Here are StickMen’s 12 main categories of whiskey that we pay attention to. Have more? Let us know!
- Single Malt Scotch Whiskey – Single malt Scotch is single malt whisky made in Scotland. To qualify for this category, a whisky must have been distilled at a single distillery using a pot still distillation process and made from a mash of malted barley. As with any Scotch whisky, a single malt Scotch must be distilled in Scotland and matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years. (Most single malts are matured longer.)
- Single Grain Whiskey – Single means that the whiskey is the product of a single distillery. … Instead, single grain whiskies are often made from wheat, corn, or a blend of the two. These days, most single grains find their way into blends like Chivas Regal and Johnny Walker.
- Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey – Blended malt scotch whisky means that it has been made from a blend of two or more single malt scotch whiskies from different distilleries. Similarly, a blended grain scotch whisky is the blend of two or more single grain scotch whiskies from different distilleries. … Scottish whisky produced by a single distillery
- Blended Whiskey – Get down on your hands and knees in the whiskey section at any liquor store. We all know what the stuff on that bottom shelf is for—namely, not sipping and savoring, but drowning your woes. In short, a blended whiskey consists of at least 20% straight whiskey, and up to 80% neutral grain spirits or another whiskey. For clarification, a “straight” whiskey is one made just with grain, water, and yeast—no additives—and aged at least two years.
- Bourbon Whiskey – A type of American whiskey, a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name ultimately derives from the French Bourbon dynasty, although the precise inspiration for the whiskey’s name is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County in Kentucky and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both of which are named after the dynasty. Although bourbon may be made anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the American South and with Kentucky in particular.
- Tennessee Whiskey – Is straight whiskey produced in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Although it has been legally defined as a bourbon whiskey in some international trade agreements, most current producers of Tennessee whiskey disclaim references to their products as “bourbon” and do not label them as such on any of their bottles or advertising materials. All current Tennessee whiskey producers are required by Tennessee law to produce their whiskeys in Tennessee and – with the sole exception of Benjamin Prichard’s – to use a filtering step known as the Lincoln County Process prior to aging the whiskey. Beyond the perceived marketing value of the distinction, Tennessee whiskey and bourbon have almost identical requirements, and most Tennessee whiskeys meet the criteria for bourbon.
- Rye Whiskey – can refer to two different, but related, types of whiskey: American rye whiskey, which is similar to bourbon whiskey, but must be distilled from at least 51 percent rye grain; and Canadian whisky, which is often referred to as rye whisky for historical reasons, although it may or may not actually include any rye grain in its production process.
- Wheat Whiskey – A style of whiskey defined by having a grain bill which consists primarily of wheat. The United States government only allows a product to be labeled “wheat whiskey” when the mash is composed of at least 51% wheat. Like other American styles, a wheat whiskey may be labelled as a “straight” if it is aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels. As of 2013, only a few straight wheat whiskeys are mass marketed. Some micro-distilleries are in production of wheat whiskeys but are made on a small scale.
- Corn Whiskey – An American liquor made from a mash of at least 80 percent corn and distilled to a maximum strength of 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume. Corn whiskey uses a traditional mash process and is subject to the tax and identity laws for alcohol under federal law. Several commercial distillers, such as Heaven Hill, produce unaged corn whiskeys for retail sale. Unlike other American whiskey styles, corn whiskey does not need wood aging at all. If aged, it is usually brief – six months or less – during which time the whiskey absorbs color and flavor from the barrel while the off-flavors and fusel alcohols are reduced.
- Canadian Whiskey – A type of whisky produced in Canada. Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain liquors containing a large percentage of corn spirits, and are typically lighter and smoother than other whisky styles. When Canadian distillers began adding small amounts of highly-flavorful rye grain to their mashes, people began demanding this new rye-flavored whisky, referring to it simply as “rye”. Today, as for the past two centuries, the terms “rye whisky” and “Canadian whisky” are used interchangeably in Canada and (as defined in Canadian law) refer to exactly the same product, which generally is made with only a small amount of rye grain.
- Japanese Whiskey – A style of whisky developed and produced in Japan. Broadly speaking the style of Japanese whisky is more similar to that of Scotch whisky than other major styles of whisky. There are several companies producing whisky in Japan, but the two best-known and most widely available are Suntory and Nikka. Both of these produces blended as well as single malt whiskies and there are also many special bottlings and limited editions.
- Irish Whiskey – Irish whiskey was once the most popular spirit in the world, though a long period of decline from the late 19th century onwards greatly damaged the industry. Irish whiskey has seen a resurgence in popularity since the late twentieth century and has been the fastest-growing spirit in the world every year since 1990. With exports growing by over 15% per annum, existing distilleries have been expanded and a number of new distilleries constructed. As of June 2019, Ireland has twenty-five distilleries in operation, with a further twenty-four either planned or under development. Within a few years, there will be many more Irish Whiskey options to choose from.
