Blended Whisky

"Blend" means "mixture", and so blended whisky is a mixture of different types of whisky, usually consisting of smooth grain whisky and characterful malt whisky. The aim is to create a harmonious and balanced taste experience by combining the flavours.

Grain whisky, which is often made from wheat, is characterised by its higher alcohol content and neutral taste, while malt whisky impresses with its intense aromas and depth. Blended Scotch Whisky is particularly well known.

According to British whisky law, every whisky, whether single malt or blended, must mature in a cask for at least three years before it can be labelled as whisky. The art of blending is particularly evident in the complexity of the blends. Often over 40 different malts come together to create a unique flavour. The percentage of grain whisky dominates, while the malts characterise the unmistakable flavour.

Before grain whisky, there was only malt whisky and it was virtually unknown outside Scotland!

The success of Scotch whisky was only made possible by the inexpensive industrial production of alcohol from unmalted grain. Robert Stein invented the patent still in 1826. This apparatus, also known as a continuous still, allows unmalted grain to be distilled continuously. Grain whisky was born and thus the basis for blended whisky. Aeneas Coffey improved this distillation process in the following years, which gave the patent still the nickname Coffey Still.

The success of blended whisky led to tensions between the producers. In 1909, a royal commission decided that whisky made from unmalted grain could also be labelled as such.

The main advantage of blended whisky lies in the possibility of standardising and refining the taste and quality by mixing different whiskies.

Among the first blenders were Andrew Usher and William Sanderson, who blended inexpensive grain whisky with malt whisky to create the first blended whisky. The first brands included the names that are still recognised today: Black & White, Dewar's, Haig, Vat 69 and White Horse.

Blended whiskies are widely available and are generally cheaper than single malts. Well-known brands of blended whisky today include Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal and Ballantine's.

The master blender is an expert in his field!

Blended Whisky combines the best of different types of whisky - the preconception that it is inferior is a myth.

Blending different types of malt whisky with grain whisky requires a great deal of skill and experience from the master blender. Although he often has over 100 malt whiskies at his disposal, the master blender usually uses 30 to 40 different single malts. Around ten of these are used in larger quantities, while the other 20 to 30 varieties are used to refine and fine-tune the flavour. Rare and expensive blends can consist of more than 100 different malts.

A blend is built up systematically. First, the master blender selects around ten lead whiskies that determine the basic flavour of the blend. These typically come from different regions of Scotland (Lowlands, Highlands and Islands). Highland malts (Speyside) provide the basic flavour and depth, malts from the island of Islay provide the smoky aroma and Lowland whiskies provide a soft, fruity note.

Each lead whisky is accompanied by a comparable replacement whisky to ensure production reliability. In the case of frequently sold blends, there are often two to three substitute malts for the lead whiskies.

Good to know: The price-performance ratio of blended whiskies should not be lost sight of. Many blends offer outstanding quality at an affordable price.

Blended whisky is characterised by its typical mild taste. Its flavour is created by the harmonious combination of spicy malt whisky and sweet, light grain whisky. Classic flavour notes in blended whiskies include vanilla, light fruit, subtle oak nuances and grain aromas.

However, the flavour of blended whisky is diverse: each blend has unique nuances depending on the recipe and origin. Irish blended whiskies in particular stand out with their smooth, often fruity flavours, which are also shaped by the character of the distilleries and the choice of casks.

Whether Scottish blended Scotch whisky or Irish blend - blended whiskies offer a broad spectrum of flavours, ranging from classically mild to complex.

Surprise: blended whisky is extremely versatile. It can be enjoyed neat, on ice or in cocktails. Here you will find the most prominent whisky cocktails.

Blended whiskies are widespread and well-known brands can be found in the following countries:

Scotland: Blended Scotch Whisky

• Johnnie Walker
• Chivas Regal
• Ballentine's

Ireland: Irish Blended Whiskey

• Jameson
• Tullamore Dew
• Kilbeggan

Japan is a speciality!

Blended whisky enjoys a particularly high status in Japan. While the world often pays a lot of attention to Japanese single malts, it is actually blended whisky that makes up the majority of Japanese whisky production and culture.

Well-known brands such as Hibiki from Suntory or Nikka From The Barrel are examples of the fine art of blending in Japan. Blended whiskies are regarded here as masterpieces in their own right with worldwide recognition and are not the "simpler" alternative to single malts.

A major difference to Scottish blends is that Japanese distilleries often produce all the components of the whisky themselves instead of blending malts and grains from different distilleries as in Scotland. This creates a clear identity!

Japanese distilleries attach great importance to precision and perfection, which is reflected in the exceptional quality of their blends. Japanese blended whiskies are characterised by a unique balance and elegance. Typical flavours are floral aromas, mild sweetness, light spice and often a hint of exotic fruit.

Both a Scotch whisky and an Irish blended whisky are usually a mixture of grain whisky and single malt whisky. The proportion of malt whisky in a blend determines the price of a blended whisky; the higher the proportion of malt, the more expensive the whisky .

Grain whisky plays the main role in the production of blended whisky!

90% of malt production goes into the production of blended whiskies. If you now consider that these 90 % malt whiskies in turn only contribute 10 to 15 % to blended production, you have a rough idea of how large the output of the few grain distilleries is.

The proportion of malt in blends is between 10 and 80 %. The majority of malts found in blended whiskies are from the Lowlands.

We present some well-known grain distilleries in alphabetical order:

Scotland

Most grain distilleries in Scotland are located in the Lowlands. One exception is Invergordon, which is the largest grain distillery in the Highlands.

Cameronbridge: one of the largest and oldest grain whisky distilleries in Scotland is operated by Diageo.
Girvan: owned by Willian Grant & Sons and produces blends and single grain bottlings.
Invergordon: Whyte & Mackay, Emperador Inc. is the largest grain distillery in Scotland and is located in the Highlands.
Loch Lomond: belongs to Loch Lomond Distillers.
North British: is a large distillery in Edinburgh, owned by Diageo and The Edrington Group.
Port Dundas: was a major grain distillery before closing in 2010.
Strathclyde: is operated by Chivas Brothers, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard.

Ireland

Cooley: produces malt as well as grain whisky and belongs to Beam Suntory.
Midleton: one of Ireland's largest distilleries produces pot still and grain whisky and is owned by Pernod Ricard.

USA

Bernheim Distillery: produces grain whisky as well as wheat whisky in Kentucky

Canada

Gimli Distillery: owned by Diageo and produces the famous Crown Royal

Japan

Chita Distillery: is operated by Suntory and specialises in grain whisky production
Nikka Coffey Grain Distillery: the name of the distillery can be found in the distillery name. Grain whisky is produced on a Coffey still.

Other countries

Amrut: the Indian distillery also produces grain whiskies, among other things.
Mackmyra: both malt and grain whisky are distilled in the Swedish distillery.
Starward: various types of whisky are produced in Australia, including grain whisky.