Which whiskey is 12 years old?

Whiskey, or scotch, is one of the most popular spirits in the world. Its aroma and taste are created through a variety of production processes that result in a drink, for which people are willing to pay a lot of money. It is made from such crops as rye, barley, corn, wheat and even buckwheat. The strength of this drink can vary from 32 to 50%. Traditionally it is produced in Ireland and Scotland.

History of the drink

Where was this hot drink first made? The answer to this question is not found, but Ireland and Scotland consider themselves to be the homeland of whiskey and argue among themselves about who was the first in this matter. The Scots claim that it was they who replaced grapes for barley in the initial process. They called the resulting drink "water of life". But the Irish say that their patron, Saint Patrick, invented this recipe and began to cook whiskey exactly on their island. Mass production of Scotch began in the Scottish monasteries, it was used exclusively for medicinal purposes. But the farmers took over the experience from the monks and began to produce it for sale. This drink was more like a moonshine, it could not stand it, and drank right after distillation. In the 19th century, handicraft production was able to move to a new level thanks to the installation of Coffey, which helped to significantly increase the volume of the manufactured product. Since this time, the industrial release of this product begins, there are firms that specialize only in its production. Nowadays, Scotch and Irish scotch are considered the best. Whiskey 12 years aging is appreciated all over the world.

Types of "water of life"

There is such a classification of whiskey:

1. Malt - is made only from barley malt, without any impurities. In turn, it is also divided into:

• Single-malt (manufactured by the same distillery);
• Single cask (whiskey, which is taken from one barrel);
• Quarter cask (this drink is taken only from a barrel made of American oak and having a small size);
• Vatted malt (a mix of scotch from different distilleries).

2. Grain - this is almost all blended whiskey, only a small part goes on sale at retail. This kind, without any admixtures, has practically no aroma. Most often it is used as a technical raw material for making another grade of this drink.

3. Mixed is a drink that is obtained by mixing (combining) malt and grain types of scotch. 90% of the total production falls on this species. If it has a high malt content, then this drink has the status of "Lux".

4. "Bourbon" - American recipe, which involves the production of whiskey from corn, and has a special technology.

Manufacturing technology

The production of this drink is divided into stages:

1. Preparation of barley malt - at this stage, barley is processed. It needs to be cleaned, cleaned and dried. After that, it is soaked and laid out on the bottom of the malt for a period of up to 10 days. When the grain sprouts, it is sent to dry. So it turns out malt. Of unextended grains make a grain of whiskey.

2. Drying is the process of drying malt, which occurs under the influence of hot smoke from the combustion of charcoal, peat or beech shavings. So it turns out "smoked grain". This stage is used only in Scotland, which gives a twist to scotch from this part of the UK.

3. Making wort - the dried malt is turned into flour and stirred in water. This mixture settles for 8-12 hours.

4. Fermentation, or fermentation - when the wort cools, yeast is added to it and placed in a warm place (35-37 degrees) for two days. The strength of the resulting beverage reaches 5%.

5. Distillation - 5% of the drink is distilled two or three times. After the first distillation, the liquid strength reaches 25-30%, after the second - 70%. For further use, take only the drink that flows in the middle of the distillation process. The form of the distillation apparatus is unique in each distillery, as this greatly affects the taste of whiskey. The resulting beverage is diluted with water, and its strength is reduced to 50-64%.

6. Extract - the whiskey stands in oak barrels. If it's a barrel of sherry originally from Spain, you get a high quality drink. But often used and barrels of American oak, which stood "bourbon".

7. Blending - this stage is used for mixed scotch. Here merge into one malt and grain species of whiskey, which have a different degree of aging (from 3 years). After that, they are stored for a couple of more months. From this period depends the cost of the drink: if only a few weeks, it's cheap, if 6-8 months - high-quality expensive drink.

8. Filling - a settled drink is filtered with the help of paper membranes. The temperature should be in the range of 2-10 degrees. After that, the scotch is diluted with water taken from natural sources. If the composition of the mixture includes whiskey 12 years of aging, then its name is added De luxe, that is, it is the highest quality drink.

Term of endurance

In 1860 in Scotland a law was issued, which stated that this alcohol should be aged for at least 3 years. If malt scotch is not intended for blending, it is aged from 5 to 20 years. Whiskey 12 years of aging refers to the original varieties, 21 years - to collectible. The rarest varieties are stored in barrels up to 50 years. In Ireland, the most common period is 5 years, in Canada - 6.

Whiskey "Chivas Rigal"

This brand delivers to the market an elite liquor from Scotland. The founders of the company "Chivas" were two brothers, John and James Chivas back in 1801. They thought that in Scotland there is no such whiskey that could have the status of elite. Therefore, they decided to create this sort of drink with their own hands. The newly created scotch turned out to be very good, and he was quickly loved by all the nobility of Scotland. But the brothers did not stop there. The monitoring step was the creation of a whiskey long-term endurance for export to the United States. This brand was named Chivas Regal 25 and it quickly conquered the American market. But in 1920 in the States was introduced a dry law, which broke off the trade. After its cancellation, the company returned to the market under the brand Chivas Regal 12. Nowadays Chivas Regal sells only a seasoned drink. The period of its aging is from 12 to 21 years. Whiskey "Chivas" 12 years old is kept in special conditions and is considered the most popular. Eighteen-year-old scotch was created in 1997 by Colin Scott and awarded a bunch of certificates and medals for quality. The twenty-year-old is aged 21 years, it was created in 1953 specifically for the coronation of Elizabeth II. But still whiskey "Rigal" 12 years of aging is bought up much more willingly because of the lower price and excellent quality.

Whiskey "Makallan"

This drink is made in the area of the Spey River in Scotland, which is famous for its distilleries all over the world. This whiskey is of high quality, it is kept in sherry casks. Its distinctive feature is threefold distillation, while the standard uses 2 laps. The founder of this enterprise is Alexander Reed, who in 1824 acquired a license and opened his distillery. In subsequent years, it was re-bought by various private and legal entities. In the 50-ies of the twentieth century The Macallan begins to pack its product in bottles. The maximum shelf life at this enterprise is 30 years, but the "Makallan" whiskey is 12 years old and is the most popular and loved in the whole world.

Whiskey "Aberfeldy"

In a small village that is located in the mountains of Grampian in Scotland, create one of the most famous varieties of whiskey. It has a distinctive color, aroma and taste, which definitely distinguishes it from all others. The first to produce whiskey "Aberfeldi" began the brothers Dewar in 1898. First they planned to make a normal malt, but then decided to tackle single malt whiskey. This drink was used as a basis for other brands, but since 1988 the original brand works only for itself. Whiskey "Aberfeldi" 12 years and 20 years of aging won the world. After all, this distillery is trying to escape from modern goods and make a drink using traditional technologies using water only from local mountain sources.

Whiskey "Glenfiddik"

This Scotch whiskey (or Scotch tape) is produced in the area of the River Fidik, near which the city of Daftown is located. Only one malt grade of this drink is produced here. This brand was created in 1887 by William Grant. He and his family built a distillery and named it in honor of the valley in which it was built. And to this day William's great-grandsons own this production. In 1957, this whiskey was poured into a unique bottle of triangular shape. The production of this distillery is divided into a classic line, a premium line and limited. The most common whiskey - "Glenfiddik" 12 years old - refers to the classic. Also included are drinks that are stored for 15 and 18 years. Elite drinks are aged 21 and 30, limited - 40 and 50 years.

Whiskey "Balveni"

Another enterprise from the valley of the Spey River that is in Scotland. It was discovered in 1892 by the same William Grant and received the name from the castle, located nearby. In the basement he maintained his drink, on the first floor there was a poultry shop, on the second floor, barley was grown, which was grown in the district. In 1973, the brand "Balveni" began to produce bottled whiskey. It is divided into regular and limited. Whiskey "Balveni" 12 years of aging applies to both the first and the second kind. Everything depends on what kind of casks it was kept in.

Use

Irish and Scots have their own traditions in the use of whiskey. The first is never diluted, and the latter adhere to a special ritual of the five "S": to see, sniff, snort, iron and splash water. They believe that this will help to fully experience the whole taste of whiskey and get the maximum pleasure from it. Whiskey 12 years of aging is very fond of and appreciated in these parts. It is very high quality, and its purchase does not hit the family budget so much.

Thus, whiskey - a drink with a unique taste and smell, which won the hearts of millions of people. His homeland is considered Scotland and Ireland. Store this drink for 3 to 50 years, on which its quality and price depends. Whiskey 12 years old is the most common kind of this drink.