Questions We Get Asked About Whisky

For some, whisky vernacular, culture and the rights and wrongs seem somehow born into us. For others there's a lot to learn, and that comes with lots of questions.

Here are the ones that come up most, for anyone looking for an immersive whisky lowdown.

Am I ruining good whisky by mixing it?

No. People have been lengthening whisky with water for as long as they have been drinking it. Adding water is standard practice at the distillery. What you are doing at home is the same idea, colder and with bubbles.

Whisky or whiskey?

Scotland and Japan spell it whisky. Ireland and America generally spell it whiskey. Just different spelling. In our book, whisky was born in Scotland, so you can guess our view on it!

What does single malt actually mean?

Malted barley, one distillery. A blend brings together whiskies from more than one distillery. Neither is automatically better. Blends are behind many of the most loved whiskies in the world.

Is older better?

Not necessarily. Age tells you how long it sat in wood, not how good it is. Plenty of younger whiskies are brighter and more alive than something twice their age. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference.

Which whisky should I start with?

Something soft and approachable rather than something expensive. A gentler blend or a lighter malt in a long serve is, for most people, a much friendlier introduction than a cask strength poured neat.

What's peat?

Dried, compressed vegetation, burned to dry the barley. It's where smoky whiskies get their smoke. Some people love it immediately. Others take years. Some never get it. And that's okay. Whisky offers a huge range of flavours, so there's always something for everyone.

Should I add ice?

If you want to. Plenty of ice is exactly right in a long highball serve. Some people like a cube or two with the shorter, more traditional serves. Again, it comes back to personal preference.

I've tried whisky and didn't like it. Now what?

Try a different one, in a different form. Whisky covers an enormous range of flavours, and the one you were handed may well have been the wrong end of it for you.

If you haven't already, try the whisky highball. Mixing whisky with lots of ice and a refreshing (Spey) soda can be just the on ramp to whisky some people need.

Is there a wrong way to drink it?

Only the one you don't enjoy.

Discover and share your perfect whisky and Spey Soda pairings @speysoda.

Explore whisky your way. Life's short. Mix well.