It’s a wide world of whiskies out there. Japan, Scotland, Canada, and Tennessee have all claimed their own type of whiskey, which doesn’t even account for bourbon or rye. As the whiskey world continues to expand with new brands and ideas, telling your whiskies apart might get complicated. But don’t worry, we’re here to help explain the difference between Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, and Irish, Tennessee, Japanese and Canadian Whiskey.
Bourbon Whiskey
Absolutely no bias on our part, putting bourbon at the top of the list. Bourbon may be a type of whiskey, but it comes with specific requirements all its own. For a whiskey to be named a Bourbon Whiskey it must meet the following criteria:
- Produced in the United States
- Comprised of at least 51% corn
- Aged in a new, charred white oak container
- Distilled at 160 proof or below
- Put into a new, charred white oak container at 125 proof or below
- Contain no added substances, other than water
Rye Whiskey
You can think of Rye Whiskey as bourbon’s spicy cousin. Rye is certainly a category all its own and has seen particular growth in the last few years. Rye Whiskey does follow a lot of the same requirements as bourbon, with a few twists of its own. For instance, Rye does not have to be produced in the United States. For a whiskey to be named a Rye Whiskey it must meet the following criteria:
- Comprised of at least 51% rye
- Aged in a new, charred white oak container
- Distilled at 160 proof or below
- Put into the new, charred white oak container at 125 proof or below
Scotch Whiskey
Scotch is a vast category all its own. Not only is Scotch an exceptional type of whiskey but it comes with its own subcategories: Single Malt and Single Grain. But let’s start at the beginning shall we? For a whiskey to be named Scotch Whiskey it must meet the following criteria:
- Produced and aged entirely within Scotland
- Made from grains (Most usually malted barley)
- Fermented using the enzymes from malted barley (hence the grain choice)
- Aged in oak casks for at least three years
- Distilled at maximum to 189.6 proof
- Contain no added substances, other than the occasional caramel coloring.
Now down to the sub-categories. If a Scotch is named “Single Malt” that simply indicates that it comes from one distillery who used only malted barley and water to create the whiskey. If the Scotch is named “Single Grain,” then it was still produced at one distillery, but they used more grains than just malted barley to create the whiskey.
Irish Whiskey
While Bourbon, Rye, and Scotch have strict requirements to earn their name, Irish Whiskies like to have a bit more fun. How very Irish of them. There are still rigid rules around the whiskey, but the Irish have more room for interpretation and play, particular around the choice of grain. For a whiskey to be named Irish Whiskey it must meet the following criteria:
- Produced and aged entirely within Ireland
- Made from grains
- Fermented using yeast
- Distilled at maximum to 189.6 proof
- Aged in oak casks for at least three years
- Contain no added substances, other than the occasional caramel coloring.
Canadian Whiskey
If you think the Irish left room for play, then meet Canadian whiskey. Canada has a short list of demands for its whiskey, so we guess they’re more about enjoying the product, rather than worrying about the process. For a whiskey to be named Canadian Whiskey it must meet the following criteria:
- Produced and aged entirely within Canada
- Made from grains
- Aged in Canadian wooden barrels for at least three years
Tennessee Whiskey
Kentucky and Tennessee may border each other, but as any resident of either state would tell you, their whiskies couldn’t be more different. (Okay so, they actually aren’t all that different, but we aren’t trying to start a war here). Tennessee Whiskey actually shares a lot of similarities to Bourbon, except for one big exception – maple wood charcoal filters.
The Lincoln County Process, as its known, refers to the process of scorching sugar maple wood until it becomes clumps of charcoal. That charcoal is then used to filter out any impurities in the whiskey and usually mellows out the flavor too. The process is named for Lincoln County, Tennessee, the former site of the Jack Daniel’s distillery, which pioneered the process. Love it or hate it, that process has become a critical part of creating Tennessee Whiskey.
For a whiskey to be named Tennessee Whiskey it must meet the following criteria:
- Produced only in Tennessee
- Comprised of at least 51% corn
- Aged in a new, charred white oak container
- Distilled at 160 proof or below
- Put into the new, charred white oak container at 125 proof or below
- Filtered by maple wood charcoal
Japanese Whiskey
To date there, uh, is actually no legal definition for Japanese Whiskey. This type of whiskey is most closely aligned with Scotch, but not quite Scottish enough to be Scotch. As of now, a Japanese label or a label that states it was made in Japan is the best bet for identifying a Japanese Whiskey.
Knowing how to identify the world’s whiskies isn’t just a fun party trick. It can help you navigate your local liquor store, try new whiskies, and find the one that works best for you or the occasion. (And we promise to be only a little upset if your favorite isn’t bourbon).
