Compass Box Orchard House

Scotch Whiskey Varieties

Depending on the origin, Whisk (e) y comes in a wide variety of styles, from sweet American bourbon, caramel and vanilla to the single salty and peat-rich malt from Scotland. Although production methods vary widely, all whiskeys are made by distilling beer from a grain such as barley, corn, wheat or rye. After the distillation process is finished, the new pure alcohol is transferred to wooden barrels where it matures. This process can take up to thirty years or more.  Alexander Fleming, the Scottish inventor of penicillin, prescribed it as a cure for the common cold. Today, single malt Scottish whiskeys are appreciated by enthusiasts and aficionados around the world for their rarity, age and complexity. By definition, they must be produced in Scotland, in a single distillery, and made entirely from barley for malt in a distillation still. The appearance, aroma and taste of single malt Scotch whiskey can vary widely, depending on whether it was produced in the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Islay or Campbelltown regions.