--- title: Whiskey 101 – the basics description: What is whiskey, how is it made, what's up with malt and grain? Read on the between whiskey and whisky and bourbon and rye? image: https://blog.typsy.com/hubfs/Whiskey.png --- [Turn guest feedback into action with ReviewLearn ![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/arrow-right.svg)](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/reviewlearn) ![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/user-profile-circle.svg) LOGIN [Member](https://member.typsy.com/) [Manager](https://manager.typsy.com/) | [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/headphones-white.svg) CONTACT US](https://www.typsy.com/contact) [![Typsy Brand](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/typsy-public-website/New_Typsy_Logo_Red_PMS.svg)](https://www.typsy.com/) [BOOK A DEMO](https://www.typsy.com/contact/demo) [![Typsy](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/typsy-public-website/New_Typsy_Logo_Red_PMS.svg)](https://www.typsy.com/) [Search courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses) - Platform Platform [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/trusted-content-at-scale.svg) Trusted content at scale The world's largest and fastest-growing hospitality library.](https://www.typsy.com/platform/hospitality-training-library) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/global-hospitalility-credentials.svg) Global hospitality credentials Industry-recognized Typsy credentials validating real-world hospitality capability.](https://www.typsy.com/platform/hospitality-certifications) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/performance-intellgience.svg) Performance intelligence AI-powered intelligence that connects learning to measurable operational performance.](https://www.typsy.com/platform/performance-intelligence) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/hospitality-learning-operations.svg) Hospitality learning operations Infrastructure that embeds workforce capability into daily hospitality operations at scale.](https://www.typsy.com/platform/learning-operations) Innovation & Tools [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/reviewlearn.svg) ReviewLearn](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/reviewlearn) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/smartcards.svg) SmartCards](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/smartcards) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/custom-content.svg) Custom content](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/custom-content) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/language-translations.svg) Language translations](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/language-translations) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/reporting.svg) Reporting](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/reporting) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/activities.svg) Activities](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/activities) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/assign-training.svg) Assign training](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/assign-training) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/nav_bar_svg_310x200/reviewlearn-pink.svg) ReviewLearn Turn guest reviews into targeted training automatically. TRY REVIEWLEARN](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/reviewlearn) - Solutions By role [Owners](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/hospitality-owners) [CEO](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/ceo) [CFO](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/cfo) [Hotel GMs & property leaders](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/hotel-general-managers) [Group operations](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/operations-leaders) [HR & talent](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/hr-talent) [Learning & development](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/learning-development) [Guest experience & quality assurance](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/guest-experience-leaders) By business challenge [Accelerate onboarding](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/employee-onboarding) [Workforce engagement & retention](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/staff-engagement-retention) [Leadership development](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/leadership-development) [Compliance & risk management](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/compliance-training) [Brand consistency](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/brand-consistency) [Service quality & guest satisfaction](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/guest-experience) By organization type [Hotels, resorts & accommodation](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hotels-resorts) [Restaurant & F&B groups](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/restaurants-food-service) [Hospitality operators](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hospitality-operators) [Hospitality education & training](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hospitality-schools) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/nav_bar_image_458x444/manager-on-mobile.png) Cut onboarding time in half See how leading hospitality brands get their teams floor-ready faster. EXPLORE ONBOARDING](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/employee-onboarding) - Resources Customer success [Customer stories](https://www.typsy.com/customer-stories) [ROI calculator](https://www.typsy.com/roi-calculator) Company & expertise [About us](https://www.typsy.com/about) [Partner ecosystem](https://www.typsy.com/partners) [Industry awards](https://www.typsy.com/awards) [Blog](https://www.typsy.com/learn/blog) Platform & trust [Security & Compliance](https://www.typsy.com/platform/security-compliance) [Global scalability](https://www.typsy.com/platform/global-scalability) [Implementation & Support](https://www.typsy.com/platform/implementation-support) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/nav_bar_svg_310x200/roi-calc.svg) Calculate Your ROI Discover exactly how much your business can save by reducing turnover and streamlining team training. TRY THE CALCULATOR](https://www.typsy.com/roi-calculator) - [Pricing](https://www.typsy.com/pricing) [SIGN UP](https://www.typsy.com/pricing) [BOOK A DEMO](https://www.typsy.com/contact/demo) [Help Center](https://intercom.help/typsy/en/)[Contact Us](https://www.typsy.com/contact) Hotels # Whiskey 101 – the basics [Ivana Rnjak](https://blog.typsy.com/author/ivana-rnjak) Dec 20, 2016 --- Is it whisky or whiskey? Is whiskey the same as bourbon? And what’s the deal with rye? If you know the answers to these, you’re probably either a connoisseur of this fine spirit or a bartender – because these distinctions can cause quite a bit of confusion for the rest of us! If you're finding yourself struggling to get your head around it all, don't stress – there is a lot to learn, and the good news is that you don't have to know every detail about whiskey to develop an appreciation for it.  We’ve put together this Whiskey 101 post to help you get the basics down pat – so you can decide what you’d like to drink, make better and more informed suggestions to customers, and maybe even impress someone with your newfound knowledge next time you’re out drinking!   --- **Disclaimer:** As you’ll find out when you read on, the difference in spelling is significant – but for the sake of easy reading, we’ll be writing *whiskey* throughout this article... that is, until we start talking about Scotch!   ---   ## **What is Whiskey?** The term *whiskey* is derived from a Gaelic word meaning *water of life*. That’s how you know it’s a damn good drink! Whiskey is an umbrella term for distilled alcoholic drinks made from fermented grain mash – barley, corn, rye, oat, wheat (and increasingly other grains as well). These grains are the source of the sugars that allow fermentation to occur. Different grains are used for different varieties of whiskey but are also often mixed together. The first written record of the existence of whiskey was back in 1494, but by that stage it already had mass appeal. This popular spirit has had a very interesting history – from monks privately making it to earn a buck after Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, to the Whiskey Rebellion in the US in the 18th century, opposing the so-called “whiskey tax.”     ## **How is Whiskey Made?** Did you know – to make whiskey, you first have to make beer! Here’s why… There are four main steps in the creation of whiskey: ### **Fermentation** The important part – that’s when sugar is converted into alcohol with a little bit of help from yeast. But before fermentation can take place, **malting **and **mashing **have to occur. Malting is a process that essentially tricks barley into germinating faster in order to get those alcohol-producing sugars. When the barley is dried in a kiln, peat is often used to influence the flavor. The grains are then turned into mash (the combination of malt and water). As the mash is stirred, the sugars from the malt start to dissolve, giving us a liquid called *wort* that allows for the fermentation process to begin. The water used in the mashing process has a massive impact on the quality of the final product, which is why you'll often find distilleries located near natural springs! When yeast is added to the wort, it becomes a type of beer that is referred to as *wash* – adding hops would turn it into your everyday beer! ### **Distillation** In this step of the process, the hop-less beer starts to become whiskey as it goes through a separation process that turns it from a low alcohol by volume percentage (about 7% for wash) to a much higher one worthy of spirits (about 70% at cask strength – at the end of the process it’s usually sold at about 40%). This process happens in stills – it can be made in column stills or copper pot stills, depending on the variety that’s in the making. Some are distilled twice and some three times, depending on where production is happening.  ### **Maturation** Whiskey is aged in wooden (oak) casks – it does not mature in the bottle, so its age reflects the time between distillation and bottling (the time spent in the cask). The cask itself impacts the flavor of the whiskey – the chemical processes that the spirit undergoes in the cask help determine the final flavor as well as the color. This step is also very important because it determines if the spirit can be called a whiskey, with laws in place about the necessary number of years it must spend in the cask – three years minimum is the standard (with some variations according to different countries). The type of oak used, how often the cask has been used before, the environment in which the cask is stored, the size of the cask and its overall quality all impact the final result. The ageing process has a massive impact on the flavor of the final spirit and many techniques are employed to get the desired result, including the charring of casks and the re-use of old sherry casks.  ### **Bottling** How this step is undertaken is determined by what the desired final product is – it usually involves combining whiskeys from a few different casks. Bottling also requires turning the spirit from cask strength to bottling strength through filtering, and caramel may sometimes be added for color.     ## **Whisky vs. Whiskey** So what’s the deal with the different spelling? It’s not just because different regions use different spelling for some words, although in the past it was a little like that. These days though, the spelling of whisky vs. whiskey actually reflects the many variations of the spirit. Scotland, Ireland and the US are the powerhouses of whiskey production, but Japan and Canada are major players as well. The region in which the spirit is made has a big impact on the final product as countries have rules and regulations about the nature of production, including ageing, alcohol by volume, and percentage of certain grains (eg. bourbon has to be at least 51% corn) that determine if the spirit can bear a certain name (eg. Scotch Whisky). ### **Whisky**  Refers to the Scottish variant, Scotch, which is generally distilled twice. Canadian and Japanese variants are usually spelled this way as well. All Scotch whisky *must* contain some malted barley and must be produced in Scotland. Peat is typically used in the malting process to give it a smoky flavor. ### **Whiskey** Refers to the Irish and American variants, generally distilled three times. Irish Whiskey must be produced in Ireland and American whiskey must be produced in America if it is to carry the name. Bourbon has been declared a distinctive product of the US, so it’s real bourbon only if it is American made.   ## **The Many Variations of Whiskey** The different variations of whiskey are determined by the types of grains used, the location of the distillery, the length of ageing, and the type of cask used for ageing – among many other small factors!  There are three main types of whiskey: malt, grain and blended. Then there are two further distinctions: single cask and cask strength. There are many traits that determine the type, such as alcohol by volume, but these vary according to the country of production. These are the key differences:    ### **Malt** Made exclusively from malted barley grain, rather than other types of grain. Other grains are sometimes malted as well but this is specified – for example, “malted rye whiskey” rather than simply “malt whisky” when barley is involved. If the whiskey is made from *one* batch of grain mash at *one* distillery, it is called **single malt**. If it is made from single malt grain mash from *several* distilleries, it is called **blended malt**.  ### **Grain** Made from at least one other type of unmalted grain (usually corn, wheat or rye). Some grain whiskeys may be **single grain **but are generally a blend of different grains, with one majority grain and one balancing grain. A little bit of malted barley is used to help with the fermentation process. Most American and Canadian whiskeys are grain whiskeys!  ### **Blended** These are whiskeys that have been combined after ageing to create the desired flavor. So they might be a combination of whiskeys from different distilleries that have been combined to achieve a certain flavor if it didn't happen through maturation. Because the process of distilling whiskey relies so much on natural elements, without blending it would be near impossible to achieve a consistent flavor!  ### **Single Cask** Each bottle comes from from its own individual cask, which means that no other previously made whiskies have been mixed with it. The bottle bears specific information about the cask and specific flavor. ### **Cask Strength** A very potent drop that is bottled from the cask undiluted or only slightly diluted. While quite rare in the past, it's becoming more common with the rise of the craft whiskey movement.     ## **A Bartender's Perspective** We asked Danny Connock, a manager at [Easey's](http://easeys.com.au/) in Melbourne, for some whiskey recommendations. Danny's advice for bartenders – it's important to know what you sell but it's just as important to know what whiskeys you like to drink so you can give customers good recommendations beyond what's on the shelf in your venue.   **Favorite Scotch:** The Glenlivet 12 Year Old  **Favorite Rye: **WhistlePig, The Boss Hog **Favorite Bourbon: **Maker's Mark 46 **Recommendation For a Whiskey Novice: **Talisker 10 Year Old  **Best Whiskey-Based Cocktail: **Sazerac **Best Whiskey-Based Cocktail For a Novice: **Old Fashioned    Now that you’re armed with all this knowledge, you deserve to treat yourself to a drop of the *water of life*. Cheers!   ---   If you would like to see how things get done at [Willett Distillery](http://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/) in Kentucky, watch our latest [mentor session](http://www.typsy.com/courses/drew-kulsveen-master-willett-bourbon/) with master distiller Drew Kulsveen. Drew's family has been making bourbon whiskey for 150 years!  [![Willett Distillery tour](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/752063/bb26cb70-c1b9-4674-86c7-6446b76f7ced.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/752063/bb26cb70-c1b9-4674-86c7-6446b76f7ced)     **You Might Also Like** | [![How to Talk About Wine Like a Pro-1.png](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How%20to%20Talk%20About%20Wine%20Like%20a%20Pro-1.png?width=202&height=115&name=How%20to%20Talk%20About%20Wine%20Like%20a%20Pro-1.png)](https://blog.typsy.com/how-to-talk-about-wine-like-a-pro) [How to Talk About Wine Like a Pro](https://blog.typsy.com/how-to-talk-about-wine-like-a-pro) | [![Winning Over Your Bar Guests - Tips from Charlie Ainsbury-1.png](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Winning%20Over%20Your%20Bar%20Guests%20-%20Tips%20from%20Charlie%20Ainsbury-1.png?width=202&height=115&name=Winning%20Over%20Your%20Bar%20Guests%20-%20Tips%20from%20Charlie%20Ainsbury-1.png)](https://blog.typsy.com/winning-over-your-bar-guests-tips-from-charles-ainsbury) [Winning Over Your Bar Guests - Tips from Charlie Ainsbury](https://blog.typsy.com/winning-over-your-bar-guests-tips-from-charles-ainsbury) | [![Talking All Things Booze, with Dustin Haarstad-1.png](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Talking%20All%20Things%20Booze%2c%20with%20Dustin%20Haarstad-1.png?width=202&height=115&name=Talking%20All%20Things%20Booze%2c%20with%20Dustin%20Haarstad-1.png)](https://blog.typsy.com/talking-all-things-booze-with-dustin-haarstad) [Talking All Things Booze, with Dustin Haarstad](https://blog.typsy.com/talking-all-things-booze-with-dustin-haarstad)  | | --- | --- | --- |   [Hotels](https://blog.typsy.com/topic/hotels) [Typsy news](https://blog.typsy.com/topic/typsy-news) [Restaurants & Bars](https://blog.typsy.com/topic/restaurants-bars) [Team performance](https://blog.typsy.com/topic/team-performance) ## Similar posts Hotels ### [The best whiskey websites and resources](https://blog.typsy.com/best-whiskey-websites-resources) Want to learn more about whiskey? We've put together an ultimate list of the best whiskey websites, with links for beginners and aficionados! Chloe Papas May 30, 2017 Hotels ### [What gives whiskey its flavor? Essential facts for beginners](https://blog.typsy.com/what-gives-whiskey-flavor) We had a look at how whiskey develops its flavor and how to taste, appreciate and talk about whiskey flavors - from floral to peaty! Ivana Rnjak Feb 21, 2021 Restaurants & Bars ### [Whisky lovers unite at the Elysian Whisky Bar](https://blog.typsy.com/whisky-lovers-unite-elysian-whisky-bar) The Elysian Whisky Bar tell us what it takes to run a specialist bar and forge a path in the hospitality industry based on a passion for one beloved... Ivana Rnjak Feb 24, 2017 ### Get notified on new marketing insights Be the first to know about new B2B SaaS Marketing insights to build or refine your marketing function with the tools and knowledge of today’s industry. [About us](https://www.typsy.com/about) [Courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses) [Pricing](https://www.typsy.com/pricing) [Contact us](https://www.typsy.com/contact) ###### Platform & Trust [Platform overview](https://www.typsy.com/platform) [Trusted hospitality content at scale](https://www.typsy.com/platform/hospitality-training-library) [Global hospitality credentials](https://www.typsy.com/platform/hospitality-certifications) [Performance intelligence](https://www.typsy.com/platform/performance-intelligence) [Hospitality learning operations](https://www.typsy.com/platform/learning-operations) [Language translations](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/training-translations) [Integrations & infrastructure](https://www.typsy.com/platform/integrations) ###### Solutions [Accelerate onboarding](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/employee-onboarding) [Workforce engagement & retention](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/staff-engagement-retention) [Leadership development](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/leadership-development) [Compliance & risk management](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/compliance-training) [Brand consistency](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/brand-consistency) [Service quality & guest satisfaction](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/guest-experience) ###### Hospitality segments [Hotels, resorts & accommodation](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hotels-resorts) [Restaurants & F&B groups](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/restaurants-food-service) [Hospitality operators](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hospitality-operators) [Hospitality education](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hospitality-schools) ###### Hospitality courses [Courses overview](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses) [Beverage courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/beverage) [Business courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/business) [Compliance courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/compliance) [Culinary courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/culinary) [Hotel courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/hotel) [Management courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/management) [Service courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/service) ###### Company & resources [About us](https://www.typsy.com/about) [Contact us](https://www.typsy.com/contact) [Help Hub](https://intercom.help/typsy/en/) [Implementation & support](https://www.typsy.com/platform/implementation-support) [ROI calculator](https://www.typsy.com/roi-calculator) [Partner ecosystem](https://www.typsy.com/partners) [Security & compliance](https://www.typsy.com/platform/security-compliance) [Typsy shop](https://www.typsy.com/shop) [Become an instructor](https://www.typsy.com/company/become-an-instructor) [Blog](https://www.typsy.com/learn/blog) [![Typsy](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/logo-white.svg)](https://www.typsy.com/) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/typsy-linkin-icon.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/7953302/) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/typsy-instragram-icon.svg)](http://www.instagram.com/asktypsy) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/typsy-facebookicon.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/asktypsy) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/typsy-youtube-icon.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/@Typsy) Hospitality insights that turn operational challenges into better performance. By submitting this form, you agree to Typsy's [Terms](https://www.typsy.com/legal) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.typsy.com/legal/privacy-policy). © 2026 Typsy. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.typsy.com/legal/privacy-policy) [Terms](https://www.typsy.com/legal)