Your Whiskey Questions, Answered

Whiskey was invented by monks in Ireland around 1,000 years ago, after encountering distilled wine, brandy, while on pilgrimage in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. They brought the distilling arts back to Ireland, but grapes didn’t grow in Ireland's northern climate; barley did. So, they distilled their spirit from barley beer instead of grape wine and called the creation aqua vitae, or the “water of life.”

“Whiskey” literally means “water of life.” The early Irish monks who invented whiskey gave it the Latin name “aqua vitae” for its life-giving powers. They brought the aqua vitae with them when they founded new monasteries and monastery distilleries in Scotland. Latin-educated Scottish kings and nobles were their principal customers. The first written reference to aqua vitae is in a letter from the steward of the Scottish King James I to the monks of Lindares Abbey, ordering barrels of whiskey for delivery—which proves everyone has always wanted their alcohol delivered to their doorstep.

When the King Henry VIII ordered the destruction of monasteries across Britain in the 16th Century, displaced monks were forced into secular life, so some of them opened micro-distilleries to make a living. The common folk who were their customers didn’t speak Latin. Instead, they referred to the “water of life” into their native Gaelic, uisce beatha, pronounced “whiskey bay” - which is how we now have the word “whiskey.”

The type of whiskey depends on the type of grain used to make the beer, whether the barrel is new, and where the whiskey was distilled. It can also depend on the type of whiskey still used to make it, or even where the whiskey was distilled. Common types of whiskey include Bourbon, Rye, Blended, and Single Malt. Many whiskeys are known by the country they're made in, like American, Scotch, Irish, Canadian, and Japanese.

Malt whiskeys are made from 100% malted barley. Irish whiskey is typically 100% malted barley whiskey distilled in Ireland and aged in used bourbon barrels. Scotch whisky is typically 100% malted barley whiskey distilled in Scotland and aged in used bourbon barrels. Japanese whiskey is typically 100% malted barley distilled in Japan and aged in a variety of white oak casks. American Single Malt is 100% malted barley whiskey distilled in America and aged in new, charred American white oak barrels.

Bourbon is made from at least 51% corn. Bourbon is a corn-based whiskey distilled anywhere in America (not just Bourbon County, Kentucky), and aged in new, charred American white oak barrels.

Rye Whiskey is at least 51% rye, distilled anywhere in America and aged in new, charred American white oak barrels.

Blended whiskey is whiskey purchased from multiple distilleries and blended together in huge vats. Single malt whiskey is whiskey distilled from 100% malted barley by a single distillery (not from a single barrel; that's "single barrel"). Single grain whiskey is whiskey distilled from a single type of grain other than malted barley by a single distillery.

Canadian whisky is rye-based whiskey distilled in Canada and aged in new, charred white oak barrels.

It depends on the type whiskey, especially the grains used to make up the mash and the barrels used for aging. Typically, American Single Malt Whiskeys will be smooth and rich.

Between 40% and 60%, depending on the style and batch. Some of our special releases will have higher proofs, after being bottled at cask strength.

Both the FDA and a consensus of celiac disease experts have determined that whiskey is gluten-free.

The reason is that the gluten proteins do not evaporate and therefore, do not make it through the distillation process into the final product.

Just an "e." Whiskey distilled in Ireland and the United States is spelled with an "e." Whiskey distilled in Scotland, Japan, and Canada is spelled without it.