What makes scotch scotch

Purists drink their Scotch unadulterated, as its strong flavor profile doesn't tend to go well in mixed drinks. However, the Rob Roy -- named after Scottish hero Robert Roy MacGregor -- is a timeless cocktail that's favored by many a whiskey drinker and made with Scotch, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters and a maraschino cherry.

Rob Roy. Bourbon , whose name comes from an area known as "Old Bourbon" in Kentucky, is a whiskey that's distilled from corn. For a whiskey to be considered bourbon, the grain mash must be at least 51 percent corn. On top of that, by law the mixture must be stored in charred oak containers and cannot contain any additives. From "Mad Men" episodes to modern nightclubs, neighborhood bars to interoffice gifts, bottles of bourbon have been popping up and open on our collective radar a lot in the last few years.

Both Scotch and bourbon are satisfying on their own, but also go particularly well with spice. Bottlefork in Chicago features the spirits in two drinks:. Photo provided by Bottlefork. Photo provided by Whetstone Tavern.

This one combines bourbon with Apfelkorn a sweet, apple-flavored liqueur. Photo provided by Bowery Meat Company. Photo by Jackie Gebel. Cinnamon-infused bourbon, black peppercorn, lemon, egg white and bitters come together in this fresh take on the classic whiskey sour. Or an amateur who wouldn't be able to differentiate the cheap stuff from a bottle of Yamazaki Sherry Cask Single Malt?

Preferences aside, everyone can stand to get educated when it comes to the brown stuff. If you don't know your Kentucky bourbon from Japanese whisky, allow yourself to be immersed in this article before you immerse yourself in booze.

Actually, you should probably do that anytime you read anything. Here we go. Good question! Technically, it is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. This mash is typically aged in wooden casks, which gives it that distinct brown color and taste. However, within the category of "whiskey" lie several confusing subsets, often containing subtle yet important differences. This one's a doozy, but bear with us. On top of that, the mixture must be stored in charred oak containers and cannot contain any additives.

That law pretty much separates bourbon from everything else. Bourbon tastes like: Its main characteristic is its sweetness, but it's also a bit smoky due to the charred oak. Glad you asked. First and foremost, the biggest difference between these two whiskeys is location.

Tennessee whiskey is made in Tennessee and bourbon was invented by a man named Shelbyville Kentucky. Just kidding. Unlike bourbon, which has no minimum aging period, Scotch must be aged for at least 3 years in oak containers. Bourbon and Scotch are types of whiskey. Bourbon is produced in the United States and mainly made from corn mash, while Scotch is produced in Scotland and typically made from malted grains, especially single malt Scotch. In terms of nutrition, bourbon and Scotch are identical.

A standard 1. These differences give bourbon and Scotch slightly different taste profiles. Bourbon tends to be sweeter, while Scotch tends to have a more intense smokiness. Bourbon and Scotch are identical in terms of nutrition. Research suggests that moderate intake of whiskeys and alcohol, in general, may offer some benefits:. Though a moderate intake of whiskey and other alcoholic beverages may have benefits, drinking too much can have detrimental effects on your health.

One standard drink of whiskey is equivalent to a 1. Moderate whiskey intake may offer some benefits. Still, drinking too much can have many negative health consequences. Most people drink whiskey straight or neat, which means by itself.

First of all and this is a dead giveaway , distilling and aging of Scotch whisky must take place in Scotland. The liquid must be allowed to mature for a minimum of three years in oak casks no larger than litres.

Only cereals can be used as the starch source and the mash should be converted at the distillery only by natural enzymes from malted barley. No other substances than water or spirit caramel may be added. Haig is a single grain whisky. Different single malts can be mixed to create a blended malt. Single malts and single grains can be mixed together into blended Scotch.

And different single grain whiskies can be mixed together into blended grain. The production process of whisky comprises five steps: malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation. For single malt whisky top tier barley is used. For single grain, a mixture of grains is used.