Whisky

Wait a minute, what happened to the E?  Before Scotch/Irish immigrants made bootleg hooch in America, they made it on the Isles.  Whisky comes from the Gaelic usquebaugh, meaning “Water of Life”.  The sheer number of distilleries in Scotland makes it difficult to generalize about Scotch whisky.  Ireland has far fewer makes.  Irish whiskeys, like their pipes, tend to be smoother and sweeter than their gaelic cousins.

Rye is also tricky to peg down.  American rye is, by default, heavy on rye, giving it a bold, spicy flavor.  American straight rye whiskey is not a beginner’s drink.  Canadian rye goes by a different standard, is often blended, and tends to be lighter.  Of course, this is a very small “nutshell”.

Learn more at Whiskey 101.