What is the best whiskey? Good whiskey: what are the criteria? Which whiskey is better to choose? Everything you need to know about whiskey

There are three main types of whiskey - malt, grain and blended. Malt - produced from pure barley malt without impurities. A grain made from different types of cereals, it is almost entirely used in the production of blended whiskey, but partly goes on sale. Blended whiskey is a mixture of whiskey from different types of grains. There is also American corn whiskey, created using a special technology.

The best of the best

Since 2007, the ‘World Whiskies Award’ has existed. This is a kind of Oscar for whiskey producers around the world. The award is presented in several categories: “Best Whiskey”, “Best Malt Whiskey”, “Best Blended Whiskey”. Awards are also given by country for the best producers of the drink - “Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey”, “Best Japanese Whiskey”, etc.

In Scotland the word "whisky" is written as "whisky", in all other countries - "whiskey".

The winning labels change every year, so keeping up with new trends in whiskey production is not so easy. Here are the results for 2014:

1. The best single malt whiskey in the world - Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask
2. Best blended whiskey - Taketsuru 17 Years Old
3. Best blended whiskey - The Lost Distilleries Blend
4. Best Flavored Whiskey - Sons of Liberty Pumpkin Spice
5. The world's best whiskey liqueur - Master of Malt Speyside Whiskey Liqueur 40 Years Old
6. Best single grain whiskey - Teeling Single Grain
7. Best American Whiskey - Balcones Brimstone Resurrection
8. Best rye whiskey - Thomas H Handy Sazerac

How to choose great whiskey in the store

But, of course, not everyone has the opportunity to attend a prestigious award and try all the varieties listed there. And in general, in Russia, most of them are quite difficult to buy. However, there are several tricks that will allow you to use the available assortment of whiskey for yourself or as a gift.

The word comes from the Celtic "uisce beatha" - "living water".

First, pay attention to the country of origin. The best whiskey is produced in the USA, Ireland, Scotland and Japan. Most likely, there will be no complaints about products from these countries. True, if the label says “Scotch Whiskey” or, say, “Scotch Whiskey” in Russian, then this is a product produced in Russia and bears little resemblance to real whiskey.

Look at how the label is attached. It should be positioned evenly and glued without bubbles. Pay attention to the composition. Real whiskey should contain only water and grain or corn - no ethyl alcohol, no flavors or fragrances.

The color of good whiskey can be from light to dark golden. There should be no sediment in the bottle.

When you turn the bottle over, the whiskey should fall down in a large drop, and not flow down the walls.

Finally, when shaking the whiskey, large air bubbles should appear that do not disappear for a long time.

Whiskey is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the world; every specialty store offers dozens of varieties of this product. How to choose good whiskey in Russia? To do this, you will have to learn to understand the labeling, get acquainted with the classification and taste characteristics of different types of whiskey. Then your choice will be competent and conscious.

How the type of whiskey affects its taste

Whiskey is produced from sprouted barley and various grain crops. The best varieties are single malt, with a soft and rounded taste. They are based on high-quality distillates created from pure, selected, carefully sorted and dried barley. An alternative since ancient times has been whiskey made from grain spirits, which have a more oily and coarser taste.

For a long time, the popularity of these drinks was based only on their low cost. Blended whiskey is a mixture of malt and grain alcohols diluted with pure water. This composition allowed distillers to maintain a mild taste and reduce the cost of production. Thanks to this, in global trade these varieties account for 90% of all sales. Standing apart from the list of popular types of whiskey is American bourbon, created from distillates based on corn grains.

It is worth understanding the features of malt whiskey production, this will allow you to choose a good drink. The following varieties are produced:

• Single Malt - produced at one distillery from spirits of different ages;
• Single Cask Malt - bottled from a single barrel, characterized by a unique aroma and taste;
• Pure Malt - technology involves a mixture of malt alcohols from different distilleries, which allows minimizing the shortcomings of the products of one specific distillery.

All information is reflected on the label; all you have to do is pay attention to it.

Where is the best whiskey made?

The choice largely depends on the region in which the drink was created. Manufacturers from different countries carefully preserve their centuries-old traditions, even in cases where brands are sold to global concerns - they retain all the specifics of the brand, from the particular shape of the distillation cubes to drinking water from a certain source. In stores you can buy products from several countries.

Whiskey is produced by hundreds of distilleries in five main geographic regions. For beginners, it is better to taste drinks from the TLowlands, the plains located in the south of the country. They have a dry, soft and silky taste.

Do you prefer sweeter, ethereal varieties with fruity notes? Opt for Speyside whiskey. Light and spicy drinks are produced in the Highlight mountain valleys, and the products of the Islay distilleries have a special strong aroma and taste, in which the smoke of the distilleries is combined with the salty sea.

Rich and salty whiskeys are produced in the Campbeltown region. It is better to get acquainted with them last, when you have experience of using them and have formed certain preferences.

Good whiskey is produced on the emerald island by almost all distilleries, of which there are not many left here. Unlike Scotland, barley is smoked in closed ovens rather than peat ovens. Mandatory triple distillation gives a special softness to the taste, as you can see by tasting Jameson whiskey.

The sweet, delicate taste of corn distillates attracts beginners to bourbon, which is easy to drink neat. The top seller is the Jack Daniel’s blend, which consists of 80% corn alcohol.

In this Asian country, whiskey is extremely popular, and the Japanese, with their characteristic hard work, have perfectly mastered the technology of producing the drink. There are many good brands that are reminiscent of the products of the Scottish distilleries of Speyside. The distinctive feature is fruity, slightly smoky notes. Good products are offered by brands such as Hibiki, Yamazaki, Taketsuru, Yoichi.

In production in this country, a mixture of grains is used: rye, corn, wheat, barley. The lack of strict standards allows producers to dilute whiskey with sherry, bourbon and cognac, so products from this North American country are recommended for creating cocktails. The rye variety Rye is very popular.

Which whiskey should you buy based on its origin? Start with the classics - Irish and Scottish brands such as Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Lagavulin, Macallan, Glenlivet, Jameson, Glenfiddich. Among American companies, Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, and Buffalo Trace are deservedly popular.

Exposure time

Whiskey acquires its noble characteristics after a long stay in oak barrels. The minimum aging period for distillates is 3 years; for bourbon, a two-year aging period is allowed. The characteristics of young varieties leave much to be desired; it is not surprising that most producers age whiskey for at least 5-10 years. It is in this category that you should look for a good option for a festive feast that will meet the most stringent requirements.

The age is indicated on the label; for blended whiskey, this figure will mean that the youngest spirit is of this age. Other distillates may be more heavily aged, imparting quality characteristics to the drink. The best option would be whiskey aged 12-18 years; at this age, the spirits become round, saturated with the aroma of oak, and honey notes appear. Fans of strong alcohol will definitely not be disappointed when purchasing such drinks.

Price

Price always matters, but good whiskey doesn't have to be the most expensive. Many popular brands belong to global concerns, which include large advertising costs in their prices. The price is influenced by the popularity of the brand and the presence of beautiful gift packaging. In the middle price range you can find excellent specimens. This category is recommended for tasting.

Miracle alcohol

Whiskey is a drink that comes in a variety of varieties and flavors. It will take a lot of time to consider everything that exists. Therefore, it is better to pay attention to the most famous ones in order to decide which whiskey is good. A high-quality drink can have a beneficial effect on the human body, but if consumed in moderation. Thanks to this alcohol, creativity is stimulated, efficiency and concentration increase, and it also gives tone. This phenomenon is explained by the essential oils and tannins that are part of it. However, if you drink this drink in too large portions, then after 6-12 hours you may experience unpleasant sensations.

Three groups of whiskey

This drink is divided into three main groups: blended, malt and single malt. Which of the following whiskeys is good? Last. Malt is of slightly worse quality, since during its production distillates are mixed, this leads to a change in the structure of the complex of essential oils, which determines the beneficial properties of the drink. In the process of making blended whiskey, ready-made drinks are mixed, rather than their distillers. Because of this, the subtle harmony and individuality of the whiskey is disrupted. However, there are blends that deserve attention, even if they are few.

Aroma and taste

Which whiskey is good? One that has individual characteristics. These features depend both on the technology of making the drink and on the region where it is prepared. There are significant differences between Irish and Scottish varieties. The reason is that the latter are distilled twice, and the former three. Which whiskey is better between these two? Everyone will judge, because everything depends on taste. I would like to note that Irish ones are characterized by a “creamy” taste.

Special attention

It is worth noting certain varieties of this drink. They are truly worthy of attention. Among single malts, it is worth trying "Caol Ila". A good drink with a smoky aroma. Which whiskey is better among malts is Bushmills Malt. Whiskey made in Ireland with a distinctive soft taste and a pronounced hint of cream. I would also like to touch on the topic of blended whiskey. Among them, it is better to give preference to “Jameson”, “Tullamore Dew” (Ireland), and “Chivas Regal” (Scotland).

The birthplace of the drink

There has been a long debate about where whiskey came to us from. Many countries claim to be the birthplace of this drink: America, Scotland and Ireland, Japan and many others.

Essence of Whiskey

It lies in the ingredients and proportions. Thanks to them, a unique taste is created. They are different. Malt and barley are a sign of a Scottish drink, if rye is added - this is Ireland, corn with wheat is the work of America, and rice is a Japanese addition. And this is not the entire list of products used. Every person who recognizes at least half of this list will have a very popular and logical question: “Which whiskey is the best?” It is impossible to give an exact answer; again, everyone has their own taste for alcohol. However, something worth noting in general is that the best whiskey is the one with 50-60 revolutions and a minimum of ingredients.

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Whiskey. This drink is a real cultural dominant of Western civilization, especially its Anglo-Saxon part, which has now largely won the status of the number one global strong drink.

This happened largely due to the fact that the whiskey is a truly worthy “strong” drink in all respects. But one should not discount the marketing myth of whiskey as an obligatory attribute of Western alcoholic culture, which, through many powerful brands, has made it possible to instill in the minds of consumers a love for the ancient Celtic drink on all continents.

A brief excursion into history

The word “whisky” itself is a calque from the Celtic language uisce beatha/uisge beatha (in transcription it sounds like “uiske beatha” and literally means “water of life” - a calque from the Latin expression aqua vitae.

It is believed that the art of distilling low-alcohol mash was brought to Scotland by Christian missionaries, who, in the conditions of the British Isles, had to replace grapes with barley. Having gone through the chain uisge - uisce - fuisce - uiskie, as well as a number of technological and taste improvements and finally becoming whiskey, the drink began to subjugate the tastes of the local population.

However, the Irish immediately began to challenge the copyright for the invention. According to them, a similar process on the Emerald Isle was started by St. Patrick, who took up distilling immediately after the completion of the baptism of pagan Ireland.

Both peoples subsequently made a significant contribution to the development of the drink: the Irishman Enes Coffey significantly improved the still for distillation in 1830, while the very first such installation was built by the Scotsman Robert Stein.

It was their joint creativity that caused a revolution in production in the second half of the 19th century - distilleries were able to significantly increase production volumes, and it became possible to talk about the emergence of a new industry in the structure of the British and Irish economies.

It was then that the first large companies appeared, specializing in this segment, and using the enormous space for creativity provided by new technologies for the production of whiskey drinks, regional traditions and a variety of ingredients.

It was then that the first experiments began in mixing different brands of cask whiskey to create unique aromas and tastes.

But, like any technological revolution, the process also had a downside - the word “whiskey” was legally allowed to refer to young, three-year-old spirits, and producers began to replace barley with wheat and corn to reduce costs, adding malt varieties “for taste.”

It was these processes that determined the abundance of varieties, marks and brands that today make up a real galaxy of whiskey.

Whiskey happens...

In modern English, you can find two spellings of the word whiskey - those produced in Scotland, Canada and Japan are usually referred to as whisky.

Drinks from Ireland or America are most often called whiskey. The addition of “e” occurred at the end of the 19th century to highlight its products - that is, a pure marketing move that does not tell us anything about the taste and quality of the product.

The standard strength of whiskey varies in the range of 40-50%, but no one limits the creativity of drink creators, so you can also find varieties with a strength of 60%.

First of all, whiskey is malt - the drink is made from pure barley malt and aged without mixing with other types of whiskey, such as grain whiskey.

The most ideological pure whiskey of this type is single malt whiskey, produced by one distillery; sometimes different years of aging of the same variety are mixed. This is, in fact, the gold standard of whiskey, the original.

Single malt whiskeys are a gourmet's delight, offering a huge selection of original flavors, many of which will only be appreciated by people with very specific preferences. At the same time, single malts contain a rich layer of interesting drinks that can give many pleasant moments to the taste buds of a connoisseur.

This is the real soul of Scotland, drinks that require a thoughtful attitude to consumption, savoring either in the company of trusted people who will not distract from the process, or alone.

The most famous brands are Laphroaig, Maccalan, Glenfiddich, Isle of Jura, Tallisker, Highland and many others, abundantly presented on the shelves of numerous Irish and English pubs and bars, as well as in alcohol supermarkets in the Russian Federation.

Single malt whiskeys are usually the most expensive drinks compared to other classes of whiskey. The production of many single malts is not a large business, at least in comparison with the promoted brands of widespread and more understandable blended varieties - the capacity is lower, the production volumes are more modest, the production cycle is longer: all this together is the reason that good single malt whiskey begins cost from 1,500 rubles per bottle, and there are no limits to this indicator at all.

There is a class of collectible single malts of very long aging, but they are extremely difficult to find in bars and stores - these are gift drinks for very wealthy citizens.
One of the varieties of single malt drinks is single cask whiskey. Malt whiskey from a single cask, not mixed with anything. That is, how it was poured, how it was left to age, also opened and bottled, without adding anything or changing anything.

There is quarter cask whiskey - the same single cask malt whiskey, but from a smaller barrel, usually stronger (up to 50% - the so-called cask strength, which also indicates the originality of the drink and the absence of attacks on its integrity).

There is also a mixed malt whiskey - blended malt, which is a mixture of malt whiskey from various distilleries. By and large, this is the same single malt - at least in taste. Only very great connoisseurs and deep experts in the subject area will be able to distinguish mixed “molts” from the originals.

This technology allows you to obtain original tastes and combine the best of several types of single malt drinks in one bottle.

In general, the closest attention should be paid to the place where whiskey is made - for example, the varieties produced on the island of Islay are historically very different from most other varieties.

A lot of smuggled whiskey was distilled on the islands, and to speed up the production process, barley was dried in the smoke from burned peat, the taste of the finished drink received, firstly, notes of smoke, a signature “smoked taste,” as well as marine, bright iodine aromas that cannot be confused by anyone. with what. This is a purely Scottish "trick" not used in Ireland. The malt for Irish whiskey is kiln-dried, and the drink itself goes through triple distillation - imparting the necessary softness, which is not characteristic of most Scottish single malts.

In general, single malts in Scotland are divided by region into Highland Single Malts, Speyside Single Malts, the aforementioned Islay Single Malts, Lowland Single Malts and Campbeltown Single Malts.

Next in the classification is grain whiskey (Grain whiskey) - this is the so-called “technical” whiskey: not to be confused with industrial alcohol. The term only means the fact that the drink is almost never used in its pure form for sale, but is produced for further blending purposes.

If you try, you can find single grain whiskey on sale - pure grain whiskey similar to single malt, but the task is not easy due to the specificity of the drink (almost complete absence of smell and pronounced taste characteristic of classic whiskey). It must be understood that by grain we mean the same grains of malt, just not sprouted, as is the case with the classics.

There are only four bottled pure grain whiskeys in Scotland: Glen Wolf, Black Barrel, Glen Clyde and Invergordon.

Blended whiskey - mixed or blended whiskey. The most popular and widespread type of whiskey around the world. According to various estimates, it today accounts for up to 90% of global production. Not to be confused with blended malt, described above - blended whiskey varieties include different alcohols - malt, grain, wheat, rye - while blended malt is always a mixture of only malt alcohols.

It is with blended whiskey varieties that the inexperienced consumer masses associate the very concept of “whisky”; it is the blend that fills supermarket shelves at an affordable price and misleads many alcohol lovers about the entire kingdom of whiskey. “I drank this whiskey of yours, it’s rare rubbish,” says the average consumer in the Russian Federation, having tried some cheap “compote” of young spirits costing 499 rubles for a 0.7 liter bottle.

Brands John Dewar's, Johnnie Walker, Jameson, White Horse, Famous Grouse and many, many others (“thousands of them”) are the brightest representatives of this class, sometimes also called “table” or “consumer whiskey” (something like “house wine” " - an affordable, high-quality drink without frills).

However, a certain gradation also exists within blended whiskey - brands such as Red Breast or Chivas Regal are distinguished by a high content of high-quality long-aged malt alcohols in their composition, which determines a very high level of drink quality and price. The name of such varieties may be supplemented with the addition “Deluxe”.

The same Johnny Walker ranges from Red Label, a very modest drink by the standards of connoisseurs in terms of taste, to quite high-quality by the standards of the same connoisseurs Green, Gold, Blue or Platinum Label - extremely expensive and tasty whiskeys.

As a rule, in the production of blended whiskey in modern conditions, traditional technology, aging time and many other nuances of the work of old distilleries are violated - the drinks are impersonal, standardized and indistinguishable from one another, but otherwise the volume of global demand cannot be satisfied.

Finally, bourbon is American corn whiskey produced using special technology (aging in oak barrels charred from the inside). Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Jack Daniels and numerous Canadian varieties. An honest drink for the right price, but not as refined as the Old World varieties, and in the UK or Ireland it is not considered whiskey.

The other two most important characteristics of the drink are the aging time and, given what has been said about the prevalence of blended whiskey, the blending process itself.

Excerpt

The whiskey is aged in oak barrels. Ideally, in sherry casks.

If there are none (and today there simply cannot be enough for everyone), then they are aged in American white oak containers that previously contained bourbon, or simply treated with sherry. The barrel is the most important factor in the maturation of future whiskey: in it it gains strength and receives that very recognizable taste and bouquet of aromas.

By law, Scotch whiskey must be aged for at least 3 years. This is the minimum period after which the malt distillate, after two or three times of distillation, receives the right to be called the proud word - whisky.

As a rule, such “young stock” is used for blending, after which the cheapest whiskey brands are born, happily consumed in cocktails a la “whiskey and cola”, or sold for a “three bottles for the price of two” promotion. for 500 rubles, etc.

What goes into creating high-quality and elite varieties is single malt whiskey, which is aged for at least 10 years. Classic - 10-12 years of aging, and then up to 21 years. These are already exclusive varieties, and if we talk about exotics, you can also find 30-50 year old brands.

In other parts of the world, everything is simpler: good “Ireland” is aged for an average of 5 years, “Canada” - at least 6 years, of course, there are exceptions (12-year-old Jameson, for example).
After aging is complete, it is either time to bottle it for subsequent sale, or mix it into new varieties through blending.

Different types of blended whiskey can mix different types of malt (from 15 to 50 varieties) and grain whiskey (3-4) of different aging periods (again, at least 3 years).

After obtaining the necessary mixture, it is time to age the whiskey again - but here we are no longer talking about years, a period of several weeks to several months of aging is enough.

The point of blending is to use cheap grain whiskeys, obtain a product of standard quality and combine the best properties of different types of malt whiskeys into one finished drink.

Old Vatted Glenlivet is considered the world's first blended whiskey and was developed by Andrew Usher in 1853.

There are two types of blending: different types of malt and grain whiskey are mixed in special vessels, where they are kept for 24 hours. This mixture is then placed in barrels and bottled after a few weeks. This way you get cheap whiskey (the same one that is widely known thanks to Famous Grouse, Johnny Walker Red Label, White Horse and others).

Another approach is to keep blended mixtures for 6-8 months in oak barrels. This period is called the “wedding”. This is how more expensive high-quality blended whiskey is produced (Chivas Regal, RedBreast).

Actually, brands

10. Ballantine's– a very common brand of Scotch whiskey, under which 7 different varieties are sold - Finest, Limited, 12 year old, 17 year old, 21 year old, 30 and 40 years old. In principle, within the line of this brand you can explore all the main varieties, from a simple blended whiskey to collectible 21-40 year old single malts. The basis of the ingredients is a bank of 50 single malt alcohols, four grain varieties. The brand is widely known for its sponsorship of sporting events.

9. Imperial Blue- whiskey produced in India by the same company that makes Ballantine’s, one of the most popular among audiences with an average monthly income. Very little malt alcohol is used in the preparation; the base is molasses.

8. Jack Daniel's is the best-selling American bourbon in the world. Frank Sinatra was buried with a bottle of this drink. Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 is the most popular type of this bourbon, although the producer tries to distance itself from this class, claiming that the drink is filtered through a maple wood charcoal filter, which distinguishes it from other bourbons and makes it closer to traditional whiskey.

7.Original Choice- another Indian brand. Despite its prevalence within the borders of India, it is a premium product, aged in real American oak barrels.

6. Old Tavern– another “Indian”. A very smooth drink at an extremely affordable price.

5. Royal Stag. And again an Indian drink from Pernod Ricard (Imperial Blue and Ballantine’s). This is a blend of Scottish malt spirits and local material - molasses.
The taste is completely atypical for whiskey, but that is why it is popular both at home and abroad.

4. Bagpiper. Yes Yes. India again. Exported to 10 countries, the official drink of Bollywood...

3. McDowell's No.1– whiskey with the aroma of vanilla wood, opens up when adding a few drops of water. The most popular drink in the Middle East.

2.Officer's Choice. Another and last representative of India, not much different from his fellow tribesmen.

1Johnnie Walker, sold everywhere man has set foot, even in remote Central African powers. 18 million cases in 2012 speaks volumes (a case is a measure of the sales volume of strong alcohol, 9 liters).

Green Label blend won three gold medals at the World Spirits Competition between 2005 and 2007, an excellent whiskey offering everything from the simplest table whiskey to the finest varieties.

As we can see, there are only a couple of scotches in the ranking, with a complete absence of Irish whiskey and exquisite single malts from Scotland. The overwhelming majority of drinks presented in the rating are sold in the markets of India, China, Latin America and the Middle East, as well as in Eastern Europe.

If we are talking about countries with an established national culture of whiskey consumption, the picture will be completely different - in the USA Jack Daniels takes a confident first place, in Scotland - Glenfiddich, in Ireland - Jameson.

And if you don’t take into account Indian whiskey, but look at the sales of only Scottish brands, then for obvious reasons the already mentioned Johhny Walker and Ballantines will be in the lead, with Chivas Regal, J&B Rare, Grant's, Famous Grouse, Dewar's, William in third place Lawson's, Label 5, and finally Bell's.

Despite the fact that the lines of many of these brands include sometimes excellent classically aged single malts, the main sales of “scotch” also come from unpretentious popular blended brands. The situation is the same in Irish whiskey.

These are the market realities determined by the drinking culture: people want to consume simply, without ceremony: poured, drank, or poured, diluted with cola, drank. And for this you don’t need exquisite whiskey, you just need the drink to match the average ideas and expectations in taste and strength.

Actually, this is where the divide between brands takes place - if the consumer wants something in the style of a party, something that can be drunk quickly and has the main effect of achieving rapid alcohol intoxication - these are brands of the same category. As a rule, inexpensive (or slightly above average) blends solve the problem once or twice.

If a person values ​​the process of exploring tastes, bouquets, and savors the drink in accordance with the culture of consumption, then completely different brands are needed that satisfy the high gourmet aspirations of the individual.

Whiskey a la Russe

Russia has its own, special relationship with whiskey. Every year they drink more and more of it - and every year the share of counterfeit products increases in the growing volume.
Now its share is about 30% (data from the Center for Research of Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets (CIFRRA)).

The Synovate Comcon research center found that in 2012, 9.8% of Russians over 18 years of age drank whiskey. For comparison: in 2000 - 1%, in 2006 - 3.1%.
According to the Center for the Development of National Alcohol Policy, the most counterfeited whiskey brands in Russia are Johnnie Walker: Red Label and Black Label, as well as Jack Daniels. A bottle that originally costs 1-2 thousand rubles can be reduced in price to only 200-500.

Actually, that’s all you need to know about whiskey in Russia: they fake what’s popular. The mass consciousness does not yet know what whiskey can be and how it is drunk - for the vast majority of compatriots, it is the same drink as vodka, which must be drunk in one gulp, or mixed with a sweet carbonated drink a la Cuba Libre.

On the other hand, among economically successful people, the culture of whiskey consumption is undoubtedly developing - in the premium alcohol segment, whiskey is confidently outperforming expensive varieties of vodka.

Bars and pubs are developing, in the lines of which you can find varieties for every taste and color - from purely cocktail whiskey Black Beast (it’s difficult to drink in its pure form, let’s say) to the exquisite Laphroaig Quarter Cask 10 year or Ardberg 10 year.

In most cases, establishment staff are well versed in the types and varieties of whiskey, will tell you where to start getting acquainted, and will give advice on proper consumption.

True, there is no need to talk about the displacement of vodka yet - the total volumes of consumption of whiskey, rum, tequila, and gin in the Russian Federation are insignificant against the background of the consumption of vodka, of which about 1 billion liters are drunk per year.

So, understanding a host of brands is both difficult and simple. It is unrealistic to learn them all - about 2,500 types of adhesive tape alone are sold in the world (!!!).

You decide on a goal. If this is a feast, a holiday and an entertaining evening, then take simple, understandable blends/blends. As we have already indicated, there are a great many of them, and for the most part they are quite similar, both in characteristics and in price.

The Irish whiskey varieties Bushmills Original, Feckin, Finian's, Jameson, Kilbeggan, Merry's, Power and Son, Tullamore Dew, Paddy, as well as the Scottish blends Ballantines Finest, Cutty Sark, Dewars White, Grant's 8 cope well with the task. year, J&B, Lauder's, Chivas 12 year, Famous Grouse 12 year, Highland Harvest Organic, Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Bourbons of similar height - Gentleman Jack, George Dickel No. 12, Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Black Label, George Dickel Special Barrel, Jack Daniels Single Barrel, Ancient Age, Benchmark, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Early Times, Jim Beam White, Ten High, Wild Turkey 101, Baker's 7 year, Basil Hayden's, Blanton's Single Barrel, Bulleit, Four Rose's Single Barrel, Jim Beam Black, Knob Creek Small Batch, Maker's Mark, Old Rip VanWinkle 15 year and Woodford Reserve.

Canadian varieties - Canadian Club Classic 12 year, Canadian Mist, Black Velvet, Forty Creek Barrel Select, Mountain Rock, Pendelton, Windsor Canadian, 8 Seconds, Canadian Club Sherry Cask 8 year, Crown Royal, Forty Creek Three Grain, Tangle Ridge Double Cask .

All this is honest “table whiskey”: that is, good, smooth table whiskey/bourbon, for which you don’t mind paying even more money than they ask for. It’s also not at all shameful to pour cola into it and add ice and citrus fruits. Get a quality Cuba Libre or Old Fashioned and you'll get tipsy quickly.

Next, there are more elegant drinks - Bushmills Black Bush, Clontarf Single Malt, Jameson 1780, Michael Collins Single Malt, The Irishman The Original Clan, Tullamore Dew 12 year, Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt, Greenore Single Grain, Jameson 18 year, Red Breast 12 year, The Tyrconnell 10 year Single Malt.

Fine whiskeys that you wouldn’t be ashamed to put on the table for an anniversary, wedding or other special occasion.

Bushmills 1608, Bushmills 21 year, Middleton Very Rare, Jameson Rarest Vintage, Ambassador 25 year, Buchanan's 18 year, Johnnie Walker Green, Tomintoul Oloroso 12 year, Chivas 18 year, Compass Box Hedonism, Wild Scotsman, Ballantine's 30 year , Chivas Regal 25 year, Johnnie Walker Blue, Kings Crest 25 year, The Antiquary 21 year, Booker's Small Batch, Eagle Rare 17 year, Jefferson's Reserve, Michter's 10 year, Noah Mill's 15 year, AH Hirsch 16 year, Longrow Cask 10 year, Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 year, Willet 28 year.

More or less luxury drinks are also made in Canada - Seagrams VO, Wisers Deluxe 18 year, Crown Royal Special Reserve, Glen Breton Rare Single Malt, Canadian Club 30 year, Crown Royal XR, J.P. Wiser's Red Letter - all this is already elite, despite the popular brands, drinks of the most serious, gourmet class, suitable for savoring in the quiet of an office or at the bar.

And let’s remember – Scottish single malts are only suitable for this kind of savoring. Let's list the main ones: Deanston 12 year, Glenfiddich 12 year, Speyburn 10 year, Aberlour 10 year, Ardmore Traditional Cask, Glenlivet 12 year, Highland Park 12 year, Laphroaig Quarter Cask 10 year, Macallan Fin Oak 12 year, Scapa 14 year, Ardberg 10 year, Bowmore 16 year, Bruichladdich 15 year, Glendronach 12 year, Highland Park 18 year, Old Pulteney 17 year, Scapa 16 year, Glenfarclas 25 year, Highland Park 40 year, Macallan 25 year, Springbank 15 year, The Glenrothes 1975, Aberfeldy , Balblair, Ben Nevis, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Glen Ord, Glenmorangie, Oban, and Old Pulteney, Arran, Jura, Tobermory, and Talisker, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin.

You need to DRINK them. Specially. Not a bite. Not in one gulp, without diluting it with any cola (for this in a decent pub you can earn the contempt of the bartender forever). Without getting drunk (or doing it extremely slowly and elegantly).

Single malts, unlike simpler American, Irish or Canadian varieties, are drunk according to the rules - the Irish traditionally do not dilute their whiskey (it is extremely soft - Jameson, Paddy as prime examples), while some “Scotches” are flavored with ice or refreshed with several drops of water are recommended (otherwise they may get stuck in the throat).

Single malts are poured and drunk in special tulip-shaped glasses, as it is believed that it allows the aroma of the drink to be better revealed.

No glasses, shots, shot glasses, bowls - only old fashion or tumbler. To cool whiskey, it is considered good form to use, in addition to ice, which still affects the taste by diluting the whiskey, cubes of the so-called soapstone (good luck finding it in bars in Moscow or St. Petersburg).

Single malts are expensive drinks: a shot in a pub will cost 400-500 rubles (however, there are varieties in the range of 300-350 rubles), and a bottle - from 2.5 to 15-16 thousand (we do not consider the super-elite segment of 30 and older years of aging, these are presidential drinks, and even then, not all presidents of the world probably had the good fortune to try them).

You need to understand that for this money you will not always (by no means always) get what you like. Single malts are often very original drinks that will only be appreciated by very big connoisseurs and amateurs, so paying quite a lot of money by the standards of average salaries in modern Russia for tasting experiments, with the goal of simply relaxing after a working day, is probably inappropriate.

But if you want to treat yourself to something like that, break your alcohol routine and open up a new space for exploration, study and comparison - then single malts are an excellent subject area for this kind of task.
It is worth remembering that the world of whiskey brands is not a static hierarchy where nothing new happens and everything is frozen in the eternal harmony of peaceful coexistence.

New brands are appearing - Japan performs very well (for a long time now, but in our bar menu the famous Suntory is not so easy to find, although they are sold in stores), Canadian varieties are becoming a pleasant discovery in terms of price/quality ratio for many (completely unpromoted brands save on marketing and don’t raise the price tag for a big name, offering a quality drink for practically nothing), manufacturers are trying to improve existing varieties and create something original based on the classics.

In the end, varieties known in the West are making their way to the Russian market - not long ago the excellent Scottish single malt AnСnoc appeared - it is not available in bars, but in stores an excellent drink is sold for unexpectedly low money with excellent quality and the softest taste of a real Scottish single malt.

And the world of whiskey is full of such surprises – mostly pleasant ones.

Whiskey is a mysterious drink. There are so many rumors and legends surrounding his story... Unless absinthe and rum can share this palm with him. The Scots and Irish are still arguing about who first gave the drink to the world. The rest seemed to accept this state of affairs. Although America, no, no, will even hint that it was she who discovered whiskey. But other countries, apparently, are so enthusiastically following the dispute between the Scots and the Irish that they don’t care about the States... Each country produces its own excellent whiskey. Isn't this an idyll? Isn't this harmony? “Who knows... Who knows...” the reader will say, and this is where the fun begins. We know what the reader’s problem is, and that’s why we are writing this article. And the problem is this (we will be happy to duplicate the name, the phrase is key!) - “how to choose the right whiskey and not make a mistake.” It would seem that it could be simpler - take your wallet, go to the store, choose a bottle, buy, drink, eat, enjoy... And now let’s take a closer look at some points. “I took my wallet” - how much money should I take with me? One thousand, two, ten, five hundred rubles? “Went to the store,” or to a stall, or to a boutique of elite alcohol? This question is fundamentally important! “I chose a bottle” - “my eyes widen, my head is pounding, what to do, where to run, I don’t understand whiskey at all.” But we’ll tell you where to go, just be patient. In fact, choosing whiskey (the right choice of the right whiskey!) is not an easy task. On the one hand, what could be simpler - go to the store, pay, receive. However, in an elite alcohol store, the seller will definitely ask you what drink you would like to purchase. Of course, the sales consultant will help you, but you must also be able to explain what you need... This should be a dialogue, and not tense silence with snatches of thoughts: “What am I doing here? Who is this? What does he want from me?... He’s so attached!” Let's jump ahead a little (let this be a small hint) - when choosing whiskey, pay attention to three main things: the manufacturer, the color and aroma and aging of the drink. There are more and more whiskey connoisseurs. Some simply love the drink more than others, others are already considered fans of their craft, that is, they not only drink whiskey, but also study “where the Celtic drink came from,” how they drink and eat it, even the legends of ancient Scottish, and even Irish, land they tell their children at night along with “kolobok” and “goldfish”... And they understand the tastes and aromas of the drink like no one else... To become such “gurus”, you need to know not only the legends and history of the drink, but also some rules for choosing whiskey. And sometimes there is an almost hopeless situation - you need to give a gift to some important person. And you know absolutely nothing about whiskey (don’t tear your hair out, everything can be fixed). You never know what situations happen in life. Even if you just know everything (or almost everything) about whiskey and learn how to choose it correctly, your self-esteem will increase! Is this not enough?! High-quality alcohol is a true pleasure not only for true connoisseurs, but also for ordinary people. Real experts in the matter of choosing whiskey will answer right away where to start, where to buy the drink and, most importantly, which one. But there's a catch. Each connoisseur has his own taste, his own preferences - Irish whiskey, Scotch, bourbon, etc. What is tasty for one is unbearable for another. What remains for you, a beginner? Just try and delve, delve and try... And after a while you yourself will become a whiskey connoisseur and will teach young enthusiasts. It is necessary to take into account, no matter how luxurious whiskey is, you should not abuse it. This applies to any alcoholic drink. Of course, whiskey is a drink that has beneficial properties. It tones, improves brain activity, increases efficiency, and promotes creative development. This opinion is shared not only by whiskey connoisseurs, but also by many doctors. The secret is that there is no secret, it’s just that whiskey has a complex composition, which includes a combination of essential oils, solid cultures and tannins. When used in moderation (!), these components help the body, but if they are abused, nothing good will come of it. You can read the detailed history of whiskey on our website in another article, so with your permission, I will not dwell on it. But it’s probably worth considering the types of whiskey.

So, whiskey is divided into malt, grain, blended and bourbon (which we will talk more about later). Malt whiskey, in turn, is divided into single malt, or single malt - this is a drink that was produced at one distillery. Sometimes it is obtained by mixing varieties with different aging periods, but certainly from the same distillery! Such a brand of whiskey can contain dozens, and what’s more, hundreds of alcohols that were obtained at different times and which have different aging periods. By the way, the price of the drink depends on this - the longer the period, the higher the cost of whiskey. Without a shadow of a doubt, we will tell you that this is the best type of whiskey and if you have the opportunity to buy single malt whiskey, do it, you won’t regret it! Next comes cask whiskey (also known as blended malt, pure malt, or vatted malt) - a mixture of malt whiskey from different distilleries. Only one alcohol was used in its production. This type of whiskey can be of different strengths, and the richness of taste can also vary. Single cask is malt whiskey bottled from a single barrel. This type of drink can be cask strength, and sometimes it is diluted to standard. Cask strength is a very rare type of whiskey. The strength of the drink ranges from 50 to 65%.

There are a certain number of best-selling single malt whiskey brands in the world: Glenfiddich, Bowmore, The Glenlivet, Aberlour, The Macallan, Glen Grant, Laphroaig, Cardhu, Balvenie, Glenmorangie. If you see this whiskey, grab it! And a few more words about single malt whiskey. It exists in two forms - “consumer whiskey” and “merchant whiskey”. Both types are good, to be honest... But the drink from merchants is produced in small distilleries, so it costs more than “consumer” whiskey. Still would! After all, “consumer” whiskey (the name speaks for itself) was put on the conveyor belt, and here, like it or not, you have to sacrifice individuality, although this has not made it any worse. Now it’s blended whiskey, or blended whiskey. This species cannot be classified unambiguously. Some people love it even more than the single malt. As they say, taste and color... Some people completely reject any attempts to elevate mixed whiskey to the heights of single malt. What is a blend? This is a drink that is obtained by mixing grain and malt varieties. This is the most common type of whiskey. It accounts for 90% of total production. If the malt part predominates in blended whiskey (this only happens in high-quality drinks), then “Deluxe” will be written on the label. Variations on the theme can be as follows: Deluxe Blend (Finest) (Fine Old) - a blend of excellent quality with a high content of malt whiskey (at least 35%) and Super Deluxe Blend - this is Deluxe, but with an even higher content of malt whiskey (at least 75 %). So, if you see the word “Deluxe”, feel free to take it. Although this is not a single malt whiskey, I assure you that you will not regret it! There is an opinion that if someone has just begun to comprehend the world of the Celtic folk drink, then they should start with blended whiskey. The most popular and at the same time inexpensive blends for this purpose are Famous Grouse, Teacher's, Dewar's White Label, Bell's, White Horse, Grant's Family, Cutty Sark, Johnnie Walker (Red and Black Label), Reserve. It should be noted that manufacturers of mass blends do not have the luxury of targeting a target group of consumers with specific or even unusual preferences. Therefore, mixed whiskey is a somewhat “sleek”, average drink, without any surprises in the bouquet. Of course, this does not mean that they are all the same, especially since some representatives contain rather bright and unusual malt alcohols. In the premium segment, among the most popular blends, you will find many worthy drinks. And yet, when buying an expensive blend aged for 12, 18, 21 or more years, remember that you are paying quite a lot of money for a well-promoted brand, for grain whiskey that is quite cheap to produce, which, although it has languished for many years in oak barrels, is does not deserve honor and such a price. Then it’s better to overpay a little and buy a luxurious single malt whiskey! Another type of whiskey: Semi-Premium Blend, or Premium Blend is a blend aged no more than 12 years, and Super Premium Blend is a blend aged more than 12 years, respectively. Among this class of drinks there are very expensive representatives, available only to millionaire collectors and true whiskey connoisseurs. And finally, another type of whiskey - “supermarket”. This whiskey is sold in tanks and diluted in the country of bottling. This drink costs several times less than popular brands. However, its quality cannot be called bad (as for blended whiskey. We don’t even compare it with single malt.).
The next type is grain whiskey, or grain whiskey. Let's face it, it's not the coolest drink, its quality is much lower than that of malt whiskey. Although there are exceptions among grain whiskey, and they win international competitions and various tastings. The raw material for the drink can be corn or unmalted barley. It is almost impossible to buy this whiskey in its pure form - it is mainly used for making mixed whiskeys. Grain whiskey has almost no aroma or taste. After special additional purification, this whiskey is used to make vodka and gin. We can say that it smoothes out and calms the “roughness” of taste and aroma, but thereby significantly reduces the cost of the drink. There are three varieties of grain whiskey. Single Grain is a grain whiskey produced at a single distillery. Pure (Vatted) Grain is a combination of several grain whiskeys from different distilleries. Grain Single Barrel - “single-barrel” grain whiskey. There is only one brand of grain whiskey that can be found in retail stores - Choice Old Cameron Brig. But for grain whiskey, perhaps, one representative is enough. Next, a special type of whiskey is bourbon. Despite the fact that American whiskey is a relatively young drink, it has been classified as “elite alcohol” for many decades, so it should also be discussed separately. The number of brands and labels of bourbon today is too large. Therefore, choosing American whiskey resembles a complex ritual. It can be especially difficult if you need to buy it, and not, say, Irish whiskey or any other. Sometimes musicians (and ours, too, by the way) indicate bourbon in their riders, and it’s good if it’s a specific brand... So, it’s time to understand the variety of types of the American national drink. If the corn content in the raw material is more than 80%, then such whiskey is called corn whiskey and is consumed, as a rule, in rural areas. If a drink contains at least 51% rye, then it is called rye. It is not very popular in the States, but there are several export versions of this drink, such as Old Over Holt. Famous European bars really love it. If you carefully look at what is written on the bourbon labels, you can learn a lot about the drink. This will be a kind of classification of American whiskey, only unobtrusive, as if by the way. However, your knowledge will be replenished, take my word for it... So, we take the bottle in our hand and read: “Straight Whiskey”, or “Unblended Whiskey”. What does this mean? This means that whiskey is made from a mixture of rye, barley, corn and wheat (and the ratio should be as follows: 51% of one type of grain and 49% of another). This also means that the bourbon is aged in well-known oak barrels, charred from the inside, and belongs to one distillery. In addition, there are a number of requirements for such a drink - it must be distilled at a strength of no more than 80%, aged for at least 2 years (guess where? ), bottled directly, the strength is certainly 40% (no less!) and no neutral alcohols or any other additives! If you buy this bourbon, you won’t go wrong! “Blended Whiskey,” or a mixture of several types of whiskey, is a common drink in the United States. It should also be noted that neutral grain alcohols, flavorings, and dyes are added to this type of whiskey. It differs from Scotch whiskey, guess in which way... I would not buy such a drink for myself or anyone else. Not the best quality...
In nature, there is also “Blended Bourbon Whiskey” - this is a mixture of several bourbons. "Standard Bourbon" is a mixture of whiskey from various oak barrels, often of different aging periods. “Light Whiskey”, or “light whiskey” is an unobtrusive drink, closest to neutral grain alcohol (included in blends), the degree of purification is high. “Single Malt Whiskey” is an American analogue of single malt whiskey from Scotland, made according to all canons. You won’t find it on sale during the day, which is no wonder. If you get your hands on such a drink, buy it without hesitation - you won’t regret it! An interesting “exhibit” is “American Blended Whiskey” - made from rye whiskey and bourbon. If you see “Sour Mash Whiskey” on the label, this means that the drink was made using “sour mash”, which was obtained by adding a small amount of non-alcoholic liquid to a new mash, which remained after the distillation of the previous one. In other words, special measures were taken to enhance the aroma of the drink. You also need to take into account that this production method is not always indicated on the bottle. This approach is alarming... “If we see the inscription “Sweet Mash Whiskey” in the picture, then this is a softer version of the previous drink, that is, bourbon based on mash with fresh yeast (in this case, only fresh yeast cultures should be used). Still, think before you buy such whiskey... “What is Bottled in Bond (or Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey)?” - you ask. We answer: “This is whiskey aged from 4 to 8 years.” It must be taken into account that it is produced under state control, languishes in excise (federal) bonded warehouses, and is bottled right at the place of manufacture, as they say, without leaving the cash register. This whiskey is also popularly called “bond”, but it has nothing to do with James Bond. Let's say one thing - you can and should buy this drink, if only because the quality of alcohol and the bottling procedure are controlled by the state. The American folk drink varies in grain content, and therefore this is reflected in the name of the variety. Wheat whiskey, or Wheat Whiskey, is a rather rare variant of straight whiskey, since it must contain at least 51% wheat, and it is rarely used in production. Rye whiskey, also known as Rye Whiskey, is made from a grain mixture that contains 51% rye. Finally, corn whiskey, or Corn Whiskey, is made from a mixture of grains containing at least 80% corn. Aging is not necessary for this type of whiskey, so behind the scenes it is often called “corn moonshine.” As they say, “think for yourself, decide for yourself” whether to buy or not to buy...
Special mention should be made of Tennessee Whiskey. The composition of the grain mixture is similar to classic bourbon, but it is purified using charcoal filters, which is important. Moreover, it is filtered before being sent into oak barrels, and not before bottling. Jack Daniel's is a bright representative of this type of whiskey. I’m sure this name tells you a lot... “Single Barrell Whiskey” is an analogue of Single cask Scotch whiskey, if in our opinion, whiskey from one barrel, or “single-barrel” bourbon. The beast called Small Batch, or Small Mash Bourbon, is a so-called “small batch” whiskey, a blend of a small number of specially selected bourbons from different casks, which gives producers more freedom to compete for the connoisseur clientele. So, you have to take it! Let's tell you a little secret, although for connoisseurs it is no longer such. Some characteristics of the drink can be calculated by the color of the label. For example, the aging of whiskey. If you have Jim Beam bourbon with a white label, then the aging will be 4 years, if black - eight years. However, this is already aerobatics. Therefore, be patient and read the article to the end. The information will be useful, believe me. If you bring all types of bourbon to a common denominator (even denominators, there are several of them!), then it will be: “Straight Whiskey,” Bottled in Bond, Tennessee Whiskey, Single Barrel Whiskey,” and “Small Mash Bourbon.” The rest is left to everyone's taste, but since you can't erase words from a song, we mentioned all types of American whiskey to make everything fair. In any case, it’s up to you to decide! And let’s complete our excursion into the “whiskey typology” with a drink from Green Island. Just like in Scotland, Irish whiskey is divided into malt, grain and mixed. But there is one quintessentially Irish invention - the Pure Pot Still. This is a whiskey made from a mixture of unmalted barley and malted barley in traditional pot stills. Hence the name. Irish whiskey has a persistent aroma that is unique to it and cannot be confused with anything else. Try it and you will understand everything yourself! There is a myth that whiskey from Scotland is “smoky” because it is dried with peat smoke, but Irish whiskey is not, because the smoke does not come into direct contact with the malt. Don't be fooled by this, there are quite a few Scotch drinks that don't have the slightest hint of smoke or peat. At the same time, among the “Irish” there are a certain number of very “smoky” representatives. It’s just that, due to traditional triple distillation, whiskey from the Green Island is usually softer, sweeter and lighter, often with a creamy aroma that cannot be confused with anything else. Now let’s talk about the producers. You already know Ireland, Scotland, America. Relatively recently, France, Japan, Spain, Canada, and the Czech Republic joined the list. Wales is perhaps an exception; whiskey began to be produced there a long time ago, but there is only one brand of this drink in the world - Penderyn whiskey. Let’s briefly talk about each “non-Celtic” drink. Canadian whiskey is primarily made from malt, rye and corn (to a lesser extent). Whiskey from Canada tastes very different from bourbon, despite the fact that it contains the “queen of the fields.” Whiskey from Canada is aged for at least three years. You'll often see "Rye" on the label, which means it's rye whiskey. Not the worst whiskey. Not for everyone, of course, but once you buy it, you won’t regret doing it. Whiskey from Japan is made from Indian corn or millet, adding rice and other grains. In its taste and technology, Japanese whiskey is very similar to Scotch whiskey. However, there is no peat taste in it, this is its main difference. Sometimes Japanese whiskey or even bourbon is more expensive than Scotch whiskey. Despite the great similarity between the drinks, it is still better to buy Scotch whiskey. It’s probably not worth reminding us about this again... Or is it? If you try, you can find Japanese whiskey in Russia, despite the fact that it is sold mainly in Asian countries. You can do this by going to our website and ordering whiskey. Whiskey from France is an unusual drink. I don’t even know whether to reveal my cards right away or bother you with a couple more sentences about the taste and aroma of this nonconformist drink. “Nonconformist?” - you ask. What else can you call whiskey if it is made... from buckwheat! Yes, you heard right! Therefore, it’s worth buying whiskey from France and trying it, at least so that later in the company you can say: “I drank whiskey made from buckwheat!” Then look at the expressions on your friends’ faces, if, of course, they haven’t tried it themselves... Who knows... Whiskey from Spain is a very hot whiskey, just like the inhabitants of this sunny country themselves. Spain can boast of only one brand of the drink. But judging by the reviews of whiskey connoisseurs on forums or at social events and parties outside the Internet, this is truly a worthy drink. Czech Republic... The birthplace of beer, real, Czech, light, dark, mysterious, like the country itself... And they also make whiskey in the Czech Republic! Again surprised looks. To be honest, the Czechs themselves - simple hard workers - recently learned about this situation. But connoisseurs of the drink have known about this for a long time, attended international tastings, whiskey took first places in competitions and delighted connoisseurs with its rich (almost Scottish) taste. Now, finally, everyone knows about it: both old and young, and those who are poor and those who are rich - anyone can buy it in the Czech Republic or in our online store. Hand on heart and taking sin on my soul (for I can only bear responsibility for my taste preferences), I will give one piece of advice - whiskey, represented in nature by only one or at most two brands, is worth trying just to taste it and draw conclusions. Well, when will you taste the same Czech or Welsh whiskey, whiskey from France or the Spanish drink of bullfighters? And here is such an opportunity... As for the whiskey producer, I will add that the choice of raw materials for the drink is determined primarily by what culture grows (and in abundance) in a particular country. In France, in Brittany, where whiskey is produced, there are “thickets” of buckwheat, so the choice of raw materials was simple. Buckwheat, so buckwheat. In the States, corn is the main crop, and one can argue where it is the “queen of the fields”, here under Khrushchev or among the Americans then, now and always... Just keep in mind that whiskey based on rye and buckwheat will be bitter, while whiskey based on barley will be bitter. somewhat dry in taste, and corn-based - softer than all the others. And yet, it is necessary to take into account that the final taste will largely depend on filtration methods, manufacturing technology, and aging of the drink. So a drink made in the same country, but at different distilleries, will have different taste characteristics. Conclusion: if you don’t try it yourself, you won’t know. So go for it!
You may have a question - “if it is better to buy Scotch single malt whiskey, then what kind of Scotch single malt whiskey should you buy?” The question is correct and even urgent; it is asked often. Everyone chooses for themselves. Some people prefer blends - they do not empty the wallet much, but among them there are worthy representatives (we wrote about them, remember?), and the price-quality ratio in this case can be called the “golden mean”. Some even buy several of their favorite blends, as they say, “for every day,” and save single malt whiskey on Holy Day, for a special occasion. And there are those who call everything that is not single malt “cologne”. And everyone is right in their own way. But they still buy single malt whiskey! You can read about the regions of Scotland in which whiskey is produced in another article, if you wish. We will not dwell on this issue in detail. Now we will consider such an important factor as the strength of whiskey, which is one of the most important characteristics of the drink, since it also not least affects the taste and aroma of the drink. Is there an ideal, average whiskey strength, the so-called “golden mean”? This question cannot be answered unambiguously. Everyone, if desired, can add the required amount of water, at which the drink reveals itself best. And some prefer not to dilute whiskey with water at all. Despite some unspoken rules, everyone acts in their own way, nothing can be done about it. If everything is more or less clear with Scotch whiskey, then a few words should be said about bourbon. America has its own meaning of degrees. In the States, the bottle says 100° proof, which is actually 50% alcohol by volume. That is, when you come to a boutique to buy bourbon, you simply need to divide the proof index in half, and you will find out the meaning of these mysterious numbers. The index is not as scary as it is made out to be. Now, no less important characteristics, one might even say, the “face” of whiskey is its color. This also includes the taste and aroma of the drink. They say that connoisseurs can determine the aging period of whiskey by its aroma and color. Well, that’s why they are experts... The older the whiskey, the darker its color. And yet there are exceptions if, for example, caramel was added to the “water of life”. Whiskey becomes lighter after it has been aged in bourbon or sherry casks. There is one unspoken rule - a quality drink must be transparent. This suggests that the company fully complied with its production technology and that water from the purest springs was added during production. The color of whiskey varies from light yellow to brown. But in any case, the drink should under no circumstances be cloudy or contain the slightest hint of sediment. If you wish, you can conduct a small experiment with the help of which a fake can be distinguished at once. You just need to shake the bottle and look at the bubbles formed. They should be large and last a long time. In addition, in a high-quality drink, after it has been shaken, the drops should slowly flow down the glass of the bottle. In scorched whiskey they drain very quickly. One more point: in elite alcohol boutiques you will definitely be given a taste of whiskey before you buy it. This is very important, no one needs a “pig in a poke”, agree. Ideally, the aroma of whiskey should have malt or oak notes. They didn’t keep him in a tank! In addition, high-quality “living water” should not reek of alcohol. Real whiskey leaves a long aftertaste. Next, according to the plan, is aging the drink. The aging period is of great importance because it indicates the quality of the whiskey you are holding in your hands. A drink can already be called high-quality if it has been aged for at least three years. Further - more, and the holding period, and the price. One more detail - the barcode. Be sure to look for this “abracadabra” on the bottle. Of course, a barcode is not one hundred percent protection against counterfeiting, but when it is missing, it is even worse, then you should not take whiskey. For example, if the whiskey is Scotch, then the code must correspond to Great Britain, that is, start with 50. If the code starts with 50, and the country is France, then it is clear what kind of whiskey is in front of you. Now let’s talk directly about the points of sale of drinks. I think there is no need to remind once again that whiskey and spirits should only be bought in specialized stores - in boutiques of elite alcohol, of which there are now quite a lot, in almost every city. What you should do without leaving the cash register is to ask the seller to show you the quality certificate. You are required to present such a document. If the seller refuses to do this, then something is wrong. Then it is better not to buy whiskey in such an establishment. In elite boutiques you can use the services of sales consultants who will help you choose the type of whiskey that interests you and which will be acceptable to you in terms of price-quality ratio. If there are no specialized stores selling elite alcohol in your city, then drinks should be purchased in large supermarkets. Recently, whiskey producers have been cooperating with supermarket chains. Never buy whiskey at kiosks or other places! Moreover, experts advise choosing one specialized store that will suit you in all respects and buy alcoholic beverages only there. You need to pay attention to the cost of whiskey. If the price seems suspiciously low to you, then it is better to refuse to buy this drink. It is quite possible that this is a fake. Don't forget: the miser pays twice! However, there is good news: usually very expensive drinks are not counterfeited, since it is simply unprofitable - to do this, one would have to “charge a whole glass factory” to produce them. No swindler will do this. As for the appearance of the bottle, sometimes it can really help determine whether the bottle you are looking at is a fake or not. Manufacturers of burnt whiskey always count on the inexperience of the client and the low price of the drink, so they almost always save on the bottle and label. Usually it is glued unevenly or is simply of poor quality. When you have already decided on buying whiskey, it would be useful to look at the manufacturer’s website to see what the bottle should actually look like and what protection measures it has. The absence of a tax stamp on the bottle should also be alarming. This suggests that the drink is either counterfeit or was brought into the country illegally. Take a close look at where the whiskey is made. If the drink is Scottish or Japanese, then it should be produced in these countries, and not somewhere else. A small lyrical digression. If you want to give a gift to a friend or boss, it is best to find out in advance what type of whiskey he prefers and his favorite country of origin. You can purchase a so-called set - whiskey plus special glasses to go with it. With a friend, of course, things are simpler, but how you will make inquiries about the boss’s preferences is a question. And remember, nothing is impossible!..Now comes the fun part. We have already entered a wine boutique, have already chosen a drink, picked it up in our hand and see the label... And here we will go into more detail. We usually don't pay attention to the label. But in vain! In most cases, we simply read the information that is written there, and even then inattentively, just for the sake of formality, and sometimes we don’t read it at all or look at the ornate letters-patterns depicted there. For such inattention, we often pay with our health and wallet (let me remind you once again - the stingy and inattentive pay twice! ). Therefore, it would be useful to consider the terms and other important points depicted on the label that we have not yet mentioned. The ability to correctly read the “calling card” of whiskey will allow you to learn the most basic things about the drink contained in the treasured bottle. So, what we see on the label: - Brand name. For single malt whiskey, it usually coincides with the name of the distillery that produced it. - The year the distillery was founded. - Capacity: whiskey is usually bottled in 700, 750 ml and 1 liter bottles. - Type of whiskey. Often all the information about a drink is brought together, for example: “Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey” means this is Scotch single malt whiskey from the Isle of Islay. - Aging period: from three years or more. If the minimum age of the spirits is not indicated on the label, then we have the so-called NAS (No Age Statement), that is, “whisky without age statement.” - The inscription “Non chill-filtered” indicates that the drink has not been subjected to cold filtration (the process of removing secondary components from whiskey - a number of fatty acids, for example, causing it to become cloudy when cooled. Whiskey with a strength above 46% is usually not subject to such manipulation. - " Whiskey" or "Whiskey". An experienced person will immediately recognize which whiskey is Scotch and which is Irish. The difference is only one letter, be careful. Irish whiskey has one more letter - "Whiskey". - You can often see the definite article on the label "The" (for example, The Balvenie whiskey), which indicates that the drink was bottled by the distillery itself under the strictest control of the master blender. - The inscription "DoubleWood" is a direct hint that the whiskey was aged in different barrels. First in bourbon barrels, then sherry barrels. - If you see the Natural Coloring label, you can rest assured about your health. This means that there are no additives, dyes or other good things (even caramel) in the drink. Its color is natural (that’s how the inscription is translated), acquired exclusively during its aging in oak barrels. Recently, dividing whiskey by year has become very popular; there are even entire groups of “retirement” drinks. This trend comes from Scotland, the cradle of whiskey production. There is a tradition in the country to buy a whole barrel of whiskey and store it until some important event in the family, be it the birth of a child or a wedding. The barrel is waiting in the wings at the distillery. And at the appointed time they open it and ... “they lived happily ever after.” You can buy a barrel and give it to the birthday person. It will make a great gift! It is very fashionable to purchase such a drink so that the year of alcohol and the year of the birthday person coincide. The only negative is that in other countries there is no such tradition, since there are no such old spirits as in Scotland. Still, do not get upset ahead of time. You can purchase old and relatively new drinks, namely whiskey of all stripes, in our online store at any time convenient for you, just go to our website! From us you can purchase original drinks for true connoisseurs and only with excise stamps. Competent sales consultants will help you choose the right drink for any occasion! Now you know how to buy whiskey correctly and not make a mistake! In our store you will have the opportunity to taste the whiskey you like, and at the same time test your knowledge about the right choice of drink! Feel like a true connoisseur, do not deny yourself the pleasure! However, we should not forget that excessive consumption of even the best single malt whiskey can harm your health. You should drink this magical drink in small doses and slowly. Enjoy the “water of life”! We wish you amazing discoveries and sensations during tastings!