In American films, the characters often drink whiskey. They drink it all the time - at home, at work, at the bar. Scotch whiskey, Irish, American, pure or diluted with water. In Russia, little is known about this drink, mainly because good whiskey is practically not produced in Russia, and what is sold under its guise is often impossible to drink. Meanwhile, real whiskey is a great drink with its own history and characteristics.
There are three main types of whiskey - malt, grain and blended. Malt - made from pure barley malt without impurities. Grain is made from different types of cereals, it goes almost entirely to the production of blended whiskey, but partly goes on sale. Blended is a blend of whiskey made from different types of grains. There is also bourbon - American corn whiskey, created using a special technology.
The best of the best
Since 2007, there has been a 'World Whiskies Award'. This is a kind of "Oscar" for whiskey producers all over the world. The award is presented in several nominations: Best Single Malt Whiskey, Best Malt Whiskey, Best Blended Whiskey. Also, prizes are awarded by countries - the best producers of the drink - "Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey", "Best Japanese Whiskey", etc.
In Scotland, the word "whiskey" is written as 'whiskey', in all other countries - 'whiskey'.
Winning labels change every year, so keeping up with new trends in whiskey production is not easy. Here are the results for 2014:
1. The best single malt whiskey in the world - Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask
2. Best Mixed Whiskey - Taketsuru 17 Years Old
3. Best Blended Whiskey - The Lost Distilleries Blend
4. Best Flavored Whiskey - Sons of Liberty Pumpkin Spice
5. The world's best whiskey liqueur - Master of Malt Speyside Whiskey Liqueur 40 Years Old
6. Best Single Grain Whiskey - Teeling Single Grain
7. Best American Whiskey - Balcones Brimstone Resurrection
8. Best Rye Whiskey - Thomas H Handy Sazerac
How to choose a great whiskey in the store
But, of course, not everyone has the opportunity to attend the prestigious award and try all of the listed varieties there. And in general, in Russia, most of them are quite difficult to buy. However, there are several tricks that will allow you to choose the best whiskey for yourself or as a gift from the available assortment.
The word comes from the Celtic 'uisce beatha' - "water of life".
First, pay attention to the country of origin. The best whiskey is produced in the USA, Ireland, Scotland and Japan. Most likely, there will be no complaints about products from these countries. True, if the label says "Scotch whiskey" or, say, "Scotch type whiskey" in Russian, then this is a product made in Russia and bears little resemblance to real whiskey.
Take a look at how the label is attached. It should be level and bubble-free. Pay attention to the composition. This whiskey should contain only water and grain or corn - no ethyl alcohol, no flavors and fragrances.
A good whiskey can be light to dark golden in color. There should be no sediment in the bottle.
When the bottle is turned over, the whiskey should fall down in a large drop, and not run down the walls.
Finally, when shaking the whiskey, large air bubbles should appear, which do not disappear for a long time.
