The first thing to remember with booze is that sometimes there aren’t any hard and fast rules. This led to monks with distillery experience to produce whiskey privately, which was originally found as illegal. Irish whiskey tastes like: Very, very smooth and less sweet than most American bourbons. Scotch has a much richer history in my opinion, with clearly divided regions you can explore and learn about. ... Japanese whisky tastes like: Scotch, sort of, but it really depends on the brand. As a side note, most American whiskeys are spelled with ‘ey', but some use the ‘y' spelling. They loved it so much that they started producing whisky of their own. That fermented water — not unlike a beer — is distilled twice. Scotch Vs Whiskey – Different Manufacturing Process. You may have already noticed at this point, but Scotch whisky is spelled without the letter “e”, unlike the Irish counterpart that’s always spelled with an “e.” Why is that? The term “uisge beatha” is Gaelic, a language that you can find both in Scotland and Ireland. Blended Irish whiskey represents a mixture of the aforementioned types. Get “tasters packs” with different scotch, bourbon, and other types of whiskey delivered to your home, without committing to a full bottle! There’s a little more detail when it comes to the mash, though. These differences amount to more than whether you spell one with an “e” or not, though it’s worth clarifying — Scotch whisky is always spelled without the “e”; Irish whiskey is always spelled with the “e.” This quirk seems to have started in the late 19th century, created by Irish distillers as a way to distinguish Irish whiskey from Scotch whisky on the consumer market. Another ripple in Ireland is with the grain whiskeys. Scotch Whisky is made from malted barleyand generally has a fuller, heavier taste than many other whiskies. Ask any whisky enthusiast and they’ll tell you that Scotch and Irish whiskeys differ in more ways than just their country of origin. Also, whiskies is the plural of ‘y', and whiskeys is the plural of ‘ey'. In most cases, Irish whiskeys will be aged in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry casks and then blended into a single expression for bottling. Hopefully, the explainer below can help you better understand the difference between these two powerhouse regional spirits. Scotch whisky is produced by ‘blending’, while Irish whiskey is produced by ‘vatting’. I also make my own beer, wine, cider, kombucha, and sake… and am a whiskey enthusiast! I haven't done the same amount of research into the “craft” side of Irish whiskey though, so let me know in the comments if you have a better brand to switch to. As a whiskey fan, I think both whiskey are great, but my personal preference is Scotch. Irish whiskey comes in single malt, single pot still, single grain, and blended forms. The primary competition in the whiskey world is Scotch vs. Irish whiskey. Want to really understand the difference between the two? Irish whiskey is any whiskey that’s been distilled in the island of Ireland (either in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland), using a mash of malted cereals. Scotch comes in many different varieties. Scotch whisky uses peat-smoked, wholly malted barley, while Irish whisky used kiln-dried, raw and malted barley. The act never really got implemented, though, as the law didn’t reach very far. Slow and steady wins the race. A single pot still whiskey uses both malted barley and unmalted or raw barley in the mash bill. A single malt scotch can be a lot of things within Scotland alone and, again, depending on what the head distiller is aiming for. The other literally uses a raw version of that ingredient. The introduction of the column still made producing whisky a lot more efficient, and a shortage of wine, brandy, and cognac during 1880 caused the French to drink whisky instead. Much like shoulder pads and mullet hairstyles this is an idea that came to the fore in the 80s and one that needs to go. On the other hand, Irish whiskey gets praise for its lighter and smoother flavor from the triple distillation process. Our advice, try one of each, then try some more. Irish Whiskey, Scotch, and Bourbon have their own distinctive identities that make them unique. That’s not to say there aren’t Irish whiskeys with peated smoked malts. And, if you’re of the opinion that bigger is better, Irish whiskey is ‘vatted’ in pot … Irish whiskey is made quite differently from Scotch whisky. Over time, though, scotch whisky began to be enjoyed as a drink rather than a lubricant or material. Why Haven’t You Tried Snoop Dogg’s Impeccably Smooth Cali Red Yet? Irish Whiskey: Scotch Whisky: Irish whiskey is put through a maturation process that requires a minimum of three years, giving it its unparalleled taste and aroma. When drying, distilleries typically use peat smoke, which leads to the smoky aroma that Scotch whisky is known for. They might fill the same place in the market, but their mash base is different from traditional whiskey. And despite these two countries starting off the same path, the whiskeys that they produce today are very different from one another! Craft beer, artisanal snacks, monthly clubs, grilling, sous vide, and more. It also is subject to stringent regulations to ensure that its high standard is maintained. That’s pretty much it. But, at the end of the day, we’re talking some very minor variables here. For example rye whiskey and bourbon. Posted on November 7, 2020 by Cat Marney. The main ingredient in scotch is malted barley, while bourbon is mainly composed of corn. Posted on December 4, 2018 December 17, 2018. by gtexas catering. That’s not a universal truth, of course, and new barreling processes are coming into play, most famously with big brands like Jameson barreling in stout or ale casks. Irish whiskey, by contrast, comes from unmalted barley and is renowned for its smooth flavour and hints of vanilla. Filed Under: Whiskey Tagged With: Irish Whiskey, Scotch, Artisanal snacks, craft beer, monthly clubs, international cuisine, outdoor grilling, sous vide... and more.​​Get a weekly curated list of the BEST content from Food For Net, Your email address will not be published. An Irish whiskey pass through a triple distillation while a Scotch only double. Whisky production underwent a surge of popularity during the 1800s. With the mentioned information, you are better placed when it comes to choosing your preferred spirit. Event. Whisky or whisky-like products are produced in most grain-growing areas. In particular, Scotland and Ireland were some of the first countries to begin producing and selling whiskey to the public. But, really, there’s not Highland or Islay-like designations in play here. We’re not — in any way — saying one is more superior, refined, or correct. Another big distinction is that Irish whiskey is triple distilled, mostly. Resting barrels along the briny, cold Scottish coastline can add touches that barrels up in the mountains or forests will not get. Irish whiskey is good too! Irish whiskey is made quite differently from Scotch whisky. It didn’t take long for whiskey to surge in popularity among the Irish. Scotch Whisky is always spelt without the E, whereas Irish Whiskey is always spelt with an E. Whisky is the anglicized form of the Gaelic word uisge beatha (pronounced “oosh-kie bah”). In addition to having the same basic formula—grain slowly fermented in barrels—whiskey and scotch are both distilled between 40 and 90% alcohol by volume. For one, distillation occurs three times during the entire process, which leads to it being light and smooth. And though not all Scotch is made with peat smoke, that is what a lot of people look for. History, Irish vs. Scotch, Pot Still Whiskey, Production Techniques Irish v.s. Scotch whisky usually makes use of wholly malted barley. Yes, Ireland and Scotland are close neighbors on the Irish Sea but their spirits tend to have only minor similarities past both being brown booze made from fermented and then distilled grains. At the very least, you’ll get a nice buzz on along the way. The Irish tend to use smaller pot stills as well, versus the Scots which have a wider variety of distilling methods. Your email address will not be published. #internationalscotchday #scotchwhisky #whisky #scotch #oban, A post shared by Oban Whisky (@obanwhisky) on Feb 8, 2019 at 5:01am PST. We can’t resist a great place to land, but your nest is our favorite. It is said that Irish monks during 1000 AD brought home the technique of distilling perfumes from what they had learned in the Mediterranean countries. Irish Whiskey: The Eire ... Scotch Whisky: The Scots make their whisky (spelled without an “e”) using malted barley or grain, oak casks and an aging process of at least three years. Furthermore, the Irish whiskey is distilled by using copper pot-stills giving it that subtle taste while Scotch uses continuous process pot-stills giving it that firm zest. January 31, 2020 by Food For Net Leave a Comment. In the end, what may be true “traditionally” may no longer be true for some distillers working today. Whiskey is the drink of choice for many people around the world. Scotch whisky wasn’t used to enjoy a night out with friends, or drink one’s problems away, at least not at first. The grain needs to be made from malt, fermented by yeast, and distilled to an alcoholic strength of less than 94.8%, but more than 40%. Bourbon vs Scotch Whisky. We respect your privacy. Back in the 1800s, Irish distillers were ruling the whiskey world and wanted to assure that Irish whiskey was always better than their neighbor’s scotch. Finally, the distillate is transferred to barrels (sometimes ex-bourbon barrels from America, sometimes not) to rest for at least three years. So, yes, this helps Irish whiskey differentiate itself through flavors right out of the gate. Irish Whiskey has a somewhat vague history when it comes to whiskey. Scotch unlike Irish whiskey, is put through a process that undergoes a minimum maturation period of 3 years as well and is in most cases distilled thrice, although longer in some distilleries. On top of that, there's much more general public interest in things like single malts, special blends, and the culture of Scotch. In the broadest of broad terms, scotch is going to have a smoky edge (not universally though) that’s often not found in mainstream Irish whiskey. It all depends on your personal preference for the absolute superiority. I particularly like Scotch from the Islay region, which tend to be smoky and peaty. Because the majority of Irish whiskies are triple distilled and made from a variety of grains, they tend to be lighter in taste when compared to the average Scotch or bourbon. There are two main types — single malt and single grain ( 2 ). Uisge beatha (or “aqua vitae” as it was called by friars at the time) was used for making gunpowder and moistening saltpeter. Well, the answer isn’t as deep and historic than you might think. When the word was translated, the Irish decided to keep the “e”, while the Scottish dropped it entirely. Scotch whisky can come in three forms, generally — single malt, single grain, and blended scotch. The origin of scotch whisky itself is probably not something you’d expect. This led to the rise of many prominent whisky distilleries in the country, with some still producing whisky to this day, such as the Glenlivet Distillery, which was the first licensed distillery under the new Act. The 15-Year-Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a perfect example of this style of whiskey.Produced from a combination of malted and unmalted barley, it is distilled three times in copper pot stills then aged for a minimum of 15 years. Unsubscribe at any time. : @mywhiskytrend #RedbreastWhiskey #PassItOn, A post shared by Redbreast Whiskey (@redbreastwhiskeyus) on Jun 29, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT. So if you aren’t sure of the difference between Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey (other than the spelling, of course), then read on to learn about what really separates the two. To summarize, Scotch is Scottish whiskey, while bourbon is an American production, mostly in Kentucky. So, the use of “single” in this case, then, refers to the fact that booze was made at a single distillery. 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