Whiskey, or scotch, is one of the mostpopular spirits in the world. Its aroma and taste are created through a variety of production processes that result in a drink, for which people are willing to pay a lot of money. It is made from such crops as rye, barley, corn, wheat and even buckwheat. The strength of this drink can vary from 32 to 50%. Traditionally it is produced in Ireland and Scotland.
Where was the first time this hotdrink? The answer to this question is not found, but Ireland and Scotland consider themselves the homeland of whiskey and argue among themselves about who was the first in this matter. The Scots claim that they replaced it in the original process with grapes for barley. They called the resulting drink "water of life". But the Irish say that their patron, Saint Patrick, invented this recipe and began to cook whiskey exactly on their island. Mass production of Scotch began in the Scottish monasteries, it was used exclusively for medicinal purposes. But the farmers took over the experience from the monks and began to produce it for sale. This drink was more like a moonshine, it could not stand it, but drank right after distillation. In the 19th century, handicraft production was able to move to a new level thanks to the installation of Coffey, which helped to significantly increase the volume of the manufactured product. Since this time, the industrial release of this product begins, there are firms that specialize only in its production. Nowadays, Scotch and Irish scotch are considered the best. Whiskey 12 years aging is appreciated all over the world.
There is such a classification of whiskey:
1. Malt - is made only from barley malt, without any impurities. In turn, it is also divided into:
2.Grain is practically all blended whiskey, only a small part goes on sale at retail. This kind, without any admixtures, has practically no aroma. Most often it is used as a technical raw material for making another grade of this drink.
3.Mixed is a drink that is obtained by mixing (combining) malt and grain types of scotch. 90% of the total production falls on this species. If it has a high malt content, then this drink has the status of "Lux".
4. "Bourbon" - American recipe, which involves the production of whiskey from corn, and has a special technology.
The production of this drink is divided into stages:
1.Preparation of barley malt - at this stage, barley is processed. It needs to be cleaned, cleaned and dried. After that, it is soaked and laid on the bottom of the malt for a period of up to 10 days. When the grain sprouts, it is sent to dry. So it turns out malt. Of unextended grains make a grain of whiskey.
2.Drying is the process of drying malt, which occurs under the influence of hot smoke from the combustion of charcoal, peat or beech shavings. So it turns out "smoked grain". This stage is used only in Scotland, which gives a twist to scotch from this part of the UK.
3. Making wort - dried malt is turned into flour and stirred in water. This mixture settles for 8-12 hours.
4. Fermentation, or fermentation - when the must cools, yeast is added to it and placed in a warm place (35-37 degrees) for two days. The strength of the resulting beverage reaches 5%.
5.Distillation - 5% of the drink is distilled two or three times. After the first distillation, the liquid strength reaches 25-30%, after the second - 70%. For further use, take only the drink that flows in the middle of the distillation process. The form of the distilling apparatus is unique in each distillery, since it greatly affects the taste of whiskey. The resulting beverage is diluted with water, and its strength is reduced to 50-64%.
6. Exposure - whiskey stands in oak barrels.If it's a barrel of sherry originally from Spain, you get a high quality drink. But often used and barrels of American oak, which stood "bourbon".
7.Blending - this stage is used for mixed scotch. Here merge into one malt and grain species of whiskey, which have a different degree of aging (from 3 years). After that, they are kept for a couple of more months. From this period depends the cost of the drink: if only a few weeks, it's cheap, if 6-8 months - a high-quality expensive drink.
8.Filling - a settled drink is filtered with the help of paper membranes. The temperature should be in the range of 2-10 degrees. After that, the scotch is diluted with water taken from natural sources. If the composition of the mixture includes whiskey 12 years of aging, then its name is added De luxe, that is, it is the highest quality drink.
In 1860 in Scotland the law was issued, inwhich said that this alcohol should be aged for at least 3 years. If malt scotch is not intended for blending, it is aged from 5 to 20 years. Whiskey 12 years of aging refers to the original varieties, 21 years - to collectible. The rarest varieties are stored in barrels up to 50 years. In Ireland, the most common period is 5 years, in Canada - 6.
Это бренд поставляет на рынок элитное спиртное из Scotland The founders of the company "Chivas" were two brothers, John and James Chivasy back in 1801. They felt that there was no such whiskey in Scotland that could have elite status. Therefore, they decided to create such a drink with their own hands. The newly created scotch was very good, and he was quickly loved by all the nobility of Scotland. But the brothers did not stop there. The next step was the creation of long-lasting whiskey for export to the USA. This brand was named Chivas Regal 25 and it quickly conquered the American market. But in 1920, the Prohibition was introduced in the States, which interrupted trade. After its cancellation, the company returned to the market under the Chivas Regal 12 brand. Nowadays, Chivas Regal sells only the aged drink. The term of its exposure - from 12 to 21 years. Whiskey "Chivas" 12 years aged in special conditions and is considered the most popular. The eighteen year old scotch was created in 1997 by Colin Scott and was awarded a bunch of certificates and medals for quality. The 20-year-old is aged 21 years, he was created in 1953 specifically for the coronation of Elizabeth II. But all the same whiskey "Rigal" 12 years of aging is bought up much more willingly because of lower prices and excellent quality.
This drink is produced in the area of the Spey River inScotland, which is famous for its distilleries all over the world. This whiskey is of high quality, it is kept in sherry casks. Its distinctive feature is triple distillation, while the standard uses 2 laps. The founder of this enterprise is Alexander Reed, who in 1824 acquired a license and opened his distillery. In subsequent years, it was re-bought by various private and legal entities. In the 50-ies of the twentieth century The Macallan begins to pack its product in bottles. The maximum shelf life at this plant is 30 years, but the McCullen whiskey is 12 years old and is the most popular and loved in the whole world.
In a small village that is located inGrampian mountains in Scotland, create one of the most famous varieties of whiskey. It has a distinctive color, aroma and taste, which definitely sets it apart from the rest. The first to produce whiskey "Aberfeldi" began the brothers Devar in 1898. At first they planned to make ordinary malt, but then decided to go in for single malt whiskey. This drink was used as a basis for other brands, but since 1988 the original brand has been working only for itself. Whiskey "Aberfeldy" 12 years and 20 years of aging has conquered the world. After all, this distillery is trying to get away from modern goods and produce a drink using traditional technologies using water only from local mountain springs.
This Scotch whiskey (or scotch) is produced innear the river Fidik, near which the city of Daftaun is located. Only one malt variety of this drink is produced here. This brand was created in 1887 by William Grant. He and his family built a distillery himself and named it after the valley in which it was built. To this day, William's great-great-grandchildren own this production. In 1957, this whiskey was bottled in a unique triangular bottle. The products of this distillery is divided into a classic line, a premium line and a limited line. The most common whiskey - "Glenfiddik" 12 years of aging - refers to the classic. It also includes drinks that are stored for 15 and 18 years. Elite beverages are aged 21 and 30, limited drinks - 40 and 50 years.
Another company from the valley of the river Spey thatScotland It was opened in 1892 by the same William Grant and received its name from the castle located nearby. In the basement he kept his drink, on the first floor there was a malting shop, on the second one there was stored barley, which was grown in the district. In 1973, the brand "Balveni" began to produce bottled whiskey. It is divided into regular and limited. Whiskey "Balveni" 12 years of aging refers to both the first and the second type. It all depends on the barrels in which it was aged.
Ирландцы и шотландцы имеют свои традиции в drinking whiskey The first never dilute it, and the second adhere to a special ritual of the five "S": see, smell, savor, iron and splash water. They believe that this will help to fully feel the full taste of whiskey and get the maximum pleasure from it. Whiskey 12 years of aging are very loved and appreciated in these parts. It is very high quality, and its purchase does not hit the family budget so much.
Thus, whiskey is a drink with a uniquetaste and smell that captured the hearts of millions of people. His homeland is considered Scotland and Ireland. This drink is stored from 3 to 50 years, on which its quality and price depends. Whiskey 12 years of aging is the most common type of drink.
