Decoding the Scottish Whisky Regions
Scottish Whisky Regions: Highlands, Lowlands, Islands, Islay and Campbeltown
Highlands
The Highlands region of Scotland is the largest region geographical. It has around 27 distilleries currently in...
Focus on the whisky process: Yeast
Yeast is one of the main and most important components of Whisky. It is added to convert sugars produced during fermentation into alcohol and effects the flavour overall flavour of the final product.
It produ...
Focus on the whisky process: Bottling
This is the final stage in the process, when Whisky is cut with purified water and packaged depending on the brand.
The alcohol level of cask strength Whisky is usually around 60% and this is then reduced to a...
Focus on the whisky process: Maturation
From the distillation process comes a clear liquid known as new make spirit, which must be matured for a minimum of three years in oak casks inside a Scottish bonded warehouse to legally be called Scotch.
Ther...
Focus on the whisky process: Distillation
One of the key parts in the Whisky making process, distillation is where the alcohol created during fermentation is removed from the wash to form a concentrated liquid that goes on to be matured into Whisky.
S...
Focus on the whisky process: Fermentation
From the mash tun, the wort is moved into the washback, where fermentation takes place.
This is the stage in the Whisky making process that alcohol is produced, through the addition of yeast to the wort.
Th...
Focus on the whisky process: Malting
Once you have the perfect barley to make great Whisky, the next step is malting. This is where grains are processed to encourage their starches to develop so that alcohol can be made.
In the UK alone 1.5 mill...
Focus on the whisky process: Milling
After the malting process is complete and the grains are crisp and dry, they move on to be milled.
This is when the grains are milled into a powder known as the grist. The consistency of which will effect th...
Focus on the whisky process: Water
One of the three main ingredients in Whisky, water is vital to the final flavour and quality of the product.
During the production process water is split into two categories, production water and process water...
Focus on the whisky process: Barley
All Scotch Whisky starts out life as barley. This is largely due to availability in the past, and also because of Scotch regulations.
It is typical of a country to use whatever is available to create spirits,...
