What You Want To Know About Grain Whisky + Suggestions

Grain whisky may be missed in consuming circles, very like blended whisky, largely because of the truth that it’s less expensive. These days, greater costs equal greater high quality, proper? Properly, not essentially.  In truth, an enormous variety of types, together with bourbon and rye, may be encompassed below the time period ‘grain whisky’. This implies that there’s a big selection on the market to attempt. 

Immediately I will probably be breaking down what it’s worthwhile to find out about grain whisky: What’s it? How is it totally different from single malts and blends? And, maybe most significantly, which of them do you have to purchase? 

What Is Grain Whisky?

A single malt scotch has to observe some very particular guidelines to change into a single malt. Produced at one distillery, and created from simply three substances: malted barley, yeast, and water. The spirit should be distilled via a pot nonetheless after which aged in oak for 3 years and someday. 

Now, to be known as a grain whisky on the label there should be some guidelines adopted as effectively. For Scottish grain whiskies, the foundations as laid out by the Scotch Whisky Association are as follows: 

“Single Grain Scotch Whisky – A Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery from water and malted barley with or with out complete grains of different malted or unmalted cereals, and which doesn’t adjust to the definition of Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

“Blended Grain Scotch Whisky – A mix of Single Grain Scotch Whiskies, which have been distilled at a couple of distillery.” 

What About Grain Whiskies From Different International locations?

After all, grain whisky isn’t just produced in Scotland. Many different nations have their variations. Within the US, the time period ‘grain whiskey’ is usually used to confer with any whiskey that’s created from grains apart from malted barley. That is extra of an encompassing time period. For instance, bourbon and rye may be thought-about ‘grain whiskies’. 

In keeping with my analysis, grain whiskies normally have the next traits: 

• Usually distilled in a column/Coffey nonetheless.
• Usually distilled from corn, however may be any grain so long as it goes via the above nonetheless sort.
• Usually distilled to a a lot greater alcohol degree than single malt.
• Is the muse for many blended whiskies, because it’s just a little cheaper to make.

Grain Whisky Distilleries In Scotland

Distilleries that produce grain whisky are fewer in quantity than single malt producers, however the manufacturing numbers are stunning by comparability. 

The present largest single malt distilleries in Scotland are Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, each producing about 21,000,000 liters of alcohol a yr. Compared to this, the most important grain distilleries in Scotland, and Europe are Cameronbridge and The Girvan. These vegetation produce an absurd 110,000,000 liters of alcohol a yr every. 

All in all, we have now seven grain distilleries in Scotland: 

• Cameronbridge
• Grivan
• North British
• Invergordon
• Strathclyde
• Starlaw
• Loch Lomond (produces single malt and single grain)

Which Grain Whiskies Ought to You Purchase?

Single grain scotch whisky apart, there isn’t any scarcity of scrumptious grain whiskies to attempt from nations all over the world. So, I’ve put collectively a listing of suggestions for the perfect from every of three classes: bourbon & rye, single grain scotch whisky, and blended grain scotch whisky. 

Bourbon & Rye

I’m an enormous fan of each, and regardless of their very own geographical designations and guidelines, they’re each types of grain whisky. Grain put via stills that aren’t a majority of malted barley. 

Attributable to the usage of virgin oak maturation, they are often very candy and spicy, however are a few of the greatest liquids I’ve ever tried. 

In case you’ve by no means tried a bourbon then I’d advocate Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (43.2%, $43) or Wild Turkey 101 (50.5 ABV, $24). 

In case you’ve by no means tried a rye, then tuck straight into Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof (50% ABV, $24) for one thing of a more recent type, or Redwood Empire Emerald Large Rye (45% ABV, $30) if you would like one thing just a little extra old-fashioned in the best way it’s put collectively. 

Single Grain

Very similar to single malt, these are liquids from only one distillery, usually launched as a single cask, however you may get the odd vatting of casks for one thing extra constant. This world is big and if you happen to ever get to attempt something from the Cambus distillery, please do attempt it. It’s my favourite, but it surely sadly closed down many a long time in the past. 

By way of common suggestions -The Whisky Store presently has a Strathclyde 35 12 months Previous single cask which is slightly below $280 a bottle – less expensive than an equal single malt, and it’s cask energy! 

Loch Lomond produces a single grain whisky known as Spearhead at 43% ABV, and it’s usually beneath $40 a bottle. An incredible summer season drink, a strong mixer, one thing you may experiment with at dwelling. That is certainly one of these unusual experiments from Loch Lomond as it’s 100% malted barley, however distilled in a Coffey nonetheless. 

One bottle of single grain has some infamy to it, however I actually consider that this has helped individuals get into whisky, and that’s Haig Club (40% ABV, $30). 

Produced on the Cameronbridge distillery with an enormous advertising and marketing marketing campaign round it a couple of decade in the past, it was headed up by David Beckham and had a tv advert made by Man Ritchie. 

On the time, this was an enormous launch and introduced quite a lot of consideration to a distinct type of spirit, but it surely wasn’t the ‘greatest’ model of single grain you could possibly attempt. But it surely did get individuals speaking about whisky, so it was and is essential. 

Blended Grain

Now, there’s a huge launch to speak about right here, and that’s Compass Field Hedonism (43% ABV, $87). This was the whisky that obtained me into grain, however with the older shares they had been utilizing at Compass Field, they will’t depend on their availability way more, particularly as an organization that isn’t a distillery. As such, this has change into an annual restricted launch. 

This whisky is so wealthy, dessert-like, and creamy. It’s actually a enjoyment of a bottle. 

Compass Field actually cornered the market with this type of whisky. In truth, they invented it within the fashionable house. So do examine them out as a blender as a result of they do make some superb whisky. 

Hopefully this could allow you to get into one thing just a little extra uncommon in your subsequent whisky buy!