Sharing our passion for grain whisky
Single malts have long taken centre stage in the whisky world, but things are (slowly) changing with some grain whiskies claiming their spot.
Grain Whisky
Grain whisky has always been essential to the creation of blended Scotch but today we are witnessing a growing number of stand-alone specialist grain bottlings, that ignite an increase of interest in this underexposed whisky category.
Grain whisky is made with unmalted cereal grains such as wheat or corn in combination with some malted barley to help kick-start fermentation.
Aging and flavour
The distillation process used for grain whiskies often produces a lighter and more easy-going whisky that nevertheless manages to retain interesting flavours from the different types of grains that were used. And just like their malt peers, there’s an interesting variety in flavours produced by the different grain distilleries.
Things get really interesting after significant oak maturation, typically in former Bourbon or Sherry casks. Sometimes the casks are re-charred. This deep charring process caramelises the wood sugars, promotes greater interaction between the spirit and the oak and adds a layer of filtering carbon to the internal surfaces of the barrel. The result of this intensified char has often rendered richness and fruitiness to a gentle whisky, which at its best acquires a refined, velvety character as it ages.
Discover this exciting whisky category
Exciting times are happening now for grain whisky, with more and more distilleries producing unique and interesting bottlings. The quality of some of these whiskies have taken away the perception that grain whisky is only relevant for blended Scotch. Some Whisky connoisseurs have known this for a while now by stumbling upon grain whisky curiosities, but today this often-overlooked segment is able to reach a wider audience with more and more (single) grain whisky brands popping up.
We at the Grain Whisky Collection have shared this passion for grain whisky for many years now and are continuously striving to promote this promising category by selecting and marketing the finest grain whisky bottlings. We’d love to invite you to discover this whisky category that will possibly win you over for many years to come.