Best Types of Scotch You Need to Know!

Wine lovers take delight in knowing their wines, the vintages, the grapes, the places where they are made, and so on.

Scotch shares many of the same traits. There are different types of Scotch available, and it is my destination to help you grasp the fundamentals of Scotch, allowing you to narrow down your options and select a superb Dram.

Scotch was originally known as "Uisge Beatha," pronounced "WISH-gee Baa," meaning "Water of Life."

Scotch is believed to be the best-selling alcoholic spirit globally, outselling every other noble spirit in global markets.

What is Scotch?

What makes Scotch so unique? For starters, it is a whisky spelled without the "e." But that's just the top of the extremely large iceberg. We are gathered here to talk about the best types of Scotch you need to know.

Fortunately, as diverse as the Scotch whisky world can be and as intimidatingly unpronounceable as many distillery names may appear, some uniting qualities underpin the great thing.

Types of Scotch

Other grains can be used to make Scotch, but malted barley must be used. Malted barley is the defining grain of Scotch, as vital as peat (or, as we'll see, as significant as peat can be to a certain variety of Scotches). Single malt Scotch is pot-distilled, which means the distillate retains more of the flavorful congeners (carefully separated from the bad stuff by a Master Distiller, most likely with a thick accent). Still, Scotch can also be column-distilled (more common when it's a blend of pot-distilled Single Malt and column-distilled grain whiskies).

Scotch can only be distilled to a maximum ABV of 94.8 percent, greater than bourbon. To learn more about Scotch, Chech Here.

Regions Where Scotch are Made

Although scotch whisky originated in Scotland, the whisky variety is now popular in many different states and towns worldwide. Scotch whisky makers can be found almost anywhere, yet there are certain highly famous places where scotch is being made today.

Types of scotch

In the next part, we'll discuss the crucial aspects of the region in which your chosen scotch whisky brands are produced.

Highlands: A huge geographical area, so large that characteristics vary based on coastal influences (or lack thereof); depending on where it's brewed, you'll find salt, spice, light smoke, fruit, florals, heather, honey, and typically with a dry finish. Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenmorangie, Oban, and Loch Lomond are just a few examples.

Speyside: A Highlands subdivision, but the most distinct—and prolific—Scotch-producing region; sometimes lightly peated, but more typically sweeter (and Sherry-finished), with flavors of honey, fruit, vanilla, spice, and so forth. Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Glen Livet, and The Macallan are just a few examples.

Islands: A subset of Highlands refers to several islands off the coast of Scotland's far north, including Skye, Jura, and Orkney. Although coastal and slightly saline, with aged flavors of nuts, fruit, spice, and so on, this whisky is not as forcefully peated as Islay. Highland Park, Arran, and Talisker

Lowlands: A broad geographical area with rolling hills, generally unpeated Scotches, lighter-bodied, mostly unpeated Scotches, delicate sweetness, and mild fruit. This is an excellent starter area. Glenkichie, Auchentoshan

Eee-luh: Pronounced Islay. Known for its strong maritime influence, with powerful, saline Scotches that can be aggressively peaty while also expressing medicinal, iodine, and maritime characteristics (in addition to the character from malt and wood-aging). A few examples are Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin.

Campbeltown: This isn't an area you're likely to encounter because only a few distilleries remain in operation, even though they all create distinctive Single Malts. Glen Scotia, Longrow, and Kilkerran are all nearby towns.

How to Find the Best Scotch Whisky

When it comes to determining the best scotch whisky for you, various factors will play a role in the ultimate result. We'll go over some of the important factors that everyone should check for when purchasing a bottle of scotch whisky to ensure that you get the exact taste and flavor you want.

  • Color

The color of your scotch whisky will reveal a lot about the overall procedure involved in manufacturing it. The majority of scotch whisky variants have a golden, almost roasted color, although the tiny variances in sheen and quality can be difficult to detect. Examine how the whisky flows about in the bottle it's packaged in to get a sense of how smooth it will be after you start drinking it. The color of the scotch whisky you choose is very significant in determining whether or not it is the correct fit, so always look at the color of a specific scotch whisky before purchasing it.

Types of scotch

  • Distillation Region

Each scotch whisky variety is produced in a separate place, and the locale has a significant impact on the final flavor and overall taste of the whisky. You may choose which region delivers the best flavor profile and taste that you're seeking in a premium scotch whisky variety by looking at the regions section listed above in this guide.

  • Alcohol By Volume

The ABV rating on your chosen bottle of scotch whisky will inform you of how much alcohol there is in a given brand or type of scotch whisky. Higher ABV ratings do not always imply a higher quality scotch whisky; therefore, use caution when deciding which scotch whisky has the appropriate ABV for you.

  • Aging Length

The age of the scotch whisky bottle you choose will significantly impact how deep and rich the flavors contained within the bottle are. The minimum age period for each scotch whisky brand is three years, but this period can be extended depending on the type of whisky produced and the distiller who created it.

By paying attention to the age of your chosen scotch whisky, you'll be able to pick out all of the delicate aromas infused by the specific fermentation technique utilized during its manufacture.

Types of Scotch

Scotch is a brand that needs no introduction. Scotland has delivered the world with such amazing flavors that the world trusts the Scotch whenever it needs a good whiskey. There are so many types of whiskey available in the market but scotch just has its own value. Scotch is not only a simple liquor, it can make your senses stronger when you need a subtle push towards your goal. The making process of the scotch is simple and follows the classic old recipes using simple ingredients like malted barley, spring water, and yeast. The grains are mixed with water and yeast that helps in fermentation and creating the alcohol. Later the mixture goes into the distillation process for the desired liquid which has to be out inside oak barrels for maturation. A Scotch has to be aged at least three years to become a whiskey. Some Premium quality scotches are aged for longer and deliver the ultimate experience of good whiskey. Even though almost most Scotch Whiskey follows the same process depending on the grains used in the production, Scotch whiskey has a different classification. The first you have to understand is the single malt Scotch. If you know what that is it will be easier to understand the other kinds.

Single Malt Scotch:

Single malt Scotch is made from malted barley. No other grains only barley, water, and yeast are used in the process. What is malted barley? When the barley grains are mixed with water and left for some days, the grans go through germination. Then the grains are dried using hot air. The process is called malting and the grains are known as malted grains. This whole process takes place in one distillery and is done on-site for the authenticity and best outcome. The flavors of single malt scotch are top-notch. The whiskey is full of character and complex flavors. Different companies may have different approaches but the basic process is the same for all single malt whiskies. The Oban 21 year old Scotch & Balvenie 12 Year Double Wood are one of the remarkable single malt whiskeys. Most of the high-end Single malt Scotches are aged for long years and have a higher price tag.

Types of scotch

Single Grain Scotch Whiskey

Next, we have the single grain scotch. some may mix up the single malt and single grain whiskies. The main way to differentiate these two kinds is to remember single malt only uses barley where single grain can use any other cereal grains such as wheat, corn, or rye, etc. Single grain only uses one kind of grain for the process and is made in one distillery onsite. Like single malt, the single grain scotch is also full of flavors and character but a little open to mixing up with other flavors as well. The Orphan Barrel Muckety Much 25 Year Old is a classy scotch that uses single grain on the production and follows the ancient old recipe.

Blended Scotch Whiskey

The blended scotch whiskey has malt scotch and other scotches blended together into a balanced portion. It can have single malt or single grain even blended grains as well. The blending of different scotches allows this whiskey to become one of the richest whiskey full of flavors and characters. The blended Scotches are more affordable comparing to single malts. John Barr Scotch Whiskey is one of those.

Blended Scotch Whiskey

Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey

Where single malt whisky uses only one batch of malted barley and the whole process takes place in one distillery, blended malt whiskey blends different single malt whiskey from different batches and different distilleries. Yes, Blended Malt also uses only one kind of grain which is Barley and it goes through the malted process for the label Malt Scotch. Buchanan's Select 18 Year Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is an affordable blended malted whiskey available at Bottle Broz. Like single malt Scotch, blended malt scotches are also high in price range and aged for a long time.

Blended Grain Scotch Whiskey

Blended Grain Scotch Whiskey

Yes, you guessed it right. When the scotch is made using different single grain scotch from different batches, different grains, and different distilleries, the scotch is known as the blended Grain scotch whiskey. The flavors are complex and mixed with so much variety it becomes remarkable.

Final Words

Bottle Broz provides an excellent selection of Scotch whisky. Not only do we have a wider collection of Scotch, but we also have a great variety of other liquors. Put as many original and high-end labels of world-famous liquors as you want in your cart. After you pay at the checkout, Bottle Broz will take care of the rest. You can personalize any of the bottles with a special message for your loved one. We treat each delivery as if it were our own child. Trust me; once you've ordered Scotch online, you'll never go back to the traditional way.