What to Look For When Buying Whisky

There are several things to look for when buying whisky. The amount of aging time, the ingredients in a blended whisky, and whether you prefer single malt whisky are things to be considered. Blended whisky comes in a wide range of flavours and just because you like one type of blended whisky does not mean that you will necessarily like others.

The longer a whisky is aged, the smoother it gets as a general rule, and if it is a blended whisky, it can also determine the flavour by whether the blending or vatting is done prior to aging or prior to bottling. Some whisky drinkers that are connoisseurs consider single malt whisky the purist whisky, while others prefer blended whisky for the enhanced flavouring which can include smoky, honey, fruity and spicy tastes, depending on the malted grains that are used.

The type of wood that is used in the aging cask can also determine flavour, especially for whiskies that have been aged longer. In Scotland, it is not considered whisky until it is aged three years, and some whisky may be aged for over 20 years. Oak barrels or applewood barrels lend a unique flavour to the whisky that is aged in them, for example.

The distilling process is only the beginning of the process in making a fine whisky. Some of the blended whiskies have taken years to achieve the flavouring they desire and once discovered, consistency in the recipe is key to making a good blended whisky. Some flavours of malt whisky and grain whisky go together better than others, and most blending involves the use of caramel for colouring consistency.

To know what to look for when buying whisky, you need to first determine whether you prefer single malt or a blended whisky. Most people have a preference for one or the other. Blended whisky can be a blend of several different types of malt whisky, or can be a blend of malt and other grain whisky. It is not unusual for some blends to have 40 or more different individual types of whisky.

Another thing to consider if you like blended whisky, is the type of flavouring you prefer. If you prefer a fruity flavouring, then you may not like a spicy whisky blend, for example. Also, there are varying degrees of flavours, therefore if you don't like a smoky taste, then you certainly will not enjoy a blended whisky that has it.

The aging process in number of years and type of vatting can also determine the smoothness of whisky, and some people prefer a longer aged whisky if they are drinking it alone or on the rocks. Blended whisky is typically used when making cocktails, since it is less expensive than a single malt whisky and other flavours in the cocktail would mask the malt flavour anyway.

What to look for when buying whisky is determined by personal taste. Being knowledgeable in the types of whisky there are to choose from can also make it easier to pick the one with the flavouring that you are most likely to prefer.