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The five most common Scotch questions answered

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 01 Apr 2022

By
Mitch Parker

Pull up a seat, pour yourself a dram and brush up on your Scotch knowledge.

1. Where is Scotch made?

There's only one place in the world where Scotch can be made and that's bonnie wee Scotland. This is a regional designation, like Champagne being made solely in Champagne, so if it's not Scottish, it's not Scotch. You could have the exact same whisk(e)y, made from the same grains and everything, but if it's made in the US instead of Scotland then that's American whiskey, not Scotch.

There are five different regions within Scotland that are known for producing Scotch – Speyside, Islay and the Isles, Highland, Lowland and Campbeltown – with each region having its own distinctive style. Islay Scotch tends to be smoky, for example, while Speyside Scotch is fruity and much softer. 

2. What is Scotch made from?Malted barley, mainly, but it really does depend. Though all Scotch was once made from barley, there are actually five types of Scotch: single malt, single grain, blended malt (a mix of malt whiskies), blended grain (a mix of grain whiskies) and blended (a mix of both malt and grain whiskies). Each style will differ in ingredients, method of production and taste, but they're all still classified as Scotch.
3. What does Scotch taste like?Good question, and a difficult one to answer. The most common way to describe the taste of Scotch is 'malty', which encapsulates flavours ranging from caramel to nutty to toasty and toffee. There'll also be additional flavours depending on the Scotch's place of origin and producer's signature style. Scotch from Speyside tends to have fruity flavours – honey, apple, pear – while Highland Scotch marries and balances those fruit flavours with the smoky notes that define Scotch from Islay. Our advice is to try Scotch from a number of distilleries and regions and make a note of which you enjoy. Odds are the same distillery will have a few examples that appeal to your palate, so check out our handy guide to finding your favourite whisk(e)y through exploring different flavour profiles.
4. How is Scotch served? Neat, traditionally, though a dash of water or a cube or two of ice are perfectly acceptable as they can help open up the flavours of a Scotch. The thing to watch out for here is upsetting the balance of flavours, which can happen if the Scotch is too diluted or too cold, so go easy and add a little at a time. If you're ordering a Scotch at a bar or restaurant, you can ask for it neat with a 'water back' and you'll receive a small glass of water to add to the Scotch as you wish. If you want ice, then order a Scotch 'on the rocks'.
5. What food does Scotch go well with?Cheese and chocolate are your classic Scotch pairings, though we're also big fans of Scotch and ice cream. Pair your more pungent cheeses with smoky, peaty Scotch and the same goes for chocolate. Milk chocolate with your soft Scotch, bitter dark chocolate with the complex examples packing more of a punch. Too delicious.
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Authour image
Mitch Parker Mitch Parker is Melbourne-based writer, editor and advocate for always sitting at the bar.
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