High spirits: Who drinks most vodka, gin, whisky and rum?

[jdaw1]

[RAYC]

These are figures for just "Scotch Whisky"....? Seems like quite a precise sub-set by comparison to, say, "rum"!

[jdaw1]

Even so, I was surprised that the French drink more ‟Scotch whisky” than any other country. Not per head; total.

[RAYC]

Both per capita and total, no?

I agree surprising, although just about every village bar i've been into over there has a bottle of Cutty Sark!

I have trouble believing the figures for US on "Scotch Whisky" unless their definition excludes the various American whiskey types

[djewesbury]

unless their definition excludes the various American whiskey types

Would they be using the legal definition of Scotch? In which case it really is very specific.

The Scotch Whisky Regulations (2009) define "Scotch whisky" as whisky that is:
Produced at a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley (to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added) all of which have been:

• Processed at that distillery into a mash
• Converted at that distillery to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems
• Fermented at that distillery only by adding yeast
• Distilled at an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 94.8% (190 US proof)
• Wholly matured in an excise warehouse in Scotland in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres (185 US gal; 154 imp gal) for at least three years
• Retaining the colour, aroma, and taste of the raw materials used in, and the method of, its production and maturation
• Containing no added substances, other than water and plain (E150A) caramel colouring
• Comprising a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 40% (80 US proof)

Also here.
Interesting that E150A is permitted. Why??

[RAYC]

unless their definition excludes the various American whiskey types

Would they be using the legal definition of Scotch? In which case it really is very specific.

If they are not using the legal definition of Scotch Whisky, then India would surely also be higher....?

[djewesbury]

Exactly. India's whisky consumption is mainly 'Indian-Made Foreign Liquor' or 'Domestic Foreign Liquor'. Basically all their spirits are made from molasses and 'flavoured' with the appropriate additives. I remember the headache...

[Glenn E.]

I have trouble believing the figures for US on "Scotch Whisky" unless their definition excludes the various American whiskey types

Ahem. Those are Bourbon, not "Scotch Whisky." They taste nothing like Scotch; rather their flavor profile is more closely aligned with Irish Whiskey. Including Bourbon in a category called "Scotch Whisky" would likely be considered an act of war across most of the South.

[jdaw1]

Including Bourbon in a category called "Scotch Whisky" would likely be considered an act of war across most of the South.

Much Scotch whisky is matured in ex-Bourbon casks.

[RAYC]

I have trouble believing the figures for US on "Scotch Whisky" unless their definition excludes the various American whiskey types

Ahem. Those are Bourbon, not "Scotch Whisky." They taste nothing like Scotch; rather their flavor profile is more closely aligned with Irish Whiskey. Including Bourbon in a category called "Scotch Whisky" would likely be considered an act of war across most of the South.

But "Bourbon" in not the only type of American whiskey... And doesn't the most famous brand refuse to be called "Bourbon"?!

[djewesbury]

Very true. (Your spelling made me check my facts; I had thought 'whiskey' was peculiar to Ireland. I was wrong.)

[DRT]

Given the shelf space it is given in every international airport and almost every bar in the world that I have ever visited I am surprised that Scotch Whisky consumption is so low.

[jdaw1]

Given the shelf space it is given in every international airport and almost every bar in the world that I have ever visited

It might have a large share of the premium market your employer hopefully not accommodating you in the nastiest B&Bs without capturing much of the market you avoid.

[Glenn E.]

Very true. (Your spelling made me check my facts; I had thought 'whiskey' was peculiar to Ireland. I was wrong.)

Canadians aside*, it is rather interesting that the two whiskeys have similar flavor profiles that differ from whisky. This appears to be coincidence.

I also learned that as a general rule, American Whiskey is single distilled, Scotch Whisky is double distilled, and Irish Whiskey is triple distilled. This accounts for the rougher nature of American Whiskey when compared to Irish Whiskey despite their similar flavor profiles.

*Canadians seem to use whiskey and whisky interchangeably, or at the very least assign them to products seemingly at random.

[jdaw1]

as a general rule! Scotch Whisky is double distilled

Campbeltown whiskies used to have sesquiduplicate distillation, in that half was distilled twice and half thrice. Might still be true.

[DRT]

Does Scotch have a monopoly on "Whisky" - other than when mis-used by ex-French colonialists?

[RAYC]

Does Scotch have a monopoly on "Whisky" - other than when mis-used by ex-French colonialists?

The opposite - the Irish and Americans are the outliers when it comes to spelling...at least when spelt in English...