What is Whisky?

Question

What is Whisky?

TasteAtlas · Accepted Answer

Whisky or whiskey is a spirit made from fermented grains, typically corn, rye, wheat, and barley, and is always aged, predominantly in oak barrels. The story of its discovery provokes heated debates, since both Irish and Scots claim whisky as their invention.

Because of the lack of written evidence, it is difficult to state where it first originated, but it is believed that Christian monks introduced distillation to the British Isles and were soon followed by apothecaries. These original varieties did not have much in common with the present-day versions, until the introduction of the crucial element—aging a distillate in oak casks, which resulted in an aromatic and mellow drink with a wide variety of aromas.

In the second half of the 19th century, first companies started to export their whisky, primarily to the British Empire and the United States. Throughout the 20th century, many regional varieties sparked interest, the most notable being American bourbon. Read more

Despite its varying popularity, whisky has become an international drink and has recently seen a revival. Apart from Ireland, Scotland, and the United States, it is produced in many other countries, creating a wide group of drinks that may differ in their base ingredient, distillation process, and the length of maturation.

Whisky is usually enjoyed at room temperature, served neat, on the rocks, or with a splash of water.