FAQs

What is the legal definition of Scotch Whisky?
What are the different categories of Scotch Whisky?
What is a blended Scotch Whisky?
What is a single whisky?
Which spelling is correct, whisky or whiskey?
What is the origin of the name 'whisky'?
What is pot still distillation?
What is patent still distillation?
What is wort?
What is wash?
How many brands of Scotch Whisky are there?
Some Scotch Whisky has a smoky flavour. What causes this?
How old should the best Scotch Whisky be?
How should I store my Scotch Whisky?
What is the best shape of a whisky glass?
Can you drink whisky with oysters or other shellfish?
How should Scotch Whisky be drunk?
What is meant by the term 'finishing'?
Can Scotch Whisky casks be purchased as an investment?
Is there a collectors' market for Scotch?

What is the legal definition of Scotch Whisky?

Scotch Whisky has been defined in United Kingdom (UK) law since 1909 and recognised in EU legislation since 1989. The Scotch Whisky Act 1988 and the Orders made under it, which came into effect in June 1990 state "Scotch Whisky" means whisky:

(a) which has been produced at a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley (to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added) all of which have been:

processed at that distillery into a mash;
converted to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems; and
fermented only by the addition of yeast;

(b) which has been distilled at an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 94.8% so that the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the raw materials used in, and the method of, its production;

(c) which has been matured in an excise warehouse in Scotland in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres, the period of that maturation being not less than three years;

(d) which retains the colour, aroma and taste derived from the raw materials used in, and the method of, its production and maturation; and

(e) to which no substance other than water and spirit caramel has been added.

Both the Scotch Whisky Act and EU legislation specify a minimum bottling strength of 40% by volume.

What are the different categories of Scotch Whisky?

According to traditional practice, there are five categories of Scotch Whisky:

(a) Single Malt Scotch Whisky: A Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery,

from water and malted barley without the addition of any other cereals, and
by batch distillation in pot stills.

The industry is also seeking legislation that would require Single Malt Scotch Whisky to only be bottled in Scotland.

(b) Single Grain Scotch Whisky: A Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery

from water and malted barley with or without whole grains of other malted or unmalted cereals, and
which does not comply with the definition of Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

(c) Blended Scotch Whisky: a blend of one or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies with one or more Single Grain Scotch Whiskies.

(d) Blended Malt Scotch Whisky: a blend of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, which have been distilled at more than one distillery.

(e) Blended Grain Scotch Whisky: a blend of Single Grain Scotch Whiskies, which have been distilled at more than one distillery.

What is a blended Scotch Whisky?

It is when a number of distillates each of which separately is entitled to the description 'Scotch Whisky' are combined together.

Blended Scotch Whisky (any combination of malt and grain whiskies), Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (a combination of Malt Whiskies from different malt whisky distilleries) and Blended Grain Scotch Whisky (a combination of Grain Whiskies from different grain whisky distilleries) are all available.

What is a single whisky?

A single whisky is the product of one particular distillery.

Which spelling is correct, whisky or whiskey?

Most well-known dictionaries give both spellings. The Oxford English Dictionary points out that 'in modern trade usage, Scotch Whisky and Irish Whiskey are thus distinguished in spelling'. American-made whiskey is usually spelt with an 'e', while Canadian and Japanese whisky are not.

What is the origin of the name 'whisky'?

The term 'whisky' comes from the Gaelic 'uisge beatha', or 'usquebaugh', meaning 'water of life'. Gaelic is that branch of Celtic spoken in the Highlands of Scotland.

What is pot still distillation?

Malt Whisky is distilled twice - although a few distilleries may undertake a third distillation - in pot stills which resemble huge copper kettles.

In the first distillation the fermented liquid, or wash, is put into the wash still, and is heated. During the process of boiling the wash, changes take place in its constituents which are vital to the flavour and character of the whisky.

As the wash boils, vapours pass up the neck of the still and then pass through a condenser. The vapour turns into liquid which is collected for re-distilling. The liquor remaining in the wash still is usually treated and converted into animal feed.

The liquid is then distilled again - in the spirit still, similar in appearance to the wash still but smaller because the amount of liquid to be dealt with is less. Three fractions are obtained from the distillation in the spirit still. Only the middle section of the distillation is saved for maturation, the rest is returned to the process and redistilled.

In the case of the spirit still, the design of the still, the height of the head (or top) of the still and the angle of the wide-diameter pipe or Lyne arm, connecting the head to the condensing unit, are all very important and have an effect on the distillate.

What is patent still distillation?

Unlike Malt Whisky, Grain Whisky is distilled in a continuous operation in a patent still, which has two columns - an analyser and a rectifier. This is sometimes known as the Coffey still, after Aeneas Coffey, who developed it in 1831.

Steam is fed into the base of the analyser and hot wash into the top. As the two meet on the surface of the perforated plates, the wash boils and a mixture of alcohol vapours and steam rises to the top of the column. The spent wash runs down and is led off from the base.

The hot vapours enter the rectifier at the base and as they rise through the chambers they partially condense on the sections of a long coil through which wash is flowing. The spirit vapour condenses at the top of the rectifier and is run off through a water-cooled condenser to be saved for maturation. Once the spirit begins to be collected it runs continuously until the end of distillation.

What is wort?

Wort is the liquid drawn off the mash tun in which the malted and unmalted cereals have been mashed with warm water. Wort contains all the sugars of the malt and certain secondary constituents. After cooling, it is passed to the fermenting vats.

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What is wash?

The wort or mash technically becomes wash as soon as yeast is added to start fermentation. However, the term is usually used to refer to the liquid at the end of the fermentation. It is the wash, which forms the liquid of the first distillation in the pot still process and the only distillation in the patent still process.

How many brands of Scotch Whisky are there?

More than 2,500 brands of Scotch Whisky are sold all over the world, of which as many as 200 are available in the home market. Many of them are sold only locally or to private clubs and individuals.

Some Scotch Whisky has a smoky flavour. What causes this?

The smoky flavour of certain Scotch Whiskies originates from the peat fire over which the barley is dried, prior to grinding and mashing.

How old should the best Scotch Whisky be?

It is not possible to lay down any precise age as being the best for a particular whisky. Generally speaking, Malt Whiskies require longer to mature fully than Grain Whiskies. By law, Scotch Whisky must be at least three years old. Malt Whiskies are normally matured for up to ten years and sometimes even longer. When an age is quoted on a label, it is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle that determines the age of the whisky, no matter how small the amount. It is never an average.

How should I store my Scotch Whisky?

Unlike wine, whisky does not mature in the bottle. So even if you keep a 12-year-old bottle for 100 years, it will always remain a 12-year-old whisky. As long as the bottle is kept out of direct sunlight, the Scotch will neither improve nor deteriorate, even if it is opened. Whisky that is stored at very low temperatures can become cloudy, but the cloudiness should disappear when the whisky is returned to room temperature.

What is the best shape of a whisky glass?

A tumbler-shaped glass or goblet is probably the most popular, particularly for drinking Scotch Whisky with ice and a mixer. Scotch Whisky does not require any specific shape to enhance its delights and no rigid convention has grown up in this connection.

Many Scotch Whisky lovers believe that a malt whisky is better enjoyed in a balloon-shaped glass where the neck is narrower than the base, allowing the drinker to nose and enjoy the bouquet and character, before sipping the dram.

Can you drink whisky with oysters or other shellfish?

Yes. It is an old superstition that whisky cannot be drunk with oysters or other shellfish.

How should Scotch Whisky be drunk?

This depends entirely on your individual taste and on the occasion. Scotch Whisky is a versatile drink. Served on its own, or with a little water, it can also be a refreshing drink with ice and a mixer. Scotch Whisky presents a whole range of flavours which can be extended by the addition of soda or mineral water, lemonade, ginger ale or other mixers. Scotch Whisky is also an excellent cocktail drink. Please take a look at our selection of Scotch Whisky cocktails.

What is meant by the term 'finishing'?

Scotch Whisky must be matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years. 'Finishing' is an extension of the maturation process, when the spirit is subsequently filled into empty casks that previously held other wines or spirits for a further relatively short period at the end of maturation.

The cask used for finishing must have been drained of any liquid prior to its use and any change in the spirit will therefore result from its interaction over time with the wood of the cask.

Can Scotch Whisky casks be purchased as an investment?

The SWA is unable to offer advice on the purchase or sale of Scotch Whisky, but it is important that potential investors understand the nature and risk of the whisky market before making decisions.

While new fillings and matured whisky are sometimes purchased as a form of speculation with the intention of reselling them at a profit, it should be emphasised that only an extremely small proportion of the whisky distilled in Scotland is bought and sold in this way.

All the principal blending companies finance their own stocks of whisky, and buy mature whisky only on rare occasions when they happen to find themselves short of a particular type or make. There is no organised 'Whisky Exchange' as exists for other commodities, nor is there any officially recognised list of buying and selling prices for whisky of different types and ages.

It should be remembered that, whilst the cask matures in a warehouse, there will be annual storage and insurance charges, and evaporation will reduce the spirit in the cask. Bottling small quantities of whisky can be expensive, and of course there will also be excise duty and VAT to pay.

Investment for resale is expensive and highly speculative and should not be entered into lightly.

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Is there a collectors' market for Scotch?

Renowned for its quality, and with a wonderful range of whiskies available, it is not surprising that some people have become collectors of bottles of Scotch Whiskies.

The SWA is not in a position to offer advice on the value, purchase or sale of a particular Scotch Whisky. However, two of the best known firms conducting auctions of unusual bottles and other artefacts are Bonhams, tel: 0131 225 2266 or McTears, tel: 0141 810 2880.

More information on the world of Scotch Whisky can be found in our booklet Link opens in new window 'Questions & Answers' (PDF, 2.52Mb)

If you would like to submit a question for the FAQs section, please email cthomson-g@swa.org.uk.