What Is Whisky?

Whisky is a distilled alcoholic beverage that is made from fermenting a grain mash.  Different grains can be used for different varieties of whisky.  These grains can be barley, corn, rye, and wheat.  Just three ingredients are needed to create Whisky.  Water, Barley (or other grains.) and Yeast.  The grain used will depend on what type of whisky is being made, but all whisky’s need a small amount of malted barley so that the fermentation process can begin.  Water is the most important ingredient in the whisky as it is needed to be as pure and clear of impurities to avoid adding tastes to the whisky that are not wanted.  Whisky is then aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak.  There are strict regulations when it comes to the spirit known as whisky.  The typical unifying characteristics of the different classes and types are the fermentation of grains, distillation and aging in wooden barrels.  Whisky is made from 3 ingredients.  Grains, water and yeast.  Whisky is made at 80 to 140 proof and is 40 to 70% alcohol by volume.  The larger producers of whisky are Scotland, Ireland, United States, Canada and Japan.  Whisky can often have different flavours or oak, grain, vanilla, caramel and fruit or spices.  Whisky is often aged 2 to 50 years and served straight, on the rocks or in cocktails. 

Sources:

Ludlow. E, Whisky A Tasting Course.  Penguin Random House. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky

https://www.thespruceeats.com/history-of-whisky-1807685