Whiskey: types, varieties, health benefits and contraindications.

The American writer William Faulkner used to say: "There is no such thing as bad whisky. Some whiskeys are just better than others. Whiskey is rightly considered a noble drink, its popularity in the world can not be measured, and to understand its benefits or harms to humans is even more difficult.

History of Whisky Production and Origin of Whisky

It is very difficult to name the homeland of whiskey, because there are two countries that are very passionate about this drink. We are talking, of course, about Scotland and Ireland. The Scots and the Irish beat their breasts and argue fervently about which of them invented the legendary whisky. If you sit two representatives of these states in one bar and ask this question, it is possible that it could come to a fight.

Scotland and Ireland cannot boast a large number of vineyards or fruit plantations, so whisky was originally made from barley. Each country has its own version of the history of the emergence and production of living water (this is how the word whiskey is translated from the Celtic language).

The Scots say they were taught the distillation method by missionaries who, in turn, learned it from the Crusaders. The latter learned about it during the Crusades in the Middle East. It was there that the local Arabs taught the method to the knights. This is such a simple story, which goes back to the depths of centuries. The only thing the Scots changed was that they used barley beer instead of grape wine. The first mention of living water dates back to 1494. And the method of making whiskey was surprisingly simple. The brew was placed in a copper kettle in the shape of a cube, under which a fire was built. The brew steam fell into a kind of serpentine and then into a special pot. The liquid was called whisky.

Initially whisky in Scotland was used as a medicine by local monks, but when the locals tried it and realized what a fun emotion it gave, they began to use it all the time. Soon the drink spread across the country and resembled ordinary moonshine. And a little later scotch was called scotch. Then, in 1579, the Scottish authorities passed a law that allowed only members of the nobility and local nobles to produce Scotch. Of course, it did not suit ordinary farmers and they started to produce underground whisky.

The Irish generally believed that the creator of whiskey was St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. As the legend says, the first thing St. Patrick did upon setting foot on the Emerald Isle (as Ireland is called) was to make whiskey, convert pagans to the true religion and rid the island of poisonous snakes. The Scots may have invented whiskey first, but it is certain that the Irish were ahead of them in terms of international trade. They immediately began to produce whiskey for sale to England, which in turn distributed the living water around the world.

It was the Scots and the Irish who brought the drink to the New World, where they still produce some of the best whiskey in the world.

Types and Varieties of Whiskey

There are an enormous number of varieties and types of whisky, and to understand their classification can sometimes be difficult even for an experienced sommelier. Types of whiskey are divided according to what raw material was used and how it was made.

1. Malt whiskey is considered the best and most expensive in the world. It is made from pure barley, not mixed with other grains. Malt whiskey is divided into two types: single malt and cask. Single malt refers to the first whisky produced in one distillery and mixed with other varieties of whisky of different maturities during the production process. Barrel whiskey can be produced by several distilleries at once and has different strength and richness.
2. Grain Whiskey. This type is virtually odorless and tasteless, and is made primarily from corn using only one distillation. This type is used for blending with other varieties.
3. Blended. This whiskey is produced by blending grain and malt varieties. This is the most popular and widespread type, which has the lion's share of all whiskey production in the world - 90%.
4. Bourbon. Made exclusively in America on the basis of corn. In special oak barrels, burned inside, this type of whiskey can be aged for years. And the most famous brand is Jim Beam which everyone has heard of.

Whiskey is also divided into groups by country. After all, living water quickly spread around the planet and became one of the most popular alcoholic beverages.

1. Scottish is only made in the territory of this country under all the rules of law.
2. Irish is known around the world for its persistent and rich flavor.
3. American Whiskey. A representative of the New World is made on the basis of corn. It tends to arouse the appetite.
4. Canadian whisky is unique because only rye varieties are used in the production process, and Canadian law requires each distillery to age the drink for at least three years.
5. Japanese whiskey. The Land of the Rising Sun is also addicted to the drink and has begun its production. And the Asians are doing just as well as the European pioneers, so this species has won a large part of the Asian market.

Whiskey and Cognac: what's the difference

A simple layman will find it difficult to distinguish between these two types of drink. But in fact there are quite a lot of differences. Here are the main ones.

Raw materials and production methods
About how whiskey is made, we have already discussed in detail earlier, but cognac on this feature is the opposite of live water. The main thing is that it is made by distilling fruit juice. And with the same ageing period it costs more than whiskey (this does not apply to the world brands), because the production process is longer and more complex.

Production region
Whisky is made all over the world and on almost every continent. The geography of production is great, as has been said before. And with cognac everything is much more complicated. The drink called cognac can be produced only in France (we are talking about a real, elite drink), and the state is very vigilant about the quality of its products.

Strength
As already mentioned, the French care a lot about the quality of their cognac. Surprisingly, the sale of cognac with a strength of less than 40% is prohibited by law in France. In general, real cognac reaches 41-42% and is considered the best in the world. Whiskey is not so choosy: the strength of this drink can be from 40 to 50%, and some types of live water reaches the mark of 70%.

Taste
This is a very subjective indicator, because all people have different preferences and choose a drink to their taste. Most connoisseurs of spirits believe that cognac has a richer flavor and aroma, but people's preferences and feelings may differ.

Composition and calories

Whiskey has no fat-soluble vitamins. The composition includes grain components, water and sugar. There are approximately 235 kcal per 100 grams of live water. The chemical composition also includes potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium and phosphorus.

How is whiskey useful?

At the very beginning of the article, you may have read that whiskey was originally used as a medicine by monks from Scotland. Of course, this drink can hardly be called a medicinal drug, but it brings enough benefits to the body.

1. It is worth noting right away that this drink is absolutely safe for diabetics. Due to the minimal content of sugars and carbohydrates, every diabetic can afford to relax in the company of good whiskey.
2. Scientists have proved that whiskey stimulates a huge number of neurons of the brain, as a result of which a person remembers and assimilates information better. And it is not without reason that many great men abused the living water and gave whiskey great epithets.
3. Whiskey can flush out cholesterol, as it has a good effect on the heart muscle and opens the blood vessels. For this reason, many doctors even recommend drinking whiskey to patients with varicose veins, thrombosis and anyone who suffers from slow blood circulation in the body.
4. This is a real elixir of youth, because it contains a huge amount of antioxidants. They in turn prevent premature aging of the body, in addition, it is a good prevention of strokes and heart attacks.
5. For patients with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, whiskey is one of the main preventive drugs that can extend life by 5 or even as much as 10 years.
6. You won't believe it, but whiskey can even cope with cancer. It prevents the appearance of the tumor, and when the disease develops, it does not allow blood access to the cancer cells.
7. Great effect on the digestive system, and if you consume a shot of whiskey half an hour before a meal, it will cause an increased secretion of gastric juice. Thanks to this food will be digested more quickly.
8. Many people do not realize, but whiskey can rinse the throat for characteristic pain, as well as to flush out phlegm. A truly magical drink.

Harm and contraindications

It is no secret that alcohol abuse leads to terrible consequences. It is very harmful to health, as alcohol dependence begins to develop. Scientists have proved that the use of elite alcohol (which is whiskey) contributes even more to the development of alcoholism.

The harm of whiskey abuse is justified by the disruption of the kidneys, liver, as well as the cardiovascular system. It becomes difficult for a person to perform the usual operations due to the disruption of all systems.

The harm of whiskey and cola

It is on this point that we should dwell in more detail. This cocktail is considered one of the most popular in the world, but people do not even realize how harmful and life-threatening it is.

Coca-Cola itself is very harmful to the body, and in conjunction with whiskey causes an overwhelming feeling of hunger. Because of the high caloric content of Coke, it leads to overweight. And if one fun evening you decide to abuse the amount of whiskey and cola, the morning you will be awaiting a monstrous hangover effect. Nothing good can come from the interaction of these drinks for people with a weak cardiac system. When you add Coke to whiskey, forget all the benefits of living water. The cocktail really becomes dangerous to your health.

And the main thing to remember: if you decide to mix these drinks, you will simply spoil whiskey, which will lose all its aroma and rich taste. In the end, you'll end up with a regular booze.

Whiskey in cosmetology

As was said earlier, whiskey is a real elixir of youth. No wonder that the living water began to be actively used in cosmetology. So, whiskey wraps begin to gain popularity. Such procedure is also used as a therapeutic basis of the current methods of face and skin care.

Whiskey treats acne and eliminates tired looking skin. Wrap procedures stimulate blood circulation, microcirculation, metabolism and promote skin regeneration. They have such pleasant properties as weight loss and improvement of skin tone. These wraps cool the upper layers of the epidermis, to which the body reacts by speeding up metabolism. Blood flow improves, excess fat is burned. Such procedures will definitely not harm anyone, but only improve the appearance of the skin.

How to drink whiskey correctly

It is necessary to know how to drink whiskey correctly. Few people know, but this process has its own traditions and rules like the tea ceremony in China. But don't think too much about it, there are only tips on how to drink whiskey, and it's up to you whether to follow them or not. In any case, by drinking this drink one aims to relax, and you can choose your own way. Only general rules will be described here, and it must be understood that different countries drink whiskey in their own way.

1. The Scots drink whisky at all times of the year, in all weathers and for all occasions. The national drink is highly respected here and single malt whiskey is treated with the utmost rigor. There is a special ritual with this type of living water: whiskey is poured into a faceted glass with a thick bottom in a large volume. They drink it only with room temperature mineral water: in this way, in their opinion, whiskey reveals its full flavor. It's much easier with blended whisky: they can mix it with water, coke, ice, or anything else they like.
2. Historically, whisky in Ireland has not been as strong as in Scotland. That is why it is often drunk without any other ingredients. And if they do, only water and ice are added so as not to spoil the taste and aroma of the legendary drink. One of the Irish people's favorite whiskey is called Irish coffe. Whiskey is added to coffee, which in turn only emphasizes the aroma and taste of living water, and is very useful and can protect against colds and sore throats.
3. American bourbon is almost always diluted with cola and ice. The fact is that, as already mentioned, Americans make whiskey from corn, which results in a not entirely pleasant taste, which in turn can be compensated for by cola.
4. Some whiskeys have their own traditions. For example, the legendary Jack Daniels is commonly drunk in its pure form, and if you want to dilute it, you can under no circumstances use cola. Coke can be replaced by lemon or apple juice. Try it: you will definitely like it.
5. White Horse Scotch blended is considered the most popular in the world and has a flavor that is second to none. The main thing here is not to lose it, so using nothing but ice and water is not recommended.
6. It is a must to drink Jameson in its pure form and under no circumstances to snack on it as the Irish do.
7. Red Label is a unique whiskey made from 35 different varieties. Because of this, it has a rather harsh taste, which not everyone can put up with. It is no longer forbidden to add cola or other fruit juices.

Pay particular attention to what you drink your whiskey from. This is usually done with a cylindrical glass which has a very thick base. This is called a dram and is the easiest way to blend a drink. As for the more expensive and expensive sorts of whiskey, one should drink from a long-stemmed glass which resembles a wine glass. Because of this shape, flavor and aroma are expressed more vividly, which will please true connoisseurs of the drink.

What to snack on when drinking whisky

Whisky is traditionally accompanied by fruit and cheese. But the range of whisky snacks is enormous and it is recommended to match a variety of products with each type of living water. Scotland and Ireland are very rich in seafood. For this reason in these countries it is customary to snack on seafood. They recommend using salmon, salmon, or trout. True seafood connoisseurs will be pleased to know that you can use a cocktail of grilled scallops and shrimp.

Americans, putting a bottle of bourbon on the table, usually snack on marshmallows, sweetcakes, chocolate or grapes.

The Japanese have not moved far from the Scots and the Irish. They started using a traditional dish as an appetizer. Sushi is perfect with a bottle of whiskey produced in Japan.

And all over the world, as is customary to serve under elite alcohol, use canapés with smoked fish, cheese and fruit. And that, too, would be the right choice. Such an appetizer is pleasant looking, light and non-greasy.

How to choose and store whiskey

We have already talked about what kinds of whiskey there are, so here you should be guided by your own taste. But, getting to the supermarket, where on the store shelves there are dozens or even hundreds of different bottles with an enticing drink, a person may be confused. It should be remembered that the price tag does not always correspond to the quality. Usually the price includes the name of the brand, which can dashingly raise it. So it's safe to go for a mid-priced whiskey if you're aiming for a tasting. And, of course, pay attention to why one brand costs much less in one store than in another. You may have a counterfeit in front of you that could be life-threatening.

Remember: There are a huge number of whiskeys produced by different distilleries in different parts of the world that have very different flavors. So if you bought a whiskey that you didn't like, it's worth trying a different kind of live water.

Also, quite often people are interested in the question of how to store whiskey properly. Unlike wine, whiskey does not age in a corked bottle. And it does not require much effort for its storage. It is enough to insulate the bottle of whiskey from the sunlight and store at a temperature of 5-20 degrees with normal humidity. In these conditions, the living water will not lose its flavor and aroma for many years. But in the case if the bottle has already been opened, everything becomes much more complicated. The fact is that the whiskey will actively interact with oxygen, resulting in an oxidation process. There is no universal way to store whiskey correctly. Collectors have come up with a bunch of tricks, but none of the ways will help prevent oxidation. The easiest way not to lose the flavor and aroma of the drink is to drink it within a year.

Interesting facts about whiskey

1. There are about 5 thousand types of single malt whiskey produced around the world, 90% of which are from Scotland.
2. Every second about 30 bottles of Scotch whiskey are bought around the world. That's more than American and Japanese whiskey combined.
3. In the USSR they also tried to produce their own whiskey called Whiskey 73. But it was absolutely impossible to drink such a drink.
4. When Prohibition was introduced in America, the locals came up with a very clever move, selling whiskey in pharmacies as medicine.
5. Maccalan 60-year-old whiskey is the most expensive whiskey in the world. Its price is 62 thousand dollars for a bottle. It is noteworthy that there are only 40 such bottles in the world.
6. You will be surprised to know who the largest producer of whiskey in the world is. It's India.

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