In Focus - Discover Scotland: Experience the Best of Scotland - page 628

Scotch whisky (always spelt without an 'e' - whiskey with an 'e' is Irish or American) is
Scotland's best-known product and biggest export. The spirit has been distilled in Scot-
land at least since the 15th century.
Malt whisky is distilled from malted barley - that is, barley that has been soaked in wa-
ter, then allowed to germinate for around 10 days until the starch has turned into sugar -
while grain whiskies are made from other cereals, usually wheat, corn or unmalted barley.
A single malt is a whisky that has been made with malted barley and is the product of a
single distillery. A pure (vatted) malt is a mixture of single malts from several distilleries,
and a blended whisky is a mixture of various grain whiskies (about 60%) and malt
whiskies (about 40%) from many different distilleries.
A single malt, like a fine wine, somehow captures the essence of the place where it was
made and matured - a combination of the water, the barley, the peat smoke, the oak bar-
rels in which it was aged, and (in the case of certain coastal distilleries) the sea air and salt
spray. Each distillation varies from the one before, like different vintages from the same
vineyard.
A good malt whisky can be drunk neat, or preferably with a little water added. To ap-
preciate the aroma and flavour to the utmost, a measure of malt whisky should be cut (di-
luted) with one-third to two-thirds as much spring water (still, bottled spring water will
do). Ice, tap water and (God forbid) mixers are for philistines. Would you add lemonade
or ice to a glass of Chablis?
Scottish Ales
The increasing popularity of real ales (traditionally brewed beers) has seen a huge rise in the number of specialist
brewers and microbreweries springing up all over Scotland. They take pride in using only natural ingredients, and
many try to revive ancient recipes, such as heather- and seaweed-flavoured ales. Here are a few of our favourites:
Cairngorm Brewery Creator of multi-award-winning Trade Winds ale.
Islay Ales Refreshing and citrusy Saligo Ale.
Orkney Brewery Famous for itsrich, chocolatey Dark Island ale, and the dangerously
strong Skull Splitter.
Williams Bros Produces historic beers flavoured with heather flowers, seaweed, Scots
pine and elderberries.