02/25/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

What is a Blended Whiskey (or Whisky)?

Whiskey (generic) must be made from cereal grains, distilled below 190 proof, placed into an oak container, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof.

A Blended Whiskey is a mixture of different types of whiskeys, sometimes with other ingredients. It’s typically made by mixing one or more higher-quality straight or single malt whiskeys with less expensive spirits, neutral spirits, colorings, and flavorings. For example, a blended Scotch might be a combination of a barrel-aged malt whisky and some other grain whisky. 

In the US, blended whiskey is a combination of straight whiskies and neutral spirits containing at least 20 percent straight whiskey and bottled at not less than 80 proof.

History and Pioneer

The art of blending whisky was pioneered by Andrew Usher in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the early 1860’s. It was discovered that blending whisky could create a lighter and sweeter whisky than the more common robust whiskies of that time.

Benefits of Blending Whiskey

First, it allows the distiller to produce a consistent flavor. When we open a bottle of Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, or Woodford, for example, we expect it to taste like the last bottle or drink that we had. The environment of the barrel, weather, placement in the rickhouse, etc. can affect the taste of the spirit in each barrel. The blending process allows a careful matching to the brand’s expected taste.

Another benefit is that blending can highlight the best qualities of each barrel. By combining barrels with specific characteristics, a distiller can achieve a higher quality end-product by identifying and blending the best qualities of each one. This can create a synergy for the flavor profile that is often better than any of the individual parts.

Sometimes the goal of blending could be to create a new and diverse flavor profile. By blending spirits derived from different grains, ranges of age, various storage and aging processes could produce an end-product that has unique and desirable flavor profile.

Also, it is not uncommon for young distilleries to used sourced whiskey. Sometimes this is because they are awaiting the aging process of the whiskey that they have produced. By blending various sources and ages, they can create a unique offering to match the flavor profile what they anticipate for their brand.

In addition, there could be another purposeful approach for using sourced whiskey for blending. Bardstown Bourbon Company is known for their Discovery Series and each series represents a very specific blend of sourced spirits. It might be a blend of different grained whiskey, from different distilleries, from different states and process requirements, different ages, the possibilities are endless.