Nowadays there is a kind of fashion to put bottles with "overseas" drinks on the table. These include whiskey and brandy. They are easy to find on the shelves of any supermarket. But how these two drinks differ from each other, few know.
Definition
Whiskey - a strong alcoholic drink originally from Scotland or Ireland (it has not yet been possible to establish the exact origin of whiskey). It is based on sprouted grain that has passed the processes of malting, distillation and long aging in barrels.
Brandy is a general name for distillation products. Depending on the raw materials used, there are three main types: wine, berry and fruit. The following drinks are suitable for the concept of brandy: cognac, armagnac, sherry brandy, Greek, American, Moldovan and Bulgarian brandy.
Comparison
The difference between the two drinks is the use of different raw materials. Grains are needed for whiskey. Classics - barley, rye, wheat. In America and Canada, corn is also used (for bourbon production), in Japan - rice. Brandy is characterized by the use of grape wine, fermented berry or fruit juice.
The difference in the raw material base causes small differences in the technological scheme. The processes of malting (germination of raw materials) and subsequent drying are characteristic only for whiskey. In the future, the technological schemes are similar. The fermented wort is sent for distillation (distillation).
There is a slight difference in the last of the processing steps, just before bottling. Aging in oak barrels is an essential element of whiskey. The minimum aging period is from 3 years. Some varieties are aged for up to 50 years. Berry and fruit brandy does not age: it can make it rougher and heavier.
Brandy is characterized by a clear marking scale depending on the aging period - the Hennessy scale.
Conclusions TheDifference.ru
- Each of these drinks has its own raw material base. Cereals - for whiskey; grape, berry or fruit must - for brandy.
- Both technological processes have their own characteristics associated with different processing conditions. So, malt is used for whiskey.
- The aging process is mandatory for whiskey. For certain brands of brandy, aging is not required.
- Brandy has strict gradation and labeling based on material aging.
