Concept in Definition ABC

In Spanish there are two spellings that correspond to this alcoholic beverage, since the RAE accepts whiskey or whiskey indistinctly. Despite this, the Spanishization of the term is very rare in the language written. On the other hand, this English word also has two spellings, since the Americans and The Irish use the denomination whiskey and the rest of the English-speaking nations use the word whiskey.

Regarding its etymological origin, it comes from the Gaelic word "uisgebeatha", which literally means "Water of life". In this sense, it is very likely that the term uisgebeatha is a Gaelic adaptation of the Latin word aquavitae.

The Scottish version is the one with the greatest international prestige

Formerly the Scots referred to this drink as "the water of life" and today it is known as whiskey. As for its main ingredients, two stand out: water and barley. However, to achieve its characteristic flavor, a complex and slow process of elaboration.

In the centuries-old distilleries of Scotland whiskey is made in a very artisanal way. The first step is to soak the barley and spread it over the

I usually of the barn. The barley grains then germinate and subsequently sprout, so the grains release a enzyme which transforms starch into sugar.

To prevent the seed from sprouting excessively, a charcoal oven is used below the ground where the barley is found, which is heated to 55 degrees for twelve hours. After this process, the seeds are dead and they are crushed to become flour for grinding.

In the next step, the flour is fed into large grinders and boiling water is added. In this stage, enzymes produced in germination transform barley starch into sugar. After about six hours, the sugary Maltese liquid is added and placed in large tanks. Subsequently, the sugary liquid turns into a sparkling liquid and this is carried to the copper containers of the distilleries.

The heat produced in them makes the liquid boil until a suitable percentage of alcohol is achieved. If the resulting whiskey has the proper aroma, it is put into barrels for years until the final moment of bottling.

Curiosities about Scotch whiskey

- The process of maturation in barrels it has to last a minimum of 3 years to obtain its characteristic golden color.

- After taking a sip from a transparent glass it is observed that the liquor remains stuck in the glass and these marks are known as "whiskey legs",

- The barrels are made with wood oak, since otherwise the taste of whiskey would be different.

- Experts consider that the weather and the water of Scotland are the keys to the success of this alcoholic drink.

Photo Fotolia: master1305

Themes in Whiskey