The difference between scotch and whiskey explained

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While cherishing the fine taste of these popular dark spirits, have you wondered why their tastes differ by age and why are certain ones expensive than the others? Here are the answers that explains the difference.

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Grains and malts

Whiskey is created by fermenting grain mashes.

Several types of malt grains like Barley, Corn, Wheat are prepared in charred white oak casks to make the beverage. Scotch, on the other hand is made from only malted barley and water.

The drink is left in the dark woods for 3/4 years to give it the signature smooth taste.

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Ways of production

The equipment used for making whiskey is usually made of copper as the metal removes sulphur-based compounds from the alcohol that would otherwise make the beverage unpleasant to drink.

Scotch though, should be fermented only by adding yeast and prepared in a distillery in Scotland, maturing in oak casks containing no added grains or substances.

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Different maturation processes

As alcohol matures, it becomes smoother because the flavor of the grains mature with it and the color of the beverage turns golden.

A whiskey matured in American white oak, which has a mellower, finer aroma would taste different from European oak that provides more intense aroma and tannins.

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Different blends

Blending is generally the mixing of high-quality spirit whiskeys with less expensive spirits. Single malt scotch means that it has been processed at one single distillery.

There are three types of blends you would find in scotch whiskeys- Single malt, blended malt, blended grain and blended scotch whiskeys.

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