Food and drinkWines and spirits

Whiskey: brands and their features. The most popular and famous brands of whiskey

Whiskey - a strong alcoholic beverage, which is obtained from barley, wheat, corn or other grains. The basis for all his brands is one: water, grain and yeast.

Where come from

Technically, brands of whiskey, photos of which are dazzling on the Internet, can be divided into several types, but the main differences are determined by the origin. No one knows where it all began, and Ireland and Scotland are fighting for the right to call this drink "their own". They are the oldest suppliers of a noble drink, able to carry their traditions through the centuries, improve them and remain among the main ones in the 21st century.

In general, there are two large groups of supplier countries: the first (Ireland, Scotland, USA, Canada, Japan) unites the largest regions in terms of production volumes. The best brands of whiskey are also "native" from these countries. States like India, France, Australia and others belong to the second group and produce mainly "for themselves", falling behind the first both in terms of volume and quality of products.

Scotch scotch

To date, Scotland is among the leaders in the production of "water of life". However, in this country in the course of another name - Scotch.

On sale there are several varieties of Scottish scotch:

  • Single Malt;
  • Single-malt, Cask Strength (bottled without dilution, barrel strength, ie 65-75%);
  • A mixture of single malt varieties from different distilleries (Vatted Malt (Pure Malt));
  • Grain, Single Grain;
  • Mixture of grains of Scotch tape from different manufacturers;
  • Blended, or Blended, a mixture of cereal alcohols and single malt whiskey.

A characteristic feature of many Scottish varieties is the smack of smoke, although in fact the world of Scotch scotch is a unique collection of a wide variety of flavors. It is traditionally kept in barrels from other alcoholic beverages: bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, Spanish sherry and all sorts of combinations of tare from the mentioned and other products.

As a result, there is an adhesive tape with taste of malt, raisins, fortified wines, honey, lozenges, nutshells, peat smoke, sea salt, mineral sulfur and similar combinations, all without artificial additives and flavors.

However, most of all in the market blended varieties - "medium" quality and low price, although among brands, too, there are unique, self-sufficient mixtures. Many famous brands of whiskey refer to blends.

Choice Old Cameron Brig

The only brand of grain whiskey, which can be found in retail. Grain spirit is usually used together with malt to create blends, and whiskey brand "Choice Old Cameron Brig" - this is all that admirers can find in a "pure" form. It has no competitors - a unique variety for people with a unique taste.

Chivas Regal

The elite Scottish whiskey Chivas Regal appeared in 1801, by the grace of two brothers, John and James Chivasov. In their store they sold expensive varieties of coffee, rum, spices, but they could not find suitable quality scotch. And in the end they prepared it themselves. As they say in this story, the notable Scots quickly appreciated the new version of the favorite drink.

Now Chivas Regal sells 40% of the fortress, excerpts of 12, 18, 21 and 25 years under this brand. Chivas Regal, aged eighteen years, received a gold medal at an international competition in 1998, and this proves that he is one of the best brands on the global scotch market.

Bushmills

One-malt Scotch whiskey brand "Bushmills" is produced in one of the oldest distilleries in the world - it is more than 400 years old, and neither war nor "dry law" could interrupt production. Scotch Bushmills does not tolerate dilution, mixing and biting, the best of its mild and pleasant taste is revealed by solo.

Johnnie Walker

One of the world's most famous brands of blended whiskey. His story begins in the sixties of the 19th century, when Alexander Walker created his brand of Scotch Old Highland. In 1909, the two main brands of the company that existed at that time changed their names to Johnnie Walker Black Label and Johnnie Walker Red Label.

Red Label is an inexpensive standard blend, it includes about 35 grades of three-, five-year-old aging. The drink is very popular - it is good in itself, and with cola or ice.

Black Label - a variety with a complex taste, this is its main advantage. It includes about 40 varieties of Scotch scotch, of which 35 are malt. Whiskey from almost all regions of production, mixing in it, give rise to a unique aroma and flavor. It is a blend of the "de luxe" class, and it fully deserves its popularity.

In addition to the two most famous brands, the Johnny Walker brand offered the world some more varieties: Green Label (a mixture of exclusively malt whiskeys of fifteen years old), soft and gentle Gold Label (15 rare eighteen-aged varieties), Platinum Label and Blue Label - , The price for a bottle of which is up to 500 dollars.

The "Blue Label" series is made from 16 rare varieties - some of them, for example Auchterool 1923, are not produced anywhere else. The drink in each barrel is unique.

Ballantine's

Ballantine's whiskey is one of the most popular brands in Europe and the world. He took the 10th place in the ranking of the world's best-selling brands according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt. This brand was born in the sixties of the 19th century, when grocer George Ballantine began blending whiskey on his own recipe.

In the line of Ballantine's grades, six scotches with different characteristics and aging. In Ballantine's Finest, for example, includes about 57 alcohols of different aging. Glenburgie brings a note of fruit sweetness with a touch of apples and pears. Miltonduff - vanilla sweetness, floral and herbal notes of a noble drink.

Glenfiddich

Single-malt Scotch whiskey brand "Glenfiddich" of excellent quality, minimum aging - 12 years. The Glenfiddich line includes one of the most expensive varieties in the world - the Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Rare Collection, issued in only 500 bottles and signed personally by Peter Gordon, the great-great-grandson of the founder.

Irish Whiskey

One of the founders and the former "trendsetter" - Ireland - strongly influenced the distribution of whiskey. Here, triple distillation is popular - not at all in Scotland, where there are basically two distillations. In Ireland, they also withstand spirits in sherry and bourbon barrels, but unlike Scots, Irishmen produce whiskeys not only from malt, but also from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley.

You can meet the following varieties born in this country:

  • Molt, single malt whiskey - Single Malt;
  • A mixture of malted and unmalted barley - Pure Pot Still;
  • Grain - Single Grain;
  • Blended - a mixture of the three previous ones.

Jameson

Irish whiskey mark Jameson dates back to 1780, and today it is one of the most famous and well-sold brands. Classic "Jameson" has a soft and light taste, with a pleasant sweet, nutty aftertaste.

In the range of brands of this brand -Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve, the product of four experienced masters of blending. It included the oldest and rare alcohols, aged in barrels of sherry and porto, and the ready-made drink is full of fruit and flower tones.

Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve whiskey combines notes of sherry, chocolate and vanilla, is produced in limited batches, and each bottle has its own personal number. Jameson Gold Reserve (appeared in 1996) includes alcohols, aged in fresh oak barrels.

Tullamore Dew

Originating in 1887, Tullamore Dew still maintains its position in Ireland and beyond. Moreover, its popularity continues to grow. At the annual New York NYISC competition, the single-malt Irish whiskey of the Tullamore brand, Tullamore Dew 10 Years Old Single Malt, received the title of "the best Irish whiskey in 2012". The aroma of this 10 year old drink consists of a combination of freshly cut grass, pineapple and roasted tree. The taste reminds primarily of fruits, with a hint of raisins and figs, and leaves a aftertaste of apricot and raisins.

In total, the brand line consists of five varieties. Tullamore Dew Phoenix deserves special attention of connoisseurs - a sort of limited edition. Its characteristic feature is the high content of Pure Pot Still whiskey, the aging of which "ripened" in barrels of sherry.

Redbreast

Redbast Irish whiskeys have been named the purchase of No. 1 in the buyer's directory of John Hansell, which perfectly illustrates the current status of the brand in the world of "water of life". Redbreast belongs to the category of Pure Pot Still Whiskey and although it appeared only in the early 20th century, has already earned a reputation for a product worth trying.

American bourbon

In the US, whiskey is cooked mainly from corn - here it is called "bourbon". Unlike Scotland and Ireland in the United States, almost all alcohols, with the exception of single malts, are aged for at least two years in new barrels - that is, they do not have alcoholic "predecessors". In America there are many types of this drink, but most importantly, it is completely different from Scottish and Irish and was able to take its niche in the whiskey market.

In this country produce:

  • Blended "water of life". At least 20% of the following species, the rest - grain alcohol.
  • Single Malt Whiskey, Molt (Single Malt). They make only from malted barley.
  • Tennessee Sour Mash. According to the prescription it includes at least 51% of corn. In practice, it is often prepared from 80% of maize and 20% from malt.
  • Bourbon (bourbon) - barrel fortress, from one specific barrel.
  • He, that is, bourbon, but from several specially selected barrels, most often also a barrel fortress (Barrel Select, Small Batch).
  • Corn Whiskey (Corn Whiskey), produced from at least 80% of corn, the rest - other cereals.
  • Rye (Straight Rye). 51% of rye, 49% of cereals of other species.
  • Wheat (Straight Wheat). Again - 51% of wheat, and 49% - cereals of other species.

Jack Daniel's

One of the most popular global brands, entered the TOP-100 alcoholic beverages according to Impact Databank version. The main difference between Tennessee whiskey and bourbon is that the first one undergoes the softening process. Drop by drop, the alcohol is filtered through 10 feet of charcoal from the sugar maple.

The secret of the soft, original taste of "Jack Daniels" lies precisely in this laborious filtration, as well as in the use of delicious water from mountain springs in Hollow. It's worth it to drink separately from everything, and as part of the cocktail connoisseurs combine "a native of Tennessee" with lemon or apple juice.

Jim Beam

A popular bourbon variety, which is included in the rating of the TOP-100 best-selling (by volume) alcoholic beverages, according to the authoritative Impact Databank. Unlike Jack Daniel's, the price of "Jim Beam" is quite affordable, and it plays an important role.

We can say that in this bourbon is found the perfect balance of price and quality, and it should be tried by anyone who calls himself a lover of whiskey.

Maker's Mark

Another participant in the ratings and TOPs, however, this is the opposite of both Jim Beam and "Jack Daniels." Distillery in Kentucky spills no more than 19 barrels per lot, and the price for it fluctuates around 2500 rubles per bottle in domestic online stores.

Such a limited production makes it possible to use manual labor, as well as strictly control the quality of the drink. American whiskey brand Maker's Mark has its own unique feature - the sorts for bottling are selected not by age, but to taste.

Whiskey from the Land of the Rising Sun

The Japanese - people are neat, able to appreciate the high quality, whether it's technology, martial arts or whiskey. The history of the drink in this country began in the twenties of the 20th century, and they copied the Scots and did not aspire to originality.

At least, it looks like this at the moment - there is no need to look for any unique Japanese varieties here. However, the quality is in high esteem - Japanese Yamazaki was recognized in 2013 as the best single malt whiskey in the Whiskey Bible Awards. Popular brands of whiskey in Japan refer to beverages from the higher price segment - manufacturers have high requirements, which affects the final cost of the product.

Suntory

Celebrities are not afraid of competition - they, like all the present, are unique. Suntory Hibiki 21 Years Old - a brand of malt and grain varieties, aged in cherry barrels for at least 21 years. At the annual World Whiskey Awards in Glasgow, this brand was awarded the title of the best whiskey among brands several times in a row. Another grade from the line of Suntory - Yamazaki - was recognized as the best in 2013.

Other brand products are also worthy of attention and love. "Santori" - the same, the legendary, the first company that started the production of whiskey in the country. In Japan itself, their products are a bestseller and a regular winner of contests.

In one review it is impossible to mention all the brands that deserve attention. Among those that remained "behind the scenes" of the article, there are also many interesting varieties. Here an attempt has been made to suggest a good choice for people who have just begun to discover a new world for themselves.

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