Tag: Scotch whisky

How to find the perfect Scotch Whisky in South Africa

Posted in The Whiskey ExpressTagged , , , , , Leave a comment
Whisky store with header How to find the perfect Scotch Whisky in South Africa

Scotland might be a small country but they are one of the largest whisky producers in the world. They are at the top of the list when it comes to popularity around the globe. Unless you’re in another major whisky-producing country like America, the Scotch whisky selection is often the largest in the store; the same goes for their online shops. It can become very intimidating, and you might not find what you’re looking for or walk out without buying anything.

Understanding how different countries and stores categorize their whisky will help you narrow your options down to specific barrel finishes and flavours. Scotland would probably start with their regions or types, while American whiskey is often categorized first by type of whisky. Here’s how you can start finding the Scotch you’ve been looking for, especially in South Africa where options are varied and limited.

Region

Scotland has 6 major regions of whisky-making and is often the first choice when narrowing down what you’re looking for. These regions might be in a relatively small area but they often have vast differences in climate and other important environmental conditions known as terroir which can influence even the smallest details of the spirit. Even though the local laws don’t recognize them all individually, here are the six relatively distinct Scotch whisky regions.

Highland

This is Scotland’s largest scotch region, spanning from the northwest of Glasgow to the Northern islands. Whisky varies quite a bit across this region due to the area it spans.  

The Northern regions are often categorized by richer, sweeter, and more full-bodied whiskies. The southern regions are known for their slightly drier, lighter, and fruitier expressions, similar to the Lowlands. The Western region, being closer to Islay might have more full-bodied and peated whiskies similar to the iconic island region.

Some popular Highland whiskies include:

Ardmore, Ben Nevis, Blair Athol, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Deanston, Glendronach, Glengoyne, The Glenmorangie, Glenugie, Invergordon, Loch Lomond, Old Pulteney, Teaninich, Tomatin and Wolfburn

Speyside

Speyside is often seen as a subregion of the Highlands but it has its special characteristics. It’s not only a small region but is one of the most densely-populated whisky regions in the world. It also gets its name from the River Spey. The region can thank its abundance of quality water from the river, which many distillers use in their malts.

You can often categorize the flavor profile with winter holiday flavours, like honeyed pears and apples along with other stone fruit. They are often known for their spice notes and of course sherry, due to the popular use of ex-sherry casks.

Some popular Highland whiskies include:

Aberlour, Aultmore, The Balvenie, Benromach, Cardhu, Dalwhinnie, Dufftown, Glen Grant, Glen Moray, Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Linkwood, Longmorn, The Macallan, Speyburn, Speyside, Tamdhu, Tamnavulin, Tormintoul and Tormore.

Islay

If you’re looking for something smoky, this is probably where you want to be. Islay is an island off the coast of Scotland that’s known for its peated whiskies. Peat is made from plant material that’s compressed and decayed over thousands of years. It’s great for fuel and so, was the perfect substance to use in the malting process, giving whiskies their smoky flavour.

Islay whisky is known for being heavily peated, although Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdach also make unpeated malts.

Islay distilleries include Ardbeg, Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig.

Lowland

If you’re looking for something lighter and smoother, you might lean towards the Lowland expressions. Like many Irish whiskeys, many lowland malts and blends are triple distilled, giving it a “smoother” experience. Rarely peated, lowland whiskies are often used in blends due to their gentler flavours.

Lowland whiskies are known for being light, sweet, floral, and gentle. They’re often experienced as creamy and “like dessert”.

Some popular Lowland whisky distilleries include:

Aerstone, Auchentoshen, Bladnoch, Bonnington, Borders, Daftmill, Eden Mill, The Glasgow Distillery, Glenkinchie, Holyrood and Kingsbarns.

Campbeltown

The smallest whisky region is also often known as the home of whisky. The region doesn’t form part of Islay but the distilleries here are potentially what inspired the region. These whiskies are briny, smoky, oily, and very hearty. You might find toffee, vanilla, and baking spice notes here too.

Distilleries include Glen Scotia, Glengyle, and Springbank.

The Islands

Scotland has many islands surrounding it, forming part of this great whisky nation. The peat found here tends to add more aromatic notes to their whiskies than in the Islay region. This region is also becoming more popular, providing the perfect start for younger distilleries.

Distilleries include Abhainn Dearg, Arran, Highland Park, Isle of Raasay, Jura, Scapa, Talisker, Tobermory, and Torabhaig.

Scotch whisky type

There are many types of Scotch whisky being made but single malt is often seen as the pinnacle with single grain and blends lower on the list. However, as whisky becomes more specialized, blending houses are becoming very popular.

Single Malt

Single malt whisky often confuses with how it’s categorized, but here’s the deal. Single malt whisky needs only three ingredients, malted barley, water, and yeast. It’s also only allowed to be made and bottled at a single distillery.A single malt whisky can include whisky from various barrels and maturation ages, as long as it adheres to the above rules.

This style of whisky often presents more woody and oaky, and full-bodied, with a more “smooth” mouthfeel. Single malt isn’t usually smoky but some might experience more wood char in its place.

Single Grain

Single-grain whisky contains barley and one or more other cereal grains, usually wheat or corn. Single grain is, like single malt, still made at a single distillery for your enjoyment.

This style of whisky is often sweeter and has a lighter body to it.

Blended Scotch

As whisky becomes more popular, whisky-makers are getting more adventurous and experimental with what they can accomplish. Even though blended whisky is often turned away, you should give it another chance.

There are specialized blending houses like Johnnie Walker and Compass Box that put in many hours with years of experience, and tasting thousands of whiskies from various barrels to create special expressions and releases.

You can also read my article about these differences in more detail, HERE.

The age of whisky

Especially when buying gifts, you’ll see a label with the age expression on the bottle. This number represents the youngest whisky in the bottle. The maturation age confirms the length of time that whisky was kept.

Aging whisky was done completely by accident. After the spirit was made, it needed to be transported, so barrels were used. Some of these even contained fish at some point. Depending on the amount, they were stored and often forgotten about before somebody opened it up and realized the flavour had changed.

You might think that the bigger the number, the better the whisky, but this isn’t necessarily true. Sometimes, the whisky just didn’t have the characteristics they were looking for until a certain age or they eventually just used the older whisky to blend to add something different to another expression.

Don’t let the number on the bottle fool you too much but we can’t deny that seeing a more matured whisky looks great on the shelf.

If you’re in South Africa, you’ll find hundreds of different bottles of Scotch on the shelves or online, even with a limited range compared to where it’s made in Scotland.

Finding your favourite whisky is a journey, so starting to filter them out can be daunting. Together with regions, distilleries, and even specific expressions, you can start the search more easily.

How to taste your new and favourite whiskey

Posted in The Whiskey ExpressTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment
Friends drinking and tasting Wheel Horse Bourbon in different glasses

Whiskey is more than just a distilled and aged spirit; Distillers and their blenders put in years of expertise and work into making something unique that will stimulate the senses and give you an experience rather than just another drink. Whiskey makers use various kinds of grains and treat them in unique ways before starting the distillation process. The spirit is then put into specific barrels before being aged for several years and sometimes even moved to a different barrel to add some finishing touches. Then, the distillers and blenders pick barrels to create unique experiences in your glass.

With so many processes and skills going into an expression of whiskey, there are hundreds of different aromas and flavours you could find in each glass. There is no right way to enjoy your whiskey but there are ways to maximise your experience when it comes to smelling and tasting as much as possible.

Whether you’re on the journey alone or helping somebody experience whiskey for the first time, these simple tips can help you.

Let’s start with the glassware

Unless you’re making larger cocktails, there are two main glasses used to drink whiskey, the tumbler/rocks glass or Glencairn.

Rocks glass: This short and wide-bottomed glass is perfect for adding a couple of blocks of ice but many whiskey cocktails are also served in these iconic glasses. The flat bottom ensures that ingredients can be muddled and less diluted cocktails fill up the glass, making them look classy.

This is a versatile glass for many occasions but probably not the best when you want to explore the whiskey to its fullest extent.

old fashioned cocktail in rocks glass
The rocks glass or tumbler is perfect for adding ice or making a whiskey cocktail. Photo via Unsplash

The Glencairn: This bell-shaped glass is designed for tasting a distilled spirit. The glass has a very short stem and robust bottom with a wider bowl shape before narrowing and then opening slightly at the top. The bowl shape not only allows some swirling to open up the whiskey but channels aromas towards a narrowed rim.

The Glencairn allows perfect pours, looks classy, and is the perfect vessel for smelling, tasting, and exploring whiskey.

Two Glencairns of whiskey next to a The Belvenie barrel
The Gelencairn glass is perfect for a neat pour of whiskey. Photo via unsplash

Both the rocks glass and the Glencairn come in their own shapes and variations too, all of which can elevate your experiences.

Inspection

This step can seem a bit over the top, but we are often affected by visuals. Whiskies can have vast differences in colour due to casks and climate, so when you’ve got a line-up of whiskies, it can be fun to compare them.

The bowl of the Glaincairn is perfect for seeing the colours at different angles but is also dependent on the time of day or the room that you’re in.

Nosing

Your olfactory sense (sense of smell) is more powerful than taste, so nosing/smelling your whiskey is where you’ll probably spend most of your time. Our sense of smell is also great at finding nostalgic memories to go along with the many aromas you’re about to experience.

First, you might want to think of the ABV or proof of the whiskey. If you’re just starting your whiskey journey, high-proof whiskey might just burn the hairs in your nose and sully the experience. Starting at a lower proof or alcohol percentage will help you experience the whiskey more comfortably.

If you’re new to nosing whiskey, start by holding the glass relatively far away, moving closer. If it starts to burn, just retreat a little bit until it’s more pleasent.

Remember to also keep your mouth open slightly and breathe in through your nose and mouth at the same time. The added oxygen circulation will enhance the experience of the aromas.

It’s not just about the aromas but about the memories they evoke. Whiskey has a way of letting you experience nostalgia, so don’t just think about specific ingredients, but memories. It might be a specific leather chair belonging to your grandfather or gardening with your parents. Spend time with your whiskey and discuss it with those tasting alongside you. You might find that talking about it can help you find notes that you’ve not found before, even if it’s a whiskey you’ve had many times.

Palate

After spending as much time as you need on the nosing, it’s time to taste. One way to not only get flavours but deal with the proof is by dipping very lightly like drinking hot coffee. The addition of air helps you experience what you’ve smelled already (also known as ‘retronasal olfaction’).

However, mouthfeel might be what you experience first as you sip. How does the liquid feels on your tongue and against your very sensitive cheeks? Don’t swirl it at first but let it linger on the tongue. Pay attention to how the whiskey feels in your mouth. Is it soft and creamy or is it direct and spiky? Is it drying or refreshing? These feelings might change to flavours, some of which you’ve smelled, like fruit, types of grass, or a variation of smoke.

Whiskey can develop over time, so don’t rush for another sip but experience, discuss and explore.

The Finish

When you’re ready to swallow, think about the journey. How long can you feel or taste it as it goes down? How long can you sit with the flavour until you’ve experienced how it develops on the palate? Did the experience disappear quickly or can you sit back for a while before needing another sip?

Some final tips

  • Add water: Drops of water not only bring down the proof for those struggling with the “burn” but can highlight different aromas and flavours.
  • Write it down: Write down what you’re smelling, memories you’re experiencing, and notes that you’re tasting. This can help you eliminate what’s already there while finding something new.
  • Smell your elbow: Especially when you’re tasting many different spirits, your senses can get overwhelmed. You’re so used to your smell, that sniffing the inside of your elbow can help reset your senses with a neutral smell.
  • Enjoy with friends: Share your whiskey! Introducing friends to your collection or reminiscing about the memories you share can be a powerful experience. Whiskey is best enjoyed together.
A line-up of different whiskies to be shared with friends
Share and enjoy your whisky with your friends. Photo via Unsplash

There is no RIGHT way to taste whiskey

These helpful tips are not the only way to taste whiskey. You can and should enjoy whiskey in the way that makes it the most comfortable for you. Whether you follow these tips to the letter, add some snack pairings, or combine everything you’ve learned from this and other resources, enjoy the time tasting whiskey.

You don’t even need to agree on how to spell whisk(e)y

Why do South Africans need to drink more peated whisky?

Posted in The Whiskey ExpressTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment
Glass of smoky whisky with a fire background

If there’s one thing everybody in South Africa knows about, it’s that one of our favourite pastimes is having a braai. Whether we’re camping or having friends and family over for the weekend, we love lighting a fire with charcoal and wood before cooking a variety of meat over the flames. At the same time, we’re often having some drinks with whisky, be it neat or mixed, as one of the popular options. However, you don’t see a lot of peated Scotch whisky on drinks tables or bars.

Peated whisky, especially Scotch is known for its hefty smoky smell and flavour that can either caress your senses or overpower your palate. But for a country that loves a braai day filled with fantastic smoky smells and flavours, peated whisky is not always accessible.  

What is peat and how does it impact whisky?

Peat is a spongy material formed by the partial decomposition of organic matter, primarily plant material, in wetlands such as swamps, muskegs, bogs, fens, and moors. It’s formed over thousands of years and compressed. Beyond its considerable ecological importance, peat is economically important as a carbon sink, as a source of fuel, and as a raw material in horticulture and other industries. Like the whisky industry in Scotland and Ireland.

Peat is often used for fuel and fireplaces but when whisky makers wanted to dry out their barley before making their single malts, they used something widely available and known for burning well. They discovered the very different and much-loved flavours the peat smoke added to the spirit, and a whole new style was created. The more time the barley is exposed to the peat smoke, the more intense the flavour.

Light and dark Malted barley
Malted barley is the main ingredient in peated single malt whisky.

Peat on its own doesn’t taste of anything due to having a neutral PH, but when it’s burned and used in whisky-making, provides subtle smells and often dominant flavours. On the nose, you’ll often smell burning wood and meat but you might also find fresh damp earth. When tasting, the smoky flavour can be overpowering, but you might find a meaty or protein flavour and mouth feel. Some malts may be light and oily, others rich and heavy, some fruity and spicy, others nutty or sweet. Everything individual distilleries use and the amount they use will change what you smell and taste, and you never need to worry about “being wrong” because everybody tastes and smells differently.

How do South Africans experience smoky whisky?

As mentioned before, South Africans often prefer drinking blended whisky instead of single malt, often due to price or what we add to the glass. That doesn’t mean that we don’t experience smoke in our drinks, but it’s often part of a blend, meaning it’s not going to overwhelm our taste buds. Some of our favourite “smoky” whiskies are expressions like Johnnie Walker Black, Green, and Blue Labels. These expressions often get their peated spirits from the Islay region but the underrated Cardhu (a key component of Johnnie Walker) also provides some smoke to some bottles.

Johnnie Walker bottle with a glass full of whisky
One of South Africa’s favourite Scotch whiskies with a bit of smoke, is Johnnie Walker. Photo via Unsplash

In terms of popular smoky single malt, Lagavulin 16 year is high on the list thanks to celebrities like Nick Offerman with Highland Park 12, and their interesting bottle, on our shelves. But do they provide the flavours that pair well with a braai?

How can South Africans enjoy more smoke?

South Africans are a hearty bunch. So, when we celebrate, we often have a braai full of steaks, chops and boerewors. We can smell our neighbours doing the same thing, and that’s when we realise that we’re having a truly South African experience with friends and family. So, are there any whiskies we could add to our overall experience as we enjoy the conversation and the smells of wood fires with a range of meat on the braai?

Even though single malt can get quite pricey, many of the popular distilleries that specialise in peat have added more accessible bottles to their core range. A fan favourite, Ardbeg Wee Beastie, is a 5-year aged single malt that has a reputation for tasting like bacon being cooked directly on hot ash. If you’re in the mood for something similar but more complex and refined, Ardbeg Uigeadial, Bowmore, Talisker, or Caol Ila might be more up your street.

Ardbeg is popular for being one of the smokiest whiskies on the market.

But Islay isn’t the only popular smoky Scotch-makers. As Islay tends to specialise in the smoke, the Highland and Speyside regions often provide mostly non-peated Scotch with some peaty expressions to round out their ranges. Benriach Smoke Season has become more accessible locally with Oban and anCnoc from the Highlands providing something completely different.

If you’re a fan of smooth Irish Whiskey, you’ll be happy to know that they also provide some smoke to their single malts. A fan favourite, Connemara Peated provides your palate with wafts of smoke and some honey sweetness that would provide a great gateway to those unfamiliar with smoke. If you want to take it down another notch, try an Irish whiskey that only uses a small percentage of whiskey aged in a barrel that used to have peated Scotch, like Dunville’s 1808 which provides the idea of smoke without overpowering your taste buds.

Should South Africans enjoy more peat?

Even though my journey with whisky has barely left the station, as a South African who loves a braai with my favourite people, I think the answer is always “YES”.

We already have the foundation of enjoying the smoky flavours from bacon as well as chops & boerewors on the braai, peated whisky might just elevate our celebrations even more. We are a hearty nation that thrives under pressure and we celebrate our wins on days filled with fires that fill the neighbourhood with delicious smells.

 By adding the hefty levels of smoke from Islay to the nuances of Highland and Speyside sweetness or taking a smoother turn to peated Irish whiskey, you might just discover a whole new world to elevate your next braai.

Whisky or Whiskey: Are you spelling it correctly?

Posted in The Whiskey ExpressTagged , , , , , , 2 Comments
Debunking the whiskey vs whisky debate with Woodford Reserve and a map

The only time we ever argue about the spelling of whisk(e)y, it’s when we read the labels, but does it matter? Even though both of them are essentially a spirit distilled from a variety of grains, their history is intertwined while their essence is enjoyed by people all over the world.

The Irish spelling of whiskey comes from the Gaelic derivations of the word ‘Uisce beatha’, meaning Water of Life. Due to Irish immigration to America in the 18th century, American ‘whiskey’ is also spelled with an “e”. The rest of the world uses the “whisky” spelling, even when they are made similarly.

But, even though whisk(e)y is made in similar ways with similar grains, each part of the world has its variations and rules.

What do whiskey and whisky have in common?

Even though different countries have their versions of whiskey, they do have other similarities.

  • All whiskey has to have a minimum of 40% ABV (alcohol by volume) with some regions having their own rules for the maximum %ABV allowed in the bottle.
  • Whiskey is distilled from barley, wheat, corn, and other cereal grains depending on the type. The single-use or combination depends on the specific whiskey or region.
  • In many cases, the minimum time a whiskey is allowed to mature in a barrel is 3 years before it can be called whisk(e)y.

Irish whiskey

Irish whiskey is very popular around the world as one of the original producers. It’s often experienced as “smoother” than Scottish whisky but is also known as a gateway to bourbon as ex-bourbon casks are often used for maturation.

  • Irish whiskey is usually distilled in pot stills and attributes its “smoothness” to the fact that they’re often distilled three times instead of the usual two.  
  • Whiskey in Ireland has a minimum maturation age of three years in a barrel.
  • Irish whiskey may contain a distillate of malt, a barley distillate, and a portion of grain spirit.
  • Irish whiskey is rarely peated with some small exceptions in the growing industry.

Scottish (Scotch) whisky

Scotch whisky might be one of the world’s most famous producers with the distribution of its wide range of whiskies shared all over the world. It’s also the world’s best-marketed whisky too.

  • Scottish whisky needs to be distilled, matured, and bottled in Scotland, (to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added) with the addition of only yeast and water.
  • Maturation needs to happen in oak casks for a minimum of 3 years.
  • Single malt Scotch whisky must be made from 100% malted barley.

Bourbon

Probably the most popular style of whiskey made in the United States of America, bourbon is very well known for its sweetness. Due to the use of new oak barrels that have been charred, bourbon often has a distinctive oaky flavor too.

  • Bourbon originated in Bourbon Kentucky and is made from a minimum of 51% corn with rye and malted barley.
  • Distillation of bourbon usually takes place in a column still and then a pot still.
  • Straight bourbon is aged for a minimum of 2 years in new charred oak barrels while Bottle-in-Bond bourbon needs to mature for at least 4 years.
  • Bourbon also has its sub-categories with high-rye and wheated bourbon being two of the most popular variations.
  • Tennessee whiskey is made in the same way as bourbon, but it is charcoal mellowed before maturation

Rye whiskey

Rye is made in a very similar way to bourbon with just a few differences.

  • Rye whiskey is often experienced as “spicier” than bourbon even when it’s made in a very similar way.
  • Rye Whiskey is made from a minimum of 51% rye grain with the other cereals taking more of an accented seat to round out the flavours.

The USA whiskey industry is in a resurgence with craft whiskies becoming more popular and even American Single Malt growing in popularity. You might find that your favourite distilleries and brands now have single malt as part of their core range.

South African whisky

Even though the South African whisky industry is still very small, distilleries are popping up everywhere, with the Western Cape Province still having the lion’s share. South African whisky is also made in a similar style to Scottish whisky.

South African whisky is often made using locally sourced maize with malted barley being used for special editions or as an accent to the mash.

I’ve also written a piece on the reason why South Africans tend to drink blended whisky instead of single malt.

Due to the climate, South African whisky is aged for a minimum of 3 years but also gets more intense barrel impact due to the climate. This means that bottles matured as little as 5-6 years are often part of the core range.

Whether you call it whiskey or whisky, these spirits have many things in common with a few rules that govern how they are made. However, there are no rules about how you can drink your whiskey, as long as you enjoy it with a sense of adventure and a smile on your face.

Why is whiskey such an iconic drink?

Posted in The Whiskey ExpressTagged , , , , , Leave a comment
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey in square branded tumbler

Whether you call it whiskey or whisky, there’s always a reason to enjoy a dram. All over the world, people who enjoy whiskey get asked why they want something that “burns” or “just tastes like alcohol”.

As everybody has reasons for drinking, collecting and sharing the “Water of Life”, it’s always a good idea to find out why we drink it and why it’s so iconic.

Great conversation starter

It doesn’t matter if the person you’re talking to is a whiskey enthusiast or new to the amber spirit; the topic alone provides you with a starting point.

The question of their whiskey preference or if you can pour them a drink can turn into many topics. It can be as simple as “Yes, please” to find out it’s their favourite or something they’ve never tried. It opens up the opportunity to share stories of past experiences with whiskey, mini reviews of what’s in the glass, and reminiscing about non-whiskey topics while having a good laugh, and sipping something delicious.

The history of whiskey

Whisk(e)y has a long and storied history that started about a thousand years ago. Still, the last couple of hundred years are what we usually think about. It originated in Scotland and Ireland before spreading to Europe and the Americas. However, it’s the individual histories of distilleries like Jack Daniel and how a man known as Uncle Nearest taught him how to make whiskey.

There’s also our history with whiskey, including how we started drinking it, enjoying it, sometimes taking a different path, and hopping back on the whiskey train later on. These stories bring us together while making new memories that will become the tales we turn into our new histories down the road.

Variety

There is an enormous amount of whiskey worldwide and subcategories within well-known regions to which we often flock. Part of this whiskey journey comes from somewhere, and the real journey begins when we start colouring outside those lines and take the journey elsewhere. Sometimes, you can be the guide, helping a friend, new or old, try something they’ve never had before and in the past, that person was once you.

It can be as simple as trying Speyside Scotch whiskey like Glenfiddich to trying a heavily peated Islay Scotch like Laphroaig. Or, you can be a bourbon drinker trying out a Scottish single malt or Japanese whiskey for the first time.

The options are almost endless, and the variety keeps us on track.

Versatility

There will always be those who are hard-line neat whiskey drinkers, but we all know that “the best whiskey is the whiskey you like to drink, the way you like to drink it”, according to the Whiskey Tribe.

So, whether you like a block of ice and/or Coke with your drink or make a cocktail, of which there are hundreds of whiskey versions, anybody can enjoy any of the many varieties of whiskey the world has to offer without judgment.

It’s time to relax

There are those days when you want a bit of joy. Whether you’re about to sit down after a very long day and watch the sunset or about to meet some friends at the pub, whiskey has a way of calming the mind and making you feel better. Whether it’s just a flavour you love or that common reaction to alcohol, whiskey will provide the mood for relaxation.

Whiskey is well-loved and iconic, not just because of its history as the water of life but also because of the memories we make while enjoying it.

We all have different reasons to drink whiskey and explore this historic spirit. Still, one thing is for sure: it’s always best enjoyed with great people.

Why do South Africans choose blended over single malt Scotch?

Posted in The Whiskey ExpressTagged , , 3 Comments
Single malt scotch vs blended Scotch whisky

While South Africa is known for beverages like beer and gin, we’re also experiencing a whisky boom, which is introducing more people to the historic spirit, whether just drinking it or distilling their own. However, it’s still not the most accessible drink, and price is often the barrier people can’t overcome.

Even though South Africa has famous local distilleries, Scottish whisky is the next popular option. Why do South Africans often prefer blended Scotch like J&B, Famous Grouse and Johnny Walker over single malts whiskeys like Glenfiddich and Glenlivet?

It could come down to cost, as blended Scotch is often cheaper, but why is that the case?

What does single malt mean?

A single malt doesn’t mean the whiskey only comes from one batch of spirits; it comes from a single distillery. Many of your favourite single malts are blended by an in-house blender from various barrels with different ages and often barrel types, but they are still all made at that distillery. The blender is highly skilled at tasting and blending to provide you with the best bottle possible, keeping a consistent flavour profile throughout the range and creating new ones. The “malt” refers to the malted barley used in the mash to make the whisky.

Single-grain whisky contains barley and one or more other cereal grains, usually wheat or corn. Single grain is, like single malt, is still made at a single distillery for your enjoyment.

What is blended Scotch?

Blended whisky still uses skilled blenders to source, taste and combine whisky barrels from various distilleries to create a specific flavour profile. It can often combine different grains like malt and wheat, specific barrel finishes from other distilleries, or even be as simple as combining different malts. There are thousands of barrels and whisky variations to blend so that a brander can provide you with consistent bottling for years or create something new for a particular release.

Brands like Johnny Walker usually focuses on creating the same range repeatedly with some special releases, whereas Compass Box has a wide range of different styles and keeps experimenting with new combinations more regularly.

However, the question remains why South Africans often reach for the blends rather than single malts.

Blends over Single malt?

Because single malts are made at the distillery, stored and perfected in one place, the production costs are much higher, which often means that the whisky will be more expensive.

Conversely, blends are sourced from two or more distilleries and blended, reducing costs as it’s not produced there.

Even though these blends can be from brands you expect to be more expensive, blends will often provide you with a blender’s years of perfecting their skills so that you can have something delicious in the glass.

That doesn’t mean all blends are on the bottom shelf. As whisky becomes more mainstream and experimental, the best blenders can create incredible expressions that can be higher in flavour profiles and price than many single malts.

Why do South Africans pick blends?

South Africa is hot, so we often reach for more refreshing drinks. Locals enjoy having whisky over ice or with a mixer to stay refreshed. Because the whisky is usually mixed instead of enjoyed neat, reaching for the cheaper blended option ensures you can enjoy it with a mixer without feeling like you’re sullying the more expensive single malts you save for special occasions.

Whether you drink your whisky neat, on the rocks, or in your version of a cocktail, the style doesn’t matter. If you feel that it complements the flavours for your specific palate, you’re going to have a good time.