldwide.[5]

All Scotch whisky must be aged immediately after distillation in oak barrels for at least three years.[6][7] Any age statement on a bottle of Scotch whisky, expressed in numerical form, must reflect the age of the youngest whisky used to create that product. A whisky with an age statement is known as guaranteed-age whisky. A whisky without an age statement is known as a no age statement (NAS) whisky, the only guarantee being that all whisky contained in that bottle is at least three years old. The minimum bottling strength according to existing regulations is 40% alcohol by volume.[8] Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: single malt Scotch whisky, single grain Scotch whisky, blended malt Scotch whisky (formerly called "vatted malt" or "pure malt"), blended grain Scotch whisky, and blended Scotch whisky.[6][7]

Many Scotch whisky drinkers refer to a unit for drinking as a dram.[9] The word whisky comes from the Gaelic uisge beatha or usquebaugh 'water of life' (a calque of Medieval Latin aqua vitae; compare aquavit).[10][11]

  1. ^ "whisky". Scottish National Dictionary. Retrieved 13 January 2021 – via Dictionary of the Scots Language.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ERoS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ MacLean 2010, p. 10.
  4. ^ "Facts & Figures". The Scotch Whisky Association. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  5. ^ Jewell, Catherine (April 2023). "Scotch Whisky Sees IP, Diversity and Inclusion as Keys To its Longer-term Sustainability". WIPO Magazine.
  6. ^ a b Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009.
  7. ^ a b Scotch Whisky Association 2009.
  8. ^ "What is the alcoholic strength of Scotch Whisky?". The Scotch Whisky Association. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  9. ^ Simpson, John A.; Weiner, Edmund S.C., eds. (1989). "dram, n.". Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861186-8. OCLC 50959346. Retrieved 2 July 2012. Earlier version first published in New English Dictionary, 1897.
  10. ^ "Scotch Whisky FAQs". Scotch Whisky Association. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  11. ^ Harper, Douglas. "whiskey". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 16 May 2023.

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