Whisky is a product with an array of different classifications and rules. In this series of these articles we will delve into the different terms and bring you an explanation.
If you are a novice whisky drinker, you will see many bottles labelled single malt. This will be the focus for this first article. To explore ‘single malt’ it is important for the term to be broken down. Now let’s see what a whisky single malt means and what you can expect when you open one of these bottles.
The word ‘single’ in the name is often confusing. One could be mistaken for thinking that it means the whisky came from the same batch or barrel. This is however not the case and instead refers to the fact that all the production processes for the spirit are carried out in a single distillery. This means that there is no chance of the spirit being mixed with any other spirit.
Although this doesn’t mean that single malt cannot be blended, in fact quite the opposite. Most single malt whiskies are in fact blended, meaning combining whiskies from a variety of different casks and of varying ages to form the final product, but these all have to be from the same distillery. The different casks and ages all impart different flavours, the blending process aims to find the right balance of these flavours.
In cases where the whisky is blended the age marked on the whisky bottle indicating the age is based on the youngest whisky added to the blend.
The term ‘malt’ is the less confusing of the two. It refers to the grain used to make the whisky. For the case of single malt whisky, the grain used is barley or occasionally malted rye. The barley is first steeped for a period of time with room temperature water added encouraging germination before the distillation process begins.
So in summary the only ingredients used to make the whiskey are barley and water. That’s why many people call the purest whisky experience when you sip a single malt drink because you’re sure to get only the flavours and aromas of the pure, malted spirit when you open a bottle and pour it into your glass.
It is legitimate to ask where the uniqueness of single malt whisky comes from if such strict rules apply. Well, the secret lies in the casks and the maturation process. This process can produce a variety of different experiences. This is no coincidence, as many experts believe that half of the flavour and aroma experience of a whisky is influenced by the type of cask.
When the drink is produced in, for example, American bourbon casks then vanilla notes will emerge; in Spanish sherry casks fruity notes and in European oak barrels expect spicy notes. Interestingly, the material used in the stills during the malting process, the variety of barley or where the grain is sourced from also influences the final taste of the whisky, so these are other important points for whisky masters to consider.
If you want to make your very own single malt whisky or are interested in finding out more about our distilling equipment, then please call 01395 233031 and have a chat with one of our esteemed team, where we can discuss the options available to you. Alternatively, message us through our contact us page, where we will endevour to get back to you as soon as possible.
