Whiskey is a mysterious drink. How many rumors, legends go around his story ... Is that absinthe and rum can share this palm with him. The Scots and Irish are still arguing who first gave the drink to the world. The rest seemed to accept this state of affairs. Although America is no, no, and even hints that it was she who discovered whiskey. But the rest of the countries, apparently, are following the dispute between the Scots and the Irish so enthusiastically that they don’t care about the States ... Each of the countries produces its own excellent whiskey. Is this not an idyll? Is this not harmony? “Who knows ... How to know ...” - the reader will say, and this is where the fun begins. We are aware of what the reader's problem is, in fact, that's why we are writing this article. And the problem is the following (we will gladly duplicate the name, the key phrase!) - "how to choose the right whiskey and not make a mistake." It would seem that it could be simpler - I took my wallet, went to the store, chose a bottle, bought, drank, ate, enjoyed ... And now let's take a closer look at some points. “I took my wallet” - how much money should I take with me? A thousand, two, ten, five hundred rubles? “Went to the store,” or to the stall, or to the elite alcohol boutique? This question is of fundamental importance! “I chose a bottle” - “my eyes pop into my forehead, my head is cracking, what to do, where to run, I don’t understand whiskey at all.” But we’ll tell you where to run, be patient. In fact, the choice of whiskey (the right choice of the right whiskey!) Is not an easy task. On the one hand, what could be easier - went to the store, paid, received. However, in an elite alcohol store, the seller will definitely ask you which drink you would like to purchase. Of course, the sales assistant will help you, but you should also be able to explain what you need ... This should be a dialogue, and not tense silence with fragments of thoughts: “What am I doing here? Who is it? What does he want from me? ... Here he is attached! Let's jump ahead a bit (let this be a small hint) - when choosing whiskey, pay attention to three main things: the manufacturer, the color and aroma, and the aging of the drink. There are more and more whiskey connoisseurs. Some just love the drink more than others, others are already considered fans of their craft, that is, they not only drink whiskey, but also study “where the Celtic drink came from”, how it is drunk and eaten, even the legends of the ancient Scottish, and Irish, land they tell their children at night along with the “kolobok” and “goldfish” ... And they understand the tastes and aromas of the drink like no other ... To become such “gurus”, you need to know not only the legends and history of the drink, but also some selection rules whiskey. And sometimes there is an almost hopeless situation - you need to make a gift to some important person. And you know absolutely nothing about whiskey (do not tear your hair, everything is fixable). Yes, you never know what situations still happen in life. Even if you just know everything (or almost everything) about whiskey and learn how to choose it correctly, your self-esteem will increase! Is this not enough?! High-quality alcohol is a real pleasure not only for true connoisseurs, but also for ordinary people. Real experts in the matter of choosing whiskey will immediately answer where to start, where to buy a drink and, most importantly, which one. But there is a catch. Each connoisseur has developed his own taste, his own preferences - Irish whiskey, Scotch, bourbon, etc. What is delicious for one is unbearable for another. What's left for you, a newbie? Just try and delve into, delve into and try ... And after a while you yourself will become a connoisseur of whiskey and will teach young enthusiasts. It is necessary to take into account, no matter how chic whiskey is, you should not abuse it. This applies to any alcoholic drink. Of course, whiskey is a drink with health benefits. It tones, improves brain activity, increases efficiency, promotes creative development. This opinion is shared not only by whiskey connoisseurs, but also by many doctors. The secret is that there is no secret, just whiskey has a complex composition that includes a combination of essential oils, hard cultures and tannins. With moderate (!) Use, these components help the body, but if they are abused, nothing good will come of it. You can read a detailed history of whiskey on our website in another article, so with your permission, I will not dwell on it. But consider the types of whiskey, perhaps worth it.
So, whiskey is divided into malt, grain, blended and bourbon (which we will talk about in more detail later). Malt whiskey, in turn, is divided into single malt, or single malt - this is a drink that was produced at one distillery. Sometimes it is obtained by mixing varieties with different aging periods, but certainly from the same distillery! Such a brand of whiskey can contain dozens, and what’s really there - hundreds of spirits that were received at different times and which have different aging periods. By the way, the price of the drink depends on this - the longer the period, the higher the cost of whiskey. Without a shadow of a doubt, we will tell you that this is the best whiskey and if you have the opportunity to buy single malt whiskey, do it, you will not regret it! This is followed by cask whiskey (aka blended malt, pure malt, or vatted malt) - a mixture of malt whiskey from different distilleries. In its production, only one alcohol was used. This type of whiskey can be of different strength, the richness of taste can also vary. Single cask is malt whiskey bottled from a single barrel. This type of drink can be cask-strength, and is sometimes diluted to standard. Cask strength is a very rare type of whiskey. The strength of the drink ranges from 50 to 65%.
There are a certain number of best-selling single malt whiskey brands in the world: Glenfiddich, Bowmore, The Glenlivet, Aberlour, The Macallan, Glen Grant, Laphroaig, Cardhu, Balvenie, Glenmorangie. If you see this whiskey, take it boldly! And a few more words about single-malt whiskey. It exists in two forms - "consumer whiskey" and "whiskey from merchants". Both types are good, to be honest ... But the drink from the merchants is produced at small distilleries, so it costs more than “consumer” whiskey. Still would! After all, “consumer” whiskey (the name speaks for itself) was put on the conveyor, and here you like it or not, you have to sacrifice individuality, although it didn’t get worse from this. Now blended whiskey, or blended whiskey. This species cannot be treated unequivocally. Someone loves him even more than a single malt. As they say, the taste and color ... Someone completely dismisses any attempt to exalt blended whiskey to the heights of single malt. What is a blend? This is a drink that is obtained by mixing grain and malt varieties. This is the most common type of whisky. It accounts for 90% of the total production. If the blended whiskey is dominated by the malt part (this happens only in quality drinks), then the label will say “Deluxe”. Variations on the theme can be as follows: Deluxe Blend (Finest) (Fine Old) - a blend of excellent quality with a high content of malt whiskey (at least 35%) and Super Deluxe Blend - this is Deluxe, but with an even higher content of malt whiskey (at least 75 %). So, if you see the word "Deluxe", feel free to take it. Although this is not a single malt whiskey, I assure you, you will not regret it! There is an opinion that if someone has just begun to comprehend the world of the Celtic folk drink, then it is necessary to start with blended whiskey. The most popular and at the same time inexpensive blends for this purpose are Famous Grouse, Teacher's, Dewar's White Label, Bell's, White Horse, Grant's Family, Cutty Sark, Johnnie Walker (Red and Black Label), reserve. It should be noted that mass blend manufacturers do not have the luxury of targeting a target group of consumers with specific or even unusual preferences. Therefore, mixed whiskey is a somewhat "sleek", average drink, without any surprises in the bouquet. Of course, this does not mean that they are all the same, especially since some representatives include quite bright and unusual malt spirits. In the premium segment, among the most popular blends, you will find many worthy drinks. And yet, when buying an expensive blend with an exposure of 12, 18, 21 or more years, remember that you pay quite a lot of money for a promoted brand, for a fairly cheap grain whiskey, which, although it languished for many years in oak barrels, but such honor and such a price does not deserve. Then it’s better to pay a little more and buy a chic single malt whiskey! Another type of whiskey: Semi-Premium Blend, or Premium Blend is a blend with an exposure of no more than 12 years, and Super Premium Blend is a blend with an exposure of more than 12 years, respectively. Among this class of drinks come across very expensive representatives, available only to millionaire collectors and true connoisseurs of whiskey. And finally, another type of whiskey - "supermarket". This whiskey is sold in tanks and diluted in the country of bottling. Such a drink costs several times cheaper than the promoted brands. However, its quality cannot be called bad (as for blended whiskey, we don’t even compare it with single malt.). 
The next type is grain whiskey, or grain whiskey. Let's face it, not the coolest drink, its quality is much lower than that of malt whiskey. Although there are exceptions among grain whiskey, and they win in international competitions and at all kinds of tastings. The raw material for the drink can be corn or unmalted barley. In its pure form, this whiskey is almost impossible to buy - it is mainly used to make mixed whiskeys. Grain whiskey has almost no aroma and taste. After special additional purification, this whiskey is used to make vodka and gin. We can say that it smoothes and soothes the “roughness” of taste and aroma, but thereby significantly reduces the cost of the drink. There are three varieties of grain whisky. Single Grain is a grain whiskey produced in a single distillery. Pure (Vatted) Grain is a combination of several grain whiskeys from different distilleries. Grain Single Barrel - "single barrel" grain whisky. There is only one brand of grain whiskey that can be found in retail - Choice Old Cameron Brig. But for grain whiskey, one representative is probably enough. Next, a special type of whiskey is bourbon. Despite the fact that American whiskey is a relatively young drink, it has been classified as “elite alcohol” for decades, so it should also be discussed separately. The number of brands and brands of bourbon today is too large. Therefore, the choice of American whiskey resembles a complex ritual. It is especially difficult if you need to buy it, and not, say, Irish whiskey or any other. Sometimes musicians (and ours, by the way, too) indicate bourbon in their riders, and it’s good if it’s some particular brand ... So, it’s time to sort out the variety of types of the American national drink. If the content of corn in raw materials is more than 80%, then such whiskey is called corn whiskey and is usually consumed in rural areas. If the drink contains at least 51% rye, then it is called rye. It is not very popular in the States, but there are several export versions of this drink, such as Old Over Holt. Famous European bars love it very much. If you carefully look at what is written on the labels of bourbon, you can learn a lot about the drink. It will be a kind of classification of American whiskey, only unobtrusive, as it were, by the way. However, your knowledge will be replenished, take my word for it ... So, we take the bottle in our hand and read: “Straight Whiskey”, or “Unblended Whiskey”. What does this mean? This means that whiskey is made from a mixture of rye, barley, corn and wheat (and the ratio should be as follows: 51% grain of one type and 49% of another). This also means that the bourbon is aged in the notorious oak barrels, charred from the inside and belongs to the same distillery. In addition, there are a number of requirements for such a drink - it must be distilled with a strength of no more than 80%, aged for at least 2 years (guess where? ), bottled directly into bottles, the fortress is certainly 40% (no less!) And no neutral spirits or any other additives! You can't go wrong if you buy this bourbon! Blended Whiskey, or a mixture of several whiskeys, is a common drink in the United States. It should also be noted that neutral grain alcohols, flavors, dyes are added to this type of whiskey. It differs from Scotch whiskey, guess which way ... I would not buy such a drink for myself or anyone else. Not the best quality... 
In nature, there is also "Blended Bourbon Whiskey" - a mixture of several bourbons. "Standart Bourbon" - a mixture of whiskey from various oak barrels, often of different aging periods. "Light Whiskey", or "light whiskey" is an unobtrusive drink, the grain alcohol closest to neutral (which is part of blends), the degree of purification is high. "Single Malt Whiskey" is an American analogue of single malt whiskey from Scotland, made according to all the canons. You won’t find it on sale during the day with fire, which is no wonder. If such a drink fell into your hands, buy without hesitation - you will not regret it! An interesting "exhibit" - "American Blended Whiskey" - is made from rye whiskey and bourbon. If you see “Sour Mash Whiskey” on the label, this means that “sour mash” was used to make the drink, which was obtained by adding a small amount of non-alcoholic liquid to the new mash, which remained after the distillation of the previous one. In other words, special measures were taken to enhance the aroma of the drink. Another thing to consider is that this production method is not always indicated on the bottle. This approach is alarming ... "If we see in the picture" the inscription "Sweet Mash Whiskey", then you have a softer version of the previous drink, that is, bourbon based on mash with fresh yeast (in this case, only fresh yeast cultures should be used). And yet, think before you buy such a whiskey ... "What is Bottled in Bond (or Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey)?" - you ask. We answer: "This is whiskey aged from 4 to 8 years." It must be taken into account that it is produced under state control, languishing in excise (federal) bonded warehouses, and it is bottled right at the place of manufacture, as they say, without leaving the cash register. This whiskey is also popularly called “bond”, but it has nothing to do with James Bond. Let's say one thing - this drink can and should be bought, if only because the quality of alcohols and the bottling procedure are controlled by the state. The American folk drink varies in grain content, and therefore this is reflected in the name of the variety. Wheat whiskey, or Wheat Whiskey, is a rather rare version of straight whiskey, since it must contain at least 51% wheat, and it is rarely used in production. Rye whiskey, also known as Rye Whiskey, is made from a grain blend that contains 51% rye. Finally, corn whiskey, or Corn Whiskey, is made from a blend of grains containing at least 80% corn. Exposure for this type of whiskey is optional, so it is often called "corn moonshine" behind the eyes. As they say, "think for yourself, decide for yourself", to buy or not to buy... 
Separately, Tennessee Whiskey should be mentioned. The composition of the grain mixture is similar to classic bourbon, but refined with charcoal filters, which is important. Moreover, it is filtered before being sent to oak barrels, and not before bottling. Jack Daniel "s is a bright representative of this type of whiskey. I'm sure this name tells you a lot ... "Single Barrell Whiskey" is an analogue of Single cask Scotch whiskey, if in our opinion - whiskey from one barrel, or "single barrel" bourbon. The beast called "Small Batch" or "Small Mash Bourbon" is the so-called "small batch" whiskey, that is, a mixture of a small number of specially selected bourbons from different barrels.This approach gives producers more freedom to compete for a connoisseur customer. So, we must take it!Let's tell you a little secret, although for connoisseurs it is no longer such.Some characteristics of the drink can be calculated by the color of the label.For example, whiskey aging.If you have a Jim Beam bourbon with a white label, then the aging will be 4 years, if black - eight years. However, this is already aerobatics. Therefore, be patient and read the article to the end. The information will come in handy, trust me. If you bring all types of bourbon to a common denominator (even the denominator pits, there are several!), then it will be: “Straight Whiskey”, Bottled in Bond, Tennessee Whiskey, Single Barrel Whiskey” and “Small Mash Bourbon”. The rest is up to you, but since you can’t throw words out of a song, we mentioned all varieties of American whiskey to be honest. In any case, it's up to you to decide! 
And we will complete our excursion into the “typology of whiskey” with a drink from the Green Island. Just like in Scotland, Irish whiskey is divided into malt, grain and blended. But there is one typically Irish invention - Pure Pot Still. This is whiskey made from a mixture of unmalted barley and barley malt in traditional pot still pot stills. Hence the name is. Irish whiskey has a persistent aroma characteristic only of it, which cannot be confused with anything. Try it and you will understand everything! There is a myth that Scottish whiskey is “smoky” because it is dried on peat smoke, but Irish whiskey is not, because the smoke does not directly come into contact with the malt. Don't believe it, there are quite a few drinks among Scottish Scotches that lack the slightest hint of smoke or peat. At the same time, among the "Irish" there are a certain number of very "smoky" representatives. It's just that the traditional triple distillation of Green Island whiskey tends to be softer, sweeter and lighter, often with a creamy flavor that's unmistakable. Now let's talk about the producers. Ireland, Scotland, America you already know. Relatively recently, France, Japan, Spain, Canada, and the Czech Republic joined the list. Wales is perhaps an exception, they began to produce whiskey there a long time ago, but there is only one brand of this drink in the world - Penderyn whiskey. Let's briefly talk about each "non-Celtic" drink. Canadian whiskey is mainly made from malt, rye and corn (to a lesser extent). The taste of whiskey from Canada is very different from bourbon, despite the fact that it includes the "queen of the fields". Whiskey from Canada is aged for at least three years. On the label you can often see the inscription "Rye", which means that this is a rye whiskey. Not the worst whisky. An amateur, of course, but by purchasing it, you will not regret that you did it. Whiskey from Japan is made from Indian corn or millet, while adding rice and other grains. In terms of taste and technology, Japanese whiskey is very similar to Scotch whiskey. However, there is no taste of peat in it, this is its main difference. Sometimes Japanese whiskey or even bourbon costs more than Scotch whiskey. Despite the great similarity of drinks, it is still better to buy Scotch whiskey. Probably, this should not be reminded once again ... Or is it worth it? If you try, you can find Japanese whiskey in Russia, despite the fact that it is sold mainly in Asian countries. You can do this by going to our website and ordering whiskey. Whiskey from France is an unusual drink. I don’t even know whether to reveal my cards right away or to tempt you with a couple more suggestions about the taste and aroma of this non-conformist drink. "Nonconformist?" - you ask. But how else to call whiskey, if it is made ... from buckwheat! Yes, you heard right! Therefore, it is worth buying whiskey from France and trying it at least in order to trump later in the company: “I drank buckwheat whiskey!”. Then look at the expressions on the faces of friends, if, of course, they have not tried it themselves ... Who knows ... Whiskey from Spain is a very hot whiskey, just like the inhabitants of this sunny country themselves. Only one brand of drink can boast of Spain. But, judging by the reviews of whiskey connoisseurs on the forums or at "social events" and parties outside the Internet, this is really a worthy drink. Czech Republic… The birthplace of beer, real, Czech, light, dark, mysterious, like the country itself… And they also make whiskey in the Czech Republic! Again surprised looks. To be honest, the Czechs themselves - simple hard workers - recently learned about this situation. But connoisseurs of the drink have known about this for a long time, they attended international tastings, whiskey won first places in competitions and delighted connoisseurs with its rich (almost Scottish) taste. Now, finally, everyone knows about it: both old and young, and those who are poor and those who are rich - anyone can buy it in the Czech Republic or in our online store. Hand on heart and taking a sin on my soul (because I can only be responsible for my taste preferences), I will give you one piece of advice - whiskey, represented in nature by only one or maximum two brands, is worth a try just to taste and draw conclusions. Well, when will you taste the same Czech or Welsh whiskey, whiskey from France or the Spanish drink of bullfighters? And here is such an opportunity ... As for the whiskey producer, I will add that the choice of raw materials for the drink is determined primarily by what kind of culture grows (and in abundance) in a particular country. In France, in Brittany, where whiskey is produced, there are “thickets” of buckwheat, so everything was simple with the choice of raw materials. Buckwheat, so buckwheat. In the States, corn is the main crop, and one can argue where it is the "queen of the fields", with us under Khrushchev or with the Americans then, now and always ... Just keep in mind that whiskey based on rye and buckwheat will be bitter, based on barley - dryish in taste, and based on corn - softer than all the others. And yet, it must be taken into account that the final taste will largely depend on the filtration methods, on the manufacturing technology, and on the aging of the drink. So a drink made in one country, but at different distilleries, will have different taste characteristics. Conclusion: if you don't try it yourself, you won't know. So keep it up! 
You may have a question - "if it is better to buy Scotch single malt whiskey, then which Scotch single malt whiskey to buy?". The question is correct and even urgent, it is often asked. Everyone chooses for himself. Blends are closer to someone - they do not empty the wallet much, but there are worthy representatives among them (we wrote about them, remember?), And the price-quality ratio in this case can be called the “golden mean”. Some even buy a few favorite blends, as they say, “for every day”, and keep the single malt whiskey about the holy day, for a special occasion. And there are those who call "cologne" everything that is not single malt. And everyone is right in their own way. And they still buy single malt whiskey! About the regions of Scotland where whiskey is produced, you can read in another article, if you wish. We will not dwell on this issue in detail. Now let's consider such an important factor as whiskey strength, which is one of the most important characteristics of the drink, since it also affects the taste and aroma of the drink. Is there an ideal, average strength of whiskey, the so-called "golden mean"? This question cannot be answered unambiguously. Everyone, if desired, can add the required amount of water, in which the drink opens best. And some even prefer not to dilute the whiskey with water. Despite some unspoken rules, everyone acts in their own way, nothing can be done about it. If everything is more or less clear with Scotch whiskey, then a few words should be said about bourbon. For America there is a value of degrees. In the United States, they write 100 ° proof on the bottle, which is actually 50% of the alcohol content by volume. That is, when you come to the boutique to buy bourbon, you simply need to divide the proof index in half, and you will find out the meaning of these mysterious numbers. The index is not as terrible as it is painted. Now, no less important characteristics, one might even say, the “face” of whiskey is its color. This also includes the taste and aroma of the drink. They say that connoisseurs of aroma and color can determine the aging time of whiskey. Well, that's why they are experts ... The older the whiskey, the darker its color. And yet there are exceptions, if, for example, caramel was added to the "water of life". Whiskey becomes lighter after it has been aged in bourbon or sherry casks. There is one unspoken rule - a quality drink should be transparent. This suggests that the technology of its production by the company is fully observed and that water from the purest springs was added during the manufacture. Whiskey color varies from light yellow to brown. But in any case, the drink should in no case be cloudy or contain the slightest hint of sediment. If you wish, you can conduct a small experiment, with the help of which a fake is distinguished at a time. You just need to shake the bottle and look at the bubbles formed. They should be large and last a long time. In addition, in a quality drink, after it has been shaken, the drops should slowly flow down the glass of the bottle. In singed whiskey, they drain very quickly. Another point: in boutiques of elite alcohol, you will definitely be allowed to taste whiskey before you buy it. This is very important, no one needs a "pig in a poke", you see. Ideally, the aroma of whiskey should be felt malt or oak notes. They didn't keep him in a cistern! In addition, high-quality "living water" should not stink of alcohol. Real whiskey leaves a long aftertaste. Next, according to the plan, is the aging of the drink. Aging time is important because it tells you what quality of whiskey you are holding in your hands. A high-quality drink can already be called if it has been aged for at least three years. Further - more, and the exposure time, and the price. Another detail is the barcode. Be sure to look for the presence of this "abracadabra" on the bottle. Of course, the barcode is not one hundred percent protection against forgery, but when it is not there, it is even worse, then you should not take whiskey. For example, if the whiskey is Scotch, then the code should correspond to the UK, that is, it should start with 50. If the code starts with 50, and the country is France, then it’s clear what kind of whiskey is in front of you. Now let’s talk directly about the points of sale of drinks. I think it’s not worth reminding once again that whiskey and strong drinks should be bought only in specialized stores - in luxury alcohol boutiques, of which there are quite a lot now, in almost every city. What should be done without leaving the cash register is to ask the seller to show you a certificate of quality. You are required to present such a document. If the seller refuses to do this, then something is wrong here. Then it is better not to buy whiskey in such an institution. In elite boutiques, you can use the services of sales assistants who will help you choose the type of whiskey that interests you and that will be acceptable to you in terms of price-quality ratio. If there are no specialized stores selling elite alcohol in your city, then drinks should be bought in large supermarkets. Recently, whiskey producers have been cooperating with supermarket chains. In no case do not buy whiskey in kiosks and other places! Moreover, experts advise you to choose one specialized store that will suit you in all respects and buy alcoholic beverages only there. It is necessary to pay attention to the cost of whiskey. If the price seems suspiciously low to you, then it is better to refuse to buy this drink. It is quite possible that this is a fake. Don't forget: the miser pays twice! However, there is good news: usually very expensive drinks are not counterfeited, as it is simply unprofitable - for this it would be necessary to “charge an entire glass factory” that would produce them. No crook will go for it. As for the appearance of the bottle, sometimes it can even help to determine whether it is a fake in front of you or not. Burnt whiskey producers always rely on the inexperience of the client and the low price of the drink, so they almost always save on the bottle and label. Usually it is unevenly pasted or simply of poor quality. When you have already decided on the purchase of whiskey, it would be useful to look at the manufacturer's website how the bottle should actually look and what protection it has. The absence of an excise stamp on the bottle should also be alarming. This suggests that the drink is either a fake or was brought into the country illegally. Take a close look at where the whiskey is made. If the drink is Scottish or Japanese, then it must be produced in these countries, and not anywhere else. A small lyrical digression. If you want to give a gift to a friend or chef, it is best to find out in advance what kind of whiskey he prefers, his favorite producing country. You can buy a so-called set - whiskey plus special glasses for it. With a friend, of course, things are easier, but how you will make inquiries about the boss's preferences is already a question. And remember, nothing is impossible!..Now the fun part. We have already entered the wine boutique, have already chosen a drink, taken it in our hand and see the label… And here we will stop in more detail. Usually we don't pay attention to the label. But in vain! In most cases, we simply read the information that is written there, and even then inattentively, so, for the sake of form, and sometimes we don’t read at all or look at the ornate letters-patterns depicted there. For such inattention, we often pay with our health and wallet (I remind you again - the stingy and inattentive pays twice! ). Therefore, it is useful to consider the terms and other important points depicted on the label, and which we have not yet mentioned. The ability to correctly read the "calling card" of whiskey will allow you to learn the most basic about the drink contained in the cherished bottle. So, what we see on the label: - Brand name. For single malt whiskey, it usually matches the name of the distillery-producer. - The year the distillery was founded. - Capacity: Whiskey is usually bottled in 700 ml, 750 ml and 1 liter bottles. - Type of whiskey. Often all the information about the drink is brought together, for example: "Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey" means you have a Scotch single malt whiskey from the Isle of Islay. - Aging period: three years or more. If the label does not indicate the minimum age of spirits, then we have the so-called NAS (No Age Statement), that is, “whiskey without indicating age.” - The inscription "Non chill-filtered" indicates that the drink was not subjected to cold filtration (the process of removing secondary components from whiskey - a number of fatty acids, for example, causing it to become cloudy when cooled. Whiskey with a strength above 46% is usually not subjected to such manipulation. - " Whiskey "or" Whiskey ". An experienced person will immediately recognize where the whiskey is Scottish and where Irish. The difference is only one letter, be careful. Irish whiskey has one letter more - "Whiskey". - Often you can see the definite article on the label "The" (for example, The Balvenie whiskey), which indicates that the drink was bottled by the distillery itself under the strictest control of blending masters - The inscription "DoubleWood" is a direct hint that the whiskey was aged in different barrels. in bourbon casks, then in sherry casks - If you see the Natural Coloring label, you can be calm for your health. This means that no additives, dyes and other good things (even caramel) are in no drink. Its color is natural (as the inscription is translated), acquired exclusively during its aging in oak barrels. Recently, the division of whiskey by years has become very popular, there are even entire groups of “pensioner” drinks. This trend came from Scotland, the cradle of whiskey production. There is a tradition in the country to buy a whole barrel of whiskey and keep it until some important event in the family, be it the birth of a child or a wedding. The barrel is waiting in the wings at the distillery. And at the appointed time it is opened and ... "they lived happily ever after." You can buy a barrel and give it to the birthday man. Makes a great gift! It is very fashionable to purchase such a drink so that the year of spirits and the year of the birthday coincide. The only negative is that in other countries there is no such tradition, since there are no such old spirits as in Scotland. Still, do not be discouraged ahead of time. Old and relatively young drinks, namely whiskey of all stripes, you can buy in our online store at any time convenient for you, you just have to go to our website! Here you can buy original drinks for true connoisseurs and only with excise stamps. Competent sales assistants will help you choose a worthy drink for any occasion! Now you yourself know how to buy whiskey correctly and not make a mistake! In our store you will have the opportunity to taste the whiskey you like, and at the same time test your knowledge about the right choice of drink! Feel like a true connoisseur, do not deny yourself the pleasure! However, we should not forget that excessive consumption of even the best single malt whiskey can harm your health. Drink this magical drink should be in small doses and slowly. Enjoy the "water of life"! We wish you amazing discoveries and sensations during tastings!
A real taste for good alcohol is a huge rarity. But you can develop the ability to understand drinks, just by remembering a few simple recommendations and making a couple of trial "outings" in specialty stores. In the process of such “learning”, one cannot ignore whiskey: this noble drink must be able to both drink and choose. You will have to deal with the first one yourself, with the second - this article will help.
Which whiskey is better to choose: malt, grain or blended?
Whiskey belongs to the group of spirits made from grain by malting, fermenting, distilling and further aging in traditional oak barrels. Basically, the fortress of whiskey is 32-50%, but some specimens reach 60%.
Classic whiskey is considered to be malt whiskey, produced exclusively from barley malt and labeled as malt whiskey. It is divided into three groups:
| Variety | Production features | Popular names | Marking |
| Single malt | The drink is produced at one enterprise and is a mixture of alcohols with different degrees of exposure. | Aberlour, Dalmore Sirius, Highland Park, Bowmore | single malt |
| Bochkova | The production process blends single malt whiskey from different distilleries. Thanks to the correct blend, the shortcomings of individual alcohols are hidden. The resulting drink may have different flavor variations and shades of strength, mainly the result depends on the skill of the manufacturer. | Shieldaig, Ballantine's | vatted/ pure malt |
| single barrel | Whiskey is made on the basis of one barrel, mixing with other spirits does not occur. Due to this, unique taste and aroma qualities are preserved. | Tyrconnell | single cask malt |
The most expensive and best whiskey is single malt. Pure and single cask malt are somewhat inferior in quality, and the latter option is also very difficult to find on sale.
Grain whiskey (grain) serves as a base for other drinks rather than acting in an independent role. It is used to make vodka, gin, and blended whiskey. Very rarely on store shelves comes across the Choice Old Cameron Brig brand, which produces a pure grain drink.
The most popular are blended varieties, designated as blended and considered a drink for the masses. They are a malt-grain mixture: at the same time, the more malt, the better the drink is. Despite the frank budget of blended whiskey, it often has an excellent taste. For example, such brands as Johnnie Walker, White Horse, Chivas Regal have proven themselves well.
Bourbon stands out. This is a drink of American origin, for the manufacture of which corn, rye and oat grains are used. An amateur, but worth a try.
Whiskey: how to choose by country of origin?
The country in which whiskey was made can tell a lot about the taste of the drink. Mostly found on the shelves:
- Irish whiskey. Ideal option for a beginner. It is characterized by soft notes with a spicy aftertaste of blackcurrant. Main brands - St. Patrick, Cooley, Bushmills, Jameson and Midleton.
- Scottish tape. The leader among whiskeys in terms of fame. The drink has a peaty taste and a pronounced smell of smoke. Scotch is usually drunk diluted. The best brands are Glenfiddich, AnCnoc, Johnnie Walker, White Horse, Chivas Regal.
- Japanese whiskey. It is made according to a technology similar to the "Scotch", but the drink turns out to be less "smoky". Japanese whiskey is characterized by excellent quality, as well as low prevalence on domestic shelves. The main brands are Yoichi, Nikka, Suntory.
- Canadian whiskey. The most "unexpected" drink, which is due to the peculiarity of Canadian legislation. About 9% of almost anything can be added to whiskey - vodka, rum, cognac. As a result, the taste of the drink is completely unpredictable. It is recommended to try the "works" of manufacturers such as Black Velvet and Canadian Club.
- American whiskey. Sweetish taste and long aftertaste are characteristic features of bourbon. In softness, it can be compared with the "Irish". Traditionally, Jack Daniel's, Old Virginia and Jim Beam brands are presented on the shelves.
Each type of whiskey finds its admirer, so it is recommended to just try it. Even drinks from the same country can vary, so don't get too frustrated with scotch if you don't like Johnnie Walker - there's always the option of turning to another brand.
What whiskey to buy after examining the bottle?
Alcohol stores are literally littered with fakes, from which a real drink can be distinguished by a bottle. She is characterized by:
- evenly glued and neat label;
- undamaged cork;
- excise stamp;
- general "tidy" appearance.
In addition to the type of whiskey and the country of origin, the label must contain information about the exposure. Only due to a long stay in oak barrels, a unique noble drink is formed from alcohol. The age of a whiskey is determined by the youngest spirit in the composition, but as soon as the drink is in the bottle, the countdown stops. For bourbon, the minimum exposure is 2 years, for the rest of the whiskey - 3 years. The optimal age is considered to be 5-10 years: it is this drink that is recommended to choose.
A quality drink meets the following requirements:
- transparency;
- perfectly pure color;
- lack of sediment and clots.
There is a true test to determine how good a whiskey is. If you shake the bottle slightly, then liquid should slowly flow down its walls, and air bubbles should form in the drink itself.
No one can resist a good whiskey. It's all about making the right choice.
I would like to start this topic with a question that causes a lot of controversy: “Is Jack Daniels whiskey or bourbon?”.
If you look at the composition, which is 80% corn, then this is a classic bourbon. And if you look at the production process, then it adds another additional step - filtering the drink through charcoal from sugar maple wood. It is this little procedure that takes Jack Daniels from the bourbon category to the whiskey category. But not just whiskey, but Tennessee Whiskey, all bottles of the drink are marked with this inscription.
The popular and beloved American whiskey Jack Daniels began its history in the 19th century. Then the young boy Jasper Newton Daniel, who was only 13 years old, created this famous male drink.
Despite the fact that, at the legislative level of America, the production of alcoholic beverages of this kind is allowed only in the state of Kentucky, an exception was made for Jack.
This brand of whiskey is aged in oak wine barrels, which gives it a special taste and aroma. Today, the rights to manufacture and sell the drink belong to the American company Brown-Forman Corporation.
Chivas Regal (Scotland)
One of the most famous brands of Scotch whiskey, which occupies a special place in the premium segment.
The company was founded in 1801 by two brothers, John and James Chivas. Although before this type of whiskey, Chivas Brothers produced other brands that were popular among the high ranks of Great Britain and even with Queen Victoria herself.
To date, there are six types of whiskey in the Chivas Regal line.
The best selling brand worldwide. The company was founded in 1867 by Johnny Walker's son.
More than 130 million bottles are produced annually. Under this brand, both inexpensive whiskeys with a minimum aging period and long-aged whiskeys of the premium segment are produced.
The Johnnie Walker line starts with Red Label. This is a standard blend. It consists of 9 varieties aged 3-5 years. This whiskey first saw the light in 1906-1908 and was called Old highland Scotch Whiskey. The modern name according to the color on the bottle label appeared in 1909.
To date, the Johnny Walker brand is owned by the British company Diageo. It is the largest manufacturer of premium drinks.
In addition to the classic Johnnie Walker color line, this brand produces:
Exclusive line of blended whiskey John Walker & Sons
Johnnie Walker Limited Edition
Unique collection of Johnnie Walker Explorers "Club Collection
One of the best Scotch whiskeys, today it ranks 3rd in the world in terms of sales.
George Ballantine's & Sons was founded by George Ballantine back in 1827. And the Ballantine trademark was registered only in 1920. And in Europe, they learned about this drink only in 1960.
The composition of the blends does not change and is kept a strict secret for decades. Currently, the Ballantine's brand is owned by the French company Pernod Ricard and the line includes 12 types of whiskey.
The only whiskey distiller to win the Guinness World Record for selling £250,000 of collectible Macallan Fine & Rare vintage whiskey.
The Macallan distillery was founded in the 18th century, and it received official permission to produce whiskey one of the first in Scotland - in 1824.
For the production of this brand of whiskey, a special variety of barley is used, characterized by low yields. Small copper stills provide a dense whiskey flavor. The drink is aged in oak barrels from sherry and bourbon.
The Macallan Collections:
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The company was founded in 1757 and named after its founders Beaumont Hankey and Hugh Bannister. To date, the rights to manufacture and sell the drink of this brand belong to the corporation Inver House Distillers Ltd.
Hanky Bannester blends use single malt whiskeys from distilleries owned by the aforementioned corporation: Balblair, Speyburn, Pultney, Knockdhu and Balmenach. Blenders carefully select the finest whiskeys to create a soft, light and balanced blend that harmoniously combines the lightness of Lowland grain whiskeys and the intensity of Highland malt whiskeys.
The blended whiskey company was founded in 1883 by James Logan Mackey. Also, his family owned a small tavern "White Horse Inn" and it was in her honor that a strong Scottish drink was named.
It is curious that the number 1742 on the White Horse logo is not the date the whiskey recipe was created: the same tavern was built in 1742.
The composition of this drink includes 40 varieties of malt and grain whiskey. This blend creates a harmonious balanced taste. The leading role in it is played by Lagavulin, a single malt whiskey grown on the island of Islay.
Today the brand is owned by British alcohol giant Diageo.
This “famous partridge”, this is how the name is translated from English, has become one of the favorite brands of connoisseurs of burning drinks. Although according to the history of the brand, which dates back to 1896, this whiskey was originally called simply "Grouse" (partridge) - in honor of the favorite game of the Scots.
As part of a blend of whiskey Famous Grouse - single malt and grain whiskeys. Glenmorangie (Scotland)
In 1843, William Matthewson built a small distillery, where he launched the production of whiskey according to his own recipe. To date, the distillery, or as it is also called the Glenmorangie distillery, is one of the smallest in Scotland and it specializes in the production of single malt whiskey.
A special soft slightly creamy taste of the drink is obtained by aging in oak bourbon barrels for at least ten years.
This is a fairly well-known blended Scotch whisky. It is produced by the family company William Grant & Sons. Today it is already the fifth generation, which is engaged in the development of the family business.
The distillery was built in 1887, and the first bottle of Grant's whiskey was bottled 11 years later in 1898.
This brand has won numerous worldwide awards, including the World Whiskeys Awards as "Best Blended Scotch Whiskey aged at least 12 years".
This is a fairly inexpensive blended Scotch whiskey with a mild honey taste. The drink is produced according to a unique recipe developed by James Buchanan in the 80s of the XIX century.
The whiskey distillery is by far the highest in Scotland. It is located at an altitude of 327 meters above sea level.
Now the rights to sell and manufacture the legendary Black and White belong to the London giant Diageo.
The most recognizable and best-selling Irish whiskey in the world. The company was founded by John Jameson in 1780. Shortly after its founding, the John Jameson & Son distillery became one of the largest distilleries in Ireland.
Today, whiskey is produced according to the same technology as 200 years ago - malt drying in closed ovens, triple distillation, long exposure (up to 10 years) in oak barrels.
The Jameson label features John Jameson's coat of arms and his family motto, "Sine metu" ("Without Fear").
The taste of the mass brand is very mediocre, fakes are often found.
The history of the legendary Tullamore Dew began in 1829, when Michael Mallo built a distillery on a hill in the agricultural region of County Offaly.
Tullamore Dew, like almost 190 years ago, is one of the most famous drinks in Ireland. Elite Tullamore Dew 12-year-old is in special demand.
To date, this brand of alcohol is owned by Cantrell & Cochrane Corporation.
This is a truly legendary Irish whiskey with a 400-year history. He appeared in 1608, and in other countries they learned about him four years later in 1612.
Today, the Old Bushmills Distillery is the oldest distillery in Europe and the only historical distillery in Ireland.
True gourmets say that the taste of this whiskey cannot be confused with anything else, it is one of a kind. This is facilitated by a unique production technology and high environmental friendliness of the region.
To date, the brand belongs to the London company Diageo.
The mass brand taste has "noble" flavor notes, but don't expect anything out of the ordinary.
This drink is the undisputed leader among Canadian whiskey and it is sold in 50 countries around the world.
For the first time Black Velvet was born in 1951, but under a different name - Black Label. When master distiller Jack Napier and part-time creator of the drink took a sample of the first batch of whiskey, without any doubt changed the name to Black Velvet.
To date, on sale you can find Black Velvet Canadian and American counterparts. Although they are produced at the same distillery, they still vary greatly in taste. Since the American version is bottled in the USA and customized to their taste standards.
Legendary Canadian whiskey, the creation of which was timed to coincide with the arrival of the English monarch George VI in 1939. The best masters of Seagram's worked on it. It consists of about 50 of the best varieties of whiskey of varying degrees of exposure.
On an industrial scale, Crown Royal began to be produced only in 1964, but it was an incredible success. A beautiful bottle in the form of a cut diamond, with a crowned cap in a velvet blue case, could not leave anyone indifferent.
The Crown Royal brand is currently owned by Diageo.
Japanese whiskey
Vzboltay has already reviewed before. And in order not to repeat ourselves, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with this topic on our website.
Summing up all of the above, I would like to say that in one topic it is difficult to fit all the varieties and brands of whiskey that are worthy of your attention.
But we tried to make a brief overview of the most popular brands that will help you choose the right vector to dive irrevocably into the world of amber temptation.
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You can talk about it for a long time and in detail. So that you do not get lost in the alcohol supermarket and do not go crazy with the variety of varieties, we will give a couple of tips on choosing this wonderful drink.
So, whiskey is malt, grain and blended. There is also bourbon, but more on that later.
Malt whiskey, or malt whiskey Whiskey is made from pure barley malt without mixing it with grain whiskey. Malt whiskey has several subspecies.
Single malt or single malt- This is a drink produced at one distillery, which may contain hundreds of spirits obtained at different times and with different aging (by the way, the price of a drink depends on the degree of aging). Single malt whiskey is the coolest. Definitely. If you have money for it, just take it and leave.
Further in the degree of coolness follows barrel whiskey(aka blended malt, pure malt, or vatted malt) is a blend of malt whiskey from different distilleries. Only one alcohol was used in its production. This whiskey can be of different strengths and have different flavors.
single helmet is a malt whiskey bottled from a single cask. Cask strength- a very rare type of whiskey, characterized by high strength - from 50 to 65%.
Pure malt- a mixture of malt whiskey from different distilleries, the name literally translates as "pure malt", which means that only one alcohol was used in its production.
In addition to malt, there is also blended whiskey. It is obtained by mixing grain and malt varieties. It's not nearly as cool as malt whiskey, but it's not as expensive either. That is why 90% of whiskey sales worldwide come from blended varieties.
Grain whiskey, or grain whiskey This is whiskey made from barley. Few people know anything about him. Now you know.
Yes, by the way, there is also bourbon. Bourbon is an American whiskey made from crushed corn kernels, as well as rye or oats.
Now that you have figured out the cryptic English words flaunting on bottle labels, pay attention to the country of the drink manufacturer.
Probably the most famous whiskey in the world. The Scotsman is characterized by the taste of peat, over the fire from which the malt used to make whiskey is smoked. Usually, good scotch smells like smoke, and not every stern bearded man will be able to drink it undiluted.
The most famous brands are Johnnie Walker, Cardhu, White Horse, Chivas Regal, Glenfiddich.
Irish whiskey was a very popular drink until the beginning of the twentieth century, but with the introduction of the UK embargo on its supply, it lost its position. There are only three manufacturers left in the country: Bushmills, Midleton and Cooley. Triple distilled and non-smoked, the Irish is usually very mild, and the blackcurrant bush flavor adds zest to the drink.
If you are a beginner, we recommend starting with Irish.
Japanese whiskey produced according to Scottish technology, but it does not have such a rich smoky flavor as its European counterpart. The Japanese is distinguished by consistently high quality, for which it is valued all over the world, but it is not so easy to find it on store shelves, since the Japanese, as a rule, drink everything themselves. Main brands: Nikka, Suntory, Yoichi.
Canadian whiskey mainly made from corn, but rye whiskey can also be found. Under Canadian law, up to 9.09% of additional ingredients can be added to the drink - such as rum, cognac or even vodka, so the taste of a Canadian can be anything. Are you ready to take the risk? Famous brands: Canadian Club and Black Velvet.
American whiskey, as mentioned above, is called bourbon and is made from corn.
The most famous brands you probably know are Jack Daniels and Jim Beam.
Whiskey is such a popular drink all over the world that its range can shock a beginner. How to choose a good whiskey in all this variety and correctly determine for yourself which one is better, our small rating will tell you. Thanks to it, you will be able to recognize the names of whiskey brands in three categories: cheap, elite and medium price segment in terms of price and quality.
- Tomatin "Legendary Scot".- Whiskey "Tomatine" - is produced in the Highland region (Scotland). This blend is aged in American oak vats and is subsequently 40 proof. Its tasting characteristics are filled with nuances of fruits, spices and light sharpness.
- Clan MacGregor. This 40% ABV Scottish blend is made in Glasgow. has a pleasant fruity-malty character.
- William Lowson's. This forty-degree Scottish blend is aged in oak barrels from under and. Thanks to this, notes of fruits, toffee, oak wood, butter, cereals and sweets are clearly felt in William Lowson's.
- Black&White. This Scottish blend with an alcohol content of 40 degrees is aged in oak barrels. The taste is very soft and pleasant, it is well balanced and has a slight sweetness.
- Old Smuggler. This three-year-old forty-degree Scotch has a surprisingly soft, harmonious and balanced taste.
- Highland Queen 3YO. This three-year-old forty-degree blend is also produced in the Scottish Highlands. You can clearly feel the notes of fruits, licorice, honey, sweetness and spices in it.
- Beveland Kindilan. This three-year-old blend is made in Canada. It has a classic strength of 40 degrees, and juicy notes of fruits, honey, spices, needles and grains are heard in the taste.
- white horse. This forty-degree blend is produced in Scotland. stands out for its softness and honey notes with bright peaty nuances.
- Passport Scotch. The Scottish blended whiskey of this brand has an alcohol content of 40 degrees, and it is insisted for 5 years. Soft creamy taste - "Passport Scotch" - is woven from notes of vanilla, peach, apricot, marzipan, smoke and smoked meat.
- Heaven Hill Old Style Bourbon. This American four-year-old bourbon is produced in Kentucky and aged in charred barrels. - "Heavent Hill Distillers" - has a strength of 40 degrees and woody, soft and buttery-sweet notes.
- wild turkey. Produced in Kentucky (USA). It is aged for 6 years in new American oak barrels and has an alcohol content of 40.5%. In its soft sweet-oily taste, pear, vanilla, caramel and cinnamon are clearly felt.
Overview of elite brands of whiskey
- "Black Label" by Johnnie Walker. This is an excellent representative of deluxe blended Scottish whiskeys. -Black Label- is aged for 12 years, and hints of fruit, citrus, raisins, sherry, smoke and smoke are clearly felt in it.
- Glenfarclas 10YO. The single malt is produced in the famous Speyside. It is aged for 10 years in oak sherry vats, and its alcohol content corresponds to 40 degrees. It is rich in nuances of vanilla, chocolate, spices, fruits, cloves, cinnamon, malt and sherry.
- Inchmurrin 12 YO. This highland scotch is produced in the Highland region. It belongs to the single malt type and has an alcohol content of 46% due to a long twelve-year aging in oak bourbon vats. Softness is complemented by notes of flowers, licorice, peach, honey, herbs, anise and ginger.
- Glenfiddich 15 YO. An excellent example of a single malt whisky. Whiskey "Glenfiddich" - produced in the Highlands (Scotland). Thanks to fifteen years of aging in oak containers from sherry and bourbon, it acquires a strength of 40 degrees and rich buttery accents with hints of spices, pears and chocolate.
- "The Lasanta" Glenmorangie. Highland is famous for its single malt whiskeys, and this is no exception. It is aged in sherry casks for 12 years and has an alcohol content of 43 degrees, and its complex creamy character has hints of toffee, spice, hazelnut, orange, raisin and sherry.
- Glenlivet. This Scottish single malt scotch is aged for 15 years in French oak barrels. has a strength of 40% and shades of fruit, oak wood, nuts and sweets.
Popular whiskey brands
- Ardbeg "TEN". This fairly strong (46%) single malt Scotch is aged in sherry and bourbon casks for 10 years. The bouquet is represented by notes of smoke, smoked meats, toffee, lemon, banana, pepper, coffee, salt, lime, peat and cappuccino.
- Tomatine 18 Yo. This 46% ABV single malt Scotch is made in the Highlands. It is aged for 18 years in oak sherry casks, which gives it notes of citrus, honey, dark chocolate and sweetness.
- "Amrut" Single Cask Sherry. This single malt Indian whiskey attracts attention with high strength (56.5%) and an unusually rich combination of notes of chocolate, spices, menthol, cinnamon, cloves, raisins, lemon peel, pepper and sweets.
- Dalmore "Cigar Malt" Reserve. This scotch is interesting because it has been aged for 15 years in sherry and Cabernet and Sauvignon casks, and its strength is 44 degrees. Production is located in the Highlands of Scotland. Has notes of spices, vanilla, tropical fruits, bananas & orange peel.
- Talisker 10YO.- Whiskey "Talisker 10 years" - produced on the Isle of Skye. Its alcohol content is 45.8% and its characteristics are dominated by notes of smoke, smoke, tar and sweets, which are classic for this region.
- "Balvenie" Doublewood 17 YO. This single malt Speyside Scotch is aged in sherry casks for 17 years and reaches an alcohol content of 43 degrees. Tasting characteristics are represented by notes of spices, vanilla, cherries, toffee, oak, almonds, cinnamon, dried fruits and sweets.
TOP 10 best whiskeys in terms of price and quality
1. "Grant's" Ale Cask Finish
Blended 40% proof Scotch aged in ale casks. As a result, it has a pleasant sweetish-malty character with hints of fruit, malt, smoke and smoke.
2. "Evan Williams" Extra Aged (Black)
Bourbon comes from the US state of Kentucky. It is aged for 5 years, and its strength is 43 degrees. In its rich taste, accents of oak wood, vanilla, caramel, apples and mint are clearly and clearly audible.
3. Jameson
Irish 40% blended whiskey. It is incredibly popular due to its soft and well-balanced taste with notes of sweetness and nuts. - Whiskey "Jamison" - is aged in oak barrels, and the fortress is standard for whiskey 40%.
4. Bushmills Original
Irish blended whiskey is produced in County Antrim. It is aged in American oak sherry casks and is 40% ABV. The taste of this drink is quite fresh and delicate with light accents of honey, spices and spiciness.
5. Jack Daniel's
One of the most popular American bourbons is the Tennessee type. aged in American oak barrels, and its strength is 40%. The taste is distinguished by vanilla, smoky, caramel and woody notes.
6. "Red Label" Johnnie Walker
The famous forty-degree blend is produced in Scotland. The taste is full of nuances of vanilla, smoke, smoked meats and sweets.
7. The Black Grouse
The famous Scottish brand of blended whiskey is known all over the world. The fortress is only 40 degrees, and on the palate you can hear shades of smoke, smoked meat, spices, oak, cocoa and sweets.
8. Highland Queen 12YO
A popular brand of blended whiskey in Scotland is also made in the Highlands. The drink is aged for 12 years, as a result of which it has a strength of 40 degrees and notes of fruits, chocolate, spices, nuts, malt and ginger on the palate.
9 Spicebox
The three-year-old Canadian blend is aged in oak barrels and is 40% abv. Taste - Spicebox whiskey - is represented by notes of vanilla, apples and cinnamon with a long sweet and slightly rye aftertaste.
10 Crown Royal
Tenth in the ranking - the famous Canadian grain blend is produced in Ontario. The drink is infused in white American oak barrels, and it has 40 degrees of alcohol. The taste is rich with notes of vanilla, flowers, oak wood, violets and has a long creamy aftertaste.
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