Single Malt Whisky
The proper definition of Single Malt Whisky describes it as whisky made using only one kind of malted grain and distilled from just a single distillery. Typically, single malts are produced in Scotland, called scotch single malt, and in Ireland and Japan. Sweden has also entered into the prestigious list of single malt distilleries with its Mackmyra distillery in late 1999. Although, their whiskies are young, they taste real good and should become quite popular with more aging. On trivial side of things, whiskey is just the American and Irish spelling for whisky.
For any whisky to be labeled as a single malt, the bottle should contain only whisky that is distilled from malted barley made in one distillery. Scotch single malt is only a term used to describe Scottish single malts.
In case, a single malt is blended with grain whisky then it becomes a blended whisky. Many premium blended brands prefer using 40 to 50% single malts however inexpensive brands can use as little as 15%. While blended whisky is used mostly for cocktail making, single malts are best savored neat or with little water. First, the flavor and taste is lost through mixing and secondly, single malts are just too expensive to use in cocktails.
On any bottle of single malt, the age refers to the youngest whisky used in the mix. Although, whisky comes from a single distillery, it still uses whiskies of different ages. Mixing produces a distinctive taste and style that is consistent with the brand image. Some distilleries produce whisky from only a single cask and these are aptly called as single cask. Moreover, cask strength whiskies are often high in ABV content nearing 60% while ones sold commercially in bottles as single cask whiskies are diluted to the range of 40 to 46% by ABV. Readers should not be confused between Single Cask and Cask strength. While the later is used to describe non-diluted whisky taken straight from different casks, the former refers to whisky from a single cask.
Whisky is said to be an acquired taste and it is aptly called as The Water of Life. Most connoisseurs of whisky shall either have it on the rocks or with ice. While ice tends to kill delicate flavors developed over time in the aging cask, taking it neat releases a plethora of strong flavors. The best way of tasting whisky is to start by taking small sips “on the rocks” to get the full blast of flavors and then slowly add a few drops to reduce the alcohol taste. Each brand and single malt produce differs in taste and it takes time to find a perfect blend for your taste buds. So be patient and sip away slowly by choosing from the many brands available here on comparethedrinks. Buy Single Malt Whiskey online here and save big with the cheapest prices anywhere.
Products
Talisker - Storm 70cl Bottle
Bruichladdich 15 yo 2nd Edition - Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 70cl - 46% ABV
Bruichladdich Octomore 04.2 Comus 5 yo - Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 70cl - 61% ABV
Arran Machrie Moor 2nd Edition - Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 70cl - 46% ABV
Arran 14 yo Gift Pack with Glass Tumbler - Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 70cl - 46% ABV
Wild Geese Gift Pack - Rare/Single Malt/Limited Edition - 3x 5cl
Wild Geese Single Malt - Irish Single Malt Whiskey - 70cl - 43% ABV
Wild Geese Limited Edition 4th Centennial - Irish Single Malt Whiskey - 70cl - 43% ABV
Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength - Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 12x5cl - 60% ABV
Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength - Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 5cl Miniature - 60% ABV