What's The Difference Between Irish Whiskey And Scotch?

Whiskey is an incredibly broad category, and two popular types are Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky (without the "E"). These two have subtle but important distinctions.

Both drinks are made from distilled grains and aged in wood barrels for at least three years. However, Irish whiskey is distilled in Ireland while Scotch is distilled in Scotland.

Irish whiskey can be made with malted and unmalted barley or barley and other grains like corn or wheat, either with a column or pot still. It is usually distilled three times.

The flavor of Irish whiskey tends to be light and smooth, with distinct fruit and spice notes, but there are a wide range of flavors. It can be enjoyed on its own or in cocktails.

Scotch has to be made in Scotland from malted barley, water, and yeast. Blended Scotch often uses a combination of pot stills and column stills and is typically distilled twice.

Scotch offers a wide range of flavor profiles, from floral to smoky, and isn't as widely used in cocktails as Irish whiskey is, though there are some classic Scotch mixers.