vatted malt=blended malt?

by **dusicyon** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:17 pm

I´m wondering about the reason why the scottish, (I suppose they did it...) named vatted malt afer blended malt, ´cause that´s what it is, right? a blend of malts from diferent distileries... sure ... they come from the vat... now... if anyone knows a whisky who doesnt... ring me a bell... hoping to be corrected

truly yours, Dusicyon ,Portugal

by **Admiral** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 4:22 am

The industry avoids the word "blend" or "blended" when speaking of vatted malts, because the word "blend" has traditionally been used to describe mixing malt whisky with grain whisky.

If you mix malt whisky with other malt whisky(s), then this has traditionally been known as a vatted malt (or pure malt, although this term is fast losing favour). Despite what you might think, this actually helps avoid confusion!

Mathematically....

Blend = Malt + Grain

Vatted = Malt A + Malt B (+ Malt C + Malt D....+....)

Cheers,
Admiral

by **Aidan** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 5:52 pm

...and the single malts you may be familiar with are a mix of different malts from the distillery. Sometimes a mix of sherry and burbon barrels and sometimes a mix of malts of different ages. Every thing is a "blend" of different whiskys except single cask offerings.

by **Frodo** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 11:28 pm

Good point Aidan!!

by **Episure** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:32 pm

Is there any grain on Islay?
Or is it only malts?

by **Admiral** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:55 pm

There are seven operating malt distilleries on Islay -

Bunnahabhain
Bruichladdich
Bowmore
Caol Ila
Laphroaig
Ardbeg
Lagavulin

There was an eighth malt distillery, Port Ellen, which closed sometime around 1983 (?).

There is also an industrial maltings at Port Ellen.

There is talk of a new farm-style malt distillery opening on Islay in the not-too-distant future.

In short, there are no grain distilleries on Islay!

Cheers,
Admiral