About
Although whiskey originated in Scotland during the early 1400s the word whiskey is of Irish origin and means “water of life”.
Whiskey is an amber colored alcoholic beverage distilled from barley, grain or corn. Distillation is a process used to increase alcohol content and rid the liquid of impurities. Whiskey has a proud heritage in Scotland where even today it is made under strict regulation with only the purest of ingredients and the greatest of care.
There are two general types of whiskey; malt whiskey and grain whiskey. Malt whiskey must contain only malted barley. Grain whiskey may contain unmalted barley or other kinds of malted or unmalted grains such as wheat or corn. Malt whiskeys can come in two different varieties, Single Malt Whiskey and Pure Malt Whiskey. Neither of these contains any grain ingredient other than barley.
To be called a Scotch Whiskey the product must be distilled and aged in Scotland where the process of making whiskey has been perfected and then regulated over many hundreds of years.
The labeling on bottles of whiskey must be clear as to the exact type and there are actual laws regarding the process used to make the whisky and the acceptable and legal labeling of the bottles.
Scotch Whiskey is such an important tradition and such a lucrative export that the Scotch Whisky Association was organized to protect and promote this product in the UK and abroad. With purposes such as “protecting the integrity of Scotch whisky worldwide” this association helps to ensure the continued quality of this world-renowned beverage.