Scotch whisky (Scottish Gaelic: uisge-beatha; Scots: Scots whisky/whiskie, whusk(e)y, pronounced [ˈʍɪski], often simply called whisky or Scotch) is malt whisky or grain whisky (or a blend of the two), made in Scotland. All Scotch whisky was originally made from malted barley.
By law, a whisky can only be called Scotch if it is distilled in Scotland according to a set of specific rules. But single malt whiskey can be distilled anywhere.
What is Scotch Whisky? Scotch Whisky is a distilled spirit made in Scotland from cereals, water and yeast. Find out more here.
In modern usage, whisky is from Scotland and whiskey is from Ireland. The difference comes from the translation of words from the Scottish and Irish Gaelic forms. In the late 1800s, Scottish whisky was also very poor quality therefore the Irish producers wanted to differentiate their product.
The reason for so many Glen-something whiskies is because 'glen' means 'valley' in Gaelic. There are a lot of hills in Scotland, so there are lots of glens.
What is a Glen? 'Glen' is the Scottish term for a valley. Many have a U-shape and were gouged into existence by huge glaciers that ground down the mountains. The glaciers finally departed at the end of the last ice age 11,500 years ago.
The name Glenfiddich derives from the Scottish Gaelic Gleann Fhiodhaich meaning "valley of the deer", which is reflected in Glenfiddich's stag logo. Glenfiddich distillery.
And it's in Scotland that the word dram was first used to describe a glass of whisky. It isn't an official measurement; a dram is most often referred to as “any amount of whisky that you could swallow in one mouthful.”
Many Scots lap Scotch up like water. In order to truly taste the drink, take a minuscule sip and let it sit in the mouth so that the flavours tantalise the tongue.
Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of life's true icons. A masterful blend of single malt and grain whiskies from across Scotland, aged for at least 12 years. The result is a timeless classic with depth and balance of flavor.
There are five Scotch Whisky regions - Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside.
Uisge Beath is the Scottish Gaelic translation of the Latin term for distilled alcohol: “acqua vitae”, or “water of life”. Over time, the phrase uisge beath was shortened to simply “uisge” (sounds like “oosh-gae”). Eventually, uisge evolved into the word “whisky” we use today.
Uisce beatha (Irish pronunciation: [ˈɪʃcə ˈbʲahə]), literally "water of life", is the name for whiskey in Irish. It is derived from the Old Irish uisce ("water") and bethu ("life"). The Scottish equivalent is rendered uisge beatha.
Scotch is generally used in compounds (such as Scotch pine or Scotch whisky), and set phrases. Scottish is the preferred adjective; in cases where you are referring to the literature, character, or ancestry of the people of Scotland, it is generally correct to describe them as Scottish.
Scotch Whisky must, by law, be distilled and matured in Scotland in oak casks for at least three years and bottled at a minimum alcoholic strength of 40% abv. The robust legal protection of Scotch – vital to safeguard a spirit globally renowned for its quality – has grown over time.
Scotch, Neat – served in a rocks glass at room temperature with no ice. Scotch on the Rocks – serve with ice cubes. Some scotch connoisseurs may specify how many rocks they'd like. Scotch with a Water Side or Water Back – served neat with a small glass of water on the side so water can be added to desired taste.
These are the go-tos: (1) The Famous Grouse, aka The Low Flying Bird It's the top selling blend in Scotland. (2) Dewar's, aka The Drinking Man's Scotch Best seller in the U.S., top five in the world.
Scotch is best neat, or with a little water.
No ice for you! It will take a while to enjoy it, but you should always drink scotch neat, or with a splash of water.
A whiskey served “neat” just means it's served straight up, with nothing else in the glass. A neat pour lets you appreciate the true flavor of the whiskey—for better, or for worse. If you're sipping something lackluster, you'll find yourself quickly reaching for the ice and/or your favorite cocktail book.
Many pubs use "Inn" in their name, either because they are long established former coaching inns, or to summon up a particular kind of image, or in many cases simply as a pun on the word "in", as in "The Welcome Inn", the name of many pubs in Scotland.
SWALLIE n an alcoholic drink.
Laphroaig, meaning “the beautiful hollow by a broad bay” in Islay's native Gaelic tongue, is a place like no other.
GLENMORANGIE. glenMÒRANgee. “Glen of the Big Meadows” Glen (Anglicised Scottish Gaelic word for gleann, river valley in mountain or hill country) mór (Scottish Gaelic – big) innse (Scottish Gaelic – water meadows).