Comparison Of American Whiskey & Scotch Whisky

Humans have invented a great number of alcoholic drinks for various preferences and tastes. Whisky or whiskey is one of the popular alcoholic drinks, having its history and spirit. The spelling is different due to different geography, as whiskey is said to be produced stateside and whisky is how the product is called in many other countries. (Pruett2017). Irrespective of the actual spelling of the name of the drink, generally it is made of fermented grain mash, which is corn, rye, wheat, barley and then it is kept in charred white oak casks for aging. (Broom 2000). Due to this fact the drink gains the deep brown color. Thus whisky belongs to the broad category liquors, being presented with a great variety of tastes, smells and colors; usually the differences between American and Scotch whisky are discussed.

If to compare American Whiskey and Scotch Whisky, it is possible to state that they both have interesting history of conspiracy and smuggling, at the same time there are a lot of evident differences between the two. The Scottish immigrants are considered to be the founders of the American Whiskey industry in the 18th century. They brought their knowledge and experience to Bourbon County, Kentucky. Still the two nations produce Whisky, which is absolutely different, they have distinct styles, which were formed on the territorial principles, depending upon the used production methods and choice of the ingredients. “For instance, Scotch Whisky, which is made from malted barley, must be produced entirely in Scotland and aged there for at least three years. Additives are a no-no, with the exception of caramel, which may be used to colour the spirit.” (American Whiskey vs Scotch Whisky 2017). Whiskey production in the United States depends upon certain geographical peculiarities to a great extent. The spirit is made from rye or corn and not barley and it is allowed to add favor additives. “Of the three main types of American Whiskey – Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey and Rye Whiskey – Bourbon is the most popular, however, flavoured Whiskey is attracting a following, particularly among women.” (American Whiskey vs Scotch Whisky 2017).

Some of the differences between American Whiskey and Scotch Whisky could be explained by other factors and not only by historical and geographical peculiarities, but by taxes. According to the notes from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) the first written records of distilling in Scotland took place in 1494. (MacLean 2009). At the beginning of the 1700s the taxes on Whiskey were growing and this led to mass rebels among Scottish distillers and most of them were forced to move underground. They started to hide clandestine stills in the heather-clad hills and even a signaling system was organized by the smugglers in order to pass the information about exercise officers to each other. All the creativity of the smugglers was used in order to overcome the tax system. “Even ministers of the Kirk (Church) made storage space available under the pulpit, and the illicit spirit was on occasion transported by coffin – any effective means was used to escape the watchful eyes of the excise men.” (American Whiskey vs Scotch Whisky 2017). At the end of that century the situation became so tense that it led to Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. The years 1919 to 1933 are historically known as the American Prohibition era and  they were marked by the rise of smugglers and bootlegging. At any rate by this moment the Whiskey –makers had already won a lot of important battles and the alcohol with “e” had received its own mark already.

Overall, there are similarities and differences between American and Scotch whisky; they are not related to purely methods in production, rather there are also historical, social and economic aspects to be considered here.

Works cited:

American Whiskey vs Scotch Whisky. Scotch vs US Whiskey. 2017 Retrieved from https://www.danmurphys.com.au/liquor-library/spirits/more-about-spirits/AmericanWhiskeyVsScotchWhisky

Broom, Dave. Handbook of Whisky. London. Hamlyn, 2000

MacLean, Charles. World Whiskey: A Nation-by-Nation Guide to the Best. DK Publishing, 2009

Pruett, Michelle. The Real Difference Between Whiskey, Bourbon, Scotch and Rye, 2017 Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-pruett/whiskey-bourbon-scotch-ry_b_9548538.html

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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