Scotch whisky is distilled twice, while Irish whiskey undergoes triple distillation. For one, distillation occurs three times during the entire process, which leads to it being light and smooth. You see, the word “whisky” is just an anglicized version of uisge beatha, the drink that Scotch whisky of today is based on. Lowland - only three distilleries remain in operations which are Auchentosh… You have other players like rye and bourbon but these fall into slightly different categories. The same goes for Irish whiskey. Triple distillation became a hallmark of the island. Irish Whiskey, Scotch, and Bourbon have their own distinctive identities that make them unique. Everyone will have their own preference. Your email address will not be published. Figuring out the difference between a Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey takes some time and effort. Canadian Whisky has a reputation for being lighter and … I haven't done the same amount of research into the “craft” side of Irish whiskey though, so let me know in the comments if you have a better brand to switch to. But just like King James IV of Scotland, the public loved drinking whisky. Irish whiskey needs to be matured in casks for a minimum of three years whereas Scotch only needs a minimum of two. It's a vegetable). If you think that whiskey had a rich history in the United States, then be prepared for the humble beginnings of whiskey in Europe. Irish whiskey is made with a blend of malted and unmalted barley in a pot still, whereas Scotch uses 100% malted barley (grain that has been soaked so that it begins to sprout). A single grain scotch is often used to denote a whisky made with a single grain that’s not malted barley. During his reign, the production of scotch whisky was limited to the monasteries only, but when King Henry VIII of England rose into power, the monasteries dissolved. Whiskey is the drink of choice for many people around the world. Why Haven’t You Tried Snoop Dogg’s Impeccably Smooth Cali Red Yet? Where Ireland swerves is with the “single pot still” category. Scotch has a much richer history in my opinion, with clearly divided regions you can explore and learn about. Both Scotland and Ireland useoak casks.T… A single pot still whiskey uses both malted barley and unmalted or raw barley in the mash bill. The main ingredient in scotch is malted barley, while bourbon is mainly composed of corn. An Irish whiskey pass through a triple distillation while a Scotch only double. January 31, 2020 by Food For Net Leave a Comment. The Scotch Whisky Association states that uisge beatha, a Scottish drink, was what the scotch whisky today is based on. Exceptions abound. Today, not all Irish whiskeys are triple distilled but most single malts and single pot still expressions will be. One is made exclusively with malted barley that’s almost always malted using local peat in the kilning process. Still with us? (Technically corn is not a grain. Irish whiskey also uses raw, kiln-dried barley instead of the wholly-malted barley Scotch whisky makes use of. There’s a lot more to it than you think, and you’ll be surprised by how different the two really are from each other. My current all-time favorites are Lagavulin 16 and Caol Ila 12. They might fill the same place in the market, but their mash base is different from traditional whiskey. Think about it this way, there’s a massive difference between a baked apple and a raw apple, right? Putting aside blends and grains, single malt scotch and single pot still Irish whiskey are two very different beasts. Irish Whiskey: The Eire ... Scotch Whisky: The Scots make their whisky (spelled without an “e”) using malted barley or grain, oak casks and an aging process of at least three years. However, written records of whiskey aren’t easily available, and the earliest one in Ireland dates back as late as 1405, with the record mentioning aqua vitae. Whiskey comes in many different varieties. My name is Rick and FoodForNet.com is just a website about food and drink that I like. Irish Whiskey: Scotch Whisky: Irish whiskey is put through a maturation process that requires a minimum of three years, giving it its unparalleled taste and aroma. These variants include single grain, blended malt, and blended grain scotch whisky. The term “uisge beatha” is Gaelic, a language that you can find both in Scotland and Ireland. From there, we have a similar process of malts to grist to fermentation to distillation to barreling. There are. Irish whiskey is lighter in flavor than Scottish whisky due to the differences in the distillation process. Finally, the distillate is transferred to barrels (sometimes ex-bourbon barrels from America, sometimes not) to rest for at least three years. These differences amount to more than whether you spell one with an “e” or not, though it’s worth clarifying — Scotch whisky is always spelled without the “e”; Irish whiskey is always spelled with the “e.” This quirk seems to have started in the late 19th century, created by Irish distillers as a way to distinguish Irish whiskey from Scotch whisky on the consumer market. Some of these variants that rely on a single type of ingredient you are probably already familiar with! Scotch whisky can come in three forms, generally — single malt, single grain, and blended scotch. Not all scotch is smoky though! FoodForNet is part of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, plus other affiliate programs. 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