Whiskey 101
Whiskey lovers are a passionate group of people. They take their whiskeys very seriously and truly enjoy everything that goes into crafting their favorites. Whiskey lovers also like to talk about whiskey, including what distinguishes whiskey from whisky, Bourbon from whiskey, Scotch from Bourbon, and so on. This may be daunting to some, so we’ve summarized some of the basic differences among the most popular styles of whiskey, and identified a few of our favorites.
First, “whiskey” (with an “e”) and “whisky” are the same in terms of product. Some argue that the difference in spelling is a regional attribute, while others assert that the spelling reflects the typeof whisk(e)y in question. In most cases, whiskeys from Ireland and the United States have the “e,” while elsewhere in the world the “e” is omitted. But, like everything else, there are exceptions to the rule.
Bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is Bourbon. To be qualified as Bourbon, a set of legal standards must be met, the most important of which requires that the product be manufactured in the United States. Also, Bourbon must be manufactured with at least 51% corn in the grain during distillation.
Scotch is the shortened term for Scotch whisky. Like Bourbon, Scotch is defined by a set of legal standards. The most important (and perhaps most obvious) standard is that it has to be manufactured and distilled in Scotland.
The different types of whiskey do not end there. Corn, malt, rye, and wheat whiskeys all have distinct flavors based on which ingredient is most prominent. Single malt whiskey is produced at a single distillery and the flavor may differ across all batches. Blended whiskey is a combination batch from different distilleries, which keeps the flavor more consistent.
GAP Promotions is proud to provide innovative marketing solutions to some of the most well-known whiskey brands, including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bushmills, and
Evan Williams. Pictured below is a display for one of our favorite whiskeys; a wooden rack that GAP produced for Bulleit Bourbon. The rack stands slightly over five feet, and features a rustic, wooden construction to display Bulleit’s rich frontier history.
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