Skip to main content

A Beginner’s Guide to Types of Whiskey You Should Know

On planet spirits, the whiskey region may be the largest and most diverse — which can leave folks wondering how to proceed when looking over all the different varieties at the store. What’s the difference between bourbon and rye? Single malt or blended? The whiskey category is home to a slew of major subcategories, differentiated by ingredients, geography, and more. Whiskey can also be white (when un-aged), blended across categories, or from a specific state, like Tennessee or Iowa. To get you started, we’ve put together a list of six types of whiskey to give you the basic knowledge you need to navigate and enjoy the iconic spirit. This is by no means an all-encompassing list.

Three glasses of whiskey placed on a rustic wooden table.
barmalini/Shutterstock

Bourbon

A true American-born product like jazz or the pickup, bourbon is essentially domestic whiskey. It can be produced anywhere in the states but Kentucky is far and away the king of the category. Bourbon is made from at least 51% corn and aged in new oak vessels that have been charred. The end result must be bottled at a minimum of 80 proof, or 40% ABV. Bourbon is generally a fuller, sometimes sweeter style of whiskey. If that sounds good, check out these great bourbons.

Rye

Barrels of rye whiskey.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The closest cousin of bourbon, rye is made from a majority of rye, or at least 51% of the grain bill. Whereas bourbon is primarily headquartered in the American south, rye was brought up farther north. One distinction is the “straight” title, which refers to rye whiskey that’s aged for at least two years and has not been blended with other whiskies prior to bottling.  It’s also aged in new, charred barrels and cannot be any more alcoholic than 160 proof (which is very uncommon, as most ryes, like bourbons, end up around 40% ABV). Rye tends to be a bit more spicy or peppery on the palate.

Scotch

Scotch whisky barrels in a warehouse.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hailing from Scotland, Scotch is perhaps the most distinctive of the subcategories. In its formative era, the entirety of this whisky style was made from malted barley. In the present era, it’s also made from rye or wheat. Scotch must be aged at least three years in oak barrels. There are some more complicated legal details about the production process but, by and large, you can get away with thinking of Scotch as whiskey’s smoky relative from across the pond. Because it’s often made with malted barley that’s been heated by peat, it tends to offer peaty notes (think woodsy). There’s a lot of history to the stuff, with the first documented creation dating back to the 15th century.

Irish Whiskey

You guessed it, Irish whiskey must be made in Ireland. There’s more flexibility with the grain bill here, compared to most other whiskey types. It’s often smoother than Scotch, its closest whiskey sibling. It’s also the eldest, dating back to the 1100s. The spirit experienced a dramatic decline in the early 20th century due to various wars and trade agreements, but it has since enjoyed something of a resurgence.

Japanese Whisky

Six bottles of Japanese Whiskey.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Perhaps the most exciting whiskey subcategory today, Japanese whiskey is thriving. It’s relatively new, dating back to the late 1800s. There tends to be a lot of blending involved, as well as bringing in grains or fermented grains from elsewhere, like Scotland. Japanese whisky is very much inspired by Scotch and the current generation of producers is really looking to showcase the place (climate, ingredients, etc.) in their spirits. This is a category to watch over the next several years for all whiskey enthusiasts.

Canadian Whiskey

Whiskey from the Great White North, expectedly, bears the Canadian name. This style is often lighter and quite smooth, made primarily from a corn base, often with some rye. They’re aged at least three years and can include some flavoring, or caramel for color. The rules are perhaps the laxest, including a wide arrange of woods allowed for the aging. As a result, it’s a subcategory of whiskey with a broad spectrum. The earliest versions were made of wheat, dating back to the 18th century.

How to Drink Whiskey

We wrote a whole article on how to drink whiskey, but in short, you’ll either consume whiskey neat (meaning on its own without ice), with a drop of water, poured over ice cubes, or in a cocktail. Scotch and Japanese whiskey are most likely to be consumed neat or with a drop of water to open up the flavor. When you think of classic whiskey cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan, you’ll likely reach for bourbon or rye. These styles of whiskey also frequently appear in drinks like the Whiskey Sour. Experiment with different styles of whiskey for different cocktails to see what you prefer.

There’s a whole variety of fancy whiskey glasses out there, but an Old Fashioned glass with a nice heavy bottom will do the trick just fine. Check out your local secondhand store to see what you can find. And drinking whiskey doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of whiskeys under $20 to get you started.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
All the new whiskies you need to drink this fall
Fall means the return to great brown spirits like whiskey — Here are the bottles to get your paws on
WhistlePig 18 Double Malt Rye

Fall means a lot of things, from significant changes in fashion to heftier fare on our plate. In the glass, it often means transitioning from summery spirits like rum and bright wines like Pinot Grigio to deeper, darker options. The cooler days are prime time for whiskey, especially now that we have a new single malt category to celebrate.

As whiskey fans through and through, there's really no bad time for the stuff. However, fall's shift to brisker conditions really welcome the warmth and lasting flavors of whiskey. Here are seven options to hand your whiskey-loving hat on.
St. George Spirits Single Malt - $100
California's foremost distillery has actually been making a mean single malt since 2000. This release, named Lot 22, drops at the end of October and is one of the most sought-after releases St. Georges puts out. It's incredible, with balance and finesse for ages. If you can't get your hands on the stuff, look out for a close second in the brand's Baller Single Malt release.

Read more
Americans to Buy More Mezcal and Tequila Than Whiskey In 2022
Mezcal from the Sierra Norte de Puebla served with cantaloupe and grasshoppers

For the first time, Americans are anticipated to spend more money on mezcal and tequila than they will on U.S.-made whiskeys or rum in 2022, according to a IWSR Drinks Market Analysis estimates. The British data and analytics firm estimates $13.3 billion in combined agave spirit sales versus $12.5 billion for vodka and $12.3 billion for whiskey. By 2023, IWSR estimates the agave category also will have supplanted vodka, making the potent distillation the U.S.’s most-purchased spirit.

What’s driving this proliferation? Similar to whiskey in the recent past, a number of drivers are escalating agave spirit popularity, including originality, product diversity, and consumer involvement.

Read more
12 Best Whiskey Glasses to Elevate Your Drinking Experience
Uncommon Green Maps Glass featuring map of Anchorage, Alaska.

Whiskey is the sophisticated man's drink of choice. Especially in the colder months of winter and early spring, a glass of whiskey neat warms the spirit. The complex aromas, the wide-ranging flavor profiles, the varying origins, and the rich traditions are all reasons why it's a spirit that deserves special accessories. In a nutshell, if you're drinking any type of whiskey out of standard bar glassware, you could be doing yourself and your high-priced booze a disservice.

Whether you're a whiskey snob or only occasionally indulge in a nightcap of bourbon or scotch, it's essential to know how to drink whiskey properly. It's also good to know your options regarding the different vessels available to elevate your whiskey drinking experience. There's a staggering amount out there to choose from. Some are aesthetically pleasing, some are designed based on the science behind the spirit — giving you the best experience, and some are a little of both. We'll get into how to choose the perfect glass for your specific needs a little later. But first, let's go over some of the best whiskey glasses we found out there.

Read more