Whisky, or whiskey, relying on the place on the planet it’s made, is a beverage that’s adored all around the globe.
It’s a drink for a chilly winter’s night time to heat your cockles. It’s a tipple to take pleasure in within the backyard on a heat summer season’s night. Let’s be sincere, it’s a drink for all events as we are able to’t get sufficient of the stuff.
As fashionable as a wee dram of whisky is, on the subject of whisky consuming, it actually wouldn’t harm to broaden our horizons and check out new issues. We all know all too effectively that among the world’s most interesting whiskies are produced right here in Scotland and Eire, with the USA additionally in rivalry. Do you know nevertheless, that nations akin to Mexico, Australia, Japan, and even India, additionally produce some distinctive whiskies?
In the event you’re seeking to strive a whisky/whiskey out of the abnormal, that you simply’ve by no means tried earlier than, why not go world and check out one thing a bit totally different? Right here’s a take a look at some distinctive whisky producing nations across the globe and what they do in another way to us right here at house.
Australia
To start with, we’re going to land down beneath.
No, we’re not going to ‘throw one other shrimp on the barbie, mate’ nor are we going to make any Crocodile Dundee references or point out the cricket. What we’re going to do nevertheless, is take a look at how our Aussie mates produce whiskey.
The nation’s first distillery lately celebrated it’s 30th birthday, after opening in 1992. The whiskey business right here, nevertheless, didn’t actually take off for an additional decade. Once we consider Australian alcoholic drinks, we consider beer, and to a lesser extent, crimson wine maybe. It seems, although, that additionally they know how one can make a fairly epic whiskey.
Whereas we affiliate the rugged Scottish Highlands with Scotch, it’s Tasmania that’s synonymous with whiskey manufacturing in Oz, the place the vast majority of the nation’s distilleries could be discovered. The whiskies right here are sometimes made with Australian barley and smoked peat, so they aren’t too dissimilar from Scotch whiskies loved right here.
Some of the fashionable Australian whiskies presently available on the market is the award-winning Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask. With a scorched toffee color, and notes of honey, blended cherries, peat, oak smoke, vanilla, and salted caramel, it’s simple to see why it’s so fashionable.
Japan
Japan might be the least-surprising nation you’ll discover on our record right now, as they’ve been producing whisky for various years now, and have created a extremely profitable, very profitable whisky business within the nation.
Japanese whiskies are actually typically spoken of in the identical vein as Scotch, Irish whiskey and Bourbon. Japanese whisky is taken into account to be a stylish and trendy possibility, however relaxation assured, there may be loads of substance in addition to fashion.
Normally the whisky right here is aged in uncommon Mizunara oak casks, after being aged in bourbon and/or ex-sherry casks. The whisky normally finishes its getting old course of in Mizunara oak, resulting from the truth that the wooden is vulnerable to leaking, although offers the whisky an incredible and distinctive character and physique.
The Yamazaki 12-year-old for instance, comes from the Suntory distillery – the oldest malt distillery within the nation, and likewise its first. This pale amber nectar is elegant and clean, with floral nutty notes, giving approach to winter spices and candy berries, with a contact of citrus to complete, that basically lingers.
India
India is legendary for a lot of issues, together with among the most interesting delicacies in the whole world (significantly, you tuck into an genuine lamb madras and rice and attempt to inform us it’s not wonderful). It seems, although, that in addition to wonderful meals, they’re additionally fairly darn good at producing whisky.
India is definitely one of many largest whisky-consuming nations on the planet, and when you have got wonderful tipples akin to ‘Rampur Asava’ to sip on, you’ll know why that’s.
The whisky produced right here is nearly like a rum, resulting from the truth that it’s largely constructed from grain spirits, together with liquor distilled from molasses or sugar.
Rampur Asava for instance, has a deep treacle color, with loads of juicy fruit notes, and a contact of spice. You’ll detect cloves and plums on the nostril, earlier than tasting raspberries, nutmeg, cinnamon, leather-based, oak, and cigar smoke to complete.
Taiwan
One other a part of the world that produces scrumptious whisky, is none aside from Taiwan.
Due to the nice and cozy, humid, tropical local weather in Taiwan, that the barrels age in, the getting old course of is nearly sped up, and might subsequently be in contrast with Scotch whisky when it has completed getting old.
There are nevertheless, much less strict guidelines and rules on the subject of the getting old course of, so you’ll be able to count on all method of extraordinary experiments occurring. Whereas there are some misses right here, the vast majority of whiskies produced are huge hits, together with the vastly fashionable Kavalan Sherry Oak.
This whisky makes use of Kavalan spring water to dilute it right down to a warming 46% ABV.
With its beautiful golden amber color, you get notes of almond and mulled spices which give approach to plum, vanilla, and sticky dates and cherries. The end lingers and leaves you with a touch of darkish chocolate.
Mexico
Sure, we all know that Mexico is legendary for its scrumptious tequila and mezcal, however do you know that it additionally produces some fairly particular whisky as effectively?
Sierra Norte is the first producer of whisky in Mexico for the time being, however you’ll be able to count on that to alter quickly, because the world continues to find the hidden gem that’s Mexican whisky.
Produced from various totally different kinds of corn, particularly Oaxacan corn, together with malted barley, in ratios of round 85% and 15% respectively, that is virtually like a Scotch-Bourbon hybrid. It’s then barrel aged, such as you’d count on.
You possibly can inform the number of corn used relying on the label on the bottle. If the label is black, you’ll be able to count on spicy, peppery, fruity notes, whereas yellow or white labels are normally sweeter.
Sierra Norte Black Corn whisky is aged in single French oak barrels and has an exquisite golden caramel color. The label is white, so you’ll be able to count on candy cherry jam notes and aromas of ripe banana.
On the palate, you’ll style extra ripe bananas, salted popcorn, caramel, candied orange peel, and ripe plantain.
To complete, count on an enduring style of marzipan, baked vanilla sponge, and a touch of toasted oak.
