Blended whiskey
Encyclopedia
A blended whisky is the product of blending different types of whiskies
and often also neutral
and near-neutral spirits, coloring, and flavorings. It is generally the product of mixing one or more higher quality straight
or single malt whiskies with higher-alcohol-content spirits or neutral grain spirit
s (and water).
In the United States, under federal regulations spirits with alcohol distillation concentrations above 80% alcohol by volume
(ABV) cannot be referred to as "straight" whisky, as the flavor from the original fermented grain mash is substantially diminished at higher distillation purities. Generally, any distilled spirit of 85% ABV or higher (without additives) is considered to be essentially neutral alcohol. Scottish and Irish blended whiskies often contain light spirits that are very neutral in flavoring – as the governing regulations in those countries allow whisky distillation processes to reach up to 94.8% ABV concentration, which is very near the achievable limits of ordinary distillation technology. Canadian whisky regulations do not specify any distillation limit, although in practice this differs little from the Scottish and Irish limit of 94.8%, because the purity of neutral grain spirit has a practical limit of approximately that value (because a mixture of ethanol and water becomes an azeotrope
at 95.6% ABV).
Scotland
, Ireland
, Canada
, and the United States
are common countries of origin for blends. Canadian whisky may contain both caramel
and flavorings, as well as distilled spirits. Scotch and Irish regulations also allow the addition of caramel, regardless of whether the product is labelled as blended or not.
A mix of single malts only, without other types of whisky such as made from grains other than malted barley, may be called a "blended malt" (formerly known as a vatted malt). Under current Scotch whisky regulations, the "vatted malt" term is now prohibited for labels, in favor of the term "blended malt".
In Scotland, when a blended whisky includes an age statement, each individual spirit in the mix must be at least as old as the age listed. However, in the United States, the age statement only refers to the minimum age of the straight whiskey
used within the blend (which must comprise at least 20% of the content). Most blended whiskeys do not list an age, although the regulations governing its production in some countries specify a minimum aging requirement. Canadian, Scottish, and Irish whiskey must all be aged at least three years. American regulations do not have a minimum aging time requirement for blended whiskey, although a minimum of two years is established for "straight" American whiskey, and blended American whiskey must contain at least 20% straight whisky.
Two widely known examples of blended whisky are Johnnie Walker
and Seagram's Seven Crown
, but there are many others such as Jameson
, Chivas Regal
, Old St Andrews
, Isle of Skye, and Black & White
.
Neutral spirits, near-neutral spirits and other 'fillers' are usually much cheaper to produce than straight or single malt whisky, so blends containing them are usually much cheaper to buy. Most cocktail
s and mixed drink
s that call for it use blended whisky. This is primarily for cost reasons, and secondarily because the complex flavours of higher quality whiskies would be overshadowed by the mixer(s). Whisky purists generally consider blended whisky to be an inferior drink to the straight and single malt varieties.
Some blended whiskies, such as Old Thompson
and various Canadian whiskies
, are composed mostly of grain neutral spirit, with only a relatively minor part by volume being straight whisky.
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
and often also neutral
Neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that has been distilled from a grain-based mash to a very high level of ethanol content...
and near-neutral spirits, coloring, and flavorings. It is generally the product of mixing one or more higher quality straight
Straight whiskey
Straight whiskey is whisky created by distilling a fermented cereal grain mash to create a spirit not exceeding 80% alcohol content by volume and then aging the spirit for at least two years at an abv concentration not exceeding 62.5% at the start of the aging process.Filtering and dilution...
or single malt whiskies with higher-alcohol-content spirits or neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that has been distilled from a grain-based mash to a very high level of ethanol content...
s (and water).
In the United States, under federal regulations spirits with alcohol distillation concentrations above 80% alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
(ABV) cannot be referred to as "straight" whisky, as the flavor from the original fermented grain mash is substantially diminished at higher distillation purities. Generally, any distilled spirit of 85% ABV or higher (without additives) is considered to be essentially neutral alcohol. Scottish and Irish blended whiskies often contain light spirits that are very neutral in flavoring – as the governing regulations in those countries allow whisky distillation processes to reach up to 94.8% ABV concentration, which is very near the achievable limits of ordinary distillation technology. Canadian whisky regulations do not specify any distillation limit, although in practice this differs little from the Scottish and Irish limit of 94.8%, because the purity of neutral grain spirit has a practical limit of approximately that value (because a mixture of ethanol and water becomes an azeotrope
Azeotrope
An azeotrope is a mixture of two or more liquids in such a ratio that its composition cannot be changed by simple distillation. This occurs because, when an azeotrope is boiled, the resulting vapor has the same ratio of constituents as the original mixture....
at 95.6% ABV).
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are common countries of origin for blends. Canadian whisky may contain both caramel
Caramel
Caramel is a beige to dark-brown confection made by heating any of a variety of sugars. It is used as a flavoring in puddings and desserts, as a filling in bonbons, and as a topping for ice cream, custard and coffee....
and flavorings, as well as distilled spirits. Scotch and Irish regulations also allow the addition of caramel, regardless of whether the product is labelled as blended or not.
A mix of single malts only, without other types of whisky such as made from grains other than malted barley, may be called a "blended malt" (formerly known as a vatted malt). Under current Scotch whisky regulations, the "vatted malt" term is now prohibited for labels, in favor of the term "blended malt".
In Scotland, when a blended whisky includes an age statement, each individual spirit in the mix must be at least as old as the age listed. However, in the United States, the age statement only refers to the minimum age of the straight whiskey
Straight whiskey
Straight whiskey is whisky created by distilling a fermented cereal grain mash to create a spirit not exceeding 80% alcohol content by volume and then aging the spirit for at least two years at an abv concentration not exceeding 62.5% at the start of the aging process.Filtering and dilution...
used within the blend (which must comprise at least 20% of the content). Most blended whiskeys do not list an age, although the regulations governing its production in some countries specify a minimum aging requirement. Canadian, Scottish, and Irish whiskey must all be aged at least three years. American regulations do not have a minimum aging time requirement for blended whiskey, although a minimum of two years is established for "straight" American whiskey, and blended American whiskey must contain at least 20% straight whisky.
Two widely known examples of blended whisky are Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and originated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.-History:Originally known as Walker's...
and Seagram's Seven Crown
Seagram's Seven Crown
Seagram's Seven Crown, otherwise known as Seagram's Seven, is a blend of American whisky produced by Diageo under the Seagram name. Seagram's beverage division was acquired by Diageo, Pernod, and PepsiCo in 2000.- Sales history:...
, but there are many others such as Jameson
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Jameson is a single distillery Irish whiskey produced by a division of the French distiller Pernod Ricard. Jameson is similar in its adherence to the single distillery principle to the single malt tradition, but Jameson combines malted barley with unmalted or "green" barley...
, Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is a blended Scotch whisky produced by Chivas Brothers, owned by Pernod Ricard. According to the brand packaging, Chivas Brothers was first established in 1801 in Aberdeen, Scotland. The Chivas brand's home is Strathisla Distillery at Keith, Moray in Speyside, Scotland.It is the...
, Old St Andrews
Old St Andrews
Old St Andrews is a blended Scotch whisky that is bottled in a distinctive golf ball-shaped bottle. There are several different sizes of bottles, from the one-litre clear-glass version to miniature white ones designed to look like real golf balls....
, Isle of Skye, and Black & White
Black & White (whisky)
Black & White is a blended Scotch whisky. It was first produced by the London-based whisky blender founded by James Buchanan. Originally known as House of Commons , its nickname, referring to the black and white labelling, was eventually adopted as the official brand instead.The brand's motif Black...
.
Neutral spirits, near-neutral spirits and other 'fillers' are usually much cheaper to produce than straight or single malt whisky, so blends containing them are usually much cheaper to buy. Most cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
s and mixed drink
Mixed drink
A mixed drink is a beverage in which two or more ingredients are mixed. Some mixed drinks are alcoholic beverages that contain liquor; others are non-alcoholic.-Types:Some popular types of mixed drinks are:...
s that call for it use blended whisky. This is primarily for cost reasons, and secondarily because the complex flavours of higher quality whiskies would be overshadowed by the mixer(s). Whisky purists generally consider blended whisky to be an inferior drink to the straight and single malt varieties.
Some blended whiskies, such as Old Thompson
Old Thompson
Old Thompson is a brand of blended American whiskey produced by Barton Brands, which is now owned by the Sazerac Company. It is known for its low price among brands of American whiskey. The company refers to it as "an excellent value"...
and various Canadian whiskies
Canadian whisky
Canadian whisky is a type of whisky produced in Canada. Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain liquors containing a large percentage of corn spirits, and are typically lighter and smoother than other whisky styles...
, are composed mostly of grain neutral spirit, with only a relatively minor part by volume being straight whisky.
External links
- Dr. Whisky (on blended whisky)
- L.A. Whiskey Society (reviews of blended whisky)