Distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash, barley, corn, rye, and wheat
Whisky is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. This beverage is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak. There are many varieties of whiskey, some being very affordable while others can cost an arm and a leg.
Whisky has grown from being a local Irish and Scottish experience to an international worldwide phenomenon. Today the majority of grain growing countries have whisky distilling. Japan is considered to be a powerhouse in whisky production and you will find excellent bottles from Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa. Even locations with other spirit traditions now produce this beverage such as Sweden, Russia and Germany, including Zambia.
Common types of whisky found in Zambia include:
- Scotch - This must be made from malted barley or grain with the spirit aged in oak casks no bigger than 700 litres for no less than three years. Whisky of one type or another is made all over the world, but to be called Scotch whisky it must be made entirely in Scotland.
- Single malt - A whisky from a single distillery made using only malted barley, water and yeast.
- Grain - This is a type of whisky where the main ingredient is maize or wheat, or both.
- Blended - Made by mixing together single malt whiskies and single grain whiskies. The advantage of blending is that it ensures the flavour and quality of the whisky remains the same time after time.
- Irish whisky - Made in Eire (Republic of Ireland) or in Northern Ireland. Unlike Scotch, any malted cereal grains can be used in any proportion. Like Scotch, it must be aged in wooden casks for a minimum of three years.
Whisky (no e) refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits. Whiskey (with an e) refers to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States.
Browse below for a growing list of distributors and retailers in Zambia supplying various brands of whisky such as Jameson, Glenfiddich, Johny Walker, Teachers, John Cor Blended Whisky, Rare Old Malt Whisky, Tchay etc.
Scotch whisky
- Single Malt Whisky. This is a whisky from a single distillery made using only malted barley, water and yeast. ...
- Grain Whisky. This is a type of whisky where the main ingredient is maize or wheat, or both.
- Blended Whisky.
Different types are as follows:
- Scotch Whisky. Scotch whisky is aged in oak casks for at least 3 years. Scotch whisky is aged in oak casks for at least 3 years. It is usually made from 100% malted barley, but can also use other grains including corn and wheat.
- Irish Whiskey. Is aged for at least 3 years, inside oak casks. Is aged for at least 3 years, inside oak casks. Like its Scotch counterparts, it too is distilled in traditional small pot stills but, unlike the Scotch whisky, the Irish distillers use little or no peat and distil their whiskey three times.
- Bourbon. Bourbon is an American whiskey that must be made from at least 51% corn and contain no additives. Bourbon is stored in new charred oak barrels. It has a reddish colour, due to the fermentation process taking place inside the charred oak casks. It also tastes sweeter, albeit a little smoky with a vanilla tone.
- Tennessee. Another American whiskey, made from between 51-79% corn. Tennessee whiskey must be steeped in maple charcoal chunks before it’s placed inside the wooden casks (called the Lincoln county process). It tastes sweeter, smokier (even a little sooty), compared to bourbon.
- Rye. Rye is a North American whiskey made from at least 41% mashed rye grain and aged in charred new oak barrels. This gives it a fruity, spicy taste. The ageing process takes two years, whilst the production process is open to interpretation by each of the Canadian distilleries.
- Canadian Whisky. Unlike American whiskey, Canadian whisky uses less rye – and often uses corn – making it taste lighter and sweeter than the American whiskey. It’s often aged for at least three years in virgin casks, although some are reused.
- Japanese Whisky. Japanese whisky is drier and smokier than the other whiskies in this article. It is made from peated or double malted barley and is available as single or blended malts. It is modelled on the Scotch whisky distillation process, but they use varying different size of still to vary the overall choice of taste.