sexta-feira, 17 de setembro de 2010

Whisky - Different types

The meaning of whisky remotes from Gaelic. It is originated from a compound old Irish word 'uisce' that means WATER and 'bethad' that means OF LIFE. So, literally, the meaning of whisky is WATER OF LIFE.

The distilled beverage began with the Babylonians, but it was very different from the one people drink nowadays. The destillation process at that time was poor and in its infancy. By accident, the whisky forgotten in a cask was found in the 16th century, revealing a smoother taste.

Around 1700 taxes were high, so distillers were forced to hide the drink in coffins, altars, etc, and produce it late at night, where the darkness would hide the smoke coming from the stills. For this reason, the drink was known as 'moonshine', which means: 'illegal spirit (illicity-distilled liquor).

Whisky became a primary liquor in markets in the 1880s, when the French brandy was devastated by a pest that ruined the crops. Whisky is produced in different types, differing in quality, percentage of alcohol and the product. Two main ingredients are malt and grain. The first one is entirely from malted barley and distilled in pot stills. The second one is made of wheat and corn. It is produced in a coffey still. These 2 ingredients can be combined in various ways. The most common types of whisky are:
  • Blended Whiskies - they are described as Scotch or Irish Whisky. The most famous brands are Chivas Regal, Michael Collins, Jameson, Blue Label (JW) and J&B.
  • Vatted Malt - it is a blended whisky without the grain, just malts (pure malt), they are Teachers, Green Label (JW).
  • Single Malt Whisky - it comes from a single distillery, but sometimes different casks and different years, so it has different blenders. Example: The Glenlivet.
  • Pure Pot Still Whiskey - it is distilled in a pot still from mash of mixed malted and unmalted barley. It is exclusive to Ireland; Red Breast.
  • Bourbon - American. It consists of at least 51% corn. Common brands are Jack Daniel's, Barclay's Bourbon.
  • Malt Whiskey - it is made from mash that consists of at least 51% malted barley. They are Wild Turkey and Bushmills.
  • Corn Whiskey - it consists at least of 80% corn. Some brands are Gold Stake, Georgia Moon.
There are also other whisky nationalities like Canadians, Janapese, but the main ones are from The USA and Ireland.