International Whiskey Day: The differences between Scotch whisky, blended and bourbon explained

March 27 marks International Whiskey Day with the event being founded on March 27 2008 and then officially launched in 2009 at the Whiskey Day Festival in the northern Netherlands in the presence of several whiskey writers. The event was created in honor of British writer (and whisky lover) Michael Jackson and is celebrated on Jackson’s birthday as bars across the world get involved in supporting the celebrated liquor.

With so many types of whiskey available, here’s a brief overview of the differences between two of the most popular types of the drink, Scotch and bourbon.

Origin and grains:

This is the key and possibly obvious differentiation between both variants, Scotch must be made in Scotland and bourbon must be made in the United States.

Scotch whisky is traditionally made from malted barley. However, grain whisky can be made from other grains such as wheat or corn and bourbon is made from a mash bill (grain mixture) containing at least 51% corn.

Aging and flavor profile:

Scotch whisky: Must be aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years. These barrels can be new or used, and they often include barrels previously used for bourbon, sherry, or other wines whereas bourbon whiskey must be aged in new, charred oak barrels.

Scotch whisky offers a wide range of flavors, from smoky and peaty (especially in Islay Scotch) to fruity and floral (especially in Speyside Scotch). The use of various cask types contributes to this diversity.

Bourbon whiskey generally has a sweeter flavor profile, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak, due to the corn content and new charred oak barrels.

Blending:

“Single malt” Scotch is made from malted barley at a single distillery and “blended” Scotch is a mixture of whiskies from multiple distilleries. While blending occurs to create specific bourbon brands, the term “blended” isn’t used in the same way as with Scotch.

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