What is a single malt in whiskey?

Next week in this space, I'll be looking in some depth at the world of Scotch whisky, but first, I want to clarify a point of some confusion: the distinction between single malt and blended whisky. Consumers and even some bartenders have a misconception that single-malt scotch is not a blended whisky, but this is a myth. read more

Single malt whisky is malt whisky from a single distillery, that is, whisky distilled from a fermented mash made with malted barley, as distinguished from unmalted grain. Single malts are typically associated with single malt Scotch, though they are also produced in various other countries. read more

A single-malt scotch whisky is nothing more or less than the product of a single distillery. Not the product of a single batch or a single barrel, but a single distillery. A single-malt Lagavulin may contain whiskies from many barrels produced at the Lagavulin distillery, but it will contain only whiskies produced at Lagavulin. read more

(Most single malts are matured longer.) "Malt" indicates that the whisky is distilled from a "malted" barley. Several types of grains can be malted (for example, barley, rye and wheat are all grains which can be malted); however, in the case of single malt Scotch, barley is the only grain used. read more

Next week in this space, I'll be looking in some depth at the world of Scotch whisky, but first, I want to clarify a point of some confusion: the distinction between single malt and blended whisky. read more

Single Malt Scotch Whisky Malt whisky is the ‘original’ whisky of Scotland. Although other grains were used, barley was grown specifically for making beer and whisky. read more