Let’s chat about these two whiskies. That’s right, they are both types of whiskey, but very different styles. One of the most determining factors when categorizing a whiskey is how it is made. These two spirits are complex enough to have their own guide pages, which you can find in the Recent Post column directly to the right, but we will do our best to give the cliff notes version of each to get you started. Enjoy!
What is Bourbon?
There’s an old saying you might be familiar with, “All Bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is Bourbon.” Bourbon is a unique style of whiskey based on the specific grain and type of barrel used in the creation process. Most Bourbons have a bit of sweetness, notes of caramel and vanilla, and go great in an Old Fashioned. These flavors come from the way the bourbon is aged. According to the American Bourbon Association, certain standards are required by law, so here are the key points you need to remember:
Bourbon needs to be…
Tasting notes
What is Scotch?
Scotch is sometimes referred to as the most complex spirit in the world. Similar to Kentucky bourbon or Champagne, Scotch can only be labeled so if it is made in a certain place...Scotland. You guessed it, that means that most whisky made in Scotland is Scotch. With that being said, there are many specific production regulations required, but here are some to give you the basic knowledge of what goes into Scotch requirements.
Scotch needs to be...
Tasting notes
What’s the difference?
Flavor
As you can see there are some very prominent differences. The most notable is going to be the flavor profiles. Bourbon is typically the sweeter of the two whiskies, while Scotch is going to pull in strong smoky notes. Bourbon tends to get all of it’s flavor from the barrels in which it is aged, there are no additives allowed in the spirit. Scotch on the other hand does get plenty of flavors from the barrel, but the regulations on additives are less strict and they can be added if desired.
Ingredients
Like all whiskies, both of these are made with a fermented mash of grain, yeast, and water. However, there are some differences in the types of grain and what can be added (as mentioned above).
Region
As mentioned briefly above, both are restricted to being made in certain areas of the world. Some people make the mistake of thinking that Bourbon has to be made in Kentucky, but that isn’t true. Technically only Kentucky Bourbon has to be made in Kentucky! Bourbon in general can be made anywhere, as long as it is in the United States.
​Scotch, similar to Bourbon, is also restricted to being made within a certain country...Scotland! This spirit is unique because Scotland is divided up into 5 whisky regions specifically determined just for Scotch. Can you imagine the U.S. being divided up into regions just for Bourbon? That’s pretty great, Scotland.
ABV
Alcohol by volume (aka ABV) is the standard measurement of how much alcohol is contained in a given volume of an alcoholic beverage. Bourbon and Scotch have different standards when it comes to ABV per bottle. Scotch must be distilled to a maximum of 94.8 percent alcohol, then aged in an oak cask. Bourbon is maxed out at 80 percent and must be no more than 62.5 percent when transfered into casks to be aged. Usually the higher the ABV, the stronger the taste of alcohol is. That explains why Bourbons have a sweeter taste than Scotch and why Scotch has that strong, well-known bite we all love.
Aging process
Another difference is how the two spirits are required to be aged. Straight Bourbon is at least 2 years and Scotch requires a minimum of at least 3 years. If you’ve seen many Scotch or Bourbon bottles, you can probably conclude that the majority of them are aged beyond the 2 and 3 year minimum. The aging process is what removes the harshness of the spirit, making it smoother and more enjoyable.
​Typically, Scotch is aged longer than Bourbon, with many of the popular Scotches hitting shelves after being aged anywhere from 12 to 25 years. One reason why Scotch is able to be aged longer is because of the climate. Bourbon is often made in Kentucky where the weather is much warmer during spring and summer. That means Bourbon evaporates at a much faster rate. This also means that the longer aged Bourbon is more expensive because the amount in the barrel dwindles each year. Since Scotch is in Scotland, a cooler climate, the rate of evaporation is much slower, yielding more for the longer aged whisky.
Which one is better?
This, my friend, is up to you! Everyone’s taste buds are different, so you must make your own decision this time. The next step is to get a bottle of each and do some taste tests!
Whether it’s taste, how it’s made, or where it’s made, it’s hard to confuse the two once you’ve learned a little about both. Invite some friends and family over and do a whisk(e)y tasting. Drop a little bit of knowledge on them and you’ll sound like a pro.
