What is the difference between how single malt and blended whiskeys are made?

Answer 1

I believe the "pure malt" referred to is actually a "single single" malt.

Single malt is when whiskey comes from a single malting, or batch of malted barley. This just means that the same batch of malted barley was used to make all the whiskey in that particular bottle you are drinking. It can come from many different actual batches/vats of whiskey as long as the same malt is used.

Single single is when all the whiskey came from the same batch of whiskey, not just the same batch of malted grain. However, sometimes even single single malt whiskey is not pure. It is sometimes watered down to obtain the desired proof, or alcoholic content.

The purest form of whiskey is barrel strength single single malt. This means it is a single single malt that has not been watered down. This may actually be the "pure malt" that you heard about.

For anybody wondering about double malt, it is simply whiskey made using whiskey made from two separate malts. When any more than two malts are used, it is generally referred to simply as "malt whiskey" or "blended malt" whiskey.

The reason superb single malts are so expensive is the fact that if the malt is sub-par, then it cannot be used and a new malt must be done. On the opposite end of the spectrum, this is also why some single malts are so cheap. They aren't after that 'perfect' whiskey. They're just making whiskey as cheap as possible... kinda like the McDonald's of whiskey. This also applies to blended malt whiskeys. Some are truly superb because of the extensive blending that goes into making them exactly how the blendmaster wants them.

Double or blended malts make up most of your mid-price whiskey due to the ease of mixing multiple malts to come up with a mediocre product... not the smoothest on the market, but far from the bottom of the barrel, so to speak.

Answer 2

It can vary based on the type of whisky. However, Blended implies it is composed of whiskies from more than one grains or malts or produced in more than one state. Single malt only is meant to signify that it is produced from a MASH using only one particular grain, not the typical mix of say corn, rye and wheat.

Answer 3

Single Malt whiskey is produced and bottled in one distillery and is brewed from a single type of malted barley.

"Regular" scotch can be a blend of whiskeys from multiple distillers and multiple malt types.

Answer 4

Single Malt versus Blended Scotch Whisky

Scotch whiskey (or simply Scotch) refers to a large family of spirits made in Scotland from malted grain. Malt refers to any kind of cereal grain (e.g., corn, barley, wheat, rye) that has been sprouted and then dried. This turns the grain's starches into sugar (maltose). Scotch whiskey (or whiskey in America and Ireland) must contain some malted barley. If other grains are used, they must be in whole-grain form.

In 2009, the rules governing the types of Scotch changed, and it's pretty confusing. Here are the five types:

1. Single Malt Scotch Whisky,
2. Single Grain Scotch Whisky,
3. Blended Malt Scotch Whisky,
4. Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and
5. Blended Scotch Whisky.

There is no overlap among the types.

#1 is made from local water and malted barley from only one distillery that uses a batch distillation process. The process must employ pot stills.

#2 is confusing because it may use more than one grain, but it must be made at a single distillery.

#3 is a blend of two or more #1 type whiskys from different distilleries.

#4 is a blend of two or more #2 type whiskys from different distilleries.

#5 is a blend of #1 and #2 type whiskys.

Answer 5

That is a matter of opinion, but single malt scotch is delicious. You should determine your own view on the matter by having a taste test! You don't even have to leave your house; blended and single malt scotch are available online! The Whiskey Place is where you want to go for the latter beverage. Check out it's vast collection of single malt scotch brands at http://www.thewhiskeyplace.com.

Answer 6

A single malt whiskey is made from a single malt grain in a single distillery 'pot still' in a single batch production from the malt grain grown near the distillery. The single malt scotch whiskey however uses only malted barley and is matured in oak casks for three years.

The malt grain is malted through the process of malting,mashing,fermentation,distillation and maturation.Sometimes peat smoke is introduced during fermentation to add phenols as flavor & aroma to the whiskey.

Maturations give alcohol strength to the whiskey.

Blended whiskey is multi distillery malt whiskey blended to give flavor , aroma & taste.Multi distillery malts are called blended malts.

Answer 7

Single malt whiskies are from a single distillery, whereas blended whiskies can come from two or more distilleries.

Answer 8

Single malt.