When talking about a Scottish Whisky (Scotch), there are two main categories of product – blends and single malts. The difference between the two is simple. A single malt is made entirely by distillations from a single producer at a single site, whereas a blend is created by mixing distillation from multiple producers.
Blends are typically also a mix of malt and grain whiskys (though there are exceptions), whereas a single malt is obviously only made from malt whiskys.
Blended whisky was first produced in the mid 1800’s, and the main goal is to produce a consistent marketable product. Typically the bulk of a blend is made up of grain whisky which is cheaper to produce, lending itself to a more cost effective product. The grain aspect is an unmalted cereal such as wheat or maize and it lends itself to a harsher flavour than whisky from malted grains. One thing to note is that over time, the availability of the base components of a blended whisky might become unavailable (either the distillery closes, or it decides to longer provide the malt whisky product to the blenders), causing quite a challenge to the blender. Good examples of popular blends are Bells, Grants, Teacher, Famous Grouse and Dewars.
Confusion can often arise when talking about a single malt. The term single actually refers to the fact that it is sourced from a single distiller and the end product is a crafted blend of malts of various ages. The goal here is to retain the character of the product while retaining as much consistency between batches as possible.
One important thing to note is that if a single malt is aged (for example, Aberlour has a single malt product aged at 10 years old), by law no whisky in the product can be younger than that age. Therefore a 10 year old might be a blend of 10 year olds, 12 year old, 16 year old and higher (each maybe from multiple hogsheads). The reason older products are used is often to give heightened character and sophistication to the younger product.
There are two more rare classes of product worthy of discussion – often referred to as single single malts, and single single single malts.
A single single malt denotes a malt whisky that comes from a single distillation from a single producer. It might still be a blend across hogsheads to obtain a level of consistency from batch to batch, but it typically gives a much better representation of the product you might obtain directly from a single cask.
More exclusive is what is sometimes referred to as single single single malt, although I prefer to refer to it as a direct bottling or whatever term is used by the bottler (such as Blackadder’s use if Raw Cask). This is a bottling from a specific barrel and the selection of this barrel is carefully considered in order to be representative of the distilleries regular product. Independent bottlers might also buy casks from a distiller and release such a product – an example of which would be the Blackadder products in my collection – although these products might be much more random in flavour as the barrels are rarely custom selected by the signitory or master distiller.
Given that the fewer components that are in a particular bottle usually means a more careful selection of those components, the best way to get a high quality product is to move up to single single malts, or the direct bottlings. Even here in New Hampshire there is a good selection available and as always it is worth looking out for new items at the liquor store or specialty spirit/whisky shop.
July 28, 2007 at 9:31 am
i am curious to know whether connoisseurs agree that single malts are the best whiskies, or whether there are premium blends made using the best single malts that some whiskey lovers consider superior to single malts.
after reading this ariticle i now understand that single malts are also blends, except that the blending happens at one distillery using products of the same age. i am wondering whether any superior blends are made using only single malt whiskeys from different distilleries, and whether any of these are considered superior by consensus.
August 1, 2007 at 10:07 pm
First, thanks for the comment.
I think the aspect I prefer about single malts is that you can get more variety and personality through the various expresions provided by certain distilleries.
That said, there are blends that use single malts across distilleries and there are some very accomplished blends that use only single malts. For example the Johnny Walker Green, Gold and Blue are fine examples and of course are readily available world wide.
Having been in the US for a while I have not had much access to so many outstanding blends so prefer to stick with the single malts, of which there are plenty left to try.
I definitely find a grain/malt blend to be (usually) too harsh for my palate, yet would give a good malt blend the benefit of the doubt. Superiority is also a very subjective thing, and you’ll even find that your tastes and preferences will change over time. Mine certainly has.
August 17, 2007 at 11:24 pm
This is very nice and informative post. I have bookmarked your site in order to find out your post in the future.
July 17, 2008 at 9:42 am
[…] SocialPrimer recommends: Oban, The Famous Grouse, Chivas Regal. https://whiskyblog.wordpress.com/2007/02/06/blends-vs-single-malts/ […]
December 15, 2008 at 11:16 am
To resume discussion « blend vs single malt », I would say that the “whiskyblog” answer is true but very politically correct.
Every kind of taste can be found everywhere and everyone has the right to prefer this one instead of the other. That said, you can prefer McDonald food instead Robuchon food. But you can’t disclaim that single malts whisky have nothing to compare with a blend. Single malt whisky are largely superior. About Johnny Walker Blue Label, if you have 170 € to spend it is a kind “marketing” purchase. You can have largely better for this price.
April 28, 2009 at 9:00 am
Surley i liked this articale, gives a clear picture about the signle mail and the blended scotch,
November 15, 2009 at 1:08 am
I am loving this! i will be hear the best content again
September 1, 2010 at 8:29 pm
What grain is a malt whiskey?
September 7, 2010 at 6:04 am
I think I can speak for all of us once I say this, our health stands out as the most essential thing. If we have our health, I consider that we can get any woman/man we want and any employment we want. But in the contemporary climate of points of the raising costs of supplements and such, I believe the average spend on health products and solutions is close to $1000-2000 a year for me, it’s possibly higher for others. I observed an awesome method to fund this expenditure which has also helped me fund my holidays. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to become any nonsense which bores you to death, and it does definitely work, some folks I know who use this truly make a living off it 🙂 It takes around an hour to set up and you don’t require a lot cash at all. If you happen to be interested, just check out the link in my name.
November 18, 2012 at 12:55 am
Go spam somewhere else
May 16, 2011 at 2:44 am
just read it
June 9, 2011 at 4:21 am
Thanks, I was always wondering what the difference is. I’ve had some blends that come from single malts and I find that they taste as good (to my taste) as some single malts. I’ve found that some of the single malts have a very distinctive taste that does take a little “getting used to” whereas I can drink most blends without…
August 13, 2011 at 1:29 pm
One has to get used to the taste of single malt but with blended scotch it becomes easier to have a go. But on any day I will prefer a single malt.
November 9, 2011 at 3:38 am
Click Dizayn Profesyonel Web ve Multimedya Tasarım hizmetleri vermektedir. SEO Opimiziasyon, Google Reklam ve Kurumsal Kimlik Çalışmaları…
[…]Blends vs Single Malts « Single Malts: My Journey[…]…
November 12, 2011 at 12:49 am
Nice comments, so clever and at finally give me the info. to speak with someone about “the water of life” showing a criteria of the product, plus teach me how can I aproach to a good Whisky, before tested.
Thank-you very much.
December 6, 2011 at 4:32 am
This is very true, blended whiskeys a harsher in taste as compared to single malts. One other interesting fact is that a whiskey made in a new cask has the different taste than one made from re-used casks. Taste is even varied when whiskey is matures by the casks put at a slight tilted angle ie Glenfidich 15
December 9, 2011 at 8:44 am
Single malt whisky is prepared from only single grain malt either barley or wheat or anyone and it is prepared in only one cask barrel that is fresh and new in which no distillation have taken place. In the case of scotch whisky , in which various types of grain malt is mixed togather and distilled in casks where there is no need to use fresh cask . Scotch are easy and cheap to produce where as single malt is costly and require basic assumptions.a.
December 20, 2011 at 10:21 am
Joomla 1.5 | Joomla 1.7 | Joomla templates | Extension | WordPress Themes | Drupal templates | Themeforest | CodeCanyon | eBooks | Icons | Scripts…
[…]Blends vs Single Malts « Single Malts: My Journey[…]…
December 25, 2011 at 9:58 am
Genel amacımız kişileri bilgilendirmek ve tüm konular üzerinde durmaktır. Hergün güncel konular üzerinde durulacaktır. İsteklerinizi göz önünde bulundurulacaktır….
[…]Blends vs Single Malts « Single Malts: My Journey[…]…
January 8, 2012 at 6:02 am
whisky decanters…
[…]Blends vs Single Malts « Single Malts: My Journey[…]…
January 9, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Nha sach…
[…]Blends vs Single Malts « Single Malts: My Journey[…]…
January 12, 2012 at 12:51 pm
actually my question which is more costlier and why? Is it scotch than reasons?
January 16, 2012 at 3:46 am
hoc seo…
[…]Blends vs Single Malts « Single Malts: My Journey[…]…
April 10, 2012 at 10:22 pm
joomla cms SEO Marketing Webagentur schweiz…
[…]Blends vs Single Malts « Single Malts: My Journey[…]…
May 17, 2012 at 11:30 am
it’s all a question of taste really
May 30, 2012 at 1:59 am
I perfer mix rather than single. thanks for the good article.
March 15, 2013 at 2:36 pm
you are indeed an alien
August 7, 2012 at 8:55 pm
[…] this particular Sunday afternoon, a friend and I were discussing the differences between blended versus single malt. I was explaining to my friend that single malt is from a single distillery, but blended from […]
September 20, 2012 at 7:26 pm
hyip template…
[…]Blends vs Single Malts « Single Malts: My Journey[…]…
November 28, 2012 at 3:03 am
I got the brilliant answer!! thank you .
December 4, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Hi, after reading this awesome piece of writing i am also cheerful to
share my know-how here with mates.
December 8, 2012 at 10:04 am
[…] (Read about the difference of single malt and blended whiskey here) […]
March 2, 2013 at 1:29 pm
There are 2 varieties of hemorrhoids, internal and external, both of which left unchecked can lead to a lot more severe circumstances,
and eventually surgery. But that is in case you do nothing about it.
And there is not much to appear forward to should you require
surgery. Surgery is definitely an excruciatingly painful
expertise, specifically post-op. Several individuals have reported days,
if not weeks of discomfort throughout the healing period right after surgery.
You see the outer rectum is one of the most sensitive parts
of the physique, along with the most prevalent surgeries involve burning off hemorrhoids, or banding (tying
a band around the affected region until it drops
off) which leaves the location extremely tender, and when the patient must possess a
bowel movement, the pain might be a lot more excruciating than the hemorrhoids ever
have been.
March 4, 2013 at 6:24 pm
However, semi-permanent eye lashes characteristically last about 2 a number of.
These false eyelashes are all the time ready for a night time on
the city, in addition they will not consider your own
entire evening applying associated with.
Category Health, Beauty, Shopping, Fashion Style, Skin Care,
Fashion, Health & Fitness, Health and Fitness, Health & Healthcare, Women, anonymous, uncategorized, miscellaneous, general,
other
May 5, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Emu Boots sale around 50%, and should you pay for two couples of uk uggs, many surplus treats will be offered. Buy cheap UGG boots visit: When looking at purchasing due to the fact, world-wide-web retailers offer them with lower prices than these from local sellers. So you can find that shoes, clothes, even bags for the kids has be a little more exquisite than before.
July 30, 2013 at 9:49 pm
I delight in, cause I discovered just what I used to be having
a look for. You have ended my four day long hunt!
God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
August 5, 2013 at 11:20 am
I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for.
Would you offer guest writers to write content available for you?
I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome blog!
September 3, 2013 at 12:07 am
I am actually grateful to the holder of this web
page who has shared this impressive article at here.
February 26, 2014 at 1:28 pm
We’re a bunch regarding volunteers along with opening a brand new structure in your neighborhood. Your web site available all of us together with useful information and facts to function for. You may have done an outstanding course of action and our complete online community will probably be happy back.
August 15, 2014 at 3:00 am
griseofulvin psoriasis fddefdcdkeke
September 7, 2014 at 3:05 pm
I’m gone to tell my little brother, that he should also visit this blog on regular basis to
get updated from latest information.
October 19, 2014 at 2:03 pm
I have been reading your stuff Blends vs Single Malts | Single Malts: My Journey and they are pretty useful for me to know something new and special. And You can also view our web also best hyip monitor http://hyipreward.com.
September 29, 2015 at 4:55 pm
İlgilendiğim paylaşımlardan teşekkür ederim
September 29, 2015 at 5:09 pm
Beğendiğim paylaşımlardan teşekkürler
October 15, 2015 at 6:06 am
Yazıyı beğendim çok teşekkür ederim
December 5, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Merhabalar nette gezinirken konunuz gözüme çarptı çok beğendim teşekkürler.
December 16, 2015 at 3:42 am
Merhabalar google da gezinirken konunuz gözüme çarptı çok beğendim teşekkür ederim.
December 23, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Yazınızı beğendim çok teşekkürler
December 23, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Biraz site gezdikten sonra bu konuyu bulabildim çok teşekkürler
March 1, 2016 at 11:56 am
Çok uzun zamandır araştırdığım konuydu teşekkür ederim
March 1, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Arama motorlarında ararken konunuzu buldum paylaşımlarınız ilgimi çekti teşekkür ederim
April 22, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Yazınız için çok teşekkür ederim
May 5, 2016 at 6:52 am
Konu aktarımlarınız çok güzel teşekkür ederim
May 16, 2016 at 3:54 am
Yine harika bir paylaşım olmuş teşekkür
February 28, 2017 at 9:45 am
Aradığım bir çok konuda paylaşımlarınızı buluyorum çok teşekkür ederim
May 14, 2017 at 6:57 am
Gene süper bir içerik olmuş
June 14, 2017 at 6:23 am
Sayfanızı çok sevdim tebrikler
July 19, 2017 at 9:21 am
Çok faydalı konular hazırlıyorsun sağol
September 3, 2017 at 3:44 am
I’m as you could probably teach a category on how to produce a great blog. This really is fantastic! I need to say, what really got me was your design. You certainly understand how to make your website more than just a rant about a issue. Youve caused it to be feasible for visitors to connect. Good for you, because not that many individuals understand what theyre doing.
January 3, 2018 at 7:37 am
I have noticed you don’t monetize your website, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn additional cash every
month because you’ve got high quality content.
If you want to know how to make extra $$$, search for: Mertiso’s tips best adsense
alternative
February 10, 2018 at 9:37 am
Bu gibi süper konular paylaştığınızdan dolayı teşekkürlerimi sunarım
August 16, 2018 at 1:12 pm
I have noticed you don’t monetize your website, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn additional cash
every month. You can use the best adsense alternative for any type of website
(they approve all websites), for more details simply search in gooogle:
boorfe’s tips monetize your website
October 27, 2018 at 1:36 pm
And remember the following, specific advice from Google on removing low-quality content from a domain:
October 31, 2020 at 11:14 pm
SLOBODNE CURE OSIJEKKONTAKTI ŽENEUPOZNAVANJA SPLITVRUCI TELEFOnHOTLINE TELEFON HRVATSKAŽENE BURZA AUTIMASAŽA ZADAR CIJENAMASAŽA KARLOVACŽENE TRAŽE LJUBAVNIKAZENE ZA BRAKpoznanstva.netDAME ZA SUSRETE ISTRA
February 19, 2021 at 5:19 pm
edythe
Blends vs Single Malts | Single Malts: My Journey