what is the difference between whiskey, scotch, and bourbon?

Answer 1

Technically there is no difference between whiskey and scotch. Scotch is made in Scotland, and whiskey, elsewhere. They are both barley based distilled beverages that are barrel aged.

Burbon is made in the same distillation and aging manner as whiskey, but it is mainly from Corn.

Answer 2

Scotch whisky is made in scotland, Bourbon is made in the U.S. (Kentucky more specifically) that has to be by law at least 51% made from corn, whiskey is the general name for them, it can be made anywhere, Canada, Ireland, or Tennesse for example.

More on scotch from wikipedia, because I don't feel like typing it out

"To be called Scotch whisky, the spirit must conform to the standards of the Scotch Whisky Order of 1990 (UK), which clarified the Scotch Whisky Act of 1988, and mandates that the spirit:

1. Must be distilled at a Scottish distillery from water and malted barley, to which only other whole grains may be added, have been processed at that distillery into a mash, converted to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems, and fermented only by the addition of yeast,
2. Must be distilled to an alcoholic strength of less than 94.8% by volume so that it retains the flavour of the raw materials used in its production,
3. Must be matured in Scotland in oak casks for not less than three years and a day, and
4. Must not contain any added substance other than water and caramel colour.
5. May not be bottled at less than 40% alcohol by volume.

No whisky other than Scotch whisky may be made in Scotland."

Oh yeah, and Scotch is spelled whisky, where as all others are spelled whiskey.

Answer 3

Bourbon and Scotch are types of whiskey (though the Scots spell it 'Whisky' with no 'e')
Whisk(e)y is essentially beer that has no hops that is distilled. There are a million recipes (all malt, corn, rye, wheat,etc., and all possible combinations of them).

Bourbon is not necessarily made only in Kentucky (though most is) but has certain recipe and production requirements.

Scotch is short for "Scotch Whisky" and is whisky made *only* in Scotland and has been aged for a minimum of 3 years. It can be "single malt" which is made only from malted barley at a single distillery, or "blended" which can be a blend of malt whiskies, grain whiskies, and combinations of each.

Answer 4

First and foremost is the difference in the spellings!Scotch is a malt whiskey,Bourbon is essentially an American whiskey.

Answer 5

Types of whisky
Whisky or whisky-like product is produced in most grain-growing areas. They differ in base product, alcoholic content, and quality.

Scotch whiskies are generally distilled twice and must be distilled and matured wholly within Scotland for at least three years in oak casks.

Irish whiskeys are generally distilled three times and must be aged for three years in oak casks.

American Straight whiskey must be made using a mash bill that consists of at least 51% and no more than 79% of a single grain. Bourbon is made from at least 51% corn; straight rye is made from at least 51% rye, and so on. American whiskies must be aged in new barrels made of American white oak that are charred before use.

Malt whisky is a whisky made from 100% malted barley; it is distilled in an onion-shaped pot still. Malt whisky made in one distillery is called single malt whisky to distinguish it from blended whiskies.

Grain whisky differs from malt in that it is usually made from corn, maize, or other grains rather than malted barley. It is distilled in continuous distillation process stills known as Coffey stills instead of the pot still used for malt whisky.

Pure pot still whiskey refers to Irish whiskey made from a combination of malted and unmalted barley and distilled in a pot still.

Blended whisky is a mix of different types, usually between malt and grain whiskies.

Vatted Malt When single malt whiskies from different distilleries are mixed together the term vatted or blended malt is used.

Answer 6

It's mostly slight differences in the distillation process, and adjustments in the ingredient ratios. Minute changes in the grains, or types of barrels used to distill them make huge differences in the flavors

Answer 7

Well, Whiskey makes me "frisky", Scotch makes me "cross" and Bourbon makes me "stubborn!". LOL! XOXO Moon

Answer 8

whiskey is nasty, scotch is nastier, and bourbon is the nastiest.
lol
:-)

Answer 9

NOTHING THEY ALL GET U ***KED UP........RIGHT...?

Answer 10

umm.. the name.?.? idk good one.