Scottish Whiskey is among the top whiskeys consumed across the world. Have you ever thought about why it’s so famous in Scotland and other countries around the globe? What’s so special about it?
If not, don’t stress your brain so much. We’ve got the answer for you. Read the article and learn all about Scottish whiskeys!
Introduction To Whiskey
Whiskey is an alcoholic drink loved by drinkers around the globe. The liquor got its name from the Gaelic word ‘uisge beatha’ or ‘usquebaugh.’
Both terms mean ‘water of life.’ And for Scottish people, it actually is.
Whiskey comes in a great variety both in flavor as well as colors. With global consumers, Scotland Whiskey is everyone’s choice.
The Whiskey made in Scotland is also called Scottish Whiskey and can’t be prepared anywhere else with such fineness. Also, the association between Whiskey and Scotland is inseparable.
Upon listening to the word “Scotland,” the first thing that comes to mind is always a bottle of Whiskey with the label “Made in Scotland.”
So did your brain craft the image of the Scottish whiskey bottle with a glass having some ice cubes right now?
You must be curious to know about the whiskey history in Scotland. Let’s check it out!
The History Of Whiskey
The origin of water of life dates back to the 11th century. Following the winemaking process in Europe, they used malted grains to produce Whiskey for the first time in Scotland.
But the liquor was produced so early but was first recorded in 1949.
At that time, Friar John Cor of Lindores Abbey prepared 500 bottles of Whiskey for the King and got a commission.
Since then, Scotland has been producing whiskeys of diverse flavors. Today there are more than 109 whiskey distilleries in the state.
Why Whiskey Is A Popular Drink In Scotland?
Many people have this question in their minds. Let’s talk about it!
Well! The answer is simple. The Scottish people were the ones introducing Whiskey to the world.
Yes! Being the originator and now a top Whiskey producing state, the drink is famous all across the state.
Not only this, people all around the world are fond of Scottish Whiskey too.
It has made its name in the market so well that now it’s been supplied to 200 markets. The Scotland Whiskey industry is massive and provides £5.5 billion to the UK economy.
Did you know every second, Scotland exports 44 bottles of Whiskey? Isn’t it surprising?
How is the World Famous Scottish Whiskey Prepared?
A drink made by monks became so famous globally. How? Let’s figure out how the liquor is created!
The main ingredients of Scottish whiskeys are
- Yeast
- Peat
- Malt
- Water
These four ingredients do all the magic. The production steps are the same as those of all whiskeys.
- The whiskey making always starts with malting, where you soak fine quality barley in water to sprout for 6-7 days. Then the barley sprouts go into the kiln. They are dried and toasted here to give the final product the best flavor.
- You have to treat the ground malted barley with hot water. The result? You get a sweet liquor called wort. It’s called mashing.
- Now, you must ferment the wort to convert the complex sugars into simpler ones. For whisky, provide live yeast cells as a fermenting agent.
- The fermented wort has a lot of by-products which makes its quality low. That’s why it undergoes distillation to increase the alcohol levels in the liquid.
- The final step is maturation, for which you need sweet wooden barrels. Fill them with the liquor and leave them to mature for 3 years.
The final product of such a long wait is Whiskey. It’s then bottled and supplied across the globe.
Key Whiskey Producing Regions Of Scotland
You are a Scottish whiskey lover. Right? Do you know about the different Whiskey producing regions of Scotland?
How are the whiskeys different from one another? Let’s find out!
There are five key Whiskey producing areas in Scotland. Each one is briefly touched on below.
1. Islay
Islay is an island, and most people residing here are involved in the Whiskey producing business. Whiskeys from this region are heavily peated and full of magical flavors.
2. Campbeltown
Just like the Islay whiskeys, Campbeltown whiskies also have a boom of flavors.
You can feel the smokey, fruity taste mingled with vanilla and toffee.
Besides, these whiskeys also have hints of salt.
3. Highland
The Highland whiskeys also have diverse flavors for your palate.
They have a nutty flavor with hints of honey and heather.
4. Lowland
Lowland whiskeys are known for their lighter taste.
This characteristic taste is the result of triple distillation.
Besides, they have malty, zesty flavors with a citrus taste.
5. Speyside
Do you know that Speyside has nearly half the total whiskey distilleries in Scotland?
It’s such a small region but with distinct importance. All thanks to the distilleries!
The elegant and refined whiskeys produced here have nuts, fruits, vanilla, and spice flavors.
FAQs
Is Whiskey the National Drink Of Scotland?
Well! The answer is yes. The country is the originator of Whiskey and is known across the globe for the drink.
Besides, the Scottish people also love to have it. Many prepare it at home in traditional ways too.
Why is Scottish Whisky World Famous?
Nature has blessed Scotland with pure water.
Unlike many other countries, the water is soft and with a neutral pH. It’s what makes Scottish Whiskey so demanding.
As you know, you need a lot of water during whiskey production.
The purer the water is, the better the whiskey tastes. As Scotland has the best water, so is its Whiskey famous too.
Conclusion
Scotland is the country that gave the recipe for whiskey production to the world. Being the originator of the drink, whiskeys are popular in Scotland.
There’s no house in Scotland without having a bottle of Whiskey.
