Blended Whisky -v- Single Malt Whisky - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Blended Whisky -v- Single Malt WhiskyandCognac -v- BrandyIf you were alive in the 19th Century you would only have known about blended whiskies - single malt as a commercial product and category within the whisky market has only existed for a few decades.

2. The two basic types of Scotch are:Malt whisky which is made from 100% malted barleyGrain whisky which can be made from any grain (usually maize or wheat) but has to include a fraction of malted barleyMalt whisky has to be distilled in pot stills, grain whisky is usually made in column stills.The crucial detail that defines the difference between Single Malt and Blended Scotch Whisky:Single Malt Scotch Whisky is also a blend, but it is a blend of malt whisky produced in just one distillery so in effect the word ‘single’ means “single place of origin”; whereas Blended Scotch Whisky is a blend of grain and malt whisky from multiple distilleries. 

3. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COGNAC AND BRANDYBrandy generally refers to a distilled spirit made from fermented fruit juice. It can be produced using grapes or fruit. (Calvados, for instance, is an apple brandy from the Normandy region in France).Cognac, meanwhile, must be made from white grapes from one of six different terroirs; the Ugni Blanc grape variety is its primary ingredient, and grapes from "Grande Champagne" terroir are the most coveted. The liquid must be distilled twice, and its distillation season lasts from October 1 through March 31. The distilled product is then aged in oak for at least 2 years.Bottom line:Cognac is a type of brandy made from distilled white wine, made in one, very specific, region of France.THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COGNAC AND WHISKYThe biggest difference is that Cognac is made from grapes and Whiskey from grain, most usually barley. Cognac begins life as fermented grape juice that first turns into wine. This wine is then double-distilled, before also being aged in oak barrels.Another big difference is that Cognac can only carry the name if it’s produced according to strict regulations. The most important being that it’s made in the Cognac region, in France. Whisky, on the other hand, can be made anywhere in the world. Although the Scots spell theirs without the ‘e’. So if you’re drinking a ‘Whisky’, this has been made in Scotland.

4. VS COGNAC (Aged 2 Years +)VS Cognac stands for “Very Special” Cognac. A VS Cognac must be aged for a minimum of two years. It is also referred to as ‘Sélection’, ‘De Luxe’ or simply ***. If you see three stars on a cognac bottle, it means it is in the VS age category. Suitable for cocktails, mixed drinks and cooking.VSOP COGNAC (Aged 4 Years +)The official term stands for “Very Superior Old Pale”, although it is often referred to as “Very Special Old Pale”. The origin of the expression dates back to an order made by the British Royal Court in 1817. King George IV asked the House of Hennessy for a “Very Superior Old Pale”, which would become a benchmark for all cognac houses from then on.Suitable for cocktails, neat, on ice and cooking.XO COGNAC (Aged 10 Years +)XO stands for ‘Extra Old’ and describes a cognac consisting of eaux-de-vie that have been aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 10 years.“XO” was coined by Cognac Hennessy and first used in 1870. Even though the youngest blend in an XO Cognac can be as young as 10 years, a XO usually has an average age of between 15 and 20 years, sometimes older.Suitable on ice, neat and paired with food.XXO COGNAC (Aged 14 Years +) XXO stands for ‘extra extra old’, and is a relatively new category that was officially added to the description of cognac ages in 2018.NAPOLEAN COGNAC (Aged minimum of 6 Years +) An unofficial age designation, “Napoleon” Cognac technically falls within the official classification of a V.S.O.P. TYPES of COGNAC

5. SCOTLAND

6. SCOTLANDHighland distilleries primarily produce single malt, which is made from 100% malted barley at a single distillery. Highland single malt is usually made on a pot still, a less complex distilling apparatus that preserves more of the flavorful congeners produced during the fermentation process. On the whole, Highland whiskies are bold, flavorful, and frequently (although not always) made with peat-kilned barley, giving them a smoky, medicinal quality.Lowland whiskies, on the other hand, aren’t always made with barley (many include wheat and/or corn, making them grain whisky), and peat plays a much less prominent role. Today, many Lowland distilleries use huge continuous column stills, many of which are stories high, to produce enormous quantities of grain whisky quickly. These generally create a light, grassy style that’s used as the base of blended Scotch.Today, just four distilleries are currently operational in the Lowlands, but there are some indications that Lowland single malt is coming back: critically acclaimed triple-distilled single malts from distilleries like Glenkinchie and Auchentoshan are keeping the style alive.