Rest of World Whiskies
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Whisky, a spirit with a rich and diverse history, isn't confined to its birthplaces in Scotland and Ireland. As the category has seen a re-emergence over the last two decades across the globe, other countries have embraced this craft and gave rise to their own unique styles of whisky. These whiskies, often reflective of their cultural heritage and natural resources, offer enthusiasts a captivating journey beyond the traditional realms. From the spicy and zesty notes of Canadian High-Rye to the elegant expressions of Japanese whisky, here's an introduction to whiskies from the rest of the world.
Japanese Whisky
Japanese whisky has captured global attention with its meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail. Drawing inspiration from Scottish methods, Japanese distilleries have developed their own unique styles. Japanese whisky often exhibits elegance, balance and a harmonious interplay of flavours, making it a sought-after choice for whisky enthusiasts.
Like Scotch whisky, Japanese whisky primarily uses malted barley. Other grains like corn or rice are used for grain whiskies. Peat, if used, is likely imported but some local peat may be used. Japanese distilleries use both pot stills and column stills. Pot stills contribute to the production of malt whisky with rich and complex flavours, while column stills are used for grain whisky production. Maturation may happen in a variety of casks, including ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and Mizunara oak casks (a native oak that contributes notes of sandalwood, coconut, spice, and Japanese incense). The Japanese climate, with its significant temperature variations, accelerates the interaction between the whisky and the wood, resulting in (slightly) faster maturation compared to Scotland.
The Japanese legal definition around whisky is oddly brief but most producers take inspirations from Scotland on types, styles, and labelling terms. The important types of Japanese whisky are:
- Single Malt Whisky – made in a single distillery using 100% malted barley.
- Blended Whisky – blend of malt whiskies and grain whiskies.
- Grain Whisky – made from corn and/or wheat with small amount of malted barley distilled in continuous column stills.
Canadian Whisky
Canadian whisky history begins at the end of the 18th century, when the first distilleries were built in Quebec and Ontario around the Great Lakes. Canadian whisky rose in popularity when local distillers began adding more rye grain to their mashes, creating a spicier and more flavourful whisky. This style became known as "rye" or "Canadian rye". Today, the terms "rye whisky" and "Canadian whisky" are used interchangeably in Canada and refer to the same product even though there is no requirement on the minimum amount of rye used.
All Canadian whisky must be mashed, distilled, and aged in Canada for at least three years in small wood barrels (no larger than 700L), contain at least 40% alcohol by volume, and may contain caramel and flavourings. It must also possess the aroma, taste and character generally attributed to Canadian whisky. Canadian whisky is typically made from a blend of whiskies made from different grains, such as corn, rye, wheat, and barley. The grains are fermented, distilled, and aged individually, then blended at the final stage.
Canadian whisky has a diverse range of styles and flavours, depending on the ingredients, types of casks, maturation period and blending techniques used. The common styles are:
- Grain Blend – made a mix of grains, usually with corn for the base whisky and rye for the flavouring whisky. Best-selling example in this category is Crown Royal Deluxe Blended Canadian Whisky.
- Rye Whisky – Canadian Rye Whisky does not necessarily have a high percentage of rye content and the proportion will vary between producers.
- 100% Rye Whisky – made from rye only and offer the signature spicy, peppery and zesty characteristics associated with this particular raw ingredient.
Indian Whisky
India is one of the largest whisky consuming markets in the world. Although it has been a big producer of whisky since the early 19th century, it is only recently that Indian whisky is gaining attention and recognition on the global stage. With world-class Single Malts and innovation brands produced from exotic locations the likes of Himalayas to Goa, it is an exciting time for Indian whisky and enthusiasts.
Indian whisky can be produced from a variety of cereals including barley, corn, wheat, and molasses (usually for entry level blended whiskies). Whisky can be distilled by in s pot still or a column still, and each whisky's maturation period will vary greatly. However, premium single malt whiskies will typically undergo three years ageing in oak cask, while the liberal use of caramel colouring to stimulate long ageing is common in the lower end. Specific legal requirements will depend on factors such as the type of whisky, and the state where the production takes place.
Common types of Indian whisky:
- Blended Whisky - a blend of malt whiskies and spirits made from different types of grains: malted barley, corn, wheat including molasses. The world’s best-selling whisky, McDowell’s No.1 sits in this category.
- Single Malt Whisky - made from malted barley and distilled in pot stills (at least twice). Indian single malts showcase a range of flavours influenced by local ingredients and the broad range of climates across the vast country.
- Craft Whisky – many craft distilleries are producing small-batch, artisanal whiskies that is experimental with raw ingredient, production, and ageing techniques. Godawan Single Malt no. 2 is a notable example of an artisanal whisky finished in Cherry Cask with exotic Indian botanicals.
Whisky distilleries are continuing to pop up around the globe from New York to China, Australia to Sweden, and even Singapore at pace. Scotland and Ireland have seen a huge increase in the number of distilleries over the last decade. While many producers are relatively new without long standing local traditional and scale, they have the opportunity to utilise all the production techniques available and merge them with innovative approaches on fermentation, distillation and ageing. The result is an amazing level of dynamism and spectrum of flavours available for whisky lovers. This is indeed a second golden age for whisky!