The WHISKEY thread (yes, scotch too)

[Steerpike]

Corn has to make up at least half of the grain material for bourbon. Some very technical people will argue that Bourbon has to come from Bourbon county, Kentucky.

Scotch is made primarily from barley. Some might be just barley, but others will add in additional grains. It has to be from Scotland

 

[Sheilawisz]

Thanks Steerpike, is the taste and smell very different between these various kinds of Whiskey??

 

[Steerpike]

Thanks Steerpike, is the taste and smell very different between these different kinds of Whiskey??

I'd say yes on both counts. But some of that may come from familiarity. For example, you would be able to notice differences in wines that I would not detect.

Even among scotches, there is a lot of variation, often relating to the part of Scotland where the distillery is located. Some incorporate a lot of peat into the process, giving a heavy, smoky flavor. Those are definitely distinguishable even over other scotches on the basis of taste and smell.