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Whisky 101: Everything you need to know about whisky

Casks, Whisky, Whisky Education

should i buy a cask of whisky (2)

A brief history of whisky

Need to brush up on your whisky knowledge? This is your complete guide to getting started in the world of whisky. We cover the basics of everything whisky, from bourbon to single malt:

  • A brief history of whisky
  • What is the difference between whisky and bourbon?
  • What gives whisky its flavour?
  • How whisky is made?
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The early history of whisky

Often referred to as ‘water of life’, whisky is a popular spirit distilled from malted grain. It is said to have been developed in the Irish monasteries of the middle ages. However, it is hard to define an exact history of whisky, as different schools believe in different origins; some even say it was the Babylonians of Mesopotamia who discovered the art of distilling, as early as the 2nd millennium BC.

What we do know, is that the process of distillation reached Ireland and Scotland around the 15th century. It was mainly used for medicinal purposes, particularly in the treatment of epidemics such as the smallpox. The nobility of the time, particularly James IV of Scotland and King Henry VIII of England developed a taste for whisky as a drink rather than simply as a cure for sickness, and by 1608, the Old Bushmill’s Distillery in Northern Ireland obtained a licence to distill whisky. Unfortunately, the introduction of the English Malt Tax in 1725 meant that whisky became classed as moonshine, which caused many of Ireland’s distilleries to be shut down or go underground.

What is the difference between whisky and bourbon?

There are different types of whiskies, all of which differ depending on the malting, blending and maturing process, and of course on where that whisky is produced.

Single malt Scotch whisky is made exclusively from malt barley and is traditionally distilled in pot stills. Scotch whisky must be matured in oak casks for more than three years; new casks are never used.

American whisky (also known as bourbon, and often spelled whiskey) on the other hand can only be matured in new, American oak casks. Bourbon is a type of grain whisky and must contain at least 51 per cent corn, the spirit is usually distilled using a modern column still.

Blended whisky is made up of a mixture of single malt whisky from different distilleries, a famous example being the Johnny Walker brand’s Green Label whiskies.

What influences the flavour of whisky?

There are several factors that affect the flavour of whisky and produced the unique signature of different regions and countries.

WATER

The water used to make the spirit is thought to affect the finished flavour of the whisky, providing subtle notes that help distinguish between the regions. Water with a low minerality , such as those used by the Speyside distilleries, is prized by some, but the high peat content of the water at Islay and Campbeltown is thought to contribute to the earthy flavours valued by lovers of that region.

PEAT

An obvious flavour addition is whether the malt has been dried using peat, which adds a distinct smoky tone to the whisky and is a hallmark of many Scottish whiskies. The type of peat used also has an effect, as the different flora and fauna of each region produce a unique peat with a specific smokiness.

LOCATION

The location of the distillery influences the taste, both through the peat as mentioned above and through the locality and climate. For example, the coastal distilleries of Islay and Campbeltown tend to have distinctive coastal flavours of brine and seaweed in their tasting notes. This contrasts with the Lowlands’ whisky, which is renowned for grassy flavours.

THE DISTILLERY

Each distillery has its own history and traditions, and these tend to influence the flavour of the whisky produced. The type of still used, and the way it is run, even the time the still is run for and what proportion of the spirit is taken, all influence the finished product.

THE CASK

Some people argue that as much as 60–80% of a whisky’s flavour is imparted during its time in the cask, with the type of cask and the time spent in that cask being two of the main factors. The cask imparts flavour through interactions with the wood, and in the case of Scottish whisky (where pre-used casks are used for maturation) the flavours that have been infused during the cask’s previous life. Casks and their influence on the whisky inside them varies hugely and a full discussion of the effects of casks on the whisky is discussed here >>

Mark Littler Whisky Broker

How is Whisky Made?

Different styles of whisky undergo different processes depending on the country they are produced in and the distillery in charge of making them. However, in general there are five main stages involved in creating the perfect dram of whisky.

MALTING

The first step to making whisky is malting the grain; barley in the case of Scottish whisky. During this process, the starch contained in the barley is converted into the sugar that will later be used by the yeast to produce alcohol.

Once top-quality barley has been collected and selected, it is soaked in water for a couple of days. Once the barley has been soaked it is spread out over malting floors, so it can partially germinate. This takes 5-7 days, the exact amount of time is chosen by the distillery. The germination process is stopped by drying the barley with hot air and it is here that the characteristic smoky flavours of some whisky are created, if peat is added to the fire. The dried, germinated barley is known as the malt.

MASHING

The malt produced during the previous step is milled into flour – referred to as grist – and added into a mash tun (a large tank) where it is mixed with hot water. The water is added in three stages, first at 65° C, then at 80° C and finally almost at boiling point (95º C). During this process, the malt sugars dissolve into a liquid known as wort, which is collected at the bottom of the tun.

FERMENTATION

The wort is cooled and introduced into a wooden or stainless-steel tank, where it is mixed with yeast and kicks off the fermentation process. Fermentation takes 48–96 hours, whilst the yeast converts the sugar into alcohol. The resulting liquid is called wash and has around 6–9% alcohol by volume.

DISTILLATION

Distillation is the process whereby the alcohol content of the wash is increased. Distillation occurs inside a still, which is usually made of copper. There are two different types of stills: pot stills and column stills. The main difference between pot still distillation and column still distillation is that the former is a batch process, while the latter works continuously.
Pot still distillation is the most common method used in Scottish whisky. Traditionally, the wash is distilled twice, though some distilleries use triple-distillation. The wash is heated up in the first still, and because alcohol evaporates more readily than water a higher percentage of alcohol evaporates, the shape of the still is designed to cause the evaporated vapour to condense in a separate part of the still. The resulting liquid, with about 20% ABV, is moved into the second still and heated up again where the process is repeated. The final spirit reaches a graduation of 60-70%ABV.

Column still distillation is typically used in the production of bourbon and grain whisky, and it is a good fit for large-scale distillation processes. The column contains a series of perforated plates, evenly distributed along its extension. The wash is introduced from the top of the column and hot steam is applied from the bottom. The wash starts descending gradually, pushing the alcohol vapor up. When the vapor hits each one of the plates, the alcohol content increases. Once the process has ended, the vapor is introduced into a condenser. The final spirit can reach a graduation of up to 95%ABV.

MATURATION

For the final step, the whisky is introduced into a cask, which is commonly made of oak, and left to mature for several years. During the maturation process, the whisky becomes smoother, enhancing its colour and flavour.

Scotch whisky must be left to mature for at least three years and the cask is usually pre-used American ex-bourbon cask or a Spanish ex-sherry cask. Usually, single malt whisky is aged for eight years or more. American bourbon must be matured for at least two years in new, American oak barrels that have been charred.

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Mark Littler LTD - Independent Antiques Consultant and Whisky Broker
Mark Littler LTD - Independent Antiques Consultant and Whisky Broker
5.0
Charles McCue
Charles McCue
10:52 20 Jan 21
During the last 12 months I have been actively making tentative enquiries to sell my whisky collection, which I had been collecting for more than 20 years. During this time I had been in discussions with various very well known whisky retailers online, with a view to them purchasing the bottles from me or finding prospective buyers. After many phone calls, emails and conversations, I was left feeling very frustrated and bewildered at their lack of communication in general and commitment to providing me with a service. That was until I discovered Mark Littler through an oline post that had been sent to me from a family member, which highlighted a high profile sale Mark had recently been engaged in. I decided to contact Mark the following day and within hours he had come straight back to me and offered to work with me to sell my collection. This was quite astonishing given the lack of communication that I had received from others. From the outset Mark has always been professional, courteous and friendly, which has made my own experience of using Mark's services an absolute pleasure. His individual care and approach to everything he undertakes on your behalf in providing you with a service is nothing short of exemplary. In no time at all Mark has already sold a much sought after vertical in my collection and I am delighted with the outcome. I would not hesitate in recommending Mark to anyone attempting to sell their own collection.
phill capo
phill capo
20:19 19 Jan 21
I got in touch with Mark having read one of his articles online. I was thinking of investing in a cask and had an offer from a company that shall remain nameless. At this point I thought I should seek independent advice. Mark's professional and informative approach to my questions was excellent. He basically saved me from making a huge potential mistake investing with a company that were not throwing straight dice and trying to pitch sales based on false information. I may add that at this point Mark was not pitching any sale to myself, merely offering good, genuine and free advice.I later had the opportunity to use Mark as a consultant to invest in my first Cask. I have found him to be very professional, knowledgeable, courteous and friendly.I feel lucky to have sounded out Mark as a broker and hope to be using him again in the future. I can not recommend him and his team highly enough for their help and time!
Pankaj Khushani
Pankaj Khushani
07:57 06 Jan 21
It was an absolute pleasure dealing with Mark. I was looking to buy a cask of whisky and spoke with numerous brokers. The response, transparency and authenticity from Mark was the one that I liked the most. I highly recommend visiting Mark's website and the process outlined by him to own a whisky cask is the most exhaustive and helps you understand the nuances of owning the cask. I highly recommend Mark and will surely be buying through him again.
Dean Reeves
Dean Reeves
15:16 29 Dec 20
Recently, I made enquiries with Mark about buying a whisky cask.He very promptly answered all my questions and gave me all the information I needed to make an informed decision.He was thoroughly professional and there was never any pressure to buy, just support and step-by-step instructions.I am very pleased with the outcome of my cask investment and I look forward to working with Mark again in the future.
Barbara Powell
Barbara Powell
10:49 23 Dec 20
Can definitely recommend Mark Littler and his staff. He is helpful, communicates, and is very sincere in achieving a successful outcome.
Stephen Ferrie
Stephen Ferrie
13:05 22 Dec 20
Mark was thoroughly professional and efficient in helping my family get a great deal in buying some whisky casks.We received a very friendly, quick and personable service with regular updates throughout the process.Highly recommended and greatly appreciated!
Darroch Willock
Darroch Willock
20:05 21 Dec 20
Great service from Mark, would recommend and would use again. Easy to contact for updates or advice and guidance throughout the process. Very helpful at all times and the final result was exactly what I had hoped for.
Neil Clements
Neil Clements
15:53 20 Dec 20
Mark did exactly what he promised to do and achieved a good price for the whiskey cask which he sold for us. We were kept informed of what was going on and the whole transaction was hassle free.
Nigel Danhash
Nigel Danhash
09:28 20 Dec 20
Mark was true to his word when he advised how long the process would take with selling our Cask of Whisky and what we would expect to receive. He has been very attentive and continued to provide feedback during the sale process and he managed to achieve an exceptional price for us. Thank you Mark, we will be sure to come back to you when we sell our next cask.
Karken Chung
Karken Chung
16:17 10 Dec 20
First rate service - achieved a good price for one bottle and coordinated a forwarding service to an auction house for the bottles they didn't receive any offers for. Getting the bottles to them was quick and simple. Communication was quick and courteous. Highly recommended
Mike Thompson
Mike Thompson
10:06 03 Dec 20
I am delighted to have engaged with Mark Littler and Hannah Thompson. They have provided a professional and trustworthy service that puts my best interests at the heart of their business. The process of selling my whisky collection has been clear and remarkably easy and efficient.
Diana Doyle
Diana Doyle
14:58 21 Nov 20
Mark was an absolute pleasure to work with. Delighted to have discovered him during an internet search researching how best to sell two casks of 50 year old Scottish whiskey. He is professional, knowledgeable and quickly responded to my endless questions. It was a smooth transaction and am very pleased with the price he was able to secure. Highly recommend!
Neil
Neil
13:35 12 Nov 20
Fantastic service from Mark and the team selling some bottles of whisky on their store. Right from valuation through to sale and payment he kept me informed. And he got a great price for me. Would definitely recommend.
Lesley C
Lesley C
15:30 08 Nov 20
Thanks Mark And Hannah for all your great advice in helping us make the sale! We were thrilled with the results!
bernard green
bernard green
21:55 05 Nov 20
Robin Hodgson
Robin Hodgson
10:04 01 Nov 20
I recently had the pleasure of dealing with Mark and his colleagues. From my first phone call to the completion of my sale the service was exemplary. The sale of my whisky collection was made so easy, and a fast payment was made directly into my bank after the sale was completed.If you are looking to sell your whisky don't waste your time looking anywhere else. I can thoroughly recommend this company.Thank you Mark once again for a fantastic service.
Michael Carpenter
Michael Carpenter
14:17 24 Oct 20
Very pleased with Mark's ease of transaction in disposing of some antique silver cutlery. Have no hesitation in recommending his professional services and advice.
Diane Fyles
Diane Fyles
11:18 19 Oct 20
Selling things for the first time, you are very apprehensive, about how to go about it?? But on the Phone Mark was very reassuring, and although Mark was called away, we saw Hannah, and she really put us at ease, explained everything, and answered all our questions! The sale went through really smoothly, and Mark kept in contact all the way! Will highly recommend them to others!!....... Russ & Di Fyles
David Charman
David Charman
16:42 06 Oct 20
Have several casks of high end whisky, I decided to sell one of my investments. An internet search revealed Mark Littler. Only person to respond to my email. Mark sold my first cask in weeks. New exactly what he was talking about and doing . The price was at the very high end of his valuation. He did all the work, I just signed the sales document. as easy as that. Money transferred into my account, and you are talking thousands too. Much appreciated, will now sell another cask as the time is right.
Robert Chell
Robert Chell
15:27 06 Oct 20
Really excellent service, from the valuation to the completion of a sale. Communication was excellent through out the process. I would highly recommend Mark to anyone.
Samuel Hutchinson
Samuel Hutchinson
15:02 06 Oct 20
Great website, lots of useful information.
Geoff Fuller
Geoff Fuller
22:34 25 Sep 20
Mark brokered the sale of a rare bottle of Irish whiskey on my behalf. He knows the market and had placed the item with a private buyer within days of taking the brief. Very professional service throughout. Would certainly use in the future.
John Maguire
John Maguire
21:42 24 Sep 20
Mark Littler 's services can only be rated as Excellent.From Start to finish even in these most difficult times was outstanding. Sale of my Whisky bottle was completed within 10 days and the money in my Account. First class.John Maguire
Matthew Robson
Matthew Robson
08:43 23 Sep 20
I was looking to sell my whisky collection of 28 bottles of Macallan 18 year old to fund the purchase of my first house, so I got in touch with Mark.My father gave me 1 bottle each year for a birthday present so that by the time that I was 18 I would have 18 bottles of 18 year old Macallan. (Yes I'm that guy who was plastered over the media)Mark did a great job of getting professional photos taken of them and creating a PR buzz around the collection and I even ended up on BBC breakfast news, lad bible, and various radio stations around the world.At one point my story was the second most viewed story on BBC world wide news app for the whole weekend with over 2 million views.Needless to say within a day or two of this PR Campaign there was numerous offers.I would like to thank Mark for all his work and helping me with everything.
Iona Thomson
Iona Thomson
07:14 16 Sep 20
Mark provided us with an excellent service for the sale of a cask of Springbank Whisky. He provides a professional, friendly and responsive service, guiding you every step of the way. My mother was delighted with the result. I recommend his end to end service. Thank-you!
Alan Perkins
Alan Perkins
11:56 26 Aug 20
The experience of dealing with Mark and his staff could not have been better. Communication was clear and the process to sell my whiskey was straightforward. I was happy with the price offered and less than 48 hours after sending the bottle in the post the money was I my current account. I will be dealing with Mark again in the future.
Mike Malkoun
Mike Malkoun
08:18 15 Jul 20
Great experience from the very friendly and knowledgeable Mark who was able to help me buy a cask, and made the process seamless even during the lock down! Five star experience.
Ian Braithwaite
Ian Braithwaite
15:45 03 Jul 20
Mark recently helped to successfully sell my cask of Macallan single malt whisky.From our initial discussion I was impressed with the depth of his knowledge and his professional approach. Mark guided me through each step of the process, providing reasons and insights to ensure I made the correct decisions. His estimate of the value of the cask was spot on.I would have no hesitation in using his professional services again.
fran stokes
fran stokes
10:58 13 Jun 20
Mark is a good professional agent true to his word keeps you connected very efficient, would recommend mark to any body in the future.
Football Freestyler
Football Freestyler
17:26 02 Jun 20
Mark was very helpful to me and my family , he is so knowledgeable about whisky, and with his valued advice I was able to sort out my children’s investment easily with confidence. Thank you so much Mark for all your advice and help, I would strongly recommend Mark to anyone.
Jennifer Telliam
Jennifer Telliam
23:34 15 May 20
Very reliable and professional company who I will use again in the future.
David McDonnell
David McDonnell
07:41 15 May 20
Professional service who are also adapting to the challenging new world we are all living in.
James Ritchie
James Ritchie
10:16 22 Apr 20
Fantastic service from start to finish well informed about my item will not hesitate to use again.
Tom Withycombe
Tom Withycombe
10:37 19 Apr 20
Mark and Hanna were a pleasure to deal with when selling my bottle of Macallan 25 y.o. whisky. Everything was handled smoothly, expertly and with no pressure. The courier facility offered is excellent and the sale concluded very quickly and simply. In these days of increasingly doing business on the Internet this experience was top class and I have no hesitation in using Mark's company for similar future business; Top Class!!
Stuart fox
Stuart fox
23:13 14 Apr 20
Thanks mark for your professional advice on selling my whisky very happy with the outcome.Will definitely use again thanks.Stuart.
Georgina Shreeve
Georgina Shreeve
12:33 14 Apr 20
Brilliant service from start to finish, highly recommend Mark! Thank you so much for making the sale so easy for me and for providing such a personal service. Thanks again, Georgina Russell
Dot Penn
Dot Penn
15:26 30 Mar 20
Be patient for great returns.When I came to sell my 10yr old Hogshead of whisky Mark was able to obtain a final price for me that was more than three times the sell back figure to Bruichladdich.Professional from the start. Once Mark had the re-guage figures all I had to do was sit back and let him do the rest. Very efficient and hassel free.A pleasure to do business with and will definetly be contacting him again when my next barrel matures.Thankyou Mark for doing all the hard work.
Steve Pears
Steve Pears
19:37 26 Mar 20
Just over 10 years ago I visited the Bruichladdich distillery and bought a newly filled fresh bourbon barrel. Having allowed it to mature I needed to decide what to do with it. Bruichladdich made an unattractive offer to buy it back.I became aware of Mark Littler, from a Google search. I contacted him based on the many positive reviews. After talking to him and learning of his experience of selling casks I commissioned him to sell my cask.Dealing with Mark has been a pleasure, he has guided me through the process and I have received over 3 times the offer from Bruichladdich.I have found Mark to be realistic and helpful and I recommend his services.
James Godfrey
James Godfrey
10:36 26 Mar 20
Mark was excellent from start to finish in dealing with our whiskey cask sale. I highly recommend his services and wouldn’t hesitate to use him again. 5 Star!
Genny Bobroff
Genny Bobroff
17:33 18 Mar 20
Thank you so much Mark for your knowledge, help, support and finally arranging the sale of my silver flatware. With your expertise and knowledge of the market, you found a buyer very quickly, keeping me in the loop all the time and the transaction went through very smoothly.From our first conversation to the conclusion of the sale, everything was handled very professionally. You provided all the packaging and return addresses and all I had to do was take the box to the post office. Simple!I could not be more delighted and would not hesitate to come back to you if need be, or to recommend you and the company very highly on every level.
Ron Hilditch
Ron Hilditch
15:10 18 Mar 20
First class in every way! Excellent communications and service. More than happy with the experience.Mark thanks once again.
Jacky Stark
Jacky Stark
16:56 09 Mar 20
Mark sold two casks of whisky for me. He got a very good price for them and kept me informed through the rather slow process (which he had warned me about). Very pleased with the service.
Andrew Makepeace
Andrew Makepeace
17:04 04 Mar 20
Excellent professional service, Mark kept us well informed throughout and even obtained a higher price when it came to the sale. Would have no hesitation in using again or recommending. Thank you
Christine Jones Bateman
Christine Jones Bateman
10:37 04 Mar 20
Very happy with the service that Mark provides. He is very professional and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.
Jochmoal Baxter
Jochmoal Baxter
13:08 17 Feb 20
A friendly and honest service
Gary Toyne
Gary Toyne
19:14 13 Feb 20
Excellent professional service. Thanks Mark!
Caroline Hart
Caroline Hart
13:03 03 Feb 20
Mark offers a brilliant, easy and efficient service. I have used this twice now and both occasions have been simple and fast. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
jane lee
jane lee
20:26 02 Feb 20
Very efficient and professional service. Hannah very helpful and kept me informed of the process thankyou
John Pruimboom
John Pruimboom
00:22 30 Jan 20
I sold my Bruichladdich hogshead cask through Mark and can highly recommend his services. Immediate follow-up and a very clear outlined agreement while Mark managed to get a good price for the cask in a fairly short time period. I’m very pleased and would not hesitate to utilize his services again in the future.
Lynn Murphy
Lynn Murphy
20:02 21 Jan 20
Very happy with the service from Mark Littler, professional and helpful every step of the way. Highly recommended...5 stars!
Myles Hannon
Myles Hannon
16:11 21 Jan 20
Very smooth transaction, great communications, very hassle free for me as a first time seller.
Dave Moss
Dave Moss
19:54 20 Jan 20
I recently sold a 25 year old cask of Scottish whisky through Mark. The market is not easy to tap into but Mark has good connections and got me an excellent price. He made the process very simple and completed all the necessary paperwork for me. Highly recommended!
Peter Caton
Peter Caton
19:11 10 Jan 20
Realy great professional service, would not hesitate to recommend Mark Littler LTD to anyone.
Richard Saunders
Richard Saunders
17:59 09 Jan 20
Great service, thanks Mark and Hannah.
jean green
jean green
11:04 04 Jan 20
Thank you Mark for the professional help you provided In relation to Probate valuation, and the sale of the items. Your help and honest reliable service, made a difficult time so much easier. I trust, and would highly recommend Mark Littler LTD.