WHISKY- THE WATER OF LIFE

The Scots fought their wars on whisky. The first to make whisky were the Irish. Irish and Scottish settlers brought the art of making whisky to America when they made homes in Pennsylvania in the middle of the 17th century. There are around 20 distilleries operating in Canada all privately owned but under strict government supervision. Whisky is a universal social drink in reasonable prosperous societies. Indeed, in France, the home of wine, it is now considered a most fashionable drink.

Today the spirit is made in many countries. However, the four main producers are America and Ireland who spell the product whiskey- Scotland and Canada who leave out the ‘e’ – whisky. Each country has its own refinements in making whisky, but the method is consistent in all countries. Barely is malted, then fairly ground to be mashed with hot water to make wort. The wort with the addition of yeast ferments and the resulting wash or beer is distilled two or three times, first giving low wines and eventually raw whisky, which is put into oak casks to mature. For Irish and Scotch, barley is used to make the whisky with the use of wheat and rice. In the U.S.A. maize and rye are used and in Canada, rye is the main ingredient. There are two basic types of whisky- malt or pot still whisky and grain or patent still whisky.

Irish whisky is different from Scotch. Irish is produced from home grown cereals whereas, in the making of scotch, native as well as grain from other countries is used. Scotch is made only from malted barley. Irish whisky is made from malted as well as un malted barley. Scotch is distilled twice while, Irish is distilled thrice. There is a difference in their maturation time as well. Irish is matured at least five years in casks , whereas scotch is matured for at least three years.

SCOTCH
·     Single malts
·     Premium blended
·     Regular blended

SINGLE MALTS

·     Malt Whiskies are the unique product of Scotland.

·     No two single malt whiskies taste the same.

·     Traditionally malts are made in Pot Stills.

REGION-WISE CLASSIFICATION OF SINGLE MALTS:

HIGHLANDS : Holds in balance pungency of malts from the islands and smoothness of those from Highlands.

SPEYSIDE : Malts characterized by a hint of sweetness associated with Speyside Valley.

ISLAND OF ISLAY :( Pronounced as Eye-La )Distinguished by its peat, which affects both the water and malted barley,

                                 consequently the taste of the whisky..

LOWLANDS : Malts are matured in a drier atmosphere, resulting in dry lighter taste.

CAMPBELL TOWN : Produces heavy smoky spirit, very adaptable for blending.
 

1) Classic Malts

CRAGGANMORE, TALISKER
GLENKINCHIE, DALWHINNIE
OBAN, LAGAVULIN.

BLENDED SCOTCH
 

OTHER WHISKY'S

1) Irish Whisky
·     Made from barley and other cereals
·     Triple distillation
·     matured in sherry casks for 5 years
·     Deluxe brands are 12 years old

2) Canadian Whisky
·     Usually called rye
·     Produced in continuous stills
·     Maturation for a minimum of three years
·     Usually light bodied.

3) Bourbon
·     Fermented grain mash must contain at least 51% American corn
·     Aging for at least 2 years in charred America White Oak cask
·     The barrels, by law, should be used once.
·     The resultant flavor is distinctive wood, toffee and vanilla.

4) Tennessee
·     Undergoes a special process called charcoal mellowing.
·     Has a distinctive flavor
·     Only 2 distilleries – Jack Daniels and George Dickel make Tennessee in the world.

 

Given below are various types of whiskies (in bold) with various brands:

BOURBON-TENNESSEE WHISKEY

 ·     I W HARPER
·     JACK DANIELS-1
·     JACK DANIELS-2
·     JACK DANIELS-3
·     JACK DANIELS-4
·     JACK DANIELS-5
·     JONNY DRUM
·     KENTUCKY PRIDE
·     KENTUCKY VINTAGE
·     KNOB KREEK
·     MAKER’S MARK
·     NOAH’S MILL
·     OLD BARDSTOWN
·     OLD DISTILLER
·     OLD GRANDAD

IRISH WHISKEY

·     BOW STREET
·     BUSHMILLS
·     COLERAINE
·     CONNEMARA-1
·     CONNEMARA-2
·     CRESTED TEN
·     DUNGOWNEY
·     DIMPHY’S
·     GREEN SPOTS
·     HEWITTS’
·     JAMESONS
·     MIDLETON
·     MURPHY’S
·     POT CHEEN
·     POWER’S

CANADIAN WHISKEY

·     WINDSOR CANADIAN
·     YUKON JACK HONEY LIQUEUR BLACK VELVET CANADIAN
·     CANADA HOUSE CANADIAN
·     CANADIAN CLUB 100
·     CANADIAN CLUB RESERVE
·     CANADIAN CLUB SHERRY CASK
·     CANADIAN MIST
·     CANADIAN RICH &RARE
·     GOODERHAM & WORTS LTD.
·     CANADIAN WHISKEY
·     HARWOOD CANADIAN WHISKEY
·     J FOXE CANADIAN WHISKEY
·     LORD CALVERT CANADIAN WHISKEY
·     MAC NAUGHTONS CANADIAN WHISKEY
·     McCORMICK CANADIAN WHISKEY
·     CANADIAN LTD
·     SEAGRAM CANADIAN HUNTER WHISKEY
·     SEAGRAM CROWN ROYAL SPECIAL
·     RESERVE CANADIAN WHISKEY
·     SEAGRAM VO GOLD
·     SEAGRAM VO CANADIAN
·     TANGLE RIDGE CANADIAN
·     WHISKEY DOUBLE CASK

SINGLE MALTS

·     ABERLOUR
·     ADELPHI SPRINGBANK 32 YR
·     ARDBEG 30 YR
·     AUCHENTOSHAN 1965
·     BALVENIE
·     BENRINNES
·     BLADNOCH
·     BOWMORE
·     BRUICHLADDISH CADENHEAD
·     CARDHU
·     BRUICHLADDICH ISLAY 26 YR
·     BUNNAHABHAIN 1979
·     CLYENLISH 22 Years
·     COLEBURN
·     CRAGGANMORE
·     DALMORE 29 Years
·     DALWHINNIE 15 Years
·     DEANSTOWN CADENHEAD 19 Years
·     FINLAGGAN
·     GLEN BURGIE
·     GLEN ESK
·     GLEN GARIOSH 25 Years
·     GLEN GRANT
·     GLEN LOCHY
·     GLEN MORAY
·     GLEN SCOTIA
·     GLEN SPEY
·     GLENFARCLASS 21 Years
·     GLENFIDDICH
·     GLENGLASSAUGH
·     GLENGOYNE
·     GLENKINCHIE
·     GLENLIVET
·     GLENLOCHY 25 Years
·     GLENMORANGIE
·     GLENROTHES
·     GLENTAUCHERS 18 Years
·     GLENTURRET
·     HART BROTHERS MACALLAN
·     HIGHLAND PARK 25 Years
·     HILLSIDE 25 Years RARE
·     INCHMURRIN
·     KNAPPOGUE CASTLE
·     KNOCKANDO
·     LAGAVULIN
·     LAPHROAIG
·     LINKWOOD CADENHEAD 18 Years
·     LISMORE
·     LITTLEMILL 17 Years
·     LOCH DHU
·     LOCH LOMOND
·     LONGMORE
·     LOWLAND
·     MACALLAN
·     MICHEL COUVREUR
·     MILTON DUFF CADENHEAD
·     MORTLACH 22 Years
·     MURRAY McDAVID SPRINGBANK
·     OBAN
·     OLD FETTERCAIRN 30 Years
·     PITTYVAICH CADENHEAD
·     ROSEBANK CADENHEAD
·     ROYAL LOCHNAGAR RESERVE
·     SPEYBURN 29 Years
·     SPRINGBANK
·     TALISKER
·     TAMDHU SPEYSIDE
·     TAMNAVULIN 25 Years
·     TORMORE

Whisky has the advantage of being a welcome drink at all times. In moderation, it is a reasonable aperitif and a most comfortable drink for after meals. As a night cap, it is probably unsurpassed. However, its most outstanding qualities are stimulation and warmth. Many doctors recognize that a tot of whisky is a solace to people in pain and a help to those with heart condition as well as useful stimulant for those getting on in age.

Questions:

1) What was Johnnie Walker Black Label initially called?
2) What is ‘Bottled in Bond’ whisky?
3) Which personality when studying in Deptford remarked ‘Of all the Wine, Irish whisky is the best’?
4) Which well known company was formed as a result of merger of Cork Distillers Company Ltd and John

    Jameson and Sons Ltd and John Power and Sons Ltd?
5) Islay and Campbeltown are two of the areas of scotch production. Which are the other two?
6) What is Whiskey Sour?
7) What is the other name for American whisky?
8) Which is the birthplace of Old Crow, one of America’s most famous and prestigious whiskey?
9) What is Jack Daniel’s?
10)Name four malts of the ‘Glen' series.

Answers:

1) Extra Special Old Highland.
2) Straight whiskies bottled at 100° USA proof. They have been matured in casks at least for four years in

    warehouse controlled by the government. Hence the name.
3) Peter the Great
4) United Distillers of Ireland.
5) Highlands and the Lowlands.
6) A cocktail having whiskey, a teaspoon of grain sugar, lemon juice and ice.
7) Bourbon.
8) Kentucky.
9) A type of American whiskey - Tennessee
10) Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glenkinchie, Glenmorangie.