Whisky Knowledge
Below is a list of useful resources to help you on your whisky journey. They will help give you a better understanding of the various processes involved in creating whisky, as well as providing a background and history.
This is far from a definitive list and will continue to be updated. Please get in touch if you have any suggestions.
Contents
The History Of Whisky
The Distilleries
The Making Process
Barley Varieties
Yeast Varieties
Maturation and Casks
Filtration
Colour in Whisky
Sugar in Whisky
Blending
Warehousing
ABV in Whisky
Smell and Taste
Terroir
Marketing and Advertising
The History Of Whisky
The Distilleries
https://scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/
Scotchwhisky.com’s whiskypedia provides a huge amount of information and background on Scotland’s distilleries, both current and lost. Unfortunately the website is no longer being updated, but it is still a fabulous resource.
The Making Process
https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usfeatures/maltwhisky/index.html
From malting through to bottling. A look at each stage of the processes that go into making malt whisky.
http://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2011/03/pot-still-distillation.html
A look at the process and science of pot still distillation from the excellent Whisky Science blog
http://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2015/09/scottish-pot-still-variations.html
Another superb Whisky Science blog. This one looks at the variations in pot stills at various distilleries through history
Barley Varieties
http://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2015/03/scottish-whisky-mash-bill.html
A look at the barley varieties used in the production of malt whisky in Scotland
Yeast Varieties
http://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2011/09/yeasts-pedigree-and-properties.html
Yeasts: Pedigree and Properties. This blog page guides you through a scientific look at yeast variaties used in the Scotch whisky industry
Maturation and Casks
https://www.whisky.com/information/knowledge/production/details/maturation-in-casks.html
A look at whisky maturation in casks. What influences the maturation process? Why do whiskies from one distillery sometimes taste so differently?
https://www.whiskynotes.be/sherry-casks-in-the-whisky-industry.pdf
An excellent guide looking at how Sherry casks are created for the whisky industry
https://whiskymag.com/story?cask-life-and-fillings
An article from Whisky Mag. Ian Wisniewski asks what do the terms first fill and second fill mean in relation to aging malt whisky?
https://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2011/02/coopering.html
Whisky Science’s two part article on coopering in scotch whisky industry
https://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2011/02/coopering-part2.html
Part two of the above blog
Filtration
https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/ask-the-professor/13337/chill-filtration-is-it-bad-for-whisky/
https://www.thedramble.com/opinions/whisky-science!-license-to-chill/
How much does chill filtration influence the flavour in whisky? Does it really have much impact?
Colour in Whisky
http://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2011/04/caramel-e150.html
A scientific look at E150 caramel used to colour many scotch whiskies
Sugar in Whisky
http://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2016/12/sugars-in-whisky.html
We don’t often think of sugar in whisky. It isn’t allowed to be added as an ingredient, but it exists in various quantities in different whiskies for a variety of different reasons
Blending
https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/about-whisky/blending
An article which gives a brief look at the art of whisky blending
https://www.thedrinksreport.com/news/2016/16781-special-report-marrying-malts.html
A look at the blenders job of marrying of malts ready for bottling
https://whiskymag.com/story/arranged-marriage
So how do whiskies cope once they have come of age and are ready for single-malt marriage? Ian Wisniewski investigates for Whisky Mag
Warehousing
https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/ask-the-professor/21776/do-dunnage-warehouses-create-better-whisky/
Do traditional dunnage warehouses make better whisky? The Whisky Professor at Scotchwhisky.com attempts to answer the question
ABV in Whisky
https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/ask-the-professor/12295/why-is-scotch-whisky-bottled-at-40-abv/
Ever thought of why whisky is bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV? This article looks to answer that
https://whiskymag.com/story?does-the-abv-really-matter
Does the ABV of whisky really matter and what significance does it have?
Smell and Taste
http://whiskyscience.blogspot.com/2011/07/flavour-wheels.html
A deep look into flavour and smell in whisky and other alcoholic berverages using flavour wheels
Terroir
https://greatdrams.com/terroir/
Terroir is a divisive subject amongst whisky fans. Does it really make a difference or is it all marketing flannel?
https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/the-whisky-virgin/21797/whisky-tastes-of-its-terroir-or-does-it/
Similar to above. Another take on terroir in whisky and if it exists
Marketing and Advertising
https://greatdrams.com/25-historical-whisky-ads/
An interesting look at 25 historical whisky advertisements from yesteryear
https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/features/23128/the-ads-that-made-macallan/
Macallan is extremely popular these days (and I guess unpopular amongst some), but that wasn’t always the case. This article looks at the marketing which helped cement it’s place as a big player in the whisky industry
https://whiskymag.com/story/politics-mavericks-and-war
Politics, Mavericks and War – Scotch Whisky advertising in the early 20th century