🥃Whiskey vs. Bourbon vs. Scotch – What’s the Real Difference?

🥃 Whiskey vs. Bourbon vs. Scotch – What’s the Real Difference?

If you’ve ever stood in front of a liquor shelf wondering whether to grab a bottle of whiskey, bourbon, or scotch — you’re not alone. These spirits may look similar, but they have unique stories, flavors, and legal definitions that make each one distinct.

Let’s break it down.

🥃 What Is Whiskey?

Whiskey (or whisky, depending on where it’s made) is a broad category of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash — like barley, corn, rye, or wheat.

• Aged in wooden barrels (usually oak)

• Comes in many forms depending on the region:

  • American whiskey

  • Irish whiskey

  • Japanese whisky

  • Canadian whisky

🧠 Think of whiskey as the big umbrella — and bourbon and scotch as styles underneath it.

🥃 What Makes Bourbon Different?

Bourbon is a type of American whiskey, but with strict rules:

• Must be made in the USA

• At least 51% corn in the grain mix

• Aged in new, charred oak barrels

• No added flavors or colors

• Distilled to no more than 80% ABV

🇺🇸 Most bourbon comes from Kentucky, but it can legally be made anywhere in the U.S

🧡 Flavor: Rich, sweet, and smooth — often with notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice.

🥃 What Is Scotch?

Scotch whisky comes from Scotland, and it’s heavily protected by law.

Types of Scotch:

• Single malt (100% malted barley, one distillery)

• Blended Scotch (mix of malt and grain whiskies)

Rules:

• Must be aged at least 3 years in oak barrels

• Made with barley and water, sometimes with a smoky peat flavor

• Spelled “whisky” (no “e” in Scotland)

🏴 Flavor: Often smoky, earthy, complex — with regional differences like Islay (smokier) vs. Speyside (fruity and light)