There are many interesting facts about Scottish whisky, a cherished drink and the national beverage of Scotland. While you sip a small dram of the golden elixir, learn some unexpected facts about Scottish whiskies, such as the name’s roots, the costliest Scotch whiskies, and the contribution of American bourbon to whisky manufacturing.
Must Come from Scotland
Did you know that any matured alcohol cannot be referred to be Scotch whisky? True Scotch whisky production and maturation must occur solely in Scotland. The Scotch Whiskey Regulations Act in Scotland establishes severe criteria that real Scotch whisky must adhere to to be recognized as genuine.
A barrel is not Scotch whiskey if it even remotely crosses the border into England. Additionally, it must be aged for at least three years and one day in oak barrels, but many whiskeys are aged for much longer. Additionally, genuine Scotch whiskey must be at least 80 proof (40 percent alcohol by volume) when it is bottled.
Massive Tax Revenue
The Scottish government receives a handsome £125 every second from whiskey exports. Scotland exports a little under 38 bottles of whiskey per second. The 99 million cases of Scotch exported annually would cover the distance six times between Edinburgh and New York if laid end to end. Therefore, the government earns a handsome tax revenue from this production.
Scotland Doesn’t Consume That Much Whisky
The fact that Scots aren’t the biggest consumers of Scotch whiskey is among the most unexpected facts about it. North America, Europe, Asia, and South America get most of the world’s exports of Scotch whiskey.
With 176 million bottles imported into France each year, Scotch whisky is the most popular beverage. In 2021, the USA ranked third with 126 million bottles imported, followed by India with 136 million bottles. Scotland exported a staggering 1.38 billion bottles in 2022 for almost £4.51 billion.
Scotch whisky shipments to the USA alone total almost £790 million. The Scottish government, which earns around £125 from the 38 bottles shipped from Scotland every second, is very pleased with this.
The True Age of Scotch Whisky
You probably assume that a single barrel produced the single malt Scotch whiskey you are sipping. This is a typical misunderstanding since most single malts are blends of whiskies from several barrels that give them a unique flavor for each distillery. Single malt whiskies all originate from the same distillery but are often the result of many barrels, unlike blended whiskies, which are the results of various distilleries.
So how do you determine the whisky’s age? The age shown on the Scottish whiskey label must, by law, be that of the blend’s youngest whisky. Therefore, a 12-year-old single malt whiskey you’re sipping may have been blended and mixed with older whiskies aged 24 or even 40 years. The oldest whiskey has been maturing since 1940 and is a Macallan product. Since there is only 288 bottles total, this whiskey is a rare collector’s item.
Scotch Whisky for The Win
Every weekend, and maybe more often than that, whiskey is our companion and comrade. Whisky is a beverage for any emotion, whether you’re joyful or unhappy. Nobody could possibly dispute that whisky has been the ingredient in many of those crazy, chaotic evenings since it has been around for ages and has been getting generations drunk. If you love whisky, you can find the best one for yourself at https://www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/products/inchmoan-12-year-old-single-malt and enjoy an excellent experience from a well-known distillery.
