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Single-malts
There are two ingredients to single-malt Scotch: barley and water. By combining malted barley and Scottish water with the richly scented smoke of a peat fire, you have the basic ingredients for single-malt Scotch. Barley is soaked in water for 2-3 days, then spead to germinate. After seven days transferred to to a kiln which has a perforated floor to allow the hot air and smoke from a peat burning furnace below to circulate throguh the grain. When dry it is transferred to wodden bins where it remains for several weeks. Then is crushed, mixed with hot water and stirred. This proces takes place two or three times. Then is pumped through a cooler into fermantation vessels. Here yeast is added. After two days or so it is transferred into huge copper pot stills where distillation takes place.The spirit from the distillation is split into three parts. Once the middle cut or "heart of the run" is identified , the first and the final parts are sent back to the low wines vessel for distillation again. In the mean time the heart is passed to an oak vessel. And put to "sleep".
Oak casks are made from top quality oak acquired from the United States, Spain and Portugal. The majority of these casks have been used previously for maturing bourbon whisky or sherry. Sherry casks are 4 times expensive as they soften and add depth to the flavor.
Blended whiskies
Johnnie Walker Red Label is world's most popular blended whisky. It has a distinctive strength of character and a fullness of flavour that sets it apart from other brands. Red Label has become the first truly global brand, and has consistently won awards in competitions. Johnnie Walker Black Label on the other hand has a unique complexity achieved by expertly blending an extremely diverse, but complementary range of malt whiskies, each of which has been matured for a minimum of 12 years and some for much longer. Up to 40 malts and grain whiskies make up the Black Label blend. Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the symbol of high quality in blended whiskies. One of the most acclaimed and exclusive Scotch Whisky in the world. With its distinctive taste, it is the sole proof of achieving a depth of flavour in blended unattainable in a single malt.
