Explainer | Single malt whisky vs blended whisky: from how Scotch is distilled to ‘finishing’, a Chivas Regal master blender describes the differences

Don’t know what sets single malt whisky apart from blended whisky? Their ingredients and the distillation process, says a Chivas Regal master blender

With his help, we look at the different characteristics and merits of the two types, find out about ageing and learn why Speyside and Islay whiskies are special

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Glenlivet is one of the most popular single malt whiskies on the market, but what’s the difference between single malts and blended whiskies? A Chivas Regal master blender helps us understand what separates the two categories of whisky. Photo: The Glenlivet

Published: 4:15pm, 10 Feb 2024Updated: 11:35am, 19 Feb 2024

Blended whisky and single malt whisky are two distinct categories, each with unique characteristics that are the product of their ingredients and the way they are distilled.

Single malt whisky is made exclusively from malted barley and distilled at one distillery – the term “single” refers to a single distillery, not a single batch or barrel.

“Single malt is whisky made in one distillery and it all comes from that single pot. A blend is a combination of single malt and grain whisky and it has to have at least one single malt and one grain whisky,” says Kevin Balmforth, blending manager and cask expert for whisky brand Chivas.

“The difference between single malt whisky and grain whisky is that the latter is produced in a column still. So it goes up a big column still rather than the pot, and it gets distilled multiple times.”

Kevin Balmforth, blending manager and cask expert at Chivas. Photo: The Glenlivet

Pot stills are more spherical and used to create richer, more flavourful spirits. Column stills, which typically consist of one tall cylindrical column and produce spirits more efficiently, are preferred for more neutral spirits.