Whiskey
Sourced from Wikivoyage. Text is available under the CC-by-SA 3.0 license.
Whisky or whiskey is a distilled liquor made from fermented grain, rye or barley.While distillation was known throughout Europe and the Middle East through the Middle Ages, the beverage as we know it has its origin in Scotland (where it is spelled whisky, the Commonwealth spelling) and Ireland (where it is spelled whiskey, a spelling also used in the United States). The beverage was called uisce beatha in Irish and uisge beatha in Scottish Gaelic, translated as "water of life".
Whiskey-making has spread around the world with the Scottish and Irish diaspora. Today, many countries around the world have some whisky production.
Variants
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon whiskey, or bourbon, is the only whiskey native to the United States. See Kentucky bourbon distilleries tours.Destinations
Ireland
Ireland has a long tradition of whiskey and had 18 distilleries in 2017, and some distilleries offer tours.-
Jameson Distillery
address: Dublin
Scotland
Scotland has a long tradition of distilling whisky. In 2017 there were 126 whisky distilleries. Most of these produce malt whisky, but there are a few larger distilleries producing grain whisky which is used to make blended whisky. Nearly half of the malt distilleries offer tours for a fee which usually includes a sample or two.- The Isle of in the Inner Hebrides has 9 distilleries. Islay whiskies have a distinctive peat smoke taste, which is most pronounced in Laphroaig. Neighbouring Isle of Jura has one distillery.
-
address: ForresMuseum in a distillery which operated between 1899 and 1983. The Benromach Distillery is nearby, producing a classic Speyside whisky.
CampbeltownA small west coast town which at one time had 30 distilleries, of which 3 remain, all offering tours: Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia.
-
address: TainThis distillery produces 6 million litres of Scotch whisky per year, sold as single malt and not blended. This is a smooth highland malt.