James Kaaden’s Post

🥃 Types of Whisky 🥃 There are three types of Scottish whisky: single malt, single grain, and blended. 🥃 Single malt is made using malted barley. 🥃 Single grain typically uses corn with a bit of malted barley. 🥃 Blended whiskies combine the other two. Blended whiskies frequently bear the names of their founders, such as Johnnie Walker or Bell’s. Conversely, most single malts are named after the distilleries where they are produced, for example, Bladnoch and Deanston. Follow for more whisky facts!

Whisky has been crafted since the early 1000s AD, so it's no surprise that many fascinating facts have emerged over the centuries. Here are 10 fun whisky-facts that we think will captivate you. 🥃 1. During the American Prohibition (1920-1933), whisky could still be legally obtained as a medicinal product with a doctor's prescription. 🏥📜 2. In 2011, Ardbeg Distillery sent whisky samples to the International Space Station 🚀 to investigate the effects of microgravity on the maturation process. 3. In 1956, "Whiskey" replaced "William" in the NATO phonetic alphabet. 🎙️ 4. Whisky can only age in wooden casks. Once it's in the bottle, the aging process stops. ⏳ This means a 12-Year-Old bottled in 1956 will taste the same today as it did back in the '50s. The age statement on a bottle of whisky always refers to the youngest whisky used. 5. The word "whiskey" comes from the Gaelic word meaning "water of life." 🌱💧 6. Whiskey is one of the basic ingredients in Tabasco sauce. 🌶️ 7. Before maturation in casks, whiskey is completely colorless. ⚪ 8. The evaporation of alcohol from a whisky barrel during maturation is referred to as the "angel's share." 🛢️✨ 9. Whisky outnumbers people in Scotland by 4:1, and whiskey also outnumbers people in Kentucky! 📊 10. It's a common misconception that single-malt whisky is produced from just one cask. The "single malt" label actually means that the whisky comes from a single distillery, but it may have been aged in several casks. 🏭🛢️ Why not remember a few of your favorites to share with your whisky-loving friends the next time you share a drink? 😊 #WhiskyWisdom #WhiskyLovers #WhiskyFacts #WhiskyLife #WhiskyCulture #WhiskyEnthusiast 🥃 #WhiskyWorld 🌎 #Bostocap #Bottlestoppersandcapsules

Can Scotch whisky be bottled outside Scotland? 🥃 Now, you may have heard people use the term ‘Scotch’ as a catch-all for spirits like single malt or blended whisky. You may have even heard the people or products of Scotland referred to as ‘Scotch’. And, there’s a reason for that. 1️⃣ For whisky to be called "Scotch," it must be distilled, matured, and bottled in Scotland, as per the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009. 2️⃣ There’s an exception, blended Scotch can be bottled abroad, but single malts must be bottled in Scotland. 3️⃣ These rules uphold Scotch whisky's global reputation for authenticity and quality. To be sold as Scotch, whisky must: - Be distilled in Scotland - Be aged in oak casks for at least three years - Have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of at least 40% - Be made of nothing more than grain, yeast, and water What’s your favorite Scotch? Let me know in the comments! 🥃👇 #sonalholland #masterofwine #scotch #whiskey #whisky #scotland #whiskyenthusiasts #whiskytips 

Whiskey Wizards and Alligator Char: A Match Made in Barrel Heaven? Ever wondered what makes your whiskey taste so magical? Well, I might just have a nugget of wisdom to share. I've been reading about the craft behind the barrels at distilleries like Castle & Key and Bardstown Bourbon Company that use a #4 alligator char. Now, that might sound like something straight out of a swampy fairy tale, but it's actually the secret sauce—or should I say char? It's a super-charred barrel that gives whiskey its kick and deep flavor. Did you know that "alligator" refers to the roughness of the char on the wood, likening it to alligator skin? Pretty cool, huh? But here's the scoop from my corner: Not all whiskey needs to wrestle with an alligator to be superb. At Supergay Spirits, we believe in the flair each spirit brings to the table without needing the heaviest char. This aligns with our value of highlighting every spirit's unique character—just like we celebrate every individual's uniqueness. So, while those gator-level chars create bold flavors, remember, there's room for every style in the grand distillery of life. And always keep it super, never shy. 🌈✨ If you've got a thirst for more whiskey wisdom, take a peek at the article: [Article link]https://buff.ly/3z6JVTf Spirits Co. Unveils Second Blue Run Micro-Batch Bourbon Release - PRWeb

Cara's part of a long Whisky Dynasty, so, as someone who's tried the most expensive Scotch, (as she heads-up a firm that actually BOTTLES it), you'd expect her 'Desert Island Drams' to be hyper-exclusive. No so. There's lots of 'supermarket' Scotch on her list and definitely proof that if you actually like DRINKING good Scotch Whisky, it's not that expensive. For instance, I topped up my own personal Decanter yesterday, with a really nice Blended Malt, that costs well under £20. Supermarket stuff. It's still nice. Drink it long this Summer, with ice and Soda, as a perfect (and less calorific) alternative to a Cold Beer. Cara shows there's also lots of rather good Scotch, you can drink neat, that you don't need to speak to a Broker about. So, there's Scotch Whisky that costs the same as a Car and there's Scotch Whisky that costs the same as a 'Slab' of beer. Both good, both filling a gap. With 145+ Distilleries and THOUSANDS on Brands to choose from, it's a very inclusive landscape! #ScotchWhiskyTruths

Thought I'd share my IB buys this week. All Speyside single malts, but all quite incredibly different on the eye; from the bottle type, label shape, colour and font, the actual liquid colours, and finally the information shared on cask information etc. The Mortlach 14 from Hart Brothers Ltd in Glasgow, is a 2012 bottling, distilled in 1997. Bottled at 46% ABV, there isn't much information on the bottle, other than the guarantee that they "personally check every cask, to ensure that nothing compromises their enduring spirit of excellence". Can't really argue with that. It's definitely the most traditional looking bottle and label style, quite classy and classic I'd say. The Uncharted Whisky Co. bottling "Fools Gold" is a Tamnavulin 11, named after the classic Stone Roses song (one of my faves). Distilled in 2013, it was bottled this year at 50% ABV, with an outturn of only 195 bottles from a single bourbon barrel, specifically for the Spirit of Speyside Festival 2024. Nothing to fault here, I personally love everything about the UW Co's bottlings. Finally we have the rather impressive and statuesque Linkwood 12, from Finn Thomson and Finn Thomson Whisky. I was recommended to source a bottle by a friend who was blown away by tasting it, he said that he "couldnt believe it wasn't an 18". If you want to talk about attention to detail, style and quality? Well these bottlings scream all of that, and plenty more. Distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2022, at 55.5% ABV with an outturn of 300 bottles, from a First Fill Bourbon. This one really is quite a colour.. As I sit and admire them, the hardest part is to choose which one to dram? Slainte🥃 #whiskydream #whiskylife #whiskylover

When a whisky distillery fills their casks, they are starting with the end in mind. New make spirit is matched to a cask within which it will mature into delicious whisky. From the very beginning when a cask is filled, the distillery has a clear idea as to how long their spirit will need to mature within it. They will select the type of wood, its previous contents, its size, and how many times it has been filled previously in order to adjust their maturation timeline. This would not be possible without years of experience behind them. They know their spirit and they know casks inside out. When you are selecting a whisky cask for yourself, the same approach should be taken. Start with a clear idea as to your holding period, and decide on the cask and spirit combination that best serves your timeline, aims and budget. Whisky takes time to mature. It should not be rushed, and neither should you. Want to learn more? Send me a DM. Let's talk about all things whisky!

🔍 The Impact of Cask Size 🔍 Did you know that the size of a whisky cask can significantly influence the flavour and aging process? At Imperial Whisky, we carefully select cask sizes to enhance the maturation of our old and rare whiskies. Smaller casks accelerate the aging process, imparting intense flavours, while larger casks allow for a slower, more refined maturation. Explore how the perfect cask size can transform whisky into a masterpiece. Join us to learn more about the intricacies of whisky maturation. #CaskSize #WhiskyMaturation #FlavourProfile

Ever wondered if whisky in a cask can go bad or spoil? 🥃 🤔 While wine and beer can both be affected by bacteria in wooden casks, whisky is a whole different story. Whisky in casks does not spoil in the same way perishable items do, it can degrade if over-aged, poorly stored, or if the cask itself is of low quality or becomes damaged. Proper care and monitoring are essential to ensure the whisky matures well and does not develop unwanted characteristics. Find out more intriguing facts about whisky aging from our experts today! #WhiskyFacts #WhiskyKnowledge #WhiskyCulture #WhiskyAging https://ow.ly/fvVp50TBzIn

Just in time for the holiday, I wrote about the emerging regional styles of American whiskey. We're living through a fascinating moment, where the boom in craft distilleries is settling into patterns and, in some places, coalescing into new whiskey identities. Give it another generation or two and I think we'll be discussing these styles in the same terms as Kentucky bourbon. Check out my article for The New Wine Review below! https://lnkd.in/eVuapCjT